For Sale: 1986 Dickerson 37 AC

[sailah]

1986 Dickerson 37 AC
Location: Hingham, MA
Phone: 781 789-6008
Owner: Peter Owens
Price: $60,000

We are not getting the cruising time that I expected over last 2 years. Young kids and other competing interests. Cruised boat in New England waters and it has spent most of its life in New England. Boat is hauled and stored behind my barn every season, covered and on shore power.

Boat is currently on mooring at Hingham Shipyard, ready to go.

Raced the boat mainly in Figawi. Highlights include a 2nd in class 2016 and Line Honors in 2018. Boat rates a 189 in race trim and can easily out sail that in good wind. We finish about a 145 typically.

Every season I have tackled a large project

2016: Brightwork brought back and 3-4 coats done every year since
2017: Engine, custom bobstay and spin crane
2018: Rewire
2019: New electronics and NMEA2K network

Engine: Westerbeke 44B with ZF MIV15 V drive transmission.
1087 hours (approx 125 hours/season
PSS dripless seal
Maxprop Classic 3 blade
Engine oil drain pump
Custom fuel polisher setup with 2 large 5 micron filters set to run whenever engine is running
New Heat Exchanger (2020)
Westerbeke panel in cockpit
Racor 500 primary

I've done a lot of work to this engine. Inherited a few issues which have now been rectified and engine runs perfectly. Idles and runs with zero issues, no smoke, no bad behavior. I could talk about what I have done with this engine for a week. Engine room is very clean and thoughtfully laid out. This isn't one of those nightmare engine rooms where everything is rusty and hasn't seen light of day. I appreciate a clean engine space, new hose clamps, everything loomed, chafe free, no drips or weirdness going on here. I am very particular about how things are maintained.

Electrical:
Balmar 100A alternator
Complete recable of all main wiring to panel, including upsized cables and profession crimps/heat shrink everywhere.
Balmar ARS-5 regulator
(2) 6V 105Ah golf cart batteries for house (2019)
(1) Group 31 Start (2019)
Balmar SG-200 smart gauge
Victron SmartSolar 15A solar controller
80W flexible panel that is deployed on aft deck and can be quickly removed during sailing. I use it to keep batteries 100% at mooring
Blue Seas ACR and parallel main battery switch
30A charger
Shorepower connection and shorepower cable
120V panel with outlets at nav station and galley

Tankage:

44gal aluminum fuel tank with separate pickup for polisher
10gal black water
50 gal fresh water stainless tank under V berth

Electronics:

Garmin 942XS touchscreen in navpod
Raymarine ST-60+ wind, speed, depth gauges networked to Garmin
Garmin 18HD radome on mast
Garmin 440 chartplotter at nav station with separate GMR18 antenna on pulpit
Icom M504 VHF with DSC, networked to Garmin for GPS. MMSI programmed. Mast head antenna
Backup Garmin 3206 chartplotter under port cockpit seat as 3rd backup to other 2 Garmins
Clarion CD stereo in salon with speakers in salon and new Kenwood speakers in cockpit. Bluetooth.
Ritchie Compass
Simrad hydraulic autopilot networked to Garmin
Edson pedestal with Edson teak cockpit table

Accommodations:
V berth cabin forward
Port quarterberth
Pull out berth in salon that can be a double
Teak and Holly sole, varnished
Dickinson propane heater in salon with Charlie Noble stack

Proper nav station with seat and locker underneath (spares) and owners manual

Rig:

Keel-stepped mast
Spinnaker crane
Custom bobstay for running asymmetric
Nice North sharkskin Dacron Main
150 Genoa in OK condition
6-7 other genoas in poor to good shape. Mostly laminates for the occasional race
Brand new (as in never taken out of bag) Code 0
2 asymmetrical spinnakers, 1 in good shape, one Airex in excellent shape. 1 snuffer sock.
Pad eyes aft and all equipment to fly them including lightweight spin sheets, halyards.
Lewmar Ocean hatches
Bomar ports
Lewmar 44 2 speed self tailing winches
Quick Vang

Ground Tackle:
Muir Cougar windlass (oversized)
CQR 35# anchor with 150' chain, 150' 5/8" rode
Spare Danforth with chain and rope rode in laz

Galley:
Adler Barbour refrigeration (freezes water bottles in a couple hours)
3 burner stove (Propane)
Underdeck LED lights to illuminate galley
On center sink hot/cold water

Head:
Large head
Toilet
Shower is very spacious
10gal black water with diverter and Whale gusher pump as well a deck pumpout


Other:
Forespar davits (not installed) but removed with all harware
Bimini frame (removed, and no canvas but hoops are in perfect condition)
Dodger frame is there and old dodger included. Was going to redo it in 2020 but never got around to it
Custom winter cover
5 Brownell stands
Epoxy barrier coated in 2009
Bluewater 45 bottom paint every spring
Dickinson Propane cabin heater
MarineAir AC (currently decommissioned) unknown condition, I've never used it. But all the ducting is there, compressor etc. Requires shorepower.


Comments:

I really do love this boat and I won't be sad if it doesn't sell. I'm even more sad to see it sitting and not being used. It's turnkey on a mooring in Hingham MA, ready to go. Siena has a lot of brightwork and looks sharp when well maintained. I have done 100% of the work on this boat and know it intimately. I know all systems and can talk a potential buyer through everything, what I have changed, improved and why. Probably forgetting a few things as I wrote this from memory.

Extensive photos and manuals for everything on the boat in binders as well a cloud repository for everything accessible through phone.

Here are the negatives:

Boat was Awlgripped Flag Blue in 2009. It's showing its age but still looks good

[sailah]

OK looking through some more pics and remembering more

Teak & holly sole redone with 10 coats in 2017
Nicely redone cushions

Edit to original post:

House bank is (2) 230Ah 6V golf carts for 12V 230AH total house capacity. All batteries new in 2019

[sailah]

Last post until I remember something else

Few actions shots during Figawi races including our 2018 line honors finish and 2016 2nd place
Clean engine room

[gonesail]

the Dickerson .. such a beautiful boat

[sailah]

Originally Posted by gonesail

the Dickerson .. such a beautiful boat

Thanks, it is quite a looker. Takes a committed owner to keeping up the brightwork. The Dickerson Owners Association is also very committed to keeping the history alive on these boats.

I'll get out on boat and do a video tour, probably better than the pics.

[shadow]

Nice one.. I am currently in the market and do enjoy boats with the bristol/hinckley look.. And I love Brightwork/varnish work.. Can you confirm what the draft is and if the hull is solid fibreglass or is it cored? keep the photos and details coming.. Thank you

[sailah]

Photo album with lots more pics and drone video of us coming into Nantucket during race

Some of these pics are work in progress and may not reflect current condition. If you see bad varnish, it was an earlier pic and likely looks better than the pics. Siena has only gotten better with the recent systems upgrades.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/hok9DNoUwWkCwGQT8

[sailah]

Originally Posted by shadow

Nice one.. I am currently in the market and do enjoy boats with the bristol/hinckley look.. And I love Brightwork/varnish work.. Can you confirm what the draft is and if the hull is solid fibreglass or is it cored? keep the photos and details coming.. Thank you

Sorry should have put that into ad.

Draft is 4.5'


Boat is Airex cored, official specs and brochures are available on Dickerson owners association. Keel area is solid glass. 6000# lead ballast, 16k displacement.

Dickerson 37 – Dickerson Owners Association

If you like brightwork, this is your boat. When I got it, previous owner had let teak go. Being a Herreshoff fan (and sailing around world with Halsey Herreshoff) I set to work on it. Took a few years to get everything bright but only thing left is windlass pad. It's a lot of work but worth it to me. I usually do 3-4 coats every spring

Brightwork:

Exterior:

Highly varnished helmsman seat, curved
Companionway hatch
Teak toerail around entire boat
Bowsprit
Sampson post
Dorade boxes
Raymarine instruments panel
Teak grab rails
Hatch surrounds
Eyebrow rail along entire coachroof

Interior:

Teak and Holly sole (semi gloss)
Satin everywhere else
Redid a bunch of interior varnish 2 years ago

Interior is classic Herreshoff style. White with varnished teak. The entire sole comes up in large pieces and can be finished in your shop. Would look amazing with a few new coats, been about 5 years since I did it.

I NEVER allow shoes on my boat. My kids and all my friends know the rules, take your shoes off when you get aboard Siena. Makes a big difference when you just have bare feet.

[shadow]

Nice, I like your rules.. Yes, I owned a 1939 John Alden wooden Yawl and loved the hard work it took to bring her back.. Bright work was done by taking her back to bare wood, stain, then 10+ layers of varnish... Loved it.. Will be checking out your additional photos and info. Cheers!!

[shadow]

Just saw your link with added photos.. Nice, but odd that I saw a photo with you at the helm with 2 beers unpopped?!? Very odd and makes no sense! LOL. Like the varnish you did for the companion way cover (turtleshell).. Very similar to my old boat.. Cheers for the share!!

Did you respray/paint your engine? Since you race a lot, what is the overall state of your standing and running rigging? lifelines/stanchions? Thanks again for your tine and help with the added information!! cheers

[sailah]

Originally Posted by shadow

Just saw your link with added photos.. Nice, but odd that I saw a photo with you at the helm with 2 beers unpopped?!? Very odd and makes no sense! LOL. Like the varnish you did for the companion way cover (turtleshell).. Very similar to my old boat.. Cheers for the share!!

Did you respray/paint your engine? Since you race a lot, what is the overall state of your standing and running rigging? lifelines/stanchions? Thanks again for your tine and help with the added information!! cheers

Re drinking, yeah it happens during the race but I gave up drinking a year ago just on a whim. Decided I didn't need it in my life, just grew out of it I guess.

I may sound like I race a lot but I don't. Most years I do the Figawi with friends and that's it. Last year I did a solo 125 mile offshore race from Marblehead to Boothbay Harbor. So in a given year I might race the boat for a grand total of 25 miles. Running rigging like halyards is new in the last 2-3 years, still in good shape. This is a low strung boat, I don't wind on things and stress the rig. Racing I'll push it but the Dickersons are solid boats. Never heard a bit of complaint from it. I have a few spare halyards that are brand new, mostly for the spinnaker but they can be used for genoa or main, Spinnaker gear is all pretty new with 20 miles of racing on it max.

Standing rigging is 2009 vintage, that's when the boat underwent a big refit. Engine, transmission, autopilot, windlass, AC, instruments, wood work, cabin heater were all done during that time. I met the owner randomly in Cuttyhunk on a mooring who did the work and we swapped numbers. He came aboard and told me about the work he had done. Even offered to buy it back on the spot for almost twice what I am selling it for. But I had just gotten it...

Lifelines and Stanchions are in good shape, nothing to say about them other than they are working? I polish them every year and that's about it.

Re engine respray, yes I did. The air filter broke one spring and sucked in a small piece into one of the exhaust valves. I removed the head and had a machine shop redo the valves, reassembled with new gasket. 2 years later I was losing coolant and removed head again after a leak down test showed a leak between 2 & 3 cyl. Went back to same machine shop and they checked head for flatness (was out 0.004") and magnafluxed head. They planed head back flat and I reassembled. Totally tight since then. The root cause was the owner I bought it from in 2014 had suffered an overheat and warped the head. Caused by waterpump vanes that were clogging the pump elbow which I found when I rebuilt waterpump. Once I had torn the engine down enough to find that, it just wasn't looking shiny. So I taped everything off and shot it with a few coats of red paint. Looks pretty nice even a couple years later.

I love my engine room, I know where everything is just by feel. It's my happy place and I check it frequently. Always wiping things down, spraying with CRC to keep any rust at bay.

I feel like last year I finally ironed out all the engine gremlins and had all mechanics in A1 shape. Next year I would pull the shaft and replace the dripless seal.

Last year I just decided that I wanted to baseline the electrical and a small wiring job turned into rewiring the entire boat. Not the small wires like reading lamps, but everything bigger than 12AWG was redone. I used MaineSails excellent schematics and did it proper. The wiring is in perfect shape and everything works as it should.

I'm a John Alden fan. I got my degree in Naval Architecture and he was my hero. Absolute fav boat is the Malabar X. Was for sale last year but a bit out of my price range. One of these days...

[sailah]

Originally Posted by shadow

Just saw your link with added photos.. Nice, but odd that I saw a photo with you at the helm with 2 beers unpopped?!? Very odd and makes no sense!

Just saw that pic. That's my cousin. That was on the maiden voyage from Mamoroneck to Boston. I had just bought the boat and we were sailing it back. Yes was drinking during that time A friend had given me a bottle of moonshine and we drank the entire bottle before we were barely out into LI sound. It was a funny argument about who was standing the first watch...


That pic shows the bimini hoops and Forespar davits that I removed as soon as I got to Boston. Totally ruined the look of the boat in my opinion. Still have them though and all the hardware.

[shadow]

Thanks for the additional information, I really appreciate your time and help.. I assume that the mounts for the stanchions are solid as for everything else on deck? Thanks again for your added information. Cheers.. Keep them coming!

[sailah]

Originally Posted by shadow

Thanks for the additional information, I really appreciate your time and help.. I assume that the mounts for the stanchions are solid as for everything else on deck? Thanks again for your added information. Cheers.. Keep them coming!

Yes stanchions are solid. All deck hardware is in perfect working order. Dickersons are pretty simple in terms of deck hardware. All halyards go to Lewmar mast winches. Genoa sheets go through cars on deck tracks and then to aft cheek blocks then to Lewmar 44 winches. I rebuilt masthead sheaves 3 years ago with new oilite bronze bushes and teflon washers between sheaves. In another year or two, it would be time to disassemble and buff the shafts, and put a couple drops of oil on them. Halyards go up without a bit of trouble.

Main sheet is a fiddle block setup on harken traveller in cockpit.

Rebedded chainplates last year
Rebuilt jib cheek blocks 2 years ago
Winches are completely disassembled every spring and greased, pawls oiled.

As I noted in original post, the only 2 items that would need discussion are the awlgrip and the dodger. Everything else works as you'd expect.

Awlgrip: This was done in 2009. When the rubstrake is attached to hull, they just painted as 1 unit. There are areas on the top of the rubstrake where the paint had lifted off the mahogany. Yes it bothers me, but it was always one of those "when am I going to have time to repaint the boat?". Being a dark awlgrip, it's also had some beauty marks form mooring ball and wayward dinghy approaches. It still looks good from 50' but if you look up close you can see some scuffs. I have all the equipment to spray Awlgrip but I keep putting it off. It still present perfectly well but if you are looking for perfection you'd probably want to plan on doing it in next few years. Since my boat will oppose the wind/tide on the mooring, I can't help the mooring ball chafe and no sense painting it to have the forward 5' have some mooring ball scuffs.

Dodger: The hoops are perfect. The shape of the dodger is nice too. But the fabric starting getting weak a few years ago. I bought a Juki walking foot machine and would do repairs on it and restitch. But 2 years ago it was clear it needed a full redo. This spring I bought the Sunbrella SeaMark heavy duty fabric to match the sailcover. Also have an entire roll of window vinyl. Gore Tenara thread etc. Just another project that I didn't get around to.

Other than those 2 items, I really would have to nitpick to point out flaws. Mechanically, the boat is in perfect working order. All systems work (except for AC, which just needs to be recommissioned, I never have 120V avail so I never used it). Brightwork is not Hinckley level, but I feel I'm a good steward of varnish and do a nice job wet sanding and laying down Interlux Schooner with badger brush.

These are solid boats but without being the heavy cruising type that makes you wince when you are rowing back to the dock. It's not setup for world cruising, but has happily taken us on all sorts of 10 day trips, races, day sails, island trips with kids and friends, cocktail cruises.

I also remembered I have a spare North main in very nice shape. It was a spare from a J105, dacron and fabric is still crisp. The sharkskin North I have on there is a great sail and very fresh.

So:

2 North J105 mains in very good shape
1 150% Dacron Genoa in OK shape
1 North 130% aramid genoa in very nice shape (racing only)
3-4 other genoas, all laminates from North , UK, Doyle that I have bought on whims to use for racing. Full blade laminate with battens, 120% etc. A few I ripped and are in poor shape
1 brand new Code 0. Bought this spring from Somerset. Still in the shipping box
1 North Asymmetrical spinnaker, A2. In good shape, would consider this a cruising spinnaker. Can fly on a true beam reach. Won Figawi line honors with this sail, it's the orange, green, white sail in photos. Turtle bag and snuffer.
1 Airex Asymmetrical spin, A2, in perfect shape, used twice. Very crisp. Forget maker but a very nice chute. Used only for 1 race and it was no winds.

For cruising, I'd probably have a 130% genoa made in dacron and use that 99% of time. I feel the 150% is too big and luffs the main. Boat sails/points much better with smaller genoa.

[shadow]

Nice job with the extra info!! cheers!

Forgot to ask, I assume the hull and decks have no soft spots or blisters on hull? thank you