My
boat, the S/V Mistral is registered in the
USA with the USCG NVDC Output Packet - Official Number 1263459, is a 42 foot long sailing
catamaran and 20 feet wide and currently draws under three feet of
water. It weighs about 4.5 tons according to the
designer /
builder, Nigel Roberts. It is constructed primarily of
wood with
fiberglass on the lower portions and two part
epoxy paint on the upper portions. It was built here in the
Philippines. It has four queen berths, each with a large screened
hatch - with the two aft berths currently being used for
storage - and like most catamarans it has lots of
storage all over the
boat. The hulls are tied together by three large box beams: the forward box beam is the
water tank (about 500 liters); the center box beam is the
diesel tank (about 500 liters); and, the aft box beam is the transom with four large hatches for storage - and under the removable floorboards is the tie rod for the rudders. The two bows do not communicate with the hulls and can be used for a large amount of storage although I currently have them filled with empty sealed plastic containers for floatation. The foredeck has four large hatches which cover storage for
anchoring and sailing
equipment - with the center having the bow roller, manual
anchor winch, and large bollard. The raised portion of the foredeck contains the two forward berths. Closed off from the forward berths is a large spacious bridge-deck
salon which contains spacious "U" shaped seating area and a fixed table - seating is on the water tank and two storage areas (on large
cushions that can be used as beds). The ends of the "U" butt against two bars: starboard is storage and port is the refrigerator/small
freezer. On the other side of the bars are two short stairwells that lead down into the hulls. On the other side of the stairwells is the
diesel tank (raised so that if water comes over the transom it will stay in the large covered
cockpit and not enter the salon) with a door leading to the
cockpit. To starboard is the
helm station with a large window so one can sit while
steering and see out the forward windows, and there is a large
hatch above the
helm station so one can stand and look out directly - all large hatches have a polycarbonate insert so one can see out (up). Just forward of the helm station on the inside of the side
deck is the start of the quarter inch stainless
safety cable that runs in a U shape around the raised part of the foredeck and back down the other side
deck. The main fuse panel is also located here inside the
salon. On the port side there is an enclosed
shower and toilet* (no holding tank). Aft of the diesel tank is the covered cockpit with seating and removable table/chairs. Aft of the transom which has a small central
anchor roller and bollard, is a landing platform** which is currently supporting the
tender on one side (the
wood tender may need some work). There is a
solar platform on top of the
davits that currently house four 60 watt
solar panels. The roof has two smaller hatches which provide airflow for the salon*** and has small side gutters**** that assist in the collection of rainwater, The
mast is above the diesel tank box beam and is supported by it. The
mast is 42 feet high and is supported by a forestay and a backstay - both with bridles; there are two shrouds on each side, one going to the top of the mast and the other set lower (no spreaders are used). The aft part of the roof on each side supports a 250 watt
solar panel (two panels).*I had always intended to install a small C-Head composting
toilet in each
hull near the forward berths, but have never needed them this will likely be required if one goes to a high end marina instead of
anchoring or
mooring.**I have considered extending the landing platform to the end of the swim steps to make a more solid support for the tender.***A third small hatch is needed for the cockpit
shower: first to provide airflow; second to provide the ability to support a 20 liter black colored water container which is upside down so a valve and shower
head can be mounted in the lid and hot (solar) showers taken. I made one that worked well but I had to hoist it above the foredeck with the
halyard. ****The gutters are too small and need to be made much bigger to capture more of the heavy rainfall that currently runs off the side of the roof.
At the forward end of the starboard
hull there is a hanging locker for clothes and then a space where the C-Head would likely fit. A short stairwell leads up to the owners berth flanked by storage on both sides; then more storage and a
work bench with a vise and storage for tools and
repair stuff; then the stairwell leading up to the salon; with more storage on the other side of the stairwell, storage or the small 2hp two stroke
outboard, a pair of new
Lewmar 40 self-tailing winches (to replace the old
Lewmar 30 winches), and a 220 VAC outlet fed by a 2000 watt
inverter. Going up is the aft berth with the stairs currently stored there; under the berth is the
battery bank - currently with only two 100 ah sealed
batteries, but could contain at least four and possibly six along with the solar controller and the big
inverter. There is also a 12 VDC trickle
charger and a backup if
shore power is available. On the side deck starting at the bow there is a sturdy stainless U bolt with
chain plate backed up by a bollard and flanked by a stainless chafing guard on the inside. The bow section has stainless railing on both sides and on the outside it continues down to the swim steps; and on the deck level there is an embedded stainless ring, a centered larger bollard, an aft bollard, and there was a stainless handhold. The
VHF antenna is near the stern.
At the forward end of the port hull there is a hanging locker for clothes and then a space where the C-Head would likely fit. There is a circuit breaker for the
shore power extension cord. A short stairwell leads up to the guest berth flanked by storage on both sides; then more storage and the outlet for the water tank and a
pump for the cockpit shower; and then a sink, counter, and two burner
stove and storage for
food and kitchen stuff; then the stairwell leading up to the salon; with more storage on the other side of the stairwell and the outlet for the diesel tank. Going up (the stairs are in place) is the aft port berth now used mostly for storage, and under the berth is a relatively new (less than 800 hours) Beta 38
marine engine and
transmission with a
maintenance free starter
battery that can be added to the battery bank or not via a switch (which can be replaced with a seventh 100 ah
maintenance free solar battery for a combined 700 ah
power reserve). Currently the only through hull valve is located there for the inlet for
cooling water">engine
cooling water. The
propane tank is mounted on the rear of the transom. On the side deck starting at the bow there is a sturdy stainless U bolt with
chain plate backed up by a bollard and flanked by a stainless chafing guard on the inside. The bow section has stainless railing on both sides and on the outside it continues down to the swim steps; and on the deck level there is an embedded stainless ring, a centered larger bollard, an aft bollard, and there was a stainless handhold. Both hulls terminate in a swim step with a swim ladder attachment.
There are four anchors: a large and small Bruegel, a stainless Danforth, and, a stainless fisherman - all were originally set up to have twelve meters of chain and then
rope - with a light and a heavy nylon
bridle available. I also have an all chain option with around 150 feet of 5/16 inch high strength chain which fits the bow
winch better. There are two
sails: the big 100%
jib and the
storm jib - both of which hank on to the forestay. There is no
mainsail although one could be added by running a cable from the top of the mast to the bottom and hanking on a loose foot main. Not being an experienced sailor (I have only a
compass,
charts, and
depth sounder for
navigation as I am a coastal sailor and have never been out of the sight of land one island ahead and one behind), I could only get the boat to reach, close reach, or broad reach - it doesn't like to sail dead downwind because there is nothing to keep the
jib stay down. I purchased a bunch of stainless bar stock to fabricate a bow protector with tie down points to eliminate this problem but stopped sailing before it was made and installed. Another possible solution was to buy a surplus Chicom parachute with all the lines still attached and just connect one side to the foredeck bollard and hoist the other side with the
halyard - sort of an inexpensive and simple
spinnaker,
There is also an AirLine hooka (surface supplied air to a
depth of 60 feet for two) and some dive
equipment on the boat. There are also three
VHF radios, two handheld and one fixed near the helm station that has
GPS and an
AIS receiver. There is also a Hummingbird
depth sounder built into the starboard hull near the bow. There is a large stainless gas
grill (Magna?) in aft storage and a small backup gas
grill for use when the main
propane tank is out. There are also two swim ladders and a small fire and waterproof safe.
I am currently living on the boat with my wife and our fur baby, and it has been a houseboat for several years now - ever since I got my pacemaker - tied to the pier with shore
power and freshwater at Zeke's Marina in Danao, Cebu. The boat has survived four major typhoons now, Sendong and Yolanda (Haiyan) in Tombobo Bay; Ruby and Odette (Rai) here in Danao/Carmen with the last one giving my wife some lasting trauma which has increased her desire to move to the
USA. Skilled labor is available here at about $20 USD per day, but you may need to do your own design and supervision of the workers for anything unusual. Getting the hulls cleaned and repainted with
anti-fouling is a common task here and this
work is done on the other side of the pier I am tied to so the boat can be moved with ropes only. I would like to get $150,000 for it so I can buy a small house and car when I return to the US. I am willing to negotiate. Stay safe. Have a good day.
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