This 62' STEEL Schooner Will SHOCK You [Full Tour] Learning the Lines

The following are excerpts from an article by John Paul White published in Southern Boating in December 1988.
“The design chosen was Thomas Colvin’s 50’ Pipistrelle, a larger sister to his famous Gazelle. These boats are shoal keel developments of the traditional V-bottomed sharpie and are of moderately light displacement. They are easily driven under both power and sail and are well-suited for short handed cruising.
The lines show a single-chine clipper bow hull, with a long shallow keel and a raking curved counter stern. There is a raised afterdeck, a flush mid-ship steering station over the full width of the engine room, and a traditional trunk cabin forward with water-ways and bulwarks.
Under the supervision of Ray Merrill at Island Star Marine in Gulfport, Mississippi, the hull was sandblasted to white metal subsequent to plating, flame sprayed with aluminum on the exterior and multiply coated with Devoe epoxy anticorrosive paint inside and out. All frames, longitudinals and inside corners were covered with epoxy to eliminate moisture pockets. Thereafter and on delivery of the hull/deck to Pensacola, Florida, two additional coats of Devoe epoxy were applied to the hull followed by finish coats on the inside. All bronze fittings are set in neoprene with sleeved bolts and bedded with 5200 sealant. Every hole drilled in the boat was drilled through a paper cup to collect shavings and the hole immediately vacuumed, acid-treated and primed with Devoe Bar-Rust to eliminate rust specks.
An absolute minimum of epoxy fairing was applied to the hull and then only in areas of continuous welding, to prevent future spalling of fairing putty under hard use. Instead, more than 30 man-days were spent applying and sanding 12 coats of high build primer and acrylic glazing before the polyurethane paint job.
In consultation with the designer, a special construction process replaced the after cabin steel top with a laminated wooden structure covered with 1/4” teak planks set in West System Epoxy. This avoided the rust problems associated with wooden decks laid over steel and in addition, saved almost 600 pounds in the after section of the boat.
Traditional scuttle hatches, skylights, cap rails, and monkey rails with turned styles were built of Honduras mahogany and covered with ten coats of ultraviolet-filtered varnish.
The interior woods are cypress for hull, ceiling and bulkheads, Honduras mahogany for joinery and ash for floorings, all varnished.
The rig was given special attention to bring to the traditional advantages of the gaff rig evolutionary advances of the last 100 years development in materials and hardware.
Custom aluminum spars were built by Johnson Sails in St. Petersburg, all with internal halyards, reefing lines, outhauls, and topping lifts. Harken 3” Big Boat blocks, several custom made for this boat, were used throughout. Lewmar line stoppers and winches add sail control and shaping. Powerful 6-1 Harken vangs help handle the long booms.
Sails were built by Shurr of Pensacola, Florida, a racing sailmaker who happened to also have experience with the gaff rig. They incorporate moderate roach supported by battens and shelf feet for draft control.
Many other details of this boat, as varied as her hand-carved nautical scenes by Otto Preske and Barry Simpson of Gatlinburg Tennessee, to her powerful electrical system designed and installed by Kevin Carney of DC Engineering Inc., were worked out among the owner, the designer, and several specialists in an effort to construct a steel boat which all could be proud of.”
What do you think? Let us know in the comments below.
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List Price: $245,000 USD
Listing:
www.sunnybrookyachts.com/boat...
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[@SVUtopia1946]

Thanks for the tour - love to see any boat and this one is quite nice. Thanks!

[@earthman3000]

Although some cool features, the compromised headroom in a good chunk of the boat plus the rather uncomfortable cockpit seating arrangement is a deal killer from the start. Thanks for featuring these unique boats with all of their quirks and features….we’ve all seen enough Beneteau’s and lagoons and appreciate seeing these.

[@PingeMusic]

This one I love need it. Thanks for a great look around. Be safe andd skilful. Pinge

[@robertgarbe6348]

Colvin boats command a very large premium and this is worth every cent..

[@trentstaggerly7455]

Workmanship and materials do NOT make this yacht worth it's asking price. NOTHING ABOUT THIS BOAT MAKE IT EASY TO SAIL, EASY TO STAND UP IN, EASY TO STOMACH. (head in Galley) I could go on but you get the idea. This boat can only sell to a "Dreamer" with more $$$ than sense.

[@artfulalias3984]

The stove with the cover is a Wallas forced draft diesel/kerosene with a sealed combustion chamber. The spar for the square sail is called a yard. Thanks for the tour. Beautiful boat.

[@darrenedmonds1163]

Love the archways

[@vincent7520]

2:37 "You don't have to worry about rot" … but you sure have to worry about rust !!!… 19:54 "tiller … if you wanna be at the tille instead at the wheel" : mist likely it is an emergency tiller would the wheel mechanism break in a dire moment. It is pretty wise : actually in some European countries an emergency tiller is mandatory on all boat steering with a wheel. Judging by the main cabin roof seen from below it seems the deck doesn't have insulation : when sun heats, it must be a real inferno down there. Also it certainly means the hull isn't insulated either. Which is a real drawback both in very warm and cold weather. This would be my main concern. Otherwise the boat seems to be very well taken care of… Personally I don't like the galley being amidship, I prefer it so be close to the companionway for many reasons : odors can escape more freely, the cook is in his/her own corner and not in the way of crew going from the forecabin to the salon, and space left in the companion way could well be fitted with two single berths over each other which would greatly improve the sleeping capacity. This boat should sleep a minimum of 6 persons because handling such a heavy boat takes some muscle and accommodating 8 crew will certainly help navigate farther in the same amount of time. I always loved sailing with a good numerous crew, prided the boat could accommodate them, because we could sail in a month in place as far as Scotland or Portugal from Brittany and back in 4 weeks … while same boat with a limited crew of 4 were restrained to the English Cornwalls or the Atlantic coast of France. Far sailing takes its toll, and sharing the effort makes us enjoy cruising more. Then again that's how you meet people from all kinds of backgrounds and the huma experience is something to remember (of cours ebad experiences exist too, but we forget these).

[@MrFroglips69]

Groovy episode

[@robertwoodward4525]

My dad built a colvin 42 ft schooner. In the mid 70s the boat is now on lake superior. Type in schooner Hjordis . She is still sailing today.

[@rtbinc2273]

Have to agree completely - not for me. But - I still love it.

[@FixNewsPlease]

Welcome to Nova Scotia. Enjoy your hunt! That hoisted spar is a yard.

[@philbro1829]

YARD is the horizontal boomlike thing at the top of the main mast... great video

[@aphilippinesadventure9184]

A great classic boat, but requires a lot of work, not only gettting her into shape from the get-go, but ongoing. Replacing wood with "Not-wood" as it comes due seems smart. But yes, she is a beauty! I liked your "Time, effort and MONEY" line...

[@basilbrushbooshieboosh5302]

Beautiful

[@michigreen8943]

Very cool boat and tour!

[@thomasmcmullen4523]

I love that one ! But only a dream, and would like water tight bulk head doors.

[@miketierney7510]

Wow! Just wow!

[@charlesparr1611]

Gaff rigged topsail schooner. The foremast is a gaff with the option to run a square topsail. The horizontal yard on the foremast is actually two yards lashed together. because you have to go aloft to set it, its. an near certainty that its almost never used, and the sail is stowed below deck. Very old school indeed, a 19th century fisherman would find it fairly familiar if rather overly luxurious. Need a crew of 5 or 6 and they had best be seamen all of them.

[@jeffjefferson2676]

Its a very cool boat. But before I would go onto the ocean, I would definitely make compartments on a steel boat that can stay afloat with at the very least 1 compartment or the biggest compartment completely filled with water. Done with steel navy like doors and hatches in the bulkheads and decks. But that is just me. Also I would install ventilation that you can close off from any water. Maybe even a heat pump. And install thick insulation all round. Now, if you have that a lot can be done, and fun can be had. But I'm not sinking in the middle of the ocean. Also installing big antennas on the ship so you can work all HF ham bands and satellites. If the rigging is used the profile is not big at all. Seems like there is already a HF radio and tuner. It is unclear what antenna is used for this while its not mentioned. Get a starlink installed too. For internet. Netting on the sides instead of ropes you can fall past. Get scuba gear so you can scuba dive, and a pressure pump to fill the canisters. A 3 meter rubber inflatable boat and an outboard engine. You can have these boats fill up with pressure canisters too! A transformer in the corner and some welding rods and tools can have you repair your steel ship in about any place that has power. The deck at the back, or the entire deck you could replace with plate steel. If I beams are purchased you could create a very sturdy deck. Or is there steel under the wood already?? I like the dingy in the back. There is a long list of stuff on it too. 199k Canadian dollars. For 150.8k USD that is something to consider. But it sure is a lot of money. Greetings, Jeff

[@davidday6838]

Self tacking staysail are a wonderful piece of kit, saves work when single handed on British waters. Hope my spelling is correct, loving your videos

[@peterbee162]

yes that is a beautiful small ship.... 4 me my schooner will be around 150ft two mast...

[@danpease8395]

Ca'mon man, ask some questions before you publish so you'll look less like you've learned nothing, the "Organizer" is a FifeRail. For securing halyards, etc, not for hanging stuff. Obviously the fire is gaff rigged, why else would it have a gaff. The Maine is Bermudian or Marconi. The aft wooden rail could be called a "fly rail or taffrail". This schooner may be unique in some details but this Colvin hull has been used hundred of times, with variations of rig and cabin plan. This boat has a self tending/tacking club staysail, and a jib. The horizontal spar aloft in the fire(mast) is a yard, although that is the first I've ever seen that is not symmetrical side to side. This is undoubtedly a home built or home finished where things didn't work out quite like hoped. Lots of work to remedy. The wood over steel deck is an issue, advanced steel rot underneath. Good luck getting insurance on an older custom steel vessel period. Curved bench in galley provides zero place to comfortably relax. Galley forward is great until the cook comes up sick in the first real seaway. NO OVEN!

[@dennismacdonald2003]

A beauty she is

[@brucebertrammcleroth4037]

Beautifull interior

[@ala6008]

Another nice tour of a wonderful boat. Keep them coming. Oh, and loose the saying "go ahead and" ;)

[@justincase5272]

"boom, or pole, or..." Yard.

[@robertsmj]

Looks like a wishbone rig on the fore mast which is a variation of a gaff rig which allows a single sail to provide the same sail size as a gaff rig sail and a top sail.

[@billkoetting5197]

I have watched a lot of your walk-through videos. This one was done very well as always. That being said, there is no boat owner new or new to him or her that does not have photo[s] or video of their boat underway. Truthfully watching these vids without, is a waste of time.

[@anthonyrondolino8148]

Perfect for a dreamer with more dollars than sense….

[@ronaldwhayesjr]

That is in my opinion a bit on the Steep side of a price to pay for such a large project. Although she is a beautiful boat she does have several drawbacks that cannot be changed no matter how much work you put in. And there's drawbacks are rather significant especially in today's world. In my opinion the major benefit to this boat being a steel hull there's a wonderful aspect however after reading the article it seems as though great care and expertise needs to be given each time she needs to be given a new bottom job. Thanks for the video.

[@charlesthomas8875]

Looks like a delight to sail WITH a crew that doesn't have sleeping space. I'm 6'1" 238, so I'd be very cramped in this boat. Love the large engine room, hate the small doors and ladder face plant potential.. The price is right though. Steel sailboats are hard to come by. Making the main cabin into a full size bed would be a piece of cake. I'd change the rigging immediately to make it one or two people compatible and defintely reduce the amount of lines. Rope is old and needs replacing. Steel boats are HOT in warmer climates so ventilation is definitely a factor. But for thirty grand or less, in repairs and modifications, this boat could be an absolute delight depending upon the surveyors report.

[@Putinhasjoinedthetreads]

Try eating some vegetables.

[@thehighlander1720]

If you're the guy, or gal, who can very comfortably one right after the next, 24/7, tear in half $100 bills from an endless stack, then this is the one for you. She is definitely a beautiful boat, but, you'll have to make quite a few major compromises to enjoy her. As indicated, she'll need an owner with endlessly deep pockets - dreamer?

[@djatnikasaleh2218]

Would you like to review the new propeler due claimed around 30% fuel saver & also more speed .. Tq

[@666devilknight]

The top spar for the square is called a yard. The wooden railing at the stern is called a taff rail. I’d like to see this vessel under sail, and I’d like to see the square being deployed and used.

[@artfulalias3984]

If they followed suggestions from Colvin I've seen on other boats and in his book, the Yard stays rigged and the sail is deployed or doused from deck with lines. The yard can be dropped seasonally for less windage aloft.

[@Seahorn_]

Moderatly maintained at best........ Sure there are some nice surprise hiding

[@audible67]

I don't think you're being as observant as you think you are. The list of maintenance on this boat over the last decade would indicate that it has been extraordinarily well maintained. The walk-through shows it to be a bit long in the tooth and messy and cluttered, but on a boat like this that's the easiest fix you can do.

[@dancarter482]

@@audible67 _Wood over steel aft deck..._

[@user-ud3iw2il3g]

Jordan, What is the current status of this schooner? Sold? Available? Offers?

[@Lord.Kiltridge]

Serious side-eye seeing that head being so close to the kitchen. Anyone who knows about the toilet aerosol effect, would object. If it were me, I would change a lot. The head, the galley, the berths. Mostly I would convert it to a diesel-electric hybrid with a Sharrow prop. With plans to convert it all to hydrogen later. (There are solar panels coming that make hydrogen from airborne moisture. The prop can help generate electricity for a compressor.) Love the woodwork, though. I would want a way to save it.

[@markcampbell7577]

The upswept bow is great but you want to make sure the foremast and headsails are keeled deeper than the the mainsail and the center board keel doesn't interfere with the keel line stem to stern academic keeling design reduces heeling over and increases speed..

[@scottmcdonald3019]

it doesn't have a centre board

[@dougtiffany7439]

There is NO rope on a Sailing Vessel, the only rope is for the Ships Bell, the rest is LINE 1.

[@johnfogarty6143]

That’s called a yard arm . Horizontal boon for lack of another term !

[@MBdrummer3288]

That is a seriously cool boat. I love it. I wonder how she sails?? Would love to see some photos of her under sail. You should try to get those for your videos. It would help a lot in visioning the boat properly. Thanks for the great content. Keep it up dude!

[@danielboughton3624]

You should define 'average adult'. I worked with a guy who was 5' 8" on a good day and considered himself an average height man. I'm thinking that 6' of headroom is a bit short and an average height would be more like 6' so be specific!

[@666devilknight]

I don’t know that a boat needs more than one head. It’s a boat, not a land house. Other than the worn teak decks, what work does it need?

[@gregj4857]

Seems kind of small for it's length only one head that's next to the galley🤢 but it is a pretty boat

[@johncarey3178]

For such a large boat she sure seems cramped. Beauty though.

[@llanero9133]

62 feet LOA and no owner's cabin? What was this vessel made for?

[@user-ny6bs1wo1h]

😊🎣⛵💯

[@1corinthians15.1-4kjv]

Although I love to see these old-fashion boats in the marina, I never would own one: The rigging demands an entire team to sail it, that is my first issue. Good for a sailing school or organization of enthusiasts, but useless for a couple or even family with small kids. In the same time it is priced at the level of many 40 foot modern catamarans, which could be singlehanded. Steel is absolutely not without issues either. It may not rot, but it do corrode and a boat this age need thorough inspection before deal is made or it may end up being an absolute dead end bringing it back to sailing condition. The cockpit is uncomfortable and the whole under deck accommodation is unique, yes, but only fit for small people: I would hit my head hundred times every day in rough seas. You should only buy this sort of boat, if you are okay with the boat being your full time job maintaining it, because it will be.

[@trentstaggerly7455]

I agree with everything you said and the MAIN problem is the 'Rig' setup. Would require a crew of AT LEAST 3 able bodied seamen to take full advantage of all the sails. If this vessel was a Sloop Rig it could be 'Single Handed'. As you pointed out "Headroom" is a problem as is the Cockpit layout. And lastly, the Head is adjacent to the Galley or should I say kind of 'in' the Galley. Not overpriced for workmanship or materials but certainly overpriced for what the design is.

[@julianv.5848]

This Schooner of Alumium or steel? Is a Dimomd in the rough, It can be turned into a modern calssic Blue Sea saling boat, they do not meke them like that enymore. And I am not shure abut the asking price...? The boat is mantaned? But form what I have seen on tv, it needs a good and thorough ''Restomod'' thughout, to bring it back into the XXI Century... I like the shower and head next to the kichen? It seem to be tidily out of the way? I do like the smart looking Mahogany woodern salon with the Wicker coverd cabinet doors...The interior just seems to be past it's best, with the Cherry red painted fix up's... Engine room needs to be modernized the generator which has recently been enstaled, but shuld have been an encosed generateor to limit sound polution etc, I'm sorry abaut my home improvemts vews, which I wish culd do personally, and'all.. 💰💶🎶 I'm only an expectator but I do like this Schooner it looks like it could become a comfortable Oasis cruiser out in the big wide Oceans.

[@deplorablecovfefe9489]

With more big wood railings, It could be a Pirate ship!!!

[@dougtiffany7439]

She is not a Schooner, because a Schooner with a WARD on the Foremast is called a BRIGANTINE.

[@anthonyburke5656]

Having watched a few of your clips I feel I have take some criticisms: the reviews appear tuned to females? How many women buy boats? A man wants data: name of the boat, if it’s a commonly built design approximate numbers, stats: year of build, dimensions, build material e.g. hull steel or glass or wood etc, rig, sail suit, bunks, shower, toilet, water and fuse tank size, water maker, separate Gen set, engine, prop type, keel type, draught/draft, electrics, electronics, anchors and chain etc. get it? Information and data. A biography of the builder, a history of the boat.

[@MikiLund]

Yes shocking it’s still afloat !!!

[@heiner71]

Beautiful boat but lots of work. I expect a ton of rust below the rotten teak deck.

[@rockfishmiller]

Would be nice if the stove was gimballed.

[@cestmoi1262]

Maybe I missed something BUT: lack of headroom in forward and aft cabin, only one head practically "in the kitchen", no support for pots while underway (what, this boat does not tilt?. Too many sails, too many masts, the lines don't terminate at the helm, no AIS, no radar, no electronic chart plotter. Sleeping space (and size wise) it looks more like a 45 footer.

[@chrisyarnold6205]

Yes, agree but if you just love the look, and appreciate the quality build, hell of a boat for $245,000. I would rather have than a cheapish plastic catamaran.

[@cestmoi1262]

@@chrisyarnold6205 One man's owl is another man's nightingale. Enjoy!

[@DefaultUser61]

And that cockpit is so dumb and small. It’s like a master boat builder built a yacht based on a design by an idiot.

[@ShriKaav]

Yup, definitely not the boat for a weak sailo

[@harpomorris1909]

An interesting boat but very uncomfortable looking cockpit which is a main living area, the head off the galley and lack of headroom make it pretty unappealing. At that steep price I’d be looking for a more “livable” boat.

[@carlstout4546]

where is Brandy ????

[@fatherthomas1575]

Flagged? Taxes matter, inspection matters

[@GermanGreetings]

Why do you use the headline ''shocking'' ?

[@martinkilleen7607]

Why am l not shocked ?

[@MrJeep75]

I would leave the beds the way they are, i hate beds you have to climb over the foot of the bed or climb over another person like people do them on converted busses

[@hooshash]

Yardarm

[@andrasvarga4066]

Álmok .,...

[@pl7868]

Um that's not a schooner it's a gaff rigged cutter ketch , watching this is like watching a 7 year old talk about his first bike , the boat is nice 🙂

[@chrisyarnold6205]

I think that by virtue of the fore mast being shorter than the aft mast, it is classed as a schooner. Colvin made quite a few of these, and although they have less interior living space than other boats this size they sure are beautiful to some.

[@olswang]

Way over priced.

[@PaleBlueDotCitizen]

Gaff rigged I believe. Belief makes a fool out of people.

[@kshepard52]

Galley adjacent to the head? That's enough to put me off.

[@michaelschupp877]

I am not a fan of statements: "...I believe..."; "...this looks to be...", "...I am out of my element..": How about you inform yourself, then make your comments with authority and knowledge. If you are unfamiliar with the sail plan, learn about it beforehand! Also, the frequent repetitions of: "this is so cool" and the like are unnecessary and redundant. How about just letting some of these pictures speak for themselves?

[@GuyCruls]

great layout - not bothered with the cheek-by-jowl relationship between galley and head. my main beef is with the old school look - the wooden frames with that mesh 🤮 - very kitch. it'd take a great designer to metamorphose that look. ditto the wooden railing around the aft deck - oo arrrh, I'm a gallion! how tacky. unclear what could replace that eyesore, but it'd have to go.

[@KingMinosxxvi]

its a very ridiculous boat

[@hippiehillape]

Hard pass