THE BOAT

24 Feb 2014

Kandahar, Afghanistan

The interior layout of the Beneteau 461.

How did we luck out and find such a great boat?!  We didn't luck out….the good Lord above was taking care of us (again).  For the second time.  Our previous boat was a lightly used, beautiful boat with everything that we wanted in a boat (at that time).  Since then we have adjusted our thinking on a few things, and our wants and desires for this boat changed a little.  We wanted a two-cabin instead of a three-cabin; we wanted a classic main instead of a furling main, wanted an electric winch, etc.  We found a great boat the first time, but we may have found a better boat this time.  It certainly appears to be more lightly used, and a LOT of stuff has just been upgraded.    

We had already lined up a couple of other boats to look at in Feb (when I was scheduled to come home from Afghanistan on break) when this one popped up on Yachtworld.  It was perfect.  At this point, we couldn't be happier.  Yanmar 76 hp turbo charged engine with only 365 hours on it; electric cabin top winch; pristine, like new interior; classic main; all new sails, all new electronics; freshwater boat; meticulously maintained; it exceeded our expectations.  

Though there is a lot of equipment needed for the boat to be fully equipped for cruising, we already have a couple of the most expensive items….. a genset and a water maker.  The radar, solar panels, wind generator, SSB, etc., will be added as soon as possible once I get back from AFG in November, 2014.   

The refit and prep will take some time (a couple of months or so, I hope) and I will try to update this page with the changes so keep checking back with us. 

Here are the Yachtworld Specs on the boat with the things that really caught our eyes highlighted in red:

Dimensions

LOA: 46 feet Ballast: 7496 lbs. Displacement:  21,000 lbs. LWL:  39.08 feet Beam:  13.92 feet Draft: 5'9" ft/in

Engines

Engine: Yanmar 76 HP Turbocharged             Engine Hours: 365 hrs

Tankage

Fuel: 53 gal Water:  218 gal Holding:  30 gal

Accommodations Beautiful, Bruce Farr designed, two-cabin model Beneteau 461 with flawless varnished teak interior and a varnished teak cabin sole.  Cushions appear to never have been used. SALON: Table with removable center leaf, convertible to sleeping berth, central bench seat with storage, storage cabinets on hull, wrap-around dinette seating, single settee to port aft end doubles for nav-seat. NAV-STATION: Aft facing chart table with storage, bookshelf, mounting panel for navigation instruments. FORWARD & AFT HEADS: One piece molded fiberglass liner, marine toilet with 15 gallon holding tank, vanity, sink, h&c pressure water with shower handle, shower sump with pump, storage cabinet, mirrors. FORWARD CABIN: Island queen-size berth, storage with drawers beneath berth, hanging locker, bench seat, shelving along hull, carpet floor. AFT CABIN: Double berth runs fore & aft, storage beneath berth, hanging locker, shelves along hull.

Galley Located starboard and aft, this generous sized galley is complete with cabinets along hull, cane faced cabinet doors, white composite countertop, double stainless steel sinks with hot and cold pressure water mixer, cutting board covers, top loading freezer compartment, front loading refrigerator compartment, Force 10 stove three burner stainless steel stove with oven, gimballed, propane fuel for stove, built-in microwave oven.

Electrical 3X12volt house batteries, 1X12volt engine battery, dual 30 amp shorepower with stern and bow inlets, 12volt control panel, 12volt socket at chart table and additional 12 outlets, 110 volt control panel under chart table, 110 Volt cabin outlets, navigation lights, cabin lights, 11 gal. hot water heater, air conditoning with reverse cycle heat, and a 2500 watt inverter/charger.

Electronics All new electronics in 2012 ($15k..I have the invoice).  Two 2012 Furuno NavNet VX2 Chartplotters, one at the helm and one at the nav station.  New Furuno Navpilot 711, Furuno F150 Wind Instruments, Furuno F150 Speed/Depth Instruments.  New Icom-504 VHF radio with AIS (remote at the helm), new Ritchie Power Damp Compass. 2009 Stereo with iPod input, Dantronics Antenna masthead TV/Stereo.

Sails & Rigging PRIMARY SAILS:  All new 2014 suit of North 3DL Marathon sails ($17k….I have the invoice).  Fully battened classic mainsail, and 150% furling genoa to be installed after closing.   BACK-UP SAILS:  2009 Banks full-length battened mainsail, 2009 Banks 150% roller furling genoa, 2011 new mainsail cover and wheel/cockpit table cover. SPINNAKERS:   Two cruising spinnakers…. .75 oz. and a 1.5 oz. assymetrical cruising chutes with separate sheet setups. RIGGING:  Classic anodized aluminum stepped masthead rig with double spreaders, Schaefer furling unit, S.S. discontinuous wire standing rigging, mainsheet with traveler, solid vang, Harken batt cars, control lines led aft to cockpit, electric cabintop sheet/halyard winch, self-tailing primary sheet winches, genneker gear, and flag halyard.

CockpitCockpit has walk-thru transom with swim platform, inlaid teak cockpit table with fold down leaves, drained storage compartment, drink holders and cockpit light, cockpit shower, cockpit console with leather wrapped wheel, hinged helm seat, cockpit cushions, and cockpit dodger with window covers. Hull & Deck White hull and deck with green boot and cove stripes.  Bulb keel with winglets, spade rudder with composite rudder shaft, 3-blade Max feathering prop, upgraded dorades with solid teak covers and S.S. dorades, dorade vent guardrails, mast guardrail, exterior teak toenail and hand holds refinished, S.S. bow and stern pulpits, double lifelines and S.S. stainchions, (1) locker in transom swim platform, (2) side lockers, (1) propane locker,  single lever engine control, S.S. swim ladder, anchor locker in bow with S.S. bow roller, electric anchor windlass, steel cradles, basic safety and mooring equipment.

One of the things we want to do is turn the sail cover into a Stak-pak/jack line type setup.

Because of the cloudy skies, you can't see how shiny the fiberglass hull still is.

Sugar scoop swim platform for easy access and great place to clean fish and lobster.

The boat has an almost new dodger, but no bimini…must have bimini frame and canvas made. 

Note anchor windlass below deck…keeps it out of the weather, and makes for a cleaner look.

The teak is in excellent condition…note the almost new helm and table cover.

The old, slightly discolored compass in this photo has been replaced with a new one.

We don't particularly like the bright blue upholstery, but it is like new.

The salon area is nice and roomy and the interior teak is immaculate.

The table is just waiting for a fresh lobster and fish dinner,  followed by a game of Rook.

As you can see, the galley is aft on the starboard side.  We like this better than along the side.

Though we eat in the cockpit most of the time, this will seat 6 comfortably.

Picture is blurry, but this is the master cabin (forward).

Settee and hanging locker in the master cabin. 

Yanmar 76 hp with 365 hours on it……barely broken in.