Boat Show Weekend! Our Featured Boats

Are you excited about the Boat Show? It’s the start of the cruising season for many PNW boaters. Whether you’re shopping for a boat, honing your skills, or upgrading your equipment, the Boat Show weekend has historically been the kick-off point for boaters. The Seattle Boat Show will take place virtually this year, over the weekend of 1/28 - 1/31/2021. 

We have several listings that await new adventures. Our roster of sailboats covers everything from the perfect lake sailboat to true blue-water world cruisers. If a powerboat is more your style, we have a stylish Crealock-designed yacht that can’t wait to get you out to the islands.

Here are a few featured boats - take a look at our full listings on our website, then call us to make an appointment for your private showing! We are open throughout the Boat Show weekend - call us and chat about your favorite boat!

48’ Crealock Offshore Yachtfisher

This yacht is ONE of a kind, and has great name recognition. She was built by renowned marine architect, William Crealock in 1984. This Yachtfisher set the standard for the next many year's production of the legendary "OFFSHORE" brand of fine yachts, all founded around this great designer. She is a wonderful northwest cruiser with heavy construction offering a low center of gravity which gives her the Famous "Crealock Sea-Kindly" ride that his designs are known for in all kinds of northwest seas.

This unique yacht has been upgraded with new features and appliances. She is well appointed with a great galley, boasting a dishwasher, on the salon level, and 3 staterooms and 2 heads with showers. She has remote controlled bow and stern thrusters for handling with ease in even the tightest or windy marinas. She is ready for new cruising experiences with your family.

2004 Valiant 42 CE

A perennial favorite of the cruising community for local and coastal passages to long range ocean voyages, the Valiant 42 is the refinement of Bob Perry's famous Valiant 40 design.  The addition of a taller double spreader rig and bowsprit enhanced her light air performance and overall balance. Enhanced keel design improved lift and efficiency along with additional ballast for increased stability.  The end result is a beautifully balanced, swift, sea kindly cruiser that's easily managed by solo and couples passage makers alike.

StarGazer is the recipient of continually diligent maintenance and thoughtful upgrades from her current owners.  This vessel is turn key and ready for her next owner's cruising adventures.

Camper & Nicholsons 40’ Ketch

A rare offering at an exciting price! "LaVerne" is a wonderful example of a Camper Nicholson 40. The 40's were built to withstand the rigors of the North Sea. This is a serious cruiser built by a company that has been designing and constructing blue water vessels for over 2 centuries. She has all teak interior woodwork.  

Camper & Nicholson has existed  since 1855.   An excellent reputation due in part to yachts designed by Ben Nicholson and because of the quality of the build. "LaVerne" comes ready to sail and is a true classic gentleperson's sailing yacht. 

25’ Seafarer Meridian

This is your chance to own a stunningly beautiful, classic sailboat. designed by Philip Rhodes.  This boat went through a full, professional restoration from the keel up.  She is in excellent condition, and is an absolute joy to sail.  There were several different iterations of the Seafarer Meridian built over the years.  This is the Bermuda model, which has an extended cockpit along with an outboard well. 

Every system on board has been updated.  The upgrades are numerous, and the list will continue to be added to.  The running and standing rigging was replaced with modern equipment including a new mast and boom, furling headsail, loose-footed main, boom kicker vang, new traveler, and self-tailing winches.  The decks were rebuilt and refinished, along with a new toe rail from Pacific Seacraft and new cleats. The electrical has been completely redone with a 24v system which also powers the new Torqeedo outboard and electronics package from Simrad.

Highly desirable North Lake Union moorage on a secure dock is available for this boat as well. Come down to our docks and check out this beauty.

Klahoose Wilderness Resort - New Destination in BC!

By Kit Case

While writing our last post about our travels in Toba Inlet, I learned of the Klahoose Wilderness Resort. The Klahoose First Nation has reimagined what was previously the Homfray Lodge and paired it with another endeavor, Klahoose Coastal Adventures, which offers grizzly bear viewing excursions. They have six viewing platforms set along the Klite River in the Toba Valley. They take small groups up by boat upriver, where the guests can spend time on the viewing platforms (which look similar to bird blinds), unobtrusively observing the bears.

Photo Credit: Klahoose Wilderness Resort

Photo Credit: Klahoose Wilderness Resort

The resort wasn’t open when we were last in Toba Inlet, so I have no personal knowledge of the accommodations, experiences or the operation itself, but I was drawn in by their Instagram page - it is worth a follow for the photos alone!

The lodge’s website is beautiful and states an anticipated opening date in Spring 2021. I reached out to learn more, and Chris Tait, Tourism Manager with Klahoose Wilderness Resort, wrote back with more details.

Klahoose Wilderness Resort is owned and operated by the Klahoose First Nation on their traditional territory within the heart of BC’s most pristine coast in Desolation Sound. The eco-resort’s remote lodge sits on the water’s edge of the calm Homfray Channel between BC’s Coastal Mountain peaks and the lush, temperate rain forests of the Sunshine Coast. 

Photo Credit: Klahoose Wilderness Resort

Klahoose Wilderness Resort offers a wide range of activities and cultural programming. Guests live an immersive, authentic cultural experience during their entire visit. Experienced Indigenous Interpreters and friendly staff add to the memorable experience, particularly on the grizzly bear viewing tours in Toba Inlet. Guests leave transformed by the beauty of the Klahoose territory, their Nation's unique culture, and the region's exceptional wildlife.

At the time of this writing, The Klahoose Wilderness Resort does not offer guest moorage to boaters, unless they have booked a stay at the resort. The resort offers all-inclusive package pricing, with stays available during the operating season, from May to October. The packages include: accommodation, in either a spacious lodge room or a cosy cabin, meals, Wi-Fi, boat transfer from Lund to the Resort, airport pick-up from Powell River Airport, activities, and grizzly bear tours in Toba Inlet. Taxes, service fee, flights and an optional heli-sightseeing excursion are not included in the package prices. 

We wish them well and hope that we can visit soon!!

Mayday - Plane Down at Refuge Cove

By Roy Kauffman

Generally, there is not a lot of chatter on the VHF in this part of British Columbia because, especially early in the season, there is next to no one in the area.  But on this day, things were different.  

A mayday call came over the VHF radio that a small seaplane carrying passengers had crash landed. The plane had been headed to Refuge Cove, on the southern end of West Redonda Island, which was only a few miles from us.  Immediately, there was response from vessels near Refuge Cove and the rescue effort was underway. In addition to local boats offering to help, the BC Coast Guard was sending in a helicopter.  

After a few minutes, the news on the radio was that the plane had “beached” - a nearly successful landing, but the plane ended up parked on the beach. Everyone on board the plane was alive and in the process of offloading.

The drama of all this over the VHF was palpable and, as mariners in close proximity with an ability to help, it was our obligation to monitor and call in to the BC Coast Guard with an offer of assistance if it was needed. But, it was quickly apparent that they had multiple boats in service. There were people already at the plane providing assistance.  We monitored the radio in case we could help. The reports kept coming in, a few more details each time. We kept the volume up.

People at the Refuge Cove docks were quickly on the scene. A large boat that was nearby was able to take on the passengers, some with minor injuries.  There was discussion of how to get the plane towed to the docks at Refuge Cove. In a short time, the emergency was under control. The Coast Guard worked together with vessels relaying messages over VHF to make arrangements for the passengers. The community of boaters rallied together and took care of the situation. It was great to hear the story unfold. 

Photo credit: Refuge Cove - “A Sweet Haven in the Heart of Desolation Sound”

Information for Visitors to Refuge Cove

Refuge Cove is a fun place to visit and a great provisioning stop.  Whimsical yet functional (their words!), it offers the only grocery store in a deep-water harbour in Desolation Sound. Overnight moorage is available, and short stays of under 4 hours are possible as space allows. They have a fuel dock and fresh water available on the docks. There is a small, well-stocked grocery store that offers marine hardware, souvenirs, local books, bait and tackle. The restaurant was closed during the 2020 season due to COVID, but will hopefully be able to reopen in 2021. Refuge Cove is open year round, but in the winter they are open for mail and fuel only (September 15th – May 31st Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 1pm-3pm).

If you are lucky enough to spend a good chunk of your time in Desolation Sound, it is a welcome stop to pull into Refuge Cove.  In years past, there was even a resourceful entrepreneur with a small barge in the cove that accepted bagged garbage for a fee.

Earning Income While Boating Full-Time

By Kit Case

Not every boater is retired. Many of us are still working, and need to keep doing so, at least in a limited capacity. Working from home can be quite feasible from a boat, allowing you to earn income while living aboard. Especially with the impacts of the pandemic, many people are now able to work from home. Hopefully, the future will allow us to retain some level of working from home even after the worst of the pandemic is behind us.

During our 5-Year Plan, I was able to work part-time/all-remote for my employer, a small law firm where I have worked for a very long time. I kept a portion of the duties I had performed for years that could easily be done remotely. I handled the firm’s advertising, managed their web presence and maintained their blog. My part-time work provided a small bit of income but, more importantly, I was able to retain access to health insurance for my husband and me. Covering this expense was critical in our ability to financially swing the 5-year Plan.

We did not do anything fancy to provide internet access - no signal boosters or satellite connections. We had cell phone service through T-Mobile, which provided us with fairly good cell access with reasonable data allotments, particularly while in the US. We hot-spotted from our phones to our laptops for connection. When we sailed into Canadian waters, we were usually able to stay within the allotted data limits but, if not, we could add data extensions at a reasonable cost. Some employers may be willing to pay for this type of expense. We did not pursue that option because we knew we would be using a fair bit of data for ourselves, maybe more so than for work.

Working aboard, with coffee and a blanket on a chilly morning.

I often was able to participate in phone conferences while we were on the hook. I once took a call from an advertising rep while out in the kayak. It was a nice place to pause. I found that the people I worked with, inside my firm and out, were not only understanding of the limitations or delays I might encounter in communicating with them but were tickled at the unique circumstances I presented. It was a great ice-breaker to say to a client, an ad rep, or anyone else, that I was calling from my sailboat in [enter harbor name here]. They loved it, almost as much as me.

Planning ahead to stay in anchorages with good cell service when it would be needed was tricky because we were aboard a sailboat, and we preferred to be sailing while underway. Timing the movement of the boat via wind power added a pleasant complexity to the game.

Most of my work could be done offline, then uploaded when I had a good signal. For phone conferences, video meetings or internet-intensive work, I tried to schedule events to coincide with needed marina stays. The best plan involved doing laundry in a good wifi zone, while Roy did the provisioning. That’s my kind of multi-tasking.

A list of some of my favorite spots with good cell signal and/or wifi in the Salish Sea can be provided, if you’d like a copy for future reference. Send me a note at kit@seacraft.com if you’re interested. I would be happy to discuss working from a sailboat with you!

Budget Planning for a Live-Aboard Lifestyle

By Kit Case

Generally, living aboard a boat can be less expensive than a land-based life. A mortgage on a boat, even when counting insurance costs, may be less expensive than rent or mortgage on a house or apartment. But, food costs are higher in the places you’d most like to visit. Cooking most of your meals aboard adds to the grocery bill. Restaurants near the harbor may be more spendy, as well. When calculating your budget, overestimate your living expenses. It is better to have extra money in the piggy bank at the end of the month than to need to dip into savings.

Sailboat living, all the things.

Expenses, Known and Unknown

Even if you spend most of your nights on anchor, there comes a time when you need to stop in a marina. Typically, it makes more sense to stay two nights rather than one. It takes time to do laundry, water up, and provision, for example. Stretching your legs and spending quality time in the spots you visit are special and should be enjoyed. If a weather system is forecast to blow through, you may want to arrive a day before it hits or stay an extra day until it clears, rather than docking in or out during a blow. 

Prepare yourself for the need to perform regular maintenance on your boat. Plan on making major purchases on a typical life-cycle schedule. Make upgrades where you can, but don’t scrimp on quality. Keeping your boat in great shape as you go lets you enjoy the best your boat can offer, and keeps the to-do list shorter when it comes time to sell. Also, be ready for sudden and unexpected repairs. When you need service while travelling in outer areas - usually on an urgent basis - you need to be able to stay in port until the job is done, order parts, and possibly hire a professional to do the job.

Less Debt = More Freedom

If it is feasible, give up as much of your land-based expenses as possible. If you need a storage unit, try to keep it to a small size to save costs. Consider reducing your debt significantly before making the boat purchase. Free yourself from as many restraints as you can and you will have more freedom to enjoy the boating life.

If you have questions about how to budget for life aboard a boat, I would be happy to talk through the details with you. Shoot me a note at kit@seacraft.com and let’s start the discussion. If I could make it work, you can, too.

Introducing: The 5-Year Plan to Liveaboard

By: Kit Case

We spent the past (almost) five years living aboard our Valiant 42 sailboat, StarGazer. In this post, and a series of articles to follow, I plan to share our stories and give you tips for how to make the liveaboard life work for you, as it did for us. I encourage you to experience the sense of freedom and peace that life aboard a boat can bring.

Our Backstory

Before my husband, Roy, and I were even a thing, we were sailing buddies. We met 15 years ago, both into sailboat racing (on other people’s boats). We both belonged to the same sailing club. We had similar dreams, including the dream of sailing full-time. What started out as friendly conversation led to pointed discussions and then to full-on planning. We spent the first few years clearing debt, consolidating homes, and seeing my daughter through college, getting married somewhere in the middle. All the while, we obsessed over Yachtworld and dreaming of a time when we could quit our jobs and Just. Go. Sailing. Just sailing. Really. Just sailing. Dreamy, right?

How do dreams come true? A willingness to try something crazy, combined with a lot of planning and then having the gumption to jump when it’s time to jump. Just do it, as Nike reminds us. Or, do the version that works for you.

Some people move aboard a boat as a forever decision, a complete lifestyle change. We, however, chose to give ourselves a 5-year window. Part of that decision was based on money - the financial planners thought that me working longer was wise for our long-term goals. Even as Roy was reaching retirement age, I was a few years out and essentially planned to play hookie for a while. Seemed like a fair exchange. The other reason, also based on money, was that we hoped to be able to sell the boat before too much depreciation had occurred. We knew that, like many people, we were not likely to keep the boat for the 20-year mortgage term. We never expected to make money on the deal, we just didn’t want to lose too much, either. Many calculations led us to The 5-Year Plan. The unexpected offer from my employer to work part-time, remotely, and make enough to pay for our health insurance, sealed the deal. 

Finding the Right Boat

Once we got our ducks in a row and convinced ourselves that this could work (with great support from our family and friends, I’ll add), we started looking at boats in earnest. Ray Neglay of Seacraft Yacht Sales turned into our biggest supporter. To him, the idea wasn’t crazy, not at all. Tons of folks sail off on boats. It’s just what you do. So, we got to it.

We looked at boats locally. We took a trip out to Annapolis in January, when the boats were 99% on the hard for the winter, all lined up and under wraps. We looked at a ton of boats. We began to narrow our focus. There were spreadsheets.

We made an offer on a Valiant in Annapolis that didn’t come to fruition. Then, I went to San Diego to look at one more Valiant, by myself, while Roy was away on work. She seemed like the one. I called Roy from a park bench in Balboa Park, t-shirt weather in February, to tell him all about her.

Without Roy seeing the boat first, to everyone’s surprise, we made an offer. We soon all met in San Diego for a test sail. We knew a Valiant would perform in heavy weather - they’re known as excellent global sailing vessels built with a combo of performance and sea-kindliness  - but, we were sold when, in only 6 knots of wind on San Diego Bay, she picked up and moved. Roy and I looked at eachother and thought “Yep.”

Sunset over Mission Bay, our first destination that involved leaving San Diego Bay.

The 5-Year Plan Begins

Loose ends were wrapped up. Parties were held. We sold or gave away almost all of our possessions. We packed what was left into our Honda Element, aka “the measuring cup.” Roy said, rightly, that if it didn’t fit in the car it wouldn’t fit on the boat - and we drove down the coast at a sightseer’s pace. After all our years of dreaming and planning and looking, the time from finding our boat to moving to California was remarkably short. We moved aboard about seven weeks after finding the right boat. 

Eucalyptus trees on Catalina Island.

We found StarGazer sitting at the dock, in her 3rd year up for sale. She was due for some loving. We spent several months fixing her up, getting repairs and maintenance done and adding a few upgrades to bring her up to what we wanted in a liveaboard. We enjoyed a few months of sailing the coast of southern California, with an amazing chunk of time at Catalina Island. That first September, we had to face the decision of whether to turn left and head to Mexico and beyond or to bring StarGazer back with us to the Pacific Northwest. We weren’t inclined to head to Hawaii. Staying in San Diego, although we loved living there, was not an option we relished. Every destination seemed so far away from San Diego, and we were not sure we were ready yet.

People we spoke with in San Diego didn’t believe us when we described what sailing is like up here in the Pacific Northwest. Washington’s endless anchorages and hundreds of marine parks with mooring balls, spread out over a hundred+ miles of protected waters, followed by hundreds more miles of near-coastal sailing up through the Salish Sea and on into the Discovery Islands and beyond seemed unbelievable, to them. They all assumed we were exaggerating. It is unbelievable here. It is some of the best sailing in the world, in my humble opinion. So, we brought StarGazer home. We had four more years in The 5-Year Plan.

The Rest of the Story

In future posts, I will expand on the steps we took to comfortably live aboard a sailboat full-time, while working part-time and exploring the Salish Sea - on our schedule, at our pace - for the past four+ years. As I go along with my storytelling, I hope you’ll reach out to ask me questions and share your plans and dreams. Let’s start a discussion. I would love to talk with you as your plans take shape. Shoot me a note at: kit@seacraft.com.

We Remain Open for Your Boating Needs

Seacraft Yacht Sales will remain fully operational during the 4-week period of restrictions ordered by Governor Inslee. In fact, we have already been taking precautions that match or exceed the guidelines the Governor has now put in place. We have procedures in place for the listing, showing and selling of yachts, safely. 

Now seems a particularly good time to plan for a better future. Reach out to us for more information and assistance. The best place to be is on the water!

In-Person Walk-Throughs and Sea Trials

Shopping for a boat can be a safe and fantastic experience! Here are a few tips for your visit, whether for an initial walk-through or for a sea trial once your offer to purchase has been accepted:

• Set up a private appointment to see a yacht in person for a walk-through. Contact us by phone, e-mail or by using our online contact form to set your appointment.

• The broker will arrange to meet you at the marina or slip directly. You do not need to enter the marina or brokerage office.

• All persons will maintain social distancing, staying at least six feet apart from each other and anyone who is nearby.

• Please bring your own face masks, wipes, gloves and hand sanitizer. Masks must be worn at all times, even when outdoors.

• The size of the vessel will dictate how many people are allowed aboard. Generally, the broker will not go aboard the vessel with you, but will remain nearby to answer questions.

• Bring your phone or a camera to record your walk-through or sea trial for later review.

• Understand that the use of public restrooms may not be an option, so plan ahead!

We look forward to working with you to get you out on the water and having fun boating. Let’s get started!

I Can Race Sailboats?

By Roy Kauffman

About 20 years ago, I wondered “can I race sailboats?” I decided to stop watching people on sailboats out on Puget Sound and BE the person aboard that sailboat.  I took basic sailing courses, first at Sail Sandpoint and then at Windworks, both in Seattle. I dove head first into the sailing club. There were lots of like-minded people chartering boats and taking them out for the day, overnights or long weekends. I met many wonderful folks doing this and gained a good bit of sailing experience.  It was a casual and fun way to get to know what sailing in the PNW was like. But I wanted more, I still wanted to race.  It looked like too big a leap but, given the chance, I was going to try.

There were several boat owners in the club who raced their boats on a regular basis, and they were looking for crew. So, I signed up.

At first, as a “greenie”, I was relegated to the role of “rail meat” (sitting out on the rail as a counterweight to the wind) or, on a good day, grinding a winch. Truth be told, I was happy just to be on a sailboat that was racing.  Anything over that was win win…. Or, maybe wind wind.  ;-)  

Take the Leap

Join a club, take some courses, chat up people who race and check message boards for local sailing groups… opportunities will arise.  One day I was watching a race from the shore and spoke to the stranger next to me.  By the next day I was on his mailing list and getting invited to crew on his boat. Crew members that are reliable to show up on race days and willing to learn are in demand.

The first thing you will notice when you start to race sailboats is that everyone is “ON”.  The crew is focused on the skipper's voice, people are calling out the traffic around them and, above all, looking out for the safety of their shipmates.

When you get aboard any sailboat you hear a different language: sheet, reef, cleat, pit, foredeck, helm, etc…  When you get aboard a racing sailboat, you hear that same language but at a much faster pace. The words are underpinned with a much more serious tone. Things happen quickly and in close quarters on a sailboat that is racing.

Typically, the people that get asked back to crew again are the folks that know their job and don’t require constant guidance but, at first, enthusiasm goes a long way.  Listen and learn as much as you can. Ask your questions, but after the maneuver is finished and calm has returned, not in the middle of a tight mark rounding.  Bring snacks to share - they will always be welcomed and remembered.

Downwind ride along the east edge of Orcas Island. Video by Roy Kauffman.

Like Taking a Master Class in Sailing

Early on, being part of a race crew is a master class in sailing.  You are usually sailing with people who know way more than you about sailing and if you pay attention you can learn more in one race that you can learn in 10 leisurely cruises.  Instead of 8 or 9 tacks in the course of a cruising day, you may find in a race that you do 20 or 30 maneuvers, from ducking a crossing boat to overtaking competitors, not to mention switching from upwind to downwind modes. Don’t let any of this intimidate you… it's all learning and fun.  

Try to check the weather before each race. It will make you a more valuable part of the crew if you know what might be coming and how to spot it on the water. You will start thinking about how to prepare yourself for it, too. Knowing what to expect and having the confidence to deal with whatever it may be is empowering.

During a race, you are constantly monitoring your station.  Sails are typically trimmed frequently to maximize boat speed. The safety equipment all boats are required to have on board now becomes much more part of your mindset.  In close quarters racing there isn’t time to be shown how to use the Lifesling or what to do during a “crew overboard”. You should know. If you don’t, suggest a meeting day other than a race to learn the drill. The fact that you want to know the safety procedures will be seen as a plus.

When you reach the point of fitting into a crew and being invited on a regular basis, the effort you put out to get to that point will really pay off. As time goes on, a well-oiled crew will do most things without speaking more than a few words. I have had the pleasure of being on such a crew and believe me, when the stuff hits the fan things happen quickly and efficiently.  A cohesive crew gets the job done, together as a team. That is reassuring from many perspectives.

Yes, You Can Race Sailboats

Even if your end goal is cruising, the lessons you learn while racing will improve your overall sailing experience. Racing puts you into a variety of sailing conditions. Weather spotting will become second nature, and learning boat handling in a variety of weather conditions will broaden your ability to sail safely. Theoretical lessons learned in a classroom become intuitive knowledge.

Unless you’re the skipper, you are not expected to know everything. Listen and follow instructions and you will learn. Your enthusiastic, bright, shiny face peering up during some tense moment will go a long way to keeping everyone’s spirits up on board. One thing we found is that a “thank you” goes a long way with your skipper and crewmates. Even if you don’t agree with an instruction, say “thanks” and see how it goes. 

You don’t need to be in perfect physical shape to race, especially for the little local races. Eat right, stay hydrated and bring layers…. You’ll be fine.

Above all, have fun! There are lots of sailing races on Puget Sound in any given week, more so in the summer but cold weather racing is also a thing. This provides lots of opportunities to try your hand at racing. Why not get started now?

Contact me if you have any questions about starting sailing lessons or breaking into the racing scene. You can reach me at roy@seacraft.com.

Seattle Marathon Closure 12-1

The Seattle Marathon is happening tomorrow, December 1st, and they go right by our office! There won’t be much parking or access, so we’re closing the office. Give our brokers a call if you want to schedule a showing or have have any questions about buying or selling boats!

Grand Banks 49

Check out our newest listing.

Passport 40 Sailing and yes she is for sale as well!

Ellis and Ray went for a sail on the Passport 40. It was a beautiful day as you can see when you watch the video. She sure cuts through the water nicely.

Creala 40 Pilothouse on its way to our dock!

Seawing 43 designed by Adkins

This is a hidden opportunity for an offshore sailor. A 2002 offshore boat with a gorgeous interior, for just an ask price of $ 89,000. What a Boat! What a price!

How about a New Pacific Seacraft 40 in your life?

Waterfest 2017

Good times here at Seacraft

Pacific Seacraft Dana 24 ad

An interview with Bill Crealock about yacht design

Old Pacific Seacraft 37 Brochure (not current address or phone)