THIS IS A LIST OF SOME OF THE QUESTIONS WE ALWAYS SEEM TO GET ASKED
Why are you selling your Yacht?
We have been sailing together for over twenty years, owned “Unda” for thirteen, and it was our ambition to have Five years “extended” cruising when I retired. We feel we have achieved our goals and it’s time to do something else.
What’s her sailing performance like?
For a motor sailor surprisingly very good, and most certainly considerably better than the smaller Nauticats. She is at her best in anything over a F3, and doesn’t need reefing until the top of a F5. With light airs on passage making we very often “Motor Sail” which is very economical on Fuel, and keeps the speed up. “Unda” Is cutter rigged and if we have plenty of crew we will get the lot out (Genoa, staysail, Main and mizzen)., then she really goes!
Do you use the Mizzen much?
In very high winds we have sailed with just the mizzen and staysail (inner foresail) which makes for a very balanced rig. If just on the motor we sometimes use the Mizzen as a steadying sail, especially in a beam sea. It is also very useful on a very windy anchorage to keep the head to wind and stop you sailing round the anchor.
What’s the maximum speed under power, and what’s the fuel consumption.?
Both are directly related. The “Hull speed is 9.5 knots, but at that speed you are burying the stern in the water and burning more fuel than you need to. (Mind you, it’s nice to have that power if you have to punch a tide at the end of a long passage). Top “cruising speed” is 8 knots and that speed you burn one litre of fuel per nautical mile (in old terms 1½ Gallons per hour). Since we arrived in the Med’ and are now much more leisurely, we tend to throttle back to about 6½-7 knots, which is very economical (I reckon a bit less than 1 gallon per hour)
How many Hours are on the Engine and generator?
Since we have owned the boat we have “logged” just under 1500 hours on the main engine. According to information we have the previous owner did approximatly the same so 3,000 hours is a reasonable estimate.
A new generator was installed in 1998 and has done 420 hours.
It’s a big boat, can two of you handle it without crew?
The simple answer is YES. Boat handling is rather simple in that it’s like flying a plane, with a bit of practice most people can do it easily. It’s the landing and taking off that’s tricky !!. The Nauticat 44, despite it’s size is very manoeuvrable in a marina and very predictable once you get the hang of the prop wash. The long keel gives you “Grip” to counterbalance the high windage so she will not “pay off” like a modern light yacht. We also have a Bowthruster which really helps as well. We have rarely had a problem just being the two of us.
You put on “copperbot”, what’s that, and how has it worked?
“Copperbot is supposed to be a replacement for anti-fouling that should last for ten years. It is pure copper in a suspension of epoxide resin. It minimises growth and theoretically you should only need a quick haul out once a year for a powerwash.
I put it on in 2003 (having scraped the bottom back to to the gelsheild coat) When we hauled out in Portugal in 2004 there was no sign of any growth. 2005 haul out in Spain was the same. When we hauled out in Italy in 2006 there was still no growth, but signs that about 25% of the original coating was failing. This was confined to an area I had never been happy about with the initial application as it “cured” faster than the rest. We hauled out again in 2007 and after consultation with a local surveyor in Lefkas, reapplied another coating to the affected area. (He put a meter on the hull within one hour of coming out of the water and declared it the “driest hull he had ever seen”). After two months lying in marina berth during a VERY hot July and August there were traces of growth on the waterline and on the bowthruster (which I scraped off in a delightful anchorage in September!). We will haul out in April 2008 and I will update this page with my findings.
In essence, the product is good, but in the warmer waters of the Med’ less effective. I would estimate five rather than ten years is the optimum (still very cost effective) and any new owner should only bank on getting probably one more year before having to resort to traditional anti-fouling, or replacing the “Copperbot”. Would I use it again? –YES
When was the last full, out of the water, Survey?
November 2004 (For Insurance before departing to cross Biscay). A very thorough survey at which all was A1. A copy will be available to serious enquirers, however any prospective purchaser would be advised to obtain their own survey.
What is the service record of the engine?
Ford recommends a full service every 200 hours (Oil change, new oil filter, new fuel filter/s). Prior to leaving for the Med’ we never did 200 per year and the engine had a Full service at the end of every season prior to lay-up. Since leaving the UK I have given a Full service every 100 hours (two per year, one always prior to lay-up.)
Have you ever had any problems with the engine?
With the engine itself, no. The starter motor and alternator have needed replacement, and the water cooling system was stripped down and cleaned during the re-fit in 2003.
We have heard they are very strict about holding tanks in Turkey; do you have them?
The Turks are (rightly) concerned about “Black” water (effluent) in their anchorages. “Unda” has a holding tank fitted to the aft heads.
You have gas and electric cooking, why?
Electricity is usually included in your berthing fee in the Med’, why waste money on gas? Also we have found a combined Microwave, convection oven and grill to be very effective. Also, it gets very hot here, and cooking by gas creates more unwelcome heat. This is were the induction hob comes into its own. It cooks very effectively but does not create any residual heat. Also, on remote anchorages we tend to run the generator for about two hours a day to charge the batteries, top up the fridge, make water, heat water etc. It also makes sense to do the cooking for the day whilst the genset is running and producing 6 kva. That said we still use the three burner gas hob and full oven a lot.
Do you use the Watermaker much, and aren’t they difficult to maintain?
Firstly we use it a lot as we like to spend time on anchorages rather than Marinas. A secondary benefit is you never have to buy bottled water (a big expense in the Med’). I reckon I have re-couped the cost over five years just with this use alone. Secondly, you are right, some Watermakers are very complicated and difficult to maintain. This one is easy. It is a very simple French Dessalator system. It flushes itself automatically each time after use, and winterising it (the usual bugbear with most systems) takes ten minutes! I wouldn’t be without it, especially with a hungry washing machine (another essential according to Helen).
Is there anything on “Unda” that needs serious attention?
As we speak no, but it is a boat and you have to keep on top of things at all times. Also please see my comments on Copperbot antifouling.
For someone taking her on I would take one major item into consideration,. When built she had a dark blue hull. The original owner had the hull sprayed white (Interspray) in Turkey 17 years ago. It was an excellent job, and on the last survey the surveyor commented on how well it had been done. However, every year I “cut and polish” the hull to keep the shine, and this has been done so often that very slight traces of the palest blue are just becoming visible in very small areas.
Whilst this does not detract from the overall look, without doubt she would be greatly improved with the hull being re-sprayed. We considered doing it before selling but in the end decided to reduce our asking price to reflect what this “cosmetic” job would cost.
How old is the liferaft, and is it “in service”?
Purchased new in 2004. A service is “due” this year and is on the to do list.
You say the Ketch is more desirable than the Schooner -Why is that?
Firstly, in sailing the terms the Schooner just does,’t seem to work as well (we know because we looked at several before buying the Ketch) and it’s difficult to get a “balanced” rig. Secondly from a practical living on board situation the masts are awkwardly placed. The Mizzen (the aft bigger mast in the Schooner) comes right through the wheelhouse directly in front of the Helm....crazy I think. However. at the end of the day it is a metter of opinion, but Siltala definatley built a lot more Ketch rigs, and the second hand Schooners do tend to “hang about a bit” on the market.
You say this is a PRIVATE SALE, yet it is advertised on a company website (castlechurch-properties.com)
Castlechurch Limited is a small property company owned by Helen and myself and our children.
We are making use of the company website to promote and advertise the sale. The company is not in anyway involved in the sales process. You are dealing with two individuals, Michael and Helen Fraser-Hopewell
You are advertising the price in British Pounds, will you accept Euro’s (or any other currency)?
The only other currency we would accept are Euros, the exchange rate being calculated against GBP on the day of completion.
Is the Price you are asking negotiable?
We have deliberatly pitched our asking price lower than the average for a Nauticat 44 of this age, condition and standard of equipment and Inventory. We have also taken into account the possibility that a new owner may want to respray the hull (see FAQ -”Is there anything on “Unda” that needs serious attention”).
Whilst we are always open to “offers” we do hope to achieve our asking price.
You want to hand over “Unda” in Turkey, which is outside the EU. How will this affect her V.A.T. Paid Status.
Good Question. In order to maintain the “VAT Paid” Status of the vessel the actual sale,contract, and hand over of yacht and Title MUST take place within the European Union. From Indications we have of interest so far, it is probable that an offer will be made (and accepted) in Lefkas. The Contract will state that we must deliver the yacht for completion to a Port within the EU. For practical purposes Greek Territory near to Turkey ie Rhode, Kos, Cyprus, or wherever is convenient for the purchaser.
|
