1978 Van Cleef Sloop/Cutter

CONSTRUCTION: Steel

YEAR: 1978, commissioned 1987/8

DIMENSIONS: LOA 45, BEAM 13′ 3″, DRAFT 6′ 9″

KEEL TYPE: Fin and skeg

COLOUR: Dark blue

INTERIOR: 6/8 berths in 3 cabins plus galley and heads

ENGINE: 3.8 BMC Commodore 60 hp diesel driving through a PRM 2:1 gearbox giving 7 knots (fuel consumption @ 6 knots approximately 0.75 gallon/hour). She carries 60 gallons diesel in a stainless steel tank.

RIG TYPE: Bermudan sloop/cutter

MAST/SPARS: Douglas fir, mounted in a tabernacle (there are deck fitting for an A-frame). The vessel’s rigging was checked this year: her running rigging was replaced and her standing rigging checked.

SAILS: Slab reefed 450 sq. ft. main, 630 sq. ft. furling genoa both by Aran Rockall, yankee jib, and staysail by Crusader and have had 3 seasons use. She is fitted with lazy jacks.

EQUIPMENT: Internal: The boat has a good-sized cockpit with wheel steering, and seating to either side. Going down the companionway, one finds the galley to starboard, and the heads to port. The galley provides a Flavel Vanessa cooker (2 rings, grill and oven), Electrolux fridge, sink-unit with pressurised hot and cold (and manually pumped cold water), a Paloma water heater, worktops and cupboards. The heads provides a Lavac sea-toilet, shower and hand basin (both with hot and cold). Forward of the heads, is the navigation station, which provides a chart table, chart storage and all the electronics. Forward of this and taking up the major part of the vessel’s interior is the main cabin. This has a top-opening bottle store, an L-shaped settee and removable, drop-leaf table to port (plus numerous shelves and lockers under and behind the seating) whilst to starboard there is another, long, settee, more shelves and lockers and a Refleks diesel-powered cabin heater. In the centre of the area, located towards the heads/galley area, is the vessel’s sound-insulated engine box. This is covered in carpet and makes a convenient additional seat. Attached to it is a very stout handrail, which provides anyone in the galley with something on which to hold if necessary. Upholstery is in blue dralon and looks to be in superb condition, and her internal woodwork is in stained pine. Going forward again, there is a cabin with 4 full-length bunks (2 per side) and locker storage and in the bow there is a very large double berth plus shelving under the side decks, an escape hatch and a hanging locker. Headroom throughout the boat is about 6′ 3″. Navigation equipment includes: Sestrel Major compass, Furuno radar, Philips Mk 8 GPS, Decca, CB radio, Huson VHF, Space Age echosounder, Autohelm 7000 type 2 interfaced to the Philips GPS, navigation lights and deck lights, Stowe speed and distance log, Autohelm. External: One of the most striking features of this vessel is the size of her foredeck. She is fitted with galvanised pulpit, pushpit, stanchions and guardlines and a wind generator. She carries 120 gallons water in a polypropylene tank.

REMARKS: This vessel is massively constructed, for fast and safe passage making. She is very spacious – it is understood her cabin has hosted a party for 30 before now – and very comfortable. The vessel is well fitted with ventilators and deck hatches and is fully insulated (Rockwool in her sides, polystyrene in her deckheads). On the day when we visited, she was warm and snug with no hint of condensation despite the best efforts of the British weather (i.e. it was tipping down, and cold with it!). She is clearly an excellent live-aboard boat, and is understood to be good in bad weather. It is understood she was lifted and her antifouling renewed April 1998.

OUR OPINION: A really nice, serious blue water vessel which would take you just about anywhere you were competent to take her. As noted above, her owner has just (17th May 1999) reduced her price from £100,000 – a very substantial reduction. At this price she must represent outstanding value for money.

FEATURES : Nice, spacious boat. Well equipped and ready for serious cruising. Has been radically reduced in price due to imminent completion of new boat.