1996 Brent Swain 36

CONSTRUCTION: Steel

YEAR: 1996

DIMENSIONS: LOA 36′ 0″ (11m), BEAM 10′ 6″ (3.2m), DRAFT 6′ 0″ (1.8m)

KEEL TYPE: Long fin & skeg

COLOUR: Cream with white superstructure and blue antifouling

INTERIOR: 5 berths plus galley and heads

ENGINE: Vetus 310 22 hp diesel driving a 3-blade prop through a Hurth 2:1 gearbox. Coupling is by R & D with a PSS deep-sea seal on propeller shaft.

RIG TYPE: Bermudan Cutter

MAST & SPARS: Alloy, by Z-spars

SAILS: Main (4 reefs) and high cut yankee jib (1 reef) both by Lucas, plus large and small staysails

EQUIPMENT: Internal: The boat has a good-sized, self-draining cockpit, with seating to all round. The sliding hatch over the companionway is constructed so that a degree of shelter is provided at the forward end of the cockpit, and the companionway steps lead down into the saloon. There is access to the engine under the steps. The galley is to port and provides a Plastimo Pacific gimballed cooker (2 burners and oven, with flame failure device), a deep, electrically powered, chest refrigerator, sink unit with manually pumped cold water (with large filter), worktop and cupboards. Opposite this there is a wet locker, a quarter-berth, cupboard and the navigation station. This provides a chart table plus chart storage, electronics, etc. Going forward, there is a dinette to port and a single settee berth to starboard (all seats have built-in storage). There is a fitted drop leaf table with built in bottle store. Going forward again, a bulkhead door leads through to the forepeak where there is a double berth, hanging locker and the heads. This has a Baby Blake sea toilet and further storage. Décor is good with all internal woodwork being in varnished hardwood, and the deckheads in pine. Upholstery is finished in a red woven material. Navigation equipment includes: Garmin 128 12 channel GPS, Cetrek depth sounder, VHF radio, navigation lights and a Danforth compass. External: The boat is fitted with galvanised pulpit, pushpit and handrails, and in addition has stainless steel rungs built into the rudder and transom. There is also an arch over the transom for the vessels two Siemens 50 watt solar charging panels. The boat has tiller steering and in addition she has Aries wind-vane self-steering. Decks are painted, with working areas all coated in a cork granule/epoxy resin finish. This is both non-slip and hard wearing (and looks good too). All parts on deck which are subject to wear (cleats, chain plates, fairleads, etc.) are in 316 stainless steel. Windows are 1/2 inch Plexiglas in the doghouse and 3/8 inch elsewhere. There are two opening hatches in the cabin roof, and there is also a large lazarette for fenders and warps in the aft deck. She carries 20 gallons of diesel in a stainless steel tank, and 50 gallons of fresh water in her keel. Ground tackle includes: 45 lb CQR with 130′ 9mm chain and a 35 lb CQR with 25′ chain and 200′ 5/8 anchor plait. Deck equipment includes: Lofrans Royal anchor winch, 4 x 2-speed halyard winches, 2 x 2-speed sheet winches and 3 x single-speed sheet winches.

REMARKS: It is understood the hull is insulated down to her waterline with 1″ Styrofoam insulation, making her warm, dry and quiet. She has bronze seacocks throughout, all suitably insulated from the steel hull. Her rigging, which looks to be in excellent condition, is in stainless steel with bronze and stainless rigging screws. She has 9 coats of epoxy coal tar on her bottom, and 6 coats of epoxy on her topsides over-coated with 2-part polyurethane paint. She has completed an Atlantic circuit (Cape Verde Islands, Caribbean, Bermuda, Azores, Ireland, Scotland) and is understood to be an easy and fast single-hander (Cape Verde to St Martin – 2,200 miles – in 14.5 days). Her owner is a qualified boat builder and has fitted her out to a very high standard in a traditional style with immaculate, solid-timber joinery (raised panel doors, all joints dovetailed or mortise and tenon as appropriate).

This vessel has just (March 2001) had a full out of water survey, with excellent results.

OUR OPINION: This is a serious blue water cruising boat. Designed by Brent Swain (Vancouver), she has attractive lines, good accommodation and is built and fitted out to a high standard.