51' Seaborn Raised-Salon Center-Cockpit Sloop (1956) - SEA FEVER

“Sea Fever” is a true classic designed by Ben Seaborn and built by Vic Franck in 1956. The former owner has sailed her to New Zealand and back. “Sea Fever” was built as a racer/cruiser and is considered by many to be Ben Seaborn’s finest yacht design.

Additional Specs, Equipment and Information:
Bridge Clearance: 72 feet
Ballast: 8500 pounds
Tankage – Fuel: 100 gallon Water: 90 gallon Holding: 55 gallon

Accommodations
The main salon is just two steps down from the large cockpit. This main cabin with her raised salon is the feature that is most memorable. The sit in and see out design is what makes her unique. On the port side is a raised U-shaped gimbaled dinette table that is a wonderful spot to enjoy the scenery no matter the conditions outside. There are drawers below both fore and aft and under the outboard settee. There is also a stool inboard of the table. The galley is across to starboard with eye level windows allowing for a beautiful view even while doing the dishes. She has a 3 burner propane stove and oven, double sink with retractable faucet, newer counter tops and refrigerator/freezer unit. Outboard of the galley is addition storage in sliding cabinets and drawers. Moving forward down two steps is the mid cabin with pullman berth to port and a settee (skinny berth and best offshore place to sleep!) to starboard. There is also a navigation station next to the master berth. There is storage under both berths with drawers to port in addition to the under berth storage. The enclosed head is just forward on the port side and the large hanging locker is to starboard. Outboard in the head is a counter with sink aft with enclosed storage below. There is a V berth forward with 2 single berths, drawers below and storage above. At the bow there is hinged access to the chain locker. There is a large opening hatch in the forward cabin. The aft cabin is accessed by two steps down from the cockpit. The aft cabin features a double berth to starboard and a head to port. This head has an attachable shower head and shower stall with sump pump. The engine room has entry on both sides from the forward bulkhead of the aft cabin. The batteries sit under the aft cabin steps for easy access. There is a large “garage” at the aft end of the boat that is accessed from the aft cabin with lots of stage capacity for sails and offshore gear.

“Sea Fever’s cockpit is a special place. Whether sailing the Pacific Northwest or offshore, she is safe and secure with a large wheel on a centered pedestal, easy access to the large primary winches and end boom sheeting for the main is right there at the aft end of the cockpit. She has a solid windshield, dodger and removable bimini top for protection in addition to full enclosure panels for those rainy days. There is good storage in outboard lockers as well as two long lazarettes to port and starboard. Along with the raised solon, the cockpit is the other unique and special feature of “Sea Fever’ She will be forever remembered for her fabulous entertaining and comfortable sundowners for so many people. She has comfortable seating for 8-10 but has accommodated up to 20 in Tonga! The
removable wheel opens the space up and between the portable roll up cockpit table and the elevated shelf area behind the windshield you have the perfect space for laying out appetizers and enjoying the beautiful scenery.

Construction
“Sea Fever” is strip planked mahogany with monel nails. The first two planks off the garbard are traditionally calked then the strip planking begins. The story goes that after building “Sea Fever” in ’56, the guys at Vic Franck’s didn’t want to do another messy strip planked boat so they built her sistership, “Helene” traditionally! She is strong and solid. The framing at the keel step was originally a steel frame structure that was replaced with a more conventional wood frame grid in 1999 by Jesperson Boatyard in Sydney BC prior to her cruise of the Pacific. She originally had canvas deck coverings and no stand-up aft cabin.
• 1 & 1/4″ x 2 & 1/4″ covered mahogany strips glued and edge nailed over bent
light oak framing to create a seamless hull.
• The timber keel is one piece of 48′ x 18″ Alaska yellow cedar.
• Lead filled steel keel
• Teak decks over plywood core
• Sitka Spruce mast Box construction (new in 1996) & solid boom. In 1998/1999 in preparation for going offshore she underwent a refit including rebuilding the mast step from steel to wood, replacing the floor timbers, pulling the keel bolts for inspection, enlarging the cockpit drains and thru hulls for quicker drainage, adding the inner forestay with runners and more.

Sails and rigging
• Carol Hasse offshore mainsail (2011) with 2 reef points
• 120% Carol Hasse genoa 2009
• 90% cruising jib (Schattaurer)
• Storm Jib (Schattaurer)
• Storm trysail (Schattaurer)
• Spinnaker
• Spinnaker pole
• Harkin roller furling jib
• Strong track for mainsail – 2011
• Lazy jacks 2011
• Removable inner forstay with running back stays
• Seperate storm trysail track on main mast
• Spruce mast & boom
• (2) Barient #55 winches
• Lewmar #46 S.T. Winch
• Lewmar #42 Two-speed winch
• Lewmar #8 winch
• (3) Merriman #3 winches
• 1-W.C. winch

Electronics
• Furuno 24 N.M. radar
• Garmin handheld GPS-48
• Furuno 30 GPS (Inop, needs new antenna)
• Standard VHF with Ram Mike
• Icom SSB and automatic tuner
• Simrad #AP20 autopilot with remote
• Datamarine speed & distance indicator
• Datamarine #CA220 Corinthian Series Log
• Datamarine wind instrument
• Robertson #RL101 Rudder Angle Indicator
• Sony #CDX-GT330 AM-FM-CD player

Electrical
• Xantrex Freedom Marine 20 2000 W Inverter/Battery charger
• Xantrex remote panel
• Heart Link lite 10 battery Monitor
• 735 amp house 6 gold battery bank
• 2 group 31 engine start batteries
• 1 battery forward for windlass
• 235 amp alternator with smart regulator
• tri color
• Led anchor light

On Deck
• Plath Heavy Duty Electric Anchor Windlass (new motor 2015)
• CQR, Bruce & Danforth anchors
• 300′ chain with 50′ rode
• 100′ chain with 200′ rode
• Saltwater wash down pump
• Bosun Chair
• Shore power cord
• Forespar Strobe & Lifebuoy
• Dodger with full enclosure (2015)
• Full canvas winter boat cover
• Lifesling Man Overboard System
• Mobry radar reflector
• Magma gas BBQ
• Larger cockpit drains for rapid draining
• Newer through hull fittings

Additional
• 3 blade Maxprop feathering propeller
• Spare 3 blade propeller
• Red Dot forced air cabin heater
• 406 Epirb
• High capacity bilge pumps
• Frigoboat 12 volt keel cooled refrigeration (2014)
• Newer counter tops in galley and forward head
• New upholstery 2009/10
• Bottom painted 2/16
• Kerosene lantern
• Chelsea ships bell Clock
• Weems & Plath Barometer

The Sea Fever Story
“Sea Fever” was the brainchild of 3 forward thinking owners and the brilliant Ben Seaborn. Born out of specific requirement of her owners, Ben Seaborne appears to have met all of their criteria: 1. Racing ability – she has raced and done well in numerous Trans-Pacs, Swiftsures, and local races. 2. Fast cruising here in the Northwest under sail and power, and 3. The ability to sit in and see out as the weather doesn’t always cooperate. “Sea Fever’ is truly a joy to sail and with her big rig, deep keel and large rudder she is balanced and powerful yet handles like a dinghy. Her legacy of sailing includes local races, Swiftsure, around Vancouver Island, Desolation Sound, Barkley Sound, Trans-Pacs, Vic Maui, the “Cruise of the Century” sailing from Seattle to New Zealand via Hawaii and the South Pacific for the America’s Cup in New Zealand and the Millennium from 1999-2001.

Disclaimer
The Seller offers the details of this vessel in good faith but cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of this information nor warrant the condition of the vessel. A buyer should instruct his agents, or his surveyors, to investigate such details as the buyer desires validated. This vessel is offered subject to prior sale, price change, or withdrawal without notice.