RAN

It began one pleasant July Saturday over a year ago when I treated my wife, Iris to a whale watching excursion in Newport Harbor, California. We didn't know that our odds for seeing a whale during summer were about the same as sighting a pterodactyl, but we enjoyed the cruise and did spot some playful dolphins. After the trip we rented a runabout and putted around the sailboats that were moored in the middle of the channel. I could tell by the gleam in her eyes, Iris was impressed. And that's when she leaned over, lightly gripped my arm and asked, "Why don't we get a sailboat?"

We began our search the next weekend, and continued every weekend traveling up and down the coast in search for our boat the next several months. Knowing little about sailboats, we devised a plan. We asked every broker we met, "We'd like a boat which can safely take us to Hawaii and back, in a price range of $20,000 to $30,000."

Surprisingly, no broker laughed, though they also were not able to meet our criteria. Most tried showing us boats listed for $100,000 or more, until we met Charlie in Ventura. He showed us a classic 1976, 32 foot Allied Seawind II ketch named RAN. It was the closest boat to meeting our request so far. We were impressed, with RAN and Charlie, and when we left he pointed at the boat, smiled and said, "You can look at a hundred other boats, but you'll always return to that one."

We returned a dozen times to this salty looking full keeled ketch designed by Gilmer. We read everything we could find regarding the boat. On the internet we found the Allied Seawind II Owners Association, loaded with information. Our favorite book became 20 Small Sailboats to Take You Anywhere by John Vigor. He listed it as the third most seaworthy boat in the book. The more we researched, the more we appreciated its pedigree. The boat was also outfitted by someone highly knowledgeable about blue water cruising. It became obvious this boat could not only take us to Hawaii, but it was ready for the trip. After the sea trial, dry dock, survey and negotiations we said, "Ok."

We signed up for sailing lessons, and Charlie was kind enough to take us sailing on RAN for several weekends until we felt confident enough to solo. Over the past year we've made mistakes, like departing a marina on a moonless overcast night where we couldn't see a foot beyond the bow, or stern, or any other direction. This was not the time to learn to navigate with the radar and GPS, but we did and made it safely to open sea. We've banged RAN against docks, motored into kelp beds, ran aground, fouled the prop, and can probably add a dozen other mistakes to the list, but she's always returned us home kindly. One week last May we joined Phil and Anna, another inexperienced couple who also bought an Allied Seawind II, at Mariner's Cove in San Diego. It was Phil, while slightly intoxicated, with his cherry cheeks protruding from his half kept beard under his captain's cap who said, "A good sailor can sail almost anything just about anywhere, but its people like us who need boats like these."

One of our proudest moments with RAN occurred when Iris and I docked to dump our holding tank. While flushing out the system an owner of a monstrous Vagabond 47, one which looked like it hadn't left its slip for years, sauntered up. He looked over our boat, then nodded approvingly. After a brief discussion about RAN, he gazed at her and said, "Ya know, everything else paled in comparison when I bought my Vagabond, but it turned out to be too much boat, at least for my experience. Anyway, I should of bought a boat like yours. It's beautiful."

Iris and I know RAN isn't perfect. Nobody ever is. For one thing she's a bit cramped, on deck as well as the engine room. We've learned to walk on the coach roof when moving from the cockpit to the bow, and squeeze between the standing rigging of the mizzen and the hard dodger while returning. Everything must be removed from the cockpit lockers to gain access to some critical systems, like servicing batteries and adjusting the packing gland. And I've become a bit of a contortionist at times while working on the engine. But we've learned to forgive her for her faults, just as she's always forgiven us for ours, like when we're late to reef a sail, or on our last passage when we overheated her engine. We were only in 70 feet of water, so we decided to shut her down, drop anchor and look into the matter. I might not have a lifetime of sailing behind me, but I do have a lifetime of troubleshooting experience. I first checked her coolant level, the salt water strainer, her raw water pump vanes, the anode in the heat exchanger and that the seacock wasn't clogged. I sat on the floor, looking at the engine, baffled, when suddenly RAN spoke to me with her sign language. Out of the corner of my eye I watched her drop a small bead of water from the bottom of her raw water strainer. I had checked the lid earlier, it was tight, but it couldn't be sealed if it dropped a bead of water. I removed and resealed the lid, started the engine, raised the anchor, and continued on without another problem for the remainder of the week with RAN totally forgiving me for my mistake. Every passage seems to bring us closer, Iris, RAN and me, to the point that she's family now, so much so that we're moving in with her in the near future. We love RAN, and in so many ways with other than words she's said, "I love you too."

Builder/Designer
 

Builder: Allied Yachts

 
Dimensions
 

LOA: 31'.2"

LWL: 25'.6"

Beam: 10'.5"

Displacement: 14,900 lb

Draft: 4'.6"

Ballast: 5,800 lb

 
Engines
 

Engine(s): Westerbeke '97

Engine(s) HP: 42

Engine Model: Dsl 42B 4 cyl fwc

Hours: 1000

 

 

 
Tankage
 

Fuel: 40 gl

Water: 60 gl

Holding: 10 gl

 

 

 

Accommodations

� Wide cabin trunk

� Good head room, aprox 6'.2"

� Warm interior with plenty of wood

� Exellent storage in drawers and bins

� forward cabin with V berth and hanging locker

� entry to the head from forward cabin

� w/o entering main cabin

� enclosed head with shower

� HOT and Cold press water and water filter.

� Separate shower sump pump

� Asymetrical settees in main cabin.

� Fold down table, shelving behind.

� MSD , holding tank,macerator pump, deck pump-out '98.

� Port settee is a single berth

� Strbrd. pulls out to double berth

� Chart table strbrd. aft

� Force 10 propane cabin heater

� Shades on all ports.

 

 

Galley

� Hillrange 2 burner propane stove with oven '99

� Remote gas selenoid

� Seafrost BD12 air cooled 12V refrigerator , large ice box

� Large deep sink, pressure hot and cold water, water filter, Shanvink fixtures

� Sump and pump on sink waste

� Manual water pump for back up

� PUR 40E Watermaker

� Hot water heater

� (Seaward , engine heat exchanger & AC power)

 

 

Electronics and Navigation

� Binnacle Compass

� Plastimo bulkhead compass

� Radar , FURUNO 1721 Mk, 24 mile range , antenna on gimbaled mount on mizzen mast '98

� Deck repeater for FURUNO GPS data '06

� FURUNO 1600 GPS chart plotter/depth sounder/spped log '98

� Garmin GPS '98

� ICOM 71 RT SSB/HAM radio w PCT II modem '01,earth plate, insulated backstay, automatic tunner

� Simrad AP11 autopilot. Robertston drive on quadrant , below-deck main unit.Standard Horizon fixed VHF , mast head antenna

� Standard marine CD/Stereo '01 speakers on cabin and cockpit

� Brass clock/barometer/hydrometer set

 

 

Electrical
Full profesional rewire '97-'98, new breaker 110V/12V Heart Interface switchboard , 3 circuit AC battery charger.Five solar panels fixed to HARD DOGGER , regulator/controller . Dynaplate electrical ground shoe '99. Galvanic insolator,Shore power cord. 4 batteries ALL NEW in '07, two 225Ah , 6V golf cart type house batteries, one 100 Ah 12V lead/acid deep cycle spare house battery. One engine start/spare battery. ALL SECURE IN BOXES . Battery switches allows any combination. Engine area lighting.

 

 

 

Deck Hardware
Edson gear-drive steering ,rudder-post,prop stuffing box replaced '97.
Seacocks and thru-hulls double clamped . LEAD BALLAST GLASSED INTO HULL..!!!
(no keel bolts , no smile.).Little exterior wood (low maitenance)
Teak bowsprit. All decks with non-skid molded surface. Large cokpit lockers.
Large mooring cleats forward, midship and aft. Seatiger 555 windlass.Life lines. Lewmar opening ports, two deck hatches, four cabin ports,one bronze port
Dorade vents . Compression post flooring '98 .Running rigging lagely replaced '99-'01. Track mounted cleats, dead-eyes and sheet blocks.Sailomat wind vane . CoverCraft WaveStopper HARD DODGER w teak boom gallows '98
Pipe to rail mounted SS Force 10 BBQ. 2 Electric bilge pumps , 1 manual bilge pump. FUEL TANK and Hoses replaced in '99.Closed cell cushions for cockpit seats.Westerbeke manufacturers spares kit. Spare Alternator and Water pump for engine. Many spares for engine, electrical systems, assorted deck hardware 12V search-light. 2 radar reflectors Bosum chair,four 5 gl jerrycans for water and fuel. Insects screens for all opening ports. Canvas covers for all hatches and varnished rails . Cockpit lee-clothes.Baja fuel filter. Canvas and nettings stowage pockets above berths.Teak bookcases in galley and nav. areas '01. Twist lock extendable boat hook.Deck mop. 12V Hella fans."Flopper Stoppers SS. Anchors/Rode : 45 Lb CQR on 240' of 3/8" chain. 30 Lb Danforth on 30' of 3/8" chain,250' line. 22 Lb Danforth on 10' chain ,125' line.Spare line,250' of 5/8" nylon. 30 Lb Bruce. SAFETY GEAR : Winslow 4 person uprated liferaft,deck mounted canister, Hydrostatic release, 406Mhz manual EPRIB. Flares. Cabin O2 sensor, 3 fire extinguishers. Deck webbing jackstays. MOB pole and Horseshoe lifebuoy."Lifesling 2" package. Emergency Tiller. Boarding Ladder. Flares.

 

 

 

Sails & Rigging
All new '07 spec'd for offshore cruising (triple stiching,leather patching at corners , etc)
MAIN 3 Reefing points
Mizzen 2 reefing points
135 % roller genoa, foam luff
New Harken Cruise 1 , roller reefing
Harken Lazyjacks on main and mizzen, '99
1.5 oz asymmetric spinnaker,ATN spinnaker sock
1.5 oz mizzen satysail
STANDING RIGGING REPLACED '01, Insulated backstay
Previous main, mizzen, 125% genoa, yankee working jib, storm jib (hanked foresails), all in good condition.
Spinnaker pole with stanchion mounts. Wisker pole. Mast track for spinnaker and wisker pole. Winch handles. Fenders. Dock lines with snubbers. Many spare lines and blocks. Windex masthead wind/vane indicator.
MAST STEPS (fixed/folding ) to masthead. Spreaders mounting lights for side and foredeck

The Allied Seawind II masthead ketch is a solid, proven world cruiser, her predecessor being the first fiberglass boat to circumnavigate. With her full keel, skeg mounted rudder, and strong construction, she is well known as a stable blue water vessel. The asking price for RÅN reflects numerous expensive replacements and upgrades '97-'01. Seldom have we run across a vessel so well equipped for long distance cruising as this one, powered by a Westerbeke 42B diesel, new '97. She has everything from an extensive list of electronics, seven sails, watermaker, four anchors, hard dodger and life raft to flags and charts! A 2001 survey shows that the surveyor couldn't make a single recommendation for improvement! Permanent slip in Monterey Municipal Marina.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Builder/Designer
Builder: Wright Allied
Designer: Thomas Gilmer

Dimensions


LOA: 31'2"
LWL: 25'6"
Beam: 10'5"
Displacement: 14,900 lbs
Draft: 4'6"
Ballast: 5,800 lbs

Engine
Engine(s): Westerbeke
Engine(s) HP: 42
Engine Model: Diesel 42B 4-cyl. fwc
Hours: 750

Tankage
Fuel: 40 gallons
Water: 60 gallons
Holding: yes

Accommodations

Galley

Electronics/Navigation

Electrical

Sails

Deck/Hull

Safety

Tackle/Rigging/Docklines/Fenders

Additional

Builder/Designer

 

Builder: Wright Allied

Designer: Thomas Gilmer

Dimensions

 

LOA: 31'2"

LWL: 25'6"

Beam: 10'5"

Displacement: 14,900 lbs

Draft: 4'6"

Ballast: 5,800 lbs
     

Engines

 

Engine(s): Westerbeke

Engine(s) HP: 42

Engine Model: Diesel 42B 4-cyl. fwc

Hours: 750

    

Tankage

 

Fuel: 40 gallons

Water: 60 gallons

Holding: yes

Accommodations
  • wide cabin trunk
  • good headroom, appr. 6'2"
  • warm interior with plenty of wood
  • excellent storage in drawers and bins
  • forward cabin with V-berth and hanging locker
  • entry to the head from forward cabin w/o entering main cabin
  • enclosed head w/shower
  • asymmetrical settees in main cabin
  • fold-down dining table
  • storage space behind the settees
  • large dresser surface to starboard aft of the settee for navigational purposes
  • Force 10 propane cabin heater
  • cabin cushions and covers
  • port shades �01
  • MSD/holding tank/macerator pump houses �98


Galley
  • pressure hot/cold system with two water filters
  • Hillerange 2-burner stove/oven �99
  • Skanvik galley and head fixtures �01
  • insulated icebox
  • Seafrost BD12 air cooled refrigeration �01
  • PUR 40E watermaker �01
  • large, deep sink �01 with pressure fresh water taps and manual pump
  • hot water heater (seaward, engine heat exchange and AC powered) �98


Electronics/Navigation
  • Plastimo bulkhead mounted compass
  • Furuno 1721 MK2 radar with swivel mount on mizzen �98
  • Furuno 1600F GPS chart plotter/depth sounder/speed/log �98
  • Garmin 230 GPS chart plotter with remote antenna/mount �98
  • Standard Horizon Eclipse GX1250S VHF with mast head mount antenna �98
  • ICOM handheld VHF �98
  • Standard MST 660 CD/stereo player and AM/FM receiver �01
  • ICOM 710RT SSB/HAM radio with PCT II modem �01
  • Simrad AP11, Robertson drive, below decks autopilot


Electrical
  • electrical system/battery charger/AC and DC dist./panel (heart Interface) �97-98
  • solar panlels (Siemens, shade tolerant, with voltage regulators) �01
  • Dynaplate electrical ground shoe �99
  • masthead tricolor running lights
  • Marinco shore power cord


Sails
  • sail area: 555 sq. ft.
  • all standing rigging new �01
  • main
  • mizzen
  • 1,5 oz. mizzen stay sail
  • storm jib
  • yankee cut working jib
  • 125% genoa
  • 1.5 oz. nylon gennaker with ATN spinnaker sock


Deck/Hull
  • Edson wheel steering
  • strong hull-to-deck joint for a serious cruising boat
  • seacocks on all through-hull fittings with double-clamped hoses
  • lead ballast glassed into the keel (no keel bolts)
  • little exterior wood for low maintenance
  • cockpit, deck and deckhouse molded in non-skid surfaces
  • teak bowsprit with attached rail
  • 12-inch foredeck cleats
  • underseat large locker in cockpit
  • cockpit fresh water shower
  • rudder post/stuffing boxes for rudder and prop shaft �98
  • all through-hull valves replaced �97 except for sink discharge/head intake
  • compression post head flooring �98
  • lifelines
  • SL Seatiger 555 windlass �98
  • opening ports (Lewmar, two large deck hatches and four small cabin ports, one bronze)


Safety
  • Winslow four person upgraded liferaft/canister deck mount/automatic release
  • Rapidfix 406 MHz manual EPIRB
  • cabin carbon monoxide sensor
  • two offshore life jackets w/dye and lights, two standard
  • jack lines
  • harnesses, attachment tackle
  • standard distress signal package
  • three fire extinguishers
  • man-overboard-pole/throwable horseshoe buoy
  • "Lifesling 2" w/hoisting tackle
  • rigging wire cutter


Anchors/Rodes
  • 32# Simpson Laurence Bruce anchor w/240� of 3/8" chain
  • 30# Danforth w/30� of 3/8" and 250� of line
  • 22# Danforth w/10� of chain and 125� of line
  • spare line: 250� of 5/8" nylon
  • 45# CQR (currently not aboard)


Tackle/Rigging/Docklines/Fenders
  • Harken lazy jacks �99
  • main and mizzen sheet tackle �99
  • four track mounted sheet blocks, two new �99
  • two snatch blocks �01
  • two track mounted dead eyes �01
  • four track mounted cleats, two new �01
  • Forespar line control whisker pole �99 with Forespar stanchion mounts �01
  • Forespar button lock whisker pole with Forespar stanchion mounts (not installed)
  • boom vang and snubber, new
  • jib sheets/much spare line
  • four winch handles
  • six
  • 15� 5/8 dock lines, four fitted with snubbers
  • six docklines
  • four large fenders with mesh bags for storage on lifelines
  • halyard snap shackles assorted, new �01
  • Windex masthead wind vane


Additional
  • fuel tank, �98
  • two propane tanks/deck storage boxes/solenoid �99-�01
  • bilge pumps/hoses/pickups (Rule 2000, Shurflo 1000, Gusher10 manual rebuilt)
  • sump pumps in galley, shower �01
  • Sailomat 601 windvane �98, installed �00
  • Covercraft Wavestopper hard dodger with teak boom gallows �98
  • raw water intake strainers (engine and water maker)
  • closed cell foam cockpit cushions
  • Force 10 BBQ �01
  • 12v spot light
  • wind scoop
  • two radar reflectors
  • bosun�s chair
  • four spare jugs for diesel and water
  • insect screens for opening ports and main hatch
  • cockpit lee cloths
  • Baja fuel filter �01
  • removable bulkhead storage bags and gear hammocks
  • spare running lights for hull mount
  • spare bulbs and fuses
  • navigation tools
  • dri-decking in all cabin lockers
  • binoculars 7 x 50
  • deck keys
  • sun shower
  • several country flags
  • cleaning supplies
  • spare wire and spare hose including propane high pressure hose
  • teak bookcases/galley and nav area organizers/cockpit table �01
  • fishing gear
  • twist lock extendable boat hook
  • many engine spares
  • five 12v power sockets (not installed)
  • holders for drinks and handheld VHF
  • wet/dry shop vac
  • charts from California to Panama
  • cruising guides for California, Mexico and guise for cruising Florida to California via the Panama Canal