As yacht broker, one pleasure I get is the opportunity to see and appreciate a variety of fine and occasionally, unique sailing vessels.
When I was invited aboard "Dawn Piper" I immediately knew this was one of those times. She brought back to me memories of what a fine classic sailboat from days gone by should look like. A graceful entry at her bow with a substantial teak bowsprit, purpose built and obviously strong. A wonderful reverse transom with her rudder hung on huge bronze gudgeons. Good solid bulwarks, capped in teak, above a burgandy and gold stripe. Cleats at her stern that could pull a barge. Strong, thick bronze chainplates mounted externally amidships, pinrails and belaying pins keeping her lines shipshape. A teak lashing board for extra fuel jugs. Tanbark sails. Baggy wrinkles and ratlines to climb aloft- all a picture of classic nautical beauty.
Custom built, "Dawn Piper" is truly a unique vessel. One of only six built, she is without a doubt a true bluewater boat- strong, powerful and simple. She has seen her current masters safely on many voyages over the last six years- cruising grounds that ranged from Maine to Bermuda, through the Caribbean and down to South America. She is a simple, graceful lady that will gain admiring gazes in every port or anchorage she visits.
If you are looking for a true bluewater passagemaker with a simple approach to cruising- that won't cost you a fortune to maintain- then "Dawn Piper" is seriously worth further inspection.
Preliminary listing- pending seller confirmation of the content
Accomodations
Forward cabin: Beginning forward and aft of the chain locker, you will find a charming V-berth cabin with fiddled rail shelves down both sides of the hull. Below the shelves are three drop down door lockers beneath each of them. Aft to port and starboard are cedar lined hanging lockers with a drop door locker below each and a shelf area above. The cabin is well lit by two round fixed bronze portights forward, two opening bronze portlights and a screened hatch overhead. There are also two lights, one for each side of the berth. An arched, louvered door provides privacy for the forward cabin and is shared with the head compartment next aft to port.
Head: Upon entering the head, you will find a stainless steel sink with a Whale foot pump for your water supply. There is a nicely molded shower pan and drain, a mirror and storage cabinets behind the sink and head and below the sink. There is a top-of-the-line Wilcox Crittendon Skipper manual head- reputeded to be able to pump entire bath towels and small mammals without clogging (try this AFTER you buy the boat, not before, OK?). Y valves allow for holding tank or overboard discharge when appropriate. Ventilation is provided by a nicro-vent and an opening bronze port.
Workshop: Across from the head on starboard is the workshop area. There is a workbench with storage behind it and drawers below for parts and tools. There is a diesel heater mounted on the bulkhead between the workbench and the forward cabin, a Hella fan to circulate the air and a bronze porthole above it.
Saloon: Continuing aft into the saloon, there is a straight settee to starboard and an L-shaped settee to port. Both of these settees have open shelf storage outboard of them and additional storage behind them. A large flat chart storage area is included in the port side shelving. The large dinette table folds conveniently out of the way onto the bulkhead when not in use; when dropped down it will quite comfortably seat six people. There are reading lights located on port and starboard behind these seating areas, tone oil lamp and, for ventilation, a screened hatch overhead, two dorade vents, a Hella fan and a total of nine opening bronze portlights in the saloon and galley areas.
Nav station: Aft of the settee on starboard is the nav station. Forward facing, it features a generous area to lay out charts and storage outboard of the nav seat as well as beneath it.
Quarter berth: Aft on starboard behind the nav station is a comfortable quarter berth. Whether used as a seaberth or for storage, the space also features the same charming fiddled rail shelving outside and locker storage below as the forward cabin has. There is a wet locker for foul weather gear below and starboard of the companionway steps.
Galley: Simple yet functional in keeping with the rest of the boat, the galley is to port at the bottom of the companionway. U-shaped, with ample stowage, a propane stove, a well insulated ice box with refrigeration and two stainless steel sinks. Below the companionway steps is the battery compartment. Two stainless steel sinks (1 large, 1 small) Shipmate 3 burner LPG stove and oven Oven safety bar Propane solenoid w/monitor Dry storage locker 12 volt refrigerator/freezer (needs compressor) Fresh and seawater foot pumps "Instant hot" water faucet Seaswing single burner (sterno) gimballed stove Overhead dish rack
Hull and Deck
What's not to like about this exterior? The gelcoat was redone in '04 (no crazing on deck), the bottom was repainted in '06, nice high (safe) bulwarks, 30" high oversized lifeline wire, great ground tackle and just an all-around great looking boat with a lot of character. Lofrans Tigres electric windlass Bruce 20 kg anchor w/200' of 3/8" chain and rode 35 lb CQR anchor w/50' of 3/8" chain and rode Danforth 22 lb anchor w/chain and rode Salt water deck washdown Stainless steel swim ladder Whale manual bilge pump in cockpit Teak cockpit grate Teak companionway doors with louvers and screens Lexan drop boards Monitor windvane New gelcoat on deck, cockpit and hull (04) Bottom painted (06) Fixed 3 blade prop 30" high 1/4" SS wire double lifelines Teak dorade boxes (2) Stainless steel dorades Stainless steel pushpit and pulpit Dodger with safety bars and cover Bimini w/connector and side shads Weather cloths Full six piece shade awning Cockpit cushions Rule electric bilge pump
Sails and Rigging
A cutter rig, heavy bronze turnbuckles and chainplates, tanbark sails, baggy wrinkles, ratlines, pinrail- this boat just oozes traditional charm! Double spreaders Cutter rigged Tanbark main ('01) Spare tanbark main 150% tanbark Genoa Tanbark jib Tanbark staysail Barient #10 reefing winch on mast Barient #18 halyard winches on mast (3) Bronze genoa tracks Profurl roller furler Lazy jacks Whisker pole mast mounted 1x19 wire rigging Ratline on starboard to lower spreaders Baggy wrinkles port and starboard External bronze chainplates Barient #23ST primaries (2) Barient #20ST secondaries (2)
Electrical and Navigation
The owners went for simple basic function to ensure safety without having a ton of things to go wrong. 8D batteries with a wind generator and good regulation to keep them charged, a CARD radar detector, EPIRB, GPS...this setup has seen the owners from Maine to South America and everywhere in between in full safety. I guess that speaks to exactly how much you really DO need, huh? Two 8D gel batteries (06) 20 amp 3 stage battery charger (06) Balmar high output alternator w/3 stage regulator (03) Link 1000 battery monitor 30A 120V shore power cables Phone/TV hookup Spreader lights Cockpit light Silva nav station compass Masthead tricolor Aerogen wind generator (02) C.A.R.D. radar detector Micrologic Mariner GPS Raymarine depth & speed (05) Standard Horizon VHF w/ram mike in cockpit Midland handheld VHF 406Mhz EPIRB Insulated backstay antenna for SSB hookup Ritchie 5" cockpit compass (01)
Additional equipment
Stainless steel antenna arch with motor hoist Outboard motor pad Lifesling Horseshoe life bouy Wind scoop Screens for all portlights Companionway hatch screen Radar reflector Search light Ship's bell Fire extinguishers MOB pole & strobe Type 1 life vests (6) Round fenders (3)
Disclaimer
The Company 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.
Details and information regarding this vessel are offered in good faith but we 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, inventory change, or withdrawal
without notice.
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