31st August 2015 |||| A video tour of S/Y Solitude.
S/Y Solitude on the hard. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
S/Y Solitude on the hard. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
S/Y Solitude in Cartagena June 2012 right after sailing from Panama to Spain.
General specifications:
1974, Stilson 44' Sloop "SOLITUDE"
Design: Maury DeClercq
Built by: Harstil Industries of Fraser, Michigan
Year: 1974 (launched in 1978)
Type: Sloop, center cockpit with aft cabin
Hull Material: Fiberglass with balsa core above waterline
Hull: Full keel with center board (center board is taking out and holes are sealed. Can be reinstalled)
LOA: 43'8'' feet (13,35 m) (lenght over all)
LWL: 35' feet (10,668 m) (Waterline)
Beam: 14' feet (4,05 m)
Draft: 5' feet (1,524 m)
Mast height: 55' feet (17 m from waterline)
Sail area: 854' square feet 625'' square inches (79,39466 square meters)
Displacement: 12.000 kilos
Ballast: 4.500 kilos
History:
The first yacht out of the mold at Harstil Industires was the "Spirit of Michigan". It was designed and built to challenge for the Canada's Cup. "Spirit" eventually lost out to "Dynamite", a very fast racing yacht with a displacement of little more than half of "Spirit of Michigan" weight. However "Spirit of Michigan" gave a good account of herself, winning the first race in heavy air. "Solitude" then, with a deck arrangement different from "Spirit" and a 6' feet shorter mast is a very fast cruising boat with a fine pedigree.
Solitude, the second out of the mold at Harstil Industries, has been conceived as a cruiser capable of crossing oceans safely, while carrying a incredible weight of storage and supplies. The 5' feet draft with its 5 tons of lead ballast, allows extensive gunkholing but at the same time provides a stable platform for carrying sail. The 200 gallon fuel tank and the 85 hp Perkins diesel provides motor sailor performance with the added benefit of a 1000 to 1200 nautical mile cruising range under power alone or about 200 engine hours at 1600 rpm.
The owner has lived aboard Solitude for 6 years and has been sailing around The Caribbean Sea, South America, Panama and crossed the Atlantic Ocean from Turks and Caicos Islands to The Azores through The Strait of Gibraltar to Spain and The Mediterranean Sea, doing more than 12.500 nautical miles all together.
In June 2012 "Solitude" crossed The Atlantic Ocean for the third time, this time by the second owner to date. With refilled tanks and provisions, she is ready to go back where she belongs, cruising the worlds oceans in a safe and comfortable way.
Engine:
Perkins diesel 4.326, 85 HP, fresh water cooled (1991)
Wet exhaust, exits out the portside stern
Transmission, Borg Warner Velvet Drive, AS3-71-CR, Ratio 2:10:1
Engine room highly accessible, easy to work around the engine
Fuel tankage:
Two integral fiberglass tanks with a total capacity of about 200 gallons diesel (770 liters). Properly secured, vented. With full tanks the engine can approximately run 200 hours at 1600 RPM with no sails up.
Two plastic jerry cans 20 liters each (yellow)
Water tankage:
Two integral fiberglass tanks with a total capacity of about 200 gallons (770 liters), properly vented and secured. The water system has copper plumbing. Pressure is by manual foot pumps at each sink.
Two plastic jerry cans 20 liters each (light blue)
Underwater:
Hull: Center board cavity, no board, round chines, raked bow, reverse transom.
Propeller: 3 blades bronze, 20" x 17", left hand
Shaft: 1.25" stainless stell
Rudder: Skeg hung FRP
Through hull fittings: bronze
Sea valves, bronze sea cocks
Electrical systems:
DC 12 volt with 5 AGM 105 amp house batteries, 1 AGM 105 amp starter battery. (2010)
Two solar panels, 120 watt with BlueSky Energy Solar Boost 2512i (2009)
Wind generator, Sea Breeze (2011)
Head:
USCG Marine Sanitation Device (MSD). Manual toilet with discharge into the sea. Space for installing a holding tank.
Galley:
Refrigeration: Two 45 cm x 45 cm x 70 cm, top loader compartments, Danfoss Compact Classic refrigerator system 12V air cooled. 12V programable timer when cooling is not completely necessary. (2008)
All equipment (plates, pans, utensils....)
Propane Stove, Force 10, three burner plus oven (2007)
2 fiberglass propane tanks (10 liters) (2011)
Sink: double stainless steel sink with fresh water manual foot pump and salt water hand pump.
Berths:
Forward cabin with double bed, aft cabin with double bed, saloon with two single beds. 5-6 persons.
Ground tackle:
CQR 45 pounds anchor on bow rollers
80 meters galvanized anchor chain, 10 mm.
Danforth sand anchor with 10 meter chain and 30 meters line
12V anchor windlass, Maxwell 2200. (2001)
Navigation & electronics:
GPS Garmin 172c
GPS Garmin 72c handheld (backup)
VHF Icom IC-M45
VHF Icom IC-M32 handheld (backup)
Paper-charts, All Caribbean, Venezuela, Colombia, Panama, Azores, Spain
Guidebooks, Panama, Windward & Leeward Islands, ABC islands, BVI
Radar Furuno (old)
Raymarine Hydralic Autopilot, S3G computer, ST6001 control (2008)
Weather fax, Furuno, model D FAX (fixable)
Suunto Compass 4.75" binnacle
Omni 4" binnacle at navigation table
Pioneer AM/FM Stereo with AUX, USB, CD, 4 speakers in saloon, 2 speaker in cockpit (2010)
Inverter, 300 watt, 12V to 115V (cameras, computers, mobilphones) (2007)
Barigo Barometer
Barigo Clock
Navico depth, speed, wind instruments
Sailing equipment:
Aluminum mast stands on the keel on an aluminum shoe and laminated wood block. Aluminum steps to the top. Chainplates: Shrouds penetrate through the deck and are bolted to hull. The backstay is bolted through the transom. Standing rigging: 1 x 19 stainless steel wire with Norseman and swageless fittings and staLoks. (1989)
Jib roller furling is by ProFurl, series NC 42
Halyard winches: 2 barient # 16 on mast, 1 Harken 40.2st, self-tailing winch
Jib sheet winches: 2 lewmar # 55, 3 speed
Secondary jib winches: 2 south coast
Sailcover
Bimini, sprayhood (2012)
Whiskerpole, 17" and track on mast
Sails:
Mainsail - (old one, backup)
Mainsail - Boston Sails with lazy jacks (2005)
Jib - Boston Sails (Yankee sail)
120% Genoa - Boston Sails
155% Genoa - Boston Sails
Spinnaker - Boston Sails
Staysail on wire luff
Sail area: 854' square feet 625'' square inches (79,39466 square meters)
Safety Equipment:
4 Fire extinguisher
Horseshoe Buoy on holder
Lifesling MOB system
EPIRB ACR
Fog bell
Horn
Navigation light: LED tricolor, LED anchor light (2009)
Safety Harnesses
Liferaft, Plastimo Off Shore 6 persons (2007)
Dinghy: AB Lammina 9,6 feet (2010)
Outboard: Mercery SeaPro 15 HP with 20 liters tank (2010)
Fishing gear, fishing pole holders on each side of vessel
10 SCUBA tanks, aluminium, hydro static tested 2010
60 kilos in weights for diving (1,2 & 3 kilo pieces)
The galley. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
The refrigerator is regulated with a timer I have installed to get more battery time on the long journeys. To the left in the photo is the EPIRB. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
The galley is fully equiped with plates, utentils, pots and pans. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
The aft cabin seen from the access in the cockpit behind the wheel. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
The drawers in the aft cabin. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
LED lamp above the stairs and the navigation table. I have chosen a LED lamp to safe battery time while at anchor. On the wall by the orange and white sunblocker are the behind of the autopilot and the depth sounder. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
Galley to the right and the walk-through to the aft cabin and the engine room. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
The galley seen from the navigation table. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
Under the galley zink to will find all sorts of cleaning equipment. Under the bucket by the floor is the foot pump for fresh water at the zink. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
The Force 10 stove with gas burners. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
Saloon area seen from the navigation table. To the right of the mast is the access to the forward cabin and head. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
Saloon area seen from the galley. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
Navigation table seen from the galley and the stairs to the cockpit. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
Walk-through to the aft cabin and the engine room to the right. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
Forward cabin. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
Looking aft from the forward cabin. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
Head with hand pump. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
Zink in head. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
Head. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
Head. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
Head. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
Closet with the electric controls for the anchor winch. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
Hallway by head. Onboard are there 10 scuba tanks plus a pony bottle. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
The bimini/spray hood is taken off. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
300 Watt inverter that I found enough for charging celluar phones, computers, VHF radio, etc. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
All switches for navigation light, autopilot etc. Display is for battery status, solar panels charging status and wind generator charging status. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
Battery status and solarpanels status left, wind generator status to the right. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
From left, weather fax, radar, Loran. Under the radar, the VHF radio and to the right the GPS. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
Mercery SeaPro 15 HP outboard engine. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
Mercery SeaPro 15 HP outboard engine. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
Mercery SeaPro 15 HP outboard engine. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
Bimini/sprayhood. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
Bimini/sprayhood. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
Bimini/sprayhood. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
Bimini/sprayhood. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
Engine controls in cockpit. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
The aft rag needs to be welded for the stabelizer from the deck halfway up the thick pole. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
The aft rag needs to be welded for the stabelizer from the deck halfway up the thick pole. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
The dinghy needs a little welding to the left of the phone where a tiny piece of wood sticks out. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
Steps going all the way to the top. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
Solarpanels are a bit dirty but in very good working order. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
Extra fiberglass cylinder for those long trips at sea. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
The instruments are a bit hard to read but works fine. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
From left, depth sounder, anchor windlass control and autopilot. All working fine. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
Boom. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
The winch to control the boom. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
Fiberglass cylinder for gas. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
All portholes are water thight. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
The mast goes through the deck. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
The deck and deflated dinghy. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
S
Winches and lines on the mast. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
Looking aft from the front deck. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
The portside of the boat. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
The anchor windlass with foot controls on starboard and portside, in and out. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
Starboard side looking forward. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
Deck seen from starboard side. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
Cockpit. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
Perkins 4.326 Engine. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
Perkins 4.326 Engine. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
Perkins 4.326 Engine. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
Perkins 4.326 Engine. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
Perkins 4.326 Engine. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
Shaft. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
Muffler. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
Shaft. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
Wires coming from the wheel going to the rudder. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
2 of the 6 batteries onboard. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
Perkins 4.326 Engine. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
Exhaust system. Perkins 4.326 Engine. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
Fuel filters and raw water filter to the left. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
Rudder and prop. The prop is in good order and only needs a loving hand with sandpaper in it. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
Starboard Hull. The hull might look damaged and not in a good shape. However, the hull is in really good condition with no osmosis blisters what so ever. The hull needs sanding, primer and anti fouling and nothing further. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
The hull might look damaged and not in a good shape. However, the hull is in really good condition with no osmosis blisters what so ever. The hull needs sanding, primer and anti fouling and nothing further. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
Starboard hull. The hull might look damaged and not in a good shape. However, the hull is in really good condition with no osmosis blisters what so ever. The hull needs sanding, primer and anti fouling and nothing further. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
Portside hull. The hull might look damaged and not in a good shape. However, the hull is in really good condition with no osmosis blisters what so ever. The hull needs sanding, primer and anti fouling and nothing further. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
Portside hull. The hull might look damaged and not in a good shape. However, the hull is in really good condition with no osmosis blisters what so ever. The hull needs sanding, primer and anti fouling and nothing further. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
Outlet from the galley zink. The hull might look damaged and not in a good shape. However, the hull is in really good condition with no osmosis blisters what so ever. The hull needs sanding, primer and anti fouling and nothing further. Portside hull. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
Outlet from the head. Portside hull. The hull might look damaged and not in a good shape. However, the hull is in really good condition with no osmosis blisters what so ever. The hull needs sanding, primer and anti fouling and nothing further. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
Ran aground on a reef in the Bahamas in 2007 and lost a piece of the keel but it is all fixed and in perfect order. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
Outlet raw water cooling system from the engine. Portside hull. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
The railing has come a bit loose and need a couple of screws. 31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
31st August 2015, Cartagena, Spain
S/Y Solitude, Cartagena, Spain, November 2014
S/Y Solitude, Cartagena, Spain, November 2014
S/Y Solitude, Cartagena, Spain, November 2014
S/Y Solitude, Cartagena, Spain, November 2014
Cruising downwind with the whisker pole out on the 120% genoa. Curacao to Colombia, February 2011
Caribbean Sea off of the Colombian Coast. March 2011
Caribbean Sea off of the Colombian Coast. March 2011
View from the mast in The San Blas Islands, Panama 2011
GPS data. One of the faster crossings I have made with S/Y Solitude. Curacao to Colombia, February 2011
S/Y Solitude in The Atlantic Ocean, May 2012
S/Y Solitude and Mathias in The Atlantic Ocean, May 2014
S/Y Solitude on the "hard" in Curacao Marine. February 2009
San Blas Islands, Panama 2011
Cruising in the Grenadines to Grenada. April 2010 (Photo: Chris, S/Y Albatross)
S/Y Solitude in the bottom of the photo. Coco Bandero Islands, San Blas, Panama, April 2011
The dinghy tied up behind Solitude. Tobago Cays, April 2010
Cruising in the Grenadines to Grenada with the skipper and Kenneth Plesner to the right. April 2010 (Photo: Chris, S/Y Albatross)
S/Y Solitude in Fuik Baai in Curacao and my friend's boat to the right.
Autopilot in cockpit and anchor controls.
Full mainsail.
Messy saloon before the highseas.
Overview looking aft.
Captain in the galley.
Overview from cockpit looking forward.
Galley.
Navigation table and hallway to aft cabin.
A messy saloon.
Me in the engineroom. On the left in the photo is the aft cabin.
It was more comfortable to lay in the hallway on a tack across The Atlantic Ocean. On the left in the photo is storage and to the right is the engine room.
The forward cabin with my friend Kenneth. Behind Kenneth is the anchor locker.
Brian enjoying the blue view. Curacao to Colombia, February 2011
Cockpit with the captain sticking out from below.
My self at the navigation table. South west of Portugal. May 2014
Cruising the Caribbean Sea. Curacao to Colombia, February 2011
S/Y Solitude at the dock in Puerto Cabello, Venezuela, July 2009
The galley, saloon looking aft, head (toilet) and the saloon looking forward.
Refrigeration compartments. One cold and one colder.
Kenneth chilling in the cockpit. Caribbean Sea going from Curacao to Colombia. February 2011
Danfoss Compact Classic 12 volt air cooled refrigerator system.
Force 10 stove with three burnes and oven.
S/Y Solitude at the slip in Shelter Bay Marina just before the crossing of The Caribbean Sea and The Atlantic Ocean. May 2014
Solitude at the slip in Cartagena a few days after making the Atlantic crossing. June 2012
The head.
Plastimo 6 person liferaft.
Tools...
Perkins 4.236 with easy access at the hallway.
Two diesel pre-filters and the raw-water filter to the left.
The hydralic arm from the auto-pilot on the rudder.
Chasing the horizon. Caribbean Sea, Grenada to Bonaire, April 2010
S/Y Solitude getting ready to get launched back to the right element. March 2009
S/Y Solitude in Titusville when I just got her. December 2006
Solitude in Titusville ready to get hauled. Titusville, Florida, USA, January 2007
Doing the butterfly with the mainsail to one side and the 120% genoa with the whiskerpole to the other side. Caribbean Sea, Grenada to Bonaire, April 2010
Solitude moored up right on top of a coral reef. Nice easy diving...
Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles, April 2007
