The END: Boanerges (custom ocean ranger 45Ft ) is for sale (see explanation down at the page)
Boanerges is a 45 FT custom Prout Ocean Ranger, built in Gweek, Cornwall by Toby Richardson. In 1981 she went successfully in 3 years around the world without noticeable damage. There were no electronic instruments on board. A Walker tow log, a sextant, and 10-year-old maps served the navigation. A homemade generator based on a lawnmower motor and one battery served the navigation lights. From Australia back to Cornwall, just one 15 HP two-stroke Yamaha was the auxiliary power. The other one was stolen in Australia. The current owner, Eddy Dunlop, bought her in Dec 1999 from the first owner and builder Toby Richardson. (Modular Moldings which designed and built the even today, highly successful Firebird cat) After sailing extensively on the North Sea, Channel, Biscay, Spain, and Portugal, Eddy left the Netherlands in 2007 solo (which he had never done before) for a voyage direction the Caribbean without planning. He settled in 2012 in Colombia with his Colombian wife. Due to another lifestyle and age (76Y), Boanerges is now used as a holiday house. Boanerges deserves better and is for sale.
Boanerges is a Go Anywhere boat that sailed around 100.000NM on open waters and heavy seas but never had a structural problem.
She sails easy, has 25m2 open deck space, and 8 berths. This makes her very suitable for families and individuals who have dreams and want to sail into adventures. The boat has been on a wide range of different sailing areas. This website shows a part of that. On flatlands that fall dry, finding her way through reefs and going at anchor on places where others do not dare to come. The boat could withstand rough times without much damage. The payload is big enough for long-distance sailing or professional use. As a diving platform, day charter, and much more one can think of.
As said, Boanerges has comfortable sailing characteristics. She does not point high into the wind like some modern Catamarans/Trimarans. But with the wind somewhat at ease, she is quite fast. On the maiden trip in Dec 1999, on the delivery from Cornwall to the Netherlands she did, to the surprise of the crew 245 Nm in 24 hours (with worn-out Dacron delivery sails). The sustained maximum speed appears to be 10 minutes at 17Kn, which was never repeated. On her last trip in 2018 from Cartagena to Cuba she did 350Nm in 36 hours under Genoa, before a broken shackle and following disaster made an end to the delivery to Europe. In 2007 we did the Cabo Verde to Martinique in 12 days. Most boats took 20 days. On one day we did again 240NM in 24 hours with the Parasailor. From Carriacou (Grenada) to Curacaou with the island still in view, on autopilot, I set the Parasailor, and took her only down at the entrance of the Spanish Water (Curacaou). Once the 240Nm in 24 hours was clocked. See album nr 22. These speeds are exceptions. For calculations on long distances, I use an average of 6.5 Kn. The Parasailor is of great help on long tracks. The Parasailor spinaker stays up for days managed by the autopilot without the need for attention so some sleep is allowed. The boat is very stable on its course, the autopilot could manage the boat under all circumstances, including big waves and wind gusts. This makes the boat easy to sail solo.
Boanerges is an extremely well-built and strong boat. The hulls are sleek and long and give a very comfortable ride on the waves. There is absolutely no tendency for pitch poling. Boanerges is very forgiving and gives a smooth ride.
The hulls are full GRP, and the keels are integral to the construction. The decks and bulkheads are from Plywood of a quality that no longer is made (430kg/m3). At the refit in 1999, the boat has been painted in Awgrip polyurethane, and ever again in industrial grade paint, and is up to date. In 2018 the decks and hulls were repainted. The rig, which was altered to accommodate a boom jib, is over-dimensioned and in 35 years never gave problems. The boat has always been powered with 10-15HP outboards. The disadvantage is that for long distances going into strong currents and big waves is a nogo. The good part is that maintenance is easy and parts of the core Yamaha F15 engines are sold all over the world. The special parts of the 9.9HT drive units are not available in the greater parts of the world and spares are stored on board, any competent outboard mechanic can do the required maintenance. The boat has no water tanks under the floors (there are 7 sealed compartments as protection from flooding the hull when bouncing on a reef). Jerrycans and a watertank of 100L of the watermaker do the job.
The boat did have a powerful KISS wind generator with a maximum load capacity of 30 Amps at 12V and 15-year-old Kyocera solar panels. This was an effective combination but with great risks from the blades for the crew in high winds. The wind generator had several runaways, is gone, and will not be replaced. I have invested about 10.000 USD in new generation much more powerful solar panels which appear to have a load capacity of 70Amp at 24V (The sun in the tropics shines always at an angle near 90 degrees in a clear sky) Lithium batteries (2pcs 50AH at 24V) take and give a lot of energy. The wiring and conversion from 12V to 24V is in development. The 24V side of the charger should be designed with great care, otherwise, it will pose a danger in this wet and corrosive environment. The system is still in development.
The new owner does not need extensive knowledge of boatbuilding/repair or be a great sailor but does need to have a sense of technique and problem-solving.
Much more about Boanerges the history and her use one be found on this site. An article about her development here and here. Over 3000 Prout catamarans have been built of which only 22 were Ocean Rangers.