Basic Information about Sovereignty
Sovereignty was laid up in 1971. She is a dinette model with an outboard motor. Her delivered weight was 5,650 lbs. Her delivered length was 27'. Her cruising weight is 12,745 lbs. Her current length overall is 35' 6". Due to her weight, she is a coastal cruiser, but a most comfortable one at that. Her equipment list is way too vast to enumerate, but below is an outline of her significant projects.
Over the winter of 2010 I insulated the ice box using Cryogel Z by Aerogel. The ice box is now a refrigerator or a freezer. The holding plate is capable of maintaining 0* in the box. I also upgraded the battery system with the addition of 6 golf cart type batteries and moved the two existing gel cells to a separate bank dedicated to operating the auxillary propulsion system. Descriptions for these two major upgrades is under the Sovereignty Projects tab.
Over the winter of 2010 I insulated the ice box using Cryogel Z by Aerogel. The ice box is now a refrigerator or a freezer. The holding plate is capable of maintaining 0* in the box. I also upgraded the battery system with the addition of 6 golf cart type batteries and moved the two existing gel cells to a separate bank dedicated to operating the auxillary propulsion system. Descriptions for these two major upgrades is under the Sovereignty Projects tab.
MORE PICTURES AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE
When Sovereignty is away from the dock, she generates her needed electricity via three large Siemens solar cells, an Amp Air wind generator (a second and higher output wind generator is scheduled to be added in the spring of 2011), and the alternator in the Yamaha outboard. The Link 2000 monitors the output of the components of the charging system.
The three solar cells comprise the roof of the pilothouse and the stern enclosure. The solar cells are wired to a regulator which shunts their generated power from the batteries (when it senses they are fully charged) to the 12 V water heater element. When connected to shore power, the battery charger supplies the electricity to the water heater.
The lumps outside the cells are the back side enclosures for the cockpit speakers. Aft of the pilot house speaker enclosures are grab handles to facilitate going around the pilothouse.
The three solar cells comprise the roof of the pilothouse and the stern enclosure. The solar cells are wired to a regulator which shunts their generated power from the batteries (when it senses they are fully charged) to the 12 V water heater element. When connected to shore power, the battery charger supplies the electricity to the water heater.
The lumps outside the cells are the back side enclosures for the cockpit speakers. Aft of the pilot house speaker enclosures are grab handles to facilitate going around the pilothouse.
As written in 2000
Note from host: The following is a description of the remarkable vessel Sovereignty, a Catalina 27 with numerous modifications by her owner, who sailed and lived aboard her for some 16 years. Sovereignty is currently in storage while David Hoyt is on a circumnavigation cruise in another vessel. This description is being preserved on BoatDiddly.com as a way of keeping it alive for its many valuable ideas for other boat owners.-Dave Shugarts
TOPSIDE MODIFICATIONS:
Sovereignty generates her needed electricity via three large Siemens solar cells, an Amp Air wind generator, and the alternator in the Yamaha outboard.
I added the bowsprit, which holds a Delta anchor on 200' of high-test chain handled by a Horizon 500 windlass.
Her cutter rig can be completely controlled from the cockpit and with turning blocks at the back of the deck I can adjust the sail track blocks while they are under load. The furling lines are led aft through Schaefer stantion blocks.
The mast lines (mainsheet, main halyard, topping lift, reef 1, reef 2, and downhaul) are all extended to the cockpit.
Additionally, the mainsheet and traveler control lines appear in the cockpit.
The lightning protection of the vessel is accomplished by a Forespar ion receiver wired to a large bronze plate under the waterline.
The decks and cabin trunk are covered with diamond design Teak colored Treadmaster. The cockpit is covered with smooth design Teak colored Treadmaster. The uncovered gelcoat in the cockpit area is painted a Teak color using Sterling two part epoxy paint.
The tow/rub rail system incorporates a towing strap under its lower half. The verticle boards of the toe rail are 1/2" teak while the rub strake board is black walnut. The bow pulpit is also made of black walnut. The black walnut came from a friend's farm in Michigan and is epecially dear to me as Peter and I have been friends for well over 25 years.
The dinghy outboard is on a bracket which allows me to lower it into the water to load it easily onto and off of the dinghy. The bracket also allows me to use the motor as additional forward or reverse thrust or as a athwartships thruster.
The bronze portholes in the forepeak cabin can accommodate wind scoops which direct the breeze into or out of the forepeak cabin. They have bronze screens. I made blue plastic window inserts to darken the forward cabin and afford privacy. Capillary action between the glass and plastic keeps them in place.
The sliding companionway hatch was replaced by a sunroof and the pilothouse windshield parallels the companionway stairs.
The pilothouse also has red/white dimming lights as well as four speakers for the ship's stereo system.
The instruments include the KVH Quattro system, the Raytheon 4000+ autopilot, a Garmin 182C GPS/chartplotter which is wired to the autopilot, and a compass which has a dimmer switch on its light to dim it when making a crossing at night. The regular light was too bright and caused night blindness. Now that it is dimmed the problem has been eliminated.
I increased the fuel tankage from 6 gallons to 52 gallons, boosting my cruising range under motor to 520+ nautical miles. There are two tanks and I can transfer fuel from one to the other to adjust trim. Forward of the skylight are teak strips which form a luggage rack for two trunks (I call this area "The Attic").
The dinghy is deflated and lashed to the foredeck when not in use.
All the standing rigging is 3/16 wire with StaLock fittings. When I fractionalized the rig to provide for the cutter sail, I added additional uppers as well as running backstays where the cutter stay meets the mast. The backstay is doubled and incorporates a flag halyard on the aft wire to post the stars and stripes above the spreaders while on the inner wire a boom gallows clip secures the boom when not in use.
The light at the masthead is an all-around red over an all-around green and can be illuminated in addition to the deck lights. The masthead also includes an anchor light, a Digital/analog powered TV antenna, a VHF antenna with a splitter for the AM/FM radio, a wind transducer, and a Forespar lightning ion collector which is grounded to a large bronze plate attached to the hulls wetted surface.
At the mast's midpoint are the steaming light, a Fidrell blipper radar reflector, a horn (controlled by a windshield wiper delay switch to sound it periodically in foggy conditions), and port and starboard deck lights.
The bow pulpit has a seat, and the autopilot remote can be extended to the seat so steering is not compromized when sitting at the bow. A wonderful place to enjoy a sail with the bow wave bubbles breaking the silence.
Also at the bow is a deck washdown hose connection plumbed to the former head flush water through-hull. The bags on either side of the pulpit hold the windlass control box, a anchor mark, a anchor sentinel, the nozzled hose for the washdown system, a rubber snubber for the anchor chain, and a 1/2" X 10' rode to attach the anchor chain to the bow plate at the base of the pulpit support bar and wire.
Under the bowsprit are docking lights that are controlled from the cockpit.
The cockpit sole has a teak grate which can be raised to seat height making it a guest room or a large conversation area. By using the seat cushions and backrest cushions and a filler piece the area can be used to sleep under the stars, or as a guest bed.
I have tailored a tarp to allow the cockpit sole to be a bathtub or jacuzzi (by adding a submersible bilge pump). In open water, the grate can be raised and covered so water entering the cockpit will drain out the engine lazarette and not fill the well.
The lee cloths can be connected to the bimini (connecting the pilothouse with the stern enclosure) using either blue Sunbrella or mosquito netting. Enclosing the cockpit in this manner keeps out bugs, rain, cold, and prying eyes.
The stern lunch hook is on an Ankarolina belting rode reel. It is 185' in length and by inserting a winch handle in the center of the reel, the anchor belt can be wound into its case in a jiffy. It is easy to set and retrieve and it can even be walked to the bow if desired. For lunch or a swim, it is the anchor of choice.
There are two Magna propane kettles attached to the stern pulpit. The tools for which hang on the stern pulpit; where they are out of the way, but ready for use.
Reach poles are strapped to the bow pulpit and stern enclosure brace so they are ready at a moment's notice where they are needed without having to carry them forward.
The added stanchions in the cockpit hold backrests and the lee cloths have sheet pockets for the furling lines and sheets, as well as a hand-held VHF radio or bottle of pop.
The forward side windows of the pilothouse open for ventilation.
There are deck eyes on the stanchion braces on port and starboard for the installation of a preventer or jacklines. The Sampson post on the bow has an eye on its top for jacklines or a safety harness hook.
I like flags so when we dress Sovereignty, we fly the flags of all the states and foreign countries we have visited from the port spreader. One halyard at the spreader's midpoint while the other is on the outboard end of the spreader. On the starboard spreader flag halyard we fly the courtesy flag of the state or country in which we are located. The masthead has blocks on either side for the owner's pennant and a quarantine flag (where required) or a set of code pennants when desired. Additionally, the mast flag halyards can fly special flags such as the Sigma Chi Fraternity flag, the Gasden "Don't Tread On Me" flag, or a large Stars and Stripes held open by the backstay flag halyard. The back stay has a flag halyard that can hoist an American flag to a point above the spreaders.
The mainsail is a fully battened loose-footed main with two reefs riding on a Tides Marine sail track and having a Dutchman furling system.
I added sheet bags to the interior of the main cabin for the control lines exiting the sheet stoppers on the cabin trunk for mast lines and traveler control lines as well as the mainsheet.
There are two 30 amp shore power cord inlets, a TV-phone inlet on the starboard cabin trunk and a hose bib for the fresh water system on the port cabin trunk.
The cockpit has two winch handle compartments for additional storage (the port pocket is in the backrest and has a clear plastic cover to keep water out of it while the starboard pocket intrudes high into the pilotberth. Abaft the starboard pocket are the controls for the outboard motor. The handle of which can be removed when the motor is not in use. The key start, oil pressure light, and kill switch are on the aft foot well bulkhead.
The stern lazarette houses a blue raw water coil hose with nozzle to wash down the cockpit, rinse off after swimming, or wet yourself for a shower. It also houses a fresh water bib to which is connected a valved "Y" fitting. One leg of the "Y" is connected to the engine flush system and the other leg is attached to a white, nozzled coil hose for washing down the exterior of the motor and mount after use.
The cockpit lazarette houses the hand held shower hose for showering or fresh water rinse. That eliminated the need for a shower sump below decks and the humidity showering in the cabin creates. The cockpit lazarette also houses our Paratech drogue chute (12' diameter), and an assortment of flares and parachute flares, a sea patch tarp, tarps to cover the deck when under a summer sun, and various cleaning supplies as well as an extinguisher, and fenders, and the like. It also houses a six step swim ladder, dock lines, additional anchor lines, a hammock, search light, bicycle baskets, etc.
The ship's colors fly from the starboard stern quarter.
About the only unchanged feature on the hull are the windows . . . they are the original frames and Plexiglas.
The hammock can be erected between the forestay and mast.
There are three anchors on the bow pulpit: the delta anchor in the anchor roller and attached to the 200' chain rode; a navy anchor to port; and a Danforth anchor to starboard either of which can be attached to a second chain/line rode (carried forward as needed, or bagged on the bow if expected to be regularly used).
I have added 200 lbs. of lead to the bottom of the keel to compensate for the added weight aloft.
I boxed the keel well by fiberglassing stringers across the keel sump, tightening the keel bolts and priming the sump with Interprotect primer and painting it. I can bare the nuts if it is ever necessary, but they are protected form any casual water that might collect in the bilge. The stringers span the keel box and run up the hull about a foot on either side . They have drain openings to allow the liquid to flow to the pumps.
Each compartment in the cockpit has both red and white light illumination.
By moving the mainsheet traveler to the amidships position in front of the pilothouse, it has enabled me to completely enclose the cockpit against rain, sun, or mosquitoes.
INTERIOR MODIFICATIONS:
The entire hull is insulated with Armaflex 1/2" insulation which has an R factor of about 16. That is topsides, freeboard insides, and wetted surface insides. The boat is as a thermos bottle--warm in winter and cool in summer.
The single berth on the port side of the main cabin now houses storage cabinets under the alcohol/electric cooktop, a Norcold fridge (with an automatic fan to cool the compressor when operating on 110V), a microwave/bake/broil/toast/defrost oven, and a 30" flat screen HDTV (when wintering in a cold enviornment; however removed when cruising). The remaining area is a seat. The old ice chest has been converted to a freezer. The old Whale pump now pumps sea water from its own thru hull. A single valve faucet with separate spigot supplies the temperature premixed fresh water to the sink. The "under the cockpit seat area of the galley aft of the cockpit bulkhead is lit with two lights, one over the behind-the-sink area and one which shines into the freezer. The paper towel rack is on the lazarette bulkhead behind the sink.
The entire galley was covered with teak veneer, making it easily cleaned. I added a bronze red/white light to the galley bulkhead and a 12V halogen light aimed at the sink/cooktop. The glasses cabinet under the deck doors were refaced with teak as was the cabinet at the outboard end of the dinette table. The forward bulkhead was reinforced and covered with teak veneer. The dinette table on the starboard side of the main cabin was covered with teak veneer with an inlay of a compass rose and the ship's name "Sovereignty" inlaid in black walnut (the rubrail on the outside of the teak toerail is black walnut from a friend of mine's farm in Ann Arbor Michigan).
The table is fixed in position as the computer system is on a shelf, and cut into the cabin liner under the table. The shelf also acommodates the printer and other related equipment. The keyboard is on a shelf under the aft side of the table.
There are 15 lights in the main cabin. Six are hooded halogen, three are bronze red/white lights. One shines under the table, one (red only) illuminates the stairway from above the engine room (we call that area under the cockpit sole "the basement"), one illuminates the pilotberth, one illuminates the pole locker (the area above the pilotberth), two over the galley sink ice chest area.
There is a compressor in the galley to pump up bicycle tires. In the basement going counterclockwise from forward port are: a 35-gallon water bladder, the freezer compressor (cooled with water or air-cooled), a Pur 35 water maker, a 12V water heater in the back of the compartment forward of the reinforced rudder post pocket, to starboard starting from the aft, are the two pumps (raw water to the engine lazarette and the fresh water system pump), a 1500 watt inverter/charger controlled by a link 2000 controller, freezer controls, two alarm system controllers, and various other equipment including two of the ship's six U. S. Battery T-145 6V batteries.
At the head of the pilotberth are the ship's FiOS ONT unit (when wintering in cold enviornments or day/weekend sailing), and internet router. Above them are the ship's VHF radio and the head unit for the ship's entertainment system. The entertainment system can play a single CD, a magazine of 12 CD's, a cassette tape, as well as AM & FM stereo radio stations. It also has inputs for the VHF radio, the ship's computer sound output, and an I-Touch or other MP3 device. The system plays through a Bose Acoustamass system on the front channels (port side of the main cabin), and Pioneer dual-cone speakers on the rear channels (starboard side of the main cabin) and an Aura subwoofer mounted to the underside of the dinette sole. I attached a ceiling board in the pilotberth to accommodate long pole storage in the starboard coaming seat back area. It has a sliding door at its main cabin exit opening and is lighted when the pilotberth light is switched on.
By the way, the dinette sole is a teak parquet floor. The table leg amidships accommodates a Ionic Breeze Germocidal air cleaner and a Pelonis ceramic heater whose thermostat is on the bulkhead adjacent to the mast post above the seat back cushion for the dinette seat. I opened the area under the dinette sole by installing a teak door. That area houses the iron, ironing board, spare rigging wire, anchor sail, alcohol for the ship's stove, and other equipment. The storage under the berth on the port side of the cabin was opened with a single board facing the walkway with three doors cut into it.
The aft two compartments of this created storage area house galley equipment and the forward compartment houses clothing. I made a sink cover which stows between the galley and companionway stairway. I installed a Norcold refrigerator. When it senses 120 V power upon turning on, it starts a 5" computer type fan which draws air through the area behind the refrigerator to keep the diodes cool. I converted the ice box to a holding plate freezer. The panel above the basement door houses a cigarette lighter plug, switches for the freezer, freezer fan, freezer water cooling pump, freezer air cooling fan, freezer thermostat, a burglar alarm siren, the red light previously discussed, a water temperature mixing valve which adjusts water temp in the ship's tankage water system, and various other switches and plugs.
The panel under the pilotberth has the switch which switches the water heater element from solar to charger, a switch which allows the engine's alternator to charge the house bank of batteries, the link 2000 control panel, fly swatters, and a fire extinguisher. The cupboard under my seat houses foodstuffs on the top shelf and cleaning supplies on the bottom shelf.
The compartment under the aft dinette seat houses the CD changer, the 550-watt 5-channel entertainment system amplifier, the ship's electrical panels, and software and hardware for the computer system as well as two of the six 6V house batteries, and one of the engine bank gel cells. The cupboard under the forward dinette seat houses linens on the top shelf, and trash bags, the ship's vacuum cleaner, and other equipment below. The compartment under the forward seat is the ship's tools and supplies compartment, the speed transducer, two of the six 6V house batteries, and one of the two engine bank gel cells. The forward bulkheads as well as the aft bulkheads in the main cabin have all been covered with teak veneer.
The port bulkhead houses the binocular rack and the ship's bell with "Hoyts' Sovereignty" cast into her. There is also a brass compass rose, a brass inclometer, a hooded light, left channel speaker, and framed pictures. The starboard bulkhead has the ship's bell clock, barometer, pencil rack, heater thermostat and 11 framed pictures of family and favorite places in matching brass frames, and a 12-volt light. There are 17 110V outlets in the main cabin, and four 12V outlets.
The ship's computer system is on an isolated UPS. The computer system consists of a Shuttle mini system with a remote keyboard, and a remote 22" HDTV/monitor, and an ink jet printer. It has a 5 channel sound system, web cam on a long cord, and plugs for digital voice recorder, MP3 players, cameras, etc. There are two external hard drives, one is 150 Gigs and the other is a 1 terabite drive.
The head is only flushed by fresh water. The head and main cabin are both carpeted, wall to wall. The head further is carpeted up the sides where the gelcoat appeared and the freeboard wall to the cabinet. No one is allowed to stand and use the head and it has been carpeted since 1984 with nary an odor. The head "Y's" overboard or to a holding tank built out of the compartment under the forepeak berth.
I added a louvered door to the port under-berth area and built a gimbaled cockpit table which doubles as a partition hiding the items stored under the berth but not in the under-berth compartment. At the foot of the forepeak berth I added a Pelonis ceramic heater forward of the shelf and into the shelf I added a computer fan which draws air up from the under-berth compartment and exhausts it to the back side of the heater.
The thermostat (heating/cooling line voltage) is on the port bulkhead between the forepeak berth and the hanging locker. It allow us to have the heater off yet exhaust the cooler air from the under-berth area into our cabin--or if really warm, with the heater fan on blowing that air over our bodies in bed. The portholes give us both light and ventilation.
There is a light at the foot of the berth which is controlled from a switch panel at the port side of the shelf at the head of the bed. Also in this panel are a speaker for the sound system, a 12V and 110V outlet and a dimmer switch for the 110V light in this compartment. On the starboard panel is a 12V and 110V outlet, a volume control for the compartment speakers, a speaker, and a switch which allows me to turn off the stereo system from bed. Under the bed is a second Aura subwoofer. I cut out openings (4) under the shelf and use the area for additional storage of books, wind scoops, etc. Not wanting curtains covering the portholes, I made blue plastic plates which fit perfectly over the glass and the capillary action between the glass and plates holds them in place at any rate of heel.
In the head I built a bookcase on the forward bulkhead and a towel rack under it. I built a lockdown for the spare tiller. The hanging locker is illuminated and the rod swung 90 degrees so the clothes face amidships. This allows for room for long umbrellas, cloths bag, belt hooks and other storage. I vented the holding tank to both sides of the boat. Behind and above the head are a tooth brush charger, a beard trimmer charger, and a 110V and 12V outlet. The floor was raised, flattened and carpeted. The mattress in the forepeak was custom-made Tempurpedic mattress. The anchor locker floor was opened and reinforced to allow the 200' of chain to cascade down the bow to the compartment under the berth area. The under-berth area also houses the depth transducer, the pump for the bow washdown system, the brain box for the KVH instrument system, and two milk cartons loaded with spare parts. Behind the louvered door on the port side are stored fishing tackle, games, etc.
The keel box was reinforced with 3/4" plywood fiberglassed into the keel some 12" on either side of the bilge. The bilge pump occupies the bilge. It is on a float switches which can be overridden.
Odds and ends; Sovereignty has been my only home for the past 16 years. I lived comfortably in Michigan winters for 12 of those years and Florida summers for 4 years. She is air-conditioned by a window unit on the cockpit sole. In the center of the "basement" we carry two folding bicycles and snorkeling equipment such as goggles, fins, and snorkels. Additionally we have room for pop, and other bulk items.
I appreciate my Yamaha 9.9 outboard with its Handler kort nozzle and high-pitch prop and the room it affords me under the cockpit for storage. I had to add 200 lbs. of lead under the hanging locker in order to correct a bit of stern weight added by the fuel, engine, and basement equipment. With the bow chain, that was all it took to float her flat.
In 1998 we shipped Sovereignty to Havastraw, New York and sailed the east coast from Troy, NY, to Newport, RI, and down the coast to Florida.
In 1999 we shipped her to Cleveland and spent the summer sailing the Great Lakes, departing Chicago mid-October and arriving in Mobile the end of November. December, we sailed the west coast of Florida and were in the Keys for Christmas. We went to Cuba for the week between Christmas and the New Year. Returning to Key West for the New Malennium celebration. January up the east coast of Florida arriving in Jacksonville February 24th. It was a great trip and the boat handled the Great Lakes storms and Gulf of Mexico's Gulf Stream without faltering. She has been in 70-knot blows and flat water where the GPS and autopilot saved us from boring hours of steering. She loves sailing all night and with a dimmer on the compass light it is comfortable to watch out for debris on a moonless night.
MODIFICATIONS MADE AFTER 2001:
All thru hulls were upgraded to bronze with malaron sea cocks. The hull's wetted surface was stripped to the gel coat, and six coats of Interlux's Interprotect were applied. The coats were alternated between white and grey so bottom sanding could detect sanding through a coat of interprotect. Bottom paint was then applied over that coating.
A new Yamaha 9.9 hp. 4 stroke, long shaft, electric start, with trim & tilt was added in 2009. In order for the motor to be able to tilt completely out of the water, a new hydraulic motor mount was added.
The stern lazarette was upgraded and now includes: 2-26 gallon fuel tanks (port & starboard), a tank selector valve, a Racor 5 micron fuel/water separator and filter, an adjustable 5 LED light, a 12 V cigarette lighter outlet, a new engine hour meter, a Rule 500 GPH automatic bilge pump, a Fireboy automatic fire extinguisher, a Aura sub woofer, a switch pannel, a fresh water engine flush and separate coil hose wash down system, and a coil hose overboard water wash down hose.
A sugar scoop was built to extend the wetted surface and keep from pooping the motor. The new motor mount and the Kort nozzle were cleaned and primed with 5 coats of Interportect then painted to match the motor.
The brass portlights in the forepeak were changed out for bronze. I added a hanging locker rod above the head. I added a heating pad to the foot of the forepeak birth, upgraded the swim ladder (6 step deck attached) as the former swim ladder is now the engine access ladder because the sugar scoop eliminated its use as a swim ladder. I installed a Garmin 182C chart plotter integrated with the auto pilot. Sharper Image Ion Breeze with bacteria killing light. Upgraded the Navy anchor to a heavier model. Upgraded the Delta anchor to a heavier anchor. Installed FiOS fiber optic service. Added a Food Saver vacume system. Built brackets to store the companionway door pannels in the head. I also mounted the Bose I-touch player above the port seatee. I added a electric soap dispenser in the galley.
Sovereignty has two cordless phones, one with answering machine in the forepeak and a second with a headset on the dinette table.
This is a partial list of Sovereignty's modifications. If any of these projects interest you, feel free to contact me to discuss materials, processes, as well as plans.
TOPSIDE MODIFICATIONS:
Sovereignty generates her needed electricity via three large Siemens solar cells, an Amp Air wind generator, and the alternator in the Yamaha outboard.
I added the bowsprit, which holds a Delta anchor on 200' of high-test chain handled by a Horizon 500 windlass.
Her cutter rig can be completely controlled from the cockpit and with turning blocks at the back of the deck I can adjust the sail track blocks while they are under load. The furling lines are led aft through Schaefer stantion blocks.
The mast lines (mainsheet, main halyard, topping lift, reef 1, reef 2, and downhaul) are all extended to the cockpit.
Additionally, the mainsheet and traveler control lines appear in the cockpit.
The lightning protection of the vessel is accomplished by a Forespar ion receiver wired to a large bronze plate under the waterline.
The decks and cabin trunk are covered with diamond design Teak colored Treadmaster. The cockpit is covered with smooth design Teak colored Treadmaster. The uncovered gelcoat in the cockpit area is painted a Teak color using Sterling two part epoxy paint.
The tow/rub rail system incorporates a towing strap under its lower half. The verticle boards of the toe rail are 1/2" teak while the rub strake board is black walnut. The bow pulpit is also made of black walnut. The black walnut came from a friend's farm in Michigan and is epecially dear to me as Peter and I have been friends for well over 25 years.
The dinghy outboard is on a bracket which allows me to lower it into the water to load it easily onto and off of the dinghy. The bracket also allows me to use the motor as additional forward or reverse thrust or as a athwartships thruster.
The bronze portholes in the forepeak cabin can accommodate wind scoops which direct the breeze into or out of the forepeak cabin. They have bronze screens. I made blue plastic window inserts to darken the forward cabin and afford privacy. Capillary action between the glass and plastic keeps them in place.
The sliding companionway hatch was replaced by a sunroof and the pilothouse windshield parallels the companionway stairs.
The pilothouse also has red/white dimming lights as well as four speakers for the ship's stereo system.
The instruments include the KVH Quattro system, the Raytheon 4000+ autopilot, a Garmin 182C GPS/chartplotter which is wired to the autopilot, and a compass which has a dimmer switch on its light to dim it when making a crossing at night. The regular light was too bright and caused night blindness. Now that it is dimmed the problem has been eliminated.
I increased the fuel tankage from 6 gallons to 52 gallons, boosting my cruising range under motor to 520+ nautical miles. There are two tanks and I can transfer fuel from one to the other to adjust trim. Forward of the skylight are teak strips which form a luggage rack for two trunks (I call this area "The Attic").
The dinghy is deflated and lashed to the foredeck when not in use.
All the standing rigging is 3/16 wire with StaLock fittings. When I fractionalized the rig to provide for the cutter sail, I added additional uppers as well as running backstays where the cutter stay meets the mast. The backstay is doubled and incorporates a flag halyard on the aft wire to post the stars and stripes above the spreaders while on the inner wire a boom gallows clip secures the boom when not in use.
The light at the masthead is an all-around red over an all-around green and can be illuminated in addition to the deck lights. The masthead also includes an anchor light, a Digital/analog powered TV antenna, a VHF antenna with a splitter for the AM/FM radio, a wind transducer, and a Forespar lightning ion collector which is grounded to a large bronze plate attached to the hulls wetted surface.
At the mast's midpoint are the steaming light, a Fidrell blipper radar reflector, a horn (controlled by a windshield wiper delay switch to sound it periodically in foggy conditions), and port and starboard deck lights.
The bow pulpit has a seat, and the autopilot remote can be extended to the seat so steering is not compromized when sitting at the bow. A wonderful place to enjoy a sail with the bow wave bubbles breaking the silence.
Also at the bow is a deck washdown hose connection plumbed to the former head flush water through-hull. The bags on either side of the pulpit hold the windlass control box, a anchor mark, a anchor sentinel, the nozzled hose for the washdown system, a rubber snubber for the anchor chain, and a 1/2" X 10' rode to attach the anchor chain to the bow plate at the base of the pulpit support bar and wire.
Under the bowsprit are docking lights that are controlled from the cockpit.
The cockpit sole has a teak grate which can be raised to seat height making it a guest room or a large conversation area. By using the seat cushions and backrest cushions and a filler piece the area can be used to sleep under the stars, or as a guest bed.
I have tailored a tarp to allow the cockpit sole to be a bathtub or jacuzzi (by adding a submersible bilge pump). In open water, the grate can be raised and covered so water entering the cockpit will drain out the engine lazarette and not fill the well.
The lee cloths can be connected to the bimini (connecting the pilothouse with the stern enclosure) using either blue Sunbrella or mosquito netting. Enclosing the cockpit in this manner keeps out bugs, rain, cold, and prying eyes.
The stern lunch hook is on an Ankarolina belting rode reel. It is 185' in length and by inserting a winch handle in the center of the reel, the anchor belt can be wound into its case in a jiffy. It is easy to set and retrieve and it can even be walked to the bow if desired. For lunch or a swim, it is the anchor of choice.
There are two Magna propane kettles attached to the stern pulpit. The tools for which hang on the stern pulpit; where they are out of the way, but ready for use.
Reach poles are strapped to the bow pulpit and stern enclosure brace so they are ready at a moment's notice where they are needed without having to carry them forward.
The added stanchions in the cockpit hold backrests and the lee cloths have sheet pockets for the furling lines and sheets, as well as a hand-held VHF radio or bottle of pop.
The forward side windows of the pilothouse open for ventilation.
There are deck eyes on the stanchion braces on port and starboard for the installation of a preventer or jacklines. The Sampson post on the bow has an eye on its top for jacklines or a safety harness hook.
I like flags so when we dress Sovereignty, we fly the flags of all the states and foreign countries we have visited from the port spreader. One halyard at the spreader's midpoint while the other is on the outboard end of the spreader. On the starboard spreader flag halyard we fly the courtesy flag of the state or country in which we are located. The masthead has blocks on either side for the owner's pennant and a quarantine flag (where required) or a set of code pennants when desired. Additionally, the mast flag halyards can fly special flags such as the Sigma Chi Fraternity flag, the Gasden "Don't Tread On Me" flag, or a large Stars and Stripes held open by the backstay flag halyard. The back stay has a flag halyard that can hoist an American flag to a point above the spreaders.
The mainsail is a fully battened loose-footed main with two reefs riding on a Tides Marine sail track and having a Dutchman furling system.
I added sheet bags to the interior of the main cabin for the control lines exiting the sheet stoppers on the cabin trunk for mast lines and traveler control lines as well as the mainsheet.
There are two 30 amp shore power cord inlets, a TV-phone inlet on the starboard cabin trunk and a hose bib for the fresh water system on the port cabin trunk.
The cockpit has two winch handle compartments for additional storage (the port pocket is in the backrest and has a clear plastic cover to keep water out of it while the starboard pocket intrudes high into the pilotberth. Abaft the starboard pocket are the controls for the outboard motor. The handle of which can be removed when the motor is not in use. The key start, oil pressure light, and kill switch are on the aft foot well bulkhead.
The stern lazarette houses a blue raw water coil hose with nozzle to wash down the cockpit, rinse off after swimming, or wet yourself for a shower. It also houses a fresh water bib to which is connected a valved "Y" fitting. One leg of the "Y" is connected to the engine flush system and the other leg is attached to a white, nozzled coil hose for washing down the exterior of the motor and mount after use.
The cockpit lazarette houses the hand held shower hose for showering or fresh water rinse. That eliminated the need for a shower sump below decks and the humidity showering in the cabin creates. The cockpit lazarette also houses our Paratech drogue chute (12' diameter), and an assortment of flares and parachute flares, a sea patch tarp, tarps to cover the deck when under a summer sun, and various cleaning supplies as well as an extinguisher, and fenders, and the like. It also houses a six step swim ladder, dock lines, additional anchor lines, a hammock, search light, bicycle baskets, etc.
The ship's colors fly from the starboard stern quarter.
About the only unchanged feature on the hull are the windows . . . they are the original frames and Plexiglas.
The hammock can be erected between the forestay and mast.
There are three anchors on the bow pulpit: the delta anchor in the anchor roller and attached to the 200' chain rode; a navy anchor to port; and a Danforth anchor to starboard either of which can be attached to a second chain/line rode (carried forward as needed, or bagged on the bow if expected to be regularly used).
I have added 200 lbs. of lead to the bottom of the keel to compensate for the added weight aloft.
I boxed the keel well by fiberglassing stringers across the keel sump, tightening the keel bolts and priming the sump with Interprotect primer and painting it. I can bare the nuts if it is ever necessary, but they are protected form any casual water that might collect in the bilge. The stringers span the keel box and run up the hull about a foot on either side . They have drain openings to allow the liquid to flow to the pumps.
Each compartment in the cockpit has both red and white light illumination.
By moving the mainsheet traveler to the amidships position in front of the pilothouse, it has enabled me to completely enclose the cockpit against rain, sun, or mosquitoes.
INTERIOR MODIFICATIONS:
The entire hull is insulated with Armaflex 1/2" insulation which has an R factor of about 16. That is topsides, freeboard insides, and wetted surface insides. The boat is as a thermos bottle--warm in winter and cool in summer.
The single berth on the port side of the main cabin now houses storage cabinets under the alcohol/electric cooktop, a Norcold fridge (with an automatic fan to cool the compressor when operating on 110V), a microwave/bake/broil/toast/defrost oven, and a 30" flat screen HDTV (when wintering in a cold enviornment; however removed when cruising). The remaining area is a seat. The old ice chest has been converted to a freezer. The old Whale pump now pumps sea water from its own thru hull. A single valve faucet with separate spigot supplies the temperature premixed fresh water to the sink. The "under the cockpit seat area of the galley aft of the cockpit bulkhead is lit with two lights, one over the behind-the-sink area and one which shines into the freezer. The paper towel rack is on the lazarette bulkhead behind the sink.
The entire galley was covered with teak veneer, making it easily cleaned. I added a bronze red/white light to the galley bulkhead and a 12V halogen light aimed at the sink/cooktop. The glasses cabinet under the deck doors were refaced with teak as was the cabinet at the outboard end of the dinette table. The forward bulkhead was reinforced and covered with teak veneer. The dinette table on the starboard side of the main cabin was covered with teak veneer with an inlay of a compass rose and the ship's name "Sovereignty" inlaid in black walnut (the rubrail on the outside of the teak toerail is black walnut from a friend of mine's farm in Ann Arbor Michigan).
The table is fixed in position as the computer system is on a shelf, and cut into the cabin liner under the table. The shelf also acommodates the printer and other related equipment. The keyboard is on a shelf under the aft side of the table.
There are 15 lights in the main cabin. Six are hooded halogen, three are bronze red/white lights. One shines under the table, one (red only) illuminates the stairway from above the engine room (we call that area under the cockpit sole "the basement"), one illuminates the pilotberth, one illuminates the pole locker (the area above the pilotberth), two over the galley sink ice chest area.
There is a compressor in the galley to pump up bicycle tires. In the basement going counterclockwise from forward port are: a 35-gallon water bladder, the freezer compressor (cooled with water or air-cooled), a Pur 35 water maker, a 12V water heater in the back of the compartment forward of the reinforced rudder post pocket, to starboard starting from the aft, are the two pumps (raw water to the engine lazarette and the fresh water system pump), a 1500 watt inverter/charger controlled by a link 2000 controller, freezer controls, two alarm system controllers, and various other equipment including two of the ship's six U. S. Battery T-145 6V batteries.
At the head of the pilotberth are the ship's FiOS ONT unit (when wintering in cold enviornments or day/weekend sailing), and internet router. Above them are the ship's VHF radio and the head unit for the ship's entertainment system. The entertainment system can play a single CD, a magazine of 12 CD's, a cassette tape, as well as AM & FM stereo radio stations. It also has inputs for the VHF radio, the ship's computer sound output, and an I-Touch or other MP3 device. The system plays through a Bose Acoustamass system on the front channels (port side of the main cabin), and Pioneer dual-cone speakers on the rear channels (starboard side of the main cabin) and an Aura subwoofer mounted to the underside of the dinette sole. I attached a ceiling board in the pilotberth to accommodate long pole storage in the starboard coaming seat back area. It has a sliding door at its main cabin exit opening and is lighted when the pilotberth light is switched on.
By the way, the dinette sole is a teak parquet floor. The table leg amidships accommodates a Ionic Breeze Germocidal air cleaner and a Pelonis ceramic heater whose thermostat is on the bulkhead adjacent to the mast post above the seat back cushion for the dinette seat. I opened the area under the dinette sole by installing a teak door. That area houses the iron, ironing board, spare rigging wire, anchor sail, alcohol for the ship's stove, and other equipment. The storage under the berth on the port side of the cabin was opened with a single board facing the walkway with three doors cut into it.
The aft two compartments of this created storage area house galley equipment and the forward compartment houses clothing. I made a sink cover which stows between the galley and companionway stairway. I installed a Norcold refrigerator. When it senses 120 V power upon turning on, it starts a 5" computer type fan which draws air through the area behind the refrigerator to keep the diodes cool. I converted the ice box to a holding plate freezer. The panel above the basement door houses a cigarette lighter plug, switches for the freezer, freezer fan, freezer water cooling pump, freezer air cooling fan, freezer thermostat, a burglar alarm siren, the red light previously discussed, a water temperature mixing valve which adjusts water temp in the ship's tankage water system, and various other switches and plugs.
The panel under the pilotberth has the switch which switches the water heater element from solar to charger, a switch which allows the engine's alternator to charge the house bank of batteries, the link 2000 control panel, fly swatters, and a fire extinguisher. The cupboard under my seat houses foodstuffs on the top shelf and cleaning supplies on the bottom shelf.
The compartment under the aft dinette seat houses the CD changer, the 550-watt 5-channel entertainment system amplifier, the ship's electrical panels, and software and hardware for the computer system as well as two of the six 6V house batteries, and one of the engine bank gel cells. The cupboard under the forward dinette seat houses linens on the top shelf, and trash bags, the ship's vacuum cleaner, and other equipment below. The compartment under the forward seat is the ship's tools and supplies compartment, the speed transducer, two of the six 6V house batteries, and one of the two engine bank gel cells. The forward bulkheads as well as the aft bulkheads in the main cabin have all been covered with teak veneer.
The port bulkhead houses the binocular rack and the ship's bell with "Hoyts' Sovereignty" cast into her. There is also a brass compass rose, a brass inclometer, a hooded light, left channel speaker, and framed pictures. The starboard bulkhead has the ship's bell clock, barometer, pencil rack, heater thermostat and 11 framed pictures of family and favorite places in matching brass frames, and a 12-volt light. There are 17 110V outlets in the main cabin, and four 12V outlets.
The ship's computer system is on an isolated UPS. The computer system consists of a Shuttle mini system with a remote keyboard, and a remote 22" HDTV/monitor, and an ink jet printer. It has a 5 channel sound system, web cam on a long cord, and plugs for digital voice recorder, MP3 players, cameras, etc. There are two external hard drives, one is 150 Gigs and the other is a 1 terabite drive.
The head is only flushed by fresh water. The head and main cabin are both carpeted, wall to wall. The head further is carpeted up the sides where the gelcoat appeared and the freeboard wall to the cabinet. No one is allowed to stand and use the head and it has been carpeted since 1984 with nary an odor. The head "Y's" overboard or to a holding tank built out of the compartment under the forepeak berth.
I added a louvered door to the port under-berth area and built a gimbaled cockpit table which doubles as a partition hiding the items stored under the berth but not in the under-berth compartment. At the foot of the forepeak berth I added a Pelonis ceramic heater forward of the shelf and into the shelf I added a computer fan which draws air up from the under-berth compartment and exhausts it to the back side of the heater.
The thermostat (heating/cooling line voltage) is on the port bulkhead between the forepeak berth and the hanging locker. It allow us to have the heater off yet exhaust the cooler air from the under-berth area into our cabin--or if really warm, with the heater fan on blowing that air over our bodies in bed. The portholes give us both light and ventilation.
There is a light at the foot of the berth which is controlled from a switch panel at the port side of the shelf at the head of the bed. Also in this panel are a speaker for the sound system, a 12V and 110V outlet and a dimmer switch for the 110V light in this compartment. On the starboard panel is a 12V and 110V outlet, a volume control for the compartment speakers, a speaker, and a switch which allows me to turn off the stereo system from bed. Under the bed is a second Aura subwoofer. I cut out openings (4) under the shelf and use the area for additional storage of books, wind scoops, etc. Not wanting curtains covering the portholes, I made blue plastic plates which fit perfectly over the glass and the capillary action between the glass and plates holds them in place at any rate of heel.
In the head I built a bookcase on the forward bulkhead and a towel rack under it. I built a lockdown for the spare tiller. The hanging locker is illuminated and the rod swung 90 degrees so the clothes face amidships. This allows for room for long umbrellas, cloths bag, belt hooks and other storage. I vented the holding tank to both sides of the boat. Behind and above the head are a tooth brush charger, a beard trimmer charger, and a 110V and 12V outlet. The floor was raised, flattened and carpeted. The mattress in the forepeak was custom-made Tempurpedic mattress. The anchor locker floor was opened and reinforced to allow the 200' of chain to cascade down the bow to the compartment under the berth area. The under-berth area also houses the depth transducer, the pump for the bow washdown system, the brain box for the KVH instrument system, and two milk cartons loaded with spare parts. Behind the louvered door on the port side are stored fishing tackle, games, etc.
The keel box was reinforced with 3/4" plywood fiberglassed into the keel some 12" on either side of the bilge. The bilge pump occupies the bilge. It is on a float switches which can be overridden.
Odds and ends; Sovereignty has been my only home for the past 16 years. I lived comfortably in Michigan winters for 12 of those years and Florida summers for 4 years. She is air-conditioned by a window unit on the cockpit sole. In the center of the "basement" we carry two folding bicycles and snorkeling equipment such as goggles, fins, and snorkels. Additionally we have room for pop, and other bulk items.
I appreciate my Yamaha 9.9 outboard with its Handler kort nozzle and high-pitch prop and the room it affords me under the cockpit for storage. I had to add 200 lbs. of lead under the hanging locker in order to correct a bit of stern weight added by the fuel, engine, and basement equipment. With the bow chain, that was all it took to float her flat.
In 1998 we shipped Sovereignty to Havastraw, New York and sailed the east coast from Troy, NY, to Newport, RI, and down the coast to Florida.
In 1999 we shipped her to Cleveland and spent the summer sailing the Great Lakes, departing Chicago mid-October and arriving in Mobile the end of November. December, we sailed the west coast of Florida and were in the Keys for Christmas. We went to Cuba for the week between Christmas and the New Year. Returning to Key West for the New Malennium celebration. January up the east coast of Florida arriving in Jacksonville February 24th. It was a great trip and the boat handled the Great Lakes storms and Gulf of Mexico's Gulf Stream without faltering. She has been in 70-knot blows and flat water where the GPS and autopilot saved us from boring hours of steering. She loves sailing all night and with a dimmer on the compass light it is comfortable to watch out for debris on a moonless night.
MODIFICATIONS MADE AFTER 2001:
All thru hulls were upgraded to bronze with malaron sea cocks. The hull's wetted surface was stripped to the gel coat, and six coats of Interlux's Interprotect were applied. The coats were alternated between white and grey so bottom sanding could detect sanding through a coat of interprotect. Bottom paint was then applied over that coating.
A new Yamaha 9.9 hp. 4 stroke, long shaft, electric start, with trim & tilt was added in 2009. In order for the motor to be able to tilt completely out of the water, a new hydraulic motor mount was added.
The stern lazarette was upgraded and now includes: 2-26 gallon fuel tanks (port & starboard), a tank selector valve, a Racor 5 micron fuel/water separator and filter, an adjustable 5 LED light, a 12 V cigarette lighter outlet, a new engine hour meter, a Rule 500 GPH automatic bilge pump, a Fireboy automatic fire extinguisher, a Aura sub woofer, a switch pannel, a fresh water engine flush and separate coil hose wash down system, and a coil hose overboard water wash down hose.
A sugar scoop was built to extend the wetted surface and keep from pooping the motor. The new motor mount and the Kort nozzle were cleaned and primed with 5 coats of Interportect then painted to match the motor.
The brass portlights in the forepeak were changed out for bronze. I added a hanging locker rod above the head. I added a heating pad to the foot of the forepeak birth, upgraded the swim ladder (6 step deck attached) as the former swim ladder is now the engine access ladder because the sugar scoop eliminated its use as a swim ladder. I installed a Garmin 182C chart plotter integrated with the auto pilot. Sharper Image Ion Breeze with bacteria killing light. Upgraded the Navy anchor to a heavier model. Upgraded the Delta anchor to a heavier anchor. Installed FiOS fiber optic service. Added a Food Saver vacume system. Built brackets to store the companionway door pannels in the head. I also mounted the Bose I-touch player above the port seatee. I added a electric soap dispenser in the galley.
Sovereignty has two cordless phones, one with answering machine in the forepeak and a second with a headset on the dinette table.
This is a partial list of Sovereignty's modifications. If any of these projects interest you, feel free to contact me to discuss materials, processes, as well as plans.
