Our sailboat is a 1976 Morgan 41 Out Island. She is not considered a fast boat but is a comfortable one. You will hear stories from many that will talk about the Morgan and her sailing characteristics, but my advice for anyone looking for a sailboat is that you only listen to those that own the boat you are wanting to buy. There are plenty of armchair sailors out there that play with (arbitrary) numbers that have been assigned to different boats and think they are then equipped to comment on this or that boat. Seek out owners and listen to what they have to say.

She has a new Beta 60 (Beta Marine) and will make 7 knots all day long. Although she needs a bit of TLC, she has solid underpinnings and will be a great retirement sailboat for us. Here are her specifications per Jack Hornor:

As with most Morgan OI sailboats of this era, she appears to have had the port water tank replaced with a smaller tank. The stock tanks developed leaks over time, and they were too large (138 gallons) to remove and replace through the companionway. They were normally replaced with smaller tanks, which left additional storage for other things. Because we would prefer the additional water storage, we will probably add additional tankage. She does have a 60-gallon tank in the v-berth, which is unusual, so I estimate that with the 50 gallons to port and the 32 gallons to starboard, she will carry somewhere around 142 gallons. This should be ample, considering that we have a watermaker.

Her fuel tankage is too lean for our liking. She currently carries 50 gallons diesel, but we want to add additional tankage to bring her to at least 150 gallons. That would be a much more comfortable reserve for our needs.

She is a full (shoal) keel design, and currently laden at a little over 15 tons, is considered to be a heavy displacement yacht. Because of this, she has a steady way about her in seas. Initially, we have only had her out on a sea trial for a few hours and to Catalina Island for four days, but we had enough wind to raise her sails and head into the Pacific, and we were impressed with her sailing ability and comfort. As we have sailed her more, we have come to appreciate that she is a heavy, steady sailboat.  As with all full keel designs, she does not go to windward as well as fin keel sailboats, but she does well enough. She has a very kindly manner while in decent sized seas. We’re not looking for a racing boat, but we are looking for a comfortable boat to sail the world aboard, and I believe that we have found just that.

We have currently outfitted her with the following new equipment in expectation of our voyage:

• Repowered with new Beta 60 from Beta Marine
• New windlass, 150-foot new chain, 45-pound CQR anchor
• Electronics to include VHF/AIS, Radar, GPS, Depth (sonar), handheld with GPS and emergency, WiFi integration for all instruments
• New cabinets, counters, and drawers in the galley
• New Force 10 stove
• New cold-plate refrigeration
• New drawer refrigerator
• New teak and holly floor for the galley
• New washing machine
• Built our over/under bunks in vberth
• Built second pantry in unused space of forward head
• 3000-watt power inverter with remote switch
• Arch with Radar and solar panels, dinghy davits
• Dodger
• 12 foot inflatable with Honda outboard, kayak
• Watermaker
• Large Magnum grill
• LED lights throughout
• Arc welder
• Honda generator
• Two 100 watt solar panels with MPPT controller
• Washing machine
• Sailrite sewing machine
• Still

Her sail inventory includes:

• Main and roller furler 130% genoa
• Working jib
• Storm jib
• Three spinnakers

The sail plan includes the roller furler that is old school. You can lower it on deck and use hank on sails if needed. You can also use the roller furler along with a hank on jib or genoa for going downwind. Plans include installing an inner stay for a cutter rig.

Galley and food storage and preparation include:

• Canning equipment
• Food drying equipment
• Freezer and refrigeration

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