_(SOLD) Firefly

“Firefly”
1974 Sea Sprite 23 Weekender, hull #537 built by Wickford Shipyard. Quantum sails (2010 main, 2016 furling jib), 2009 custom Triad “float-off” Trailer, and 2013 Honda 5 hp 4 stroke outboard. A very unique boat with thoughtful and well-engineered upgrades by an experienced single handed sailor. Equipped with only top of the line hardware and equipment. No reasonable expense spared. All of the typical problem areas and really difficult repair and upgrade jobs have been done.
The boat comes complete and ready to sail away. Single-hand with confidence: All halyards and control lines led aft on cabintop. Tiller has a carbon battlestick extension, tiller clutch and line for easy single-handing. Reef from the cockpit by yourself in about 1 minute.
You will be entirely self-sufficient from the boatyards if you wish. Launch, haul and store her yourself. Complete boat/motor/trailer package with many extras including winter cover system and custom mast raising system. She is turn-key and would only merit some discretionary cosmetic expenditure at this point.

Offered by a classic yacht enthusiast and Sea Sprite Association Board Member/SS23 Forum Technical Editor. She is a great sailing boat, seaworthy, and she looks beautiful; you can’t row away without looking back. I hate to put her on the market but I think I found a bigger boat and two is too many…

Price:

Option A: $9,350 boat/motor/trailer package complete

Option B: $6,750 boat/motor (if you don’t want the trailer)

 

Highlights:

Hull and Deck:
Cut out, recored and glassed soft spots under mast step, under port aft stanchion base. (2009)
Fabricated and installed custom mast tabernacle (2009). Custom “A frame” mast raising setup (2010)
Cut away and rebuilt aft deck; converted old outboard motor well to enclosed lazarette locker (2009)
Soda blasted decades of bottom paint, inspected hull, reapplied primer and bottom paint (2010) with biannual scrape/sand and fresh paint since.
Complete deck refit; removed all hardware and old toerails, epoxied holes and tape/glass/fair deck/hull joint. Cut out and refaired old solid glass deck hatch aperture. Applied 2 coats Interlux Interdeck beige paint. (2010)
All hardware installed with oversized and epoxied holes to protect core. Backed with G10 backing plates and bedded with 3M 4000/4200.
Reinforced hull/deck joint at chain plates with carbon fiber. Installed Spartan Marine bronze deck mount chain plates (like Cape Dory) (2010)
Fabricated and installed new teak toerails bedded in Dolphinite (2010)
New Walterline Systems bow and stern pulpits, new stanchions, new SS lifelines (2010)
Custom carbon fiber, adjustable, removable mast compression strut fabricated and installed (2010)
New deck gear 2010 included beefy Spartan bronze locking bow chocks, Spartan deck hawse chain pipe, 12” Herreshoff bow cleat, Lewmar “Ocean 40” deck hatch, teak dorade box, Harken jib sheet tracks/cars, Harken mainsheet traveler and more.
Custom teak bow anchor roller sprit with Lewmar roller (2013)
All teak stripped back and 4 coats Cetol applied (2014)
New tiller with tiller clutch and carbon Battlestick extension (2013)
NEW halyard tail / rope organizer bag in cockpit (2016)
Non-skid pads on cockpit sidewalls for better footing when heeled over! (2016)

Rig:
Replaced all standing and running rigging, spreaders, jumpers, Dwyer fixed gooseneck, ss boom bails for vang and mainsheet. New Harken 4 part mainsheet system (2009)
Ran all control lines aft: Installed Dwyer halyard organizer plate under mast step, Harken blocks on plate and Harken turning blocks on cabin top, Spinlock stoppers and Lewmar cabintop winch. (2009)
Installed 2 line reefing for main (2010)
Replaced old sheet winches with NOS Lewmar #7’s (2009)
Replaced old jib sheet coaming cleats with Spartan bronze stand up cleats (2009)
New Windex (2013)
New Schaefer Snapfurl 500 jib roller furler, new Dwyer Masthead casting, new G10 strut mount for Windex on masthead casting, new Dwyer hound fitting, new jumper struts (to fit new hound), new jumper strut wires. Replaced all clevis pins and cotter pins on rig. Reconfigured all halyards and topping lift to run internal to mast using Harken flush mount blocks and Schaefer halyard exit plates. New jib and spinnaker halyards. New Spectra mainsheet. Misc Spectra loups on sheets, vang, topping lift, furler line guides etc. (2015/16)
New Harken deck organizer (3 sheave) on stbd cabintop (2016)
Entire rig is dismantled, inspected, and all parts greased with Lewmar grease every season. Mast and boom washed and waxed every season. Lewmar winches broken down, inspected, cleaned, greased and pawls oiled every season. All blocks lubed and cleaned every season.

Cabin:
Old water tank and head junked (2009)
All old electrical wires etc stripped out (2009)
All extraneous seacocks cut out and holes glassed – only two remain under waterline for cockpit drains. (2010)
Cockpit drain hoses replaced 2010 and port side again in 2016.
Bilge pump hoses replaced, and outlet rerouted to transom (2010)
Cut away opening in front of porta potti, cut new side panels, cleaned up and painted (2010-13)
Dometic porta potti (2010)
Old leaky fixed portlights junked, apertures glassed, and new NewFound Metals bronze opening portlights installed (2012)
Interior sink and icebox pan modules cut out; reglassed berth/pans and painted, berths extended, misc teak trim added on berth sides and storage areas. (2012-14)
NOS quarter berth cushions acquired from racer (2013)

Sails / Canvas:
NEW Quantum main with single reef, full top batten, partial battens, loose footed, draft stripes & numbers. (2009)
Recut foot of main (2010)
NEW Quantum roller furling jib with white sun protector strip, tell tale window, draft stripes & numbers (2016).
Old Quantum roller furling jib, serviceable.
Doyle asymmetrical spinnaker (2012).
Sails washed and serviced regularly by the local Quantum loft.
Sailrite sailcover and tiller cover in “toast” Sunbrella.

Motor:
2013 Honda 5 hp 4 stroke long shaft outboard with low pitch prop, tank, gas line; purchased new from Defender. Approx 25 hours use, serviced annually by Honda dealer, receipts available, stored in heated storage in winter.
Mounts on Garelick ss bracket on stern, with custom G10 reinforced, varnished teak plate.

Trailer
2009 Triad Trailers custom float off trailer, single axle, with winch ladder stand on front, spare wheel/tire; ordered/purchased new from Triad.
Pair of 10000 lb straps, misc pads, blocks, ladder, etc for towing and parking.
Trailer refit in 2013 with all new parts: Tie Down Engineering surge disc brake system, disc brakes to replace drums, disc brake surge coupler, chains, brake lines, front wheel jack, wheels balanced.

Gear included:
Plastimo compass mounted on cabin bulkhead
20 lb CQR plow anchor with 25 feet of heavy chain, 100’ rode
Safety flare kit, fire extinguisher, Lifesling, 2 throwable cushions,
2 fenders, assorted dock lines, boat hook,
Abus bronze combo padlocks for cabin and outboard (plus locking cable for outboard), teak winch handle holder mounted on cabin, winch handle
American flag on teak staff with Spartan bronze mount on stern
small canvas gear organizer bags in cabin
Custom winter cover system from Kover Klamps includes conduit frame, clamps, cover, cover clips and assorted line and padding to setup and cover her for the winter. (2010) All labeled, with some photos.

Additional photos or other details available on request. The boat is currently hauled; available for inspection at my home.

Please contact Dejan Radeka at dradeka@cox.net or phone/text 401-230-7234

 

PICTURES

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4 thoughts on “_(SOLD) Firefly

  1. Bill Preston

    We are very similar people. My boats have all been treated the same as yours! Including the H-28 I built at the Norfolk School of Boatbuilding years back. I like your boat and wonder if she is still available?
    BillPreston

    Reply
  2. Rob

    Interested in your SS23. Is it still for sale?. Would like additional pictures and details if possible (interior, trailer)

    Reply
    1. Dan Vartabedian

      we are retired in Camden, Me. looking for last solid boat. What has been feedback from lookers ; hasn’t sold?? any electronics? depth, speed? Tiller tamer or something similar? bearing buddies on trailer wheels? Can see boat this week. Could there be assistance in getting boat and extras closer to Maine?
      regards, Dan Vartabedian

      Reply

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