Custom Lorcha 50
Contact Seller
XPresented For Sale By:
| Make | Custom |
|---|---|
| Model | Lorcha 50 |
| Year | 2002 |
| Condition | Used |
| Price | US$225,000 |
| Type | Sail |
| Class | Ketch |
| Length | 15.24 m |
| Fuel Type | Diesel |
| Hull Material | Composite |
| Location | Pensacola, Florida, United States |
| LOA | 15.24 m |
|---|---|
| Beam | 3.96 m |
| Keel Type | Other |
| Max Bridge Clearance | 12.8 m |
| Engine Type | Inboard |
|---|---|
| Engine Make | Yanmar |
| Engine Model | 4JH4E |
| Fuel Type | Diesel |
| Power | 54 hp |
| Engine usage (hours) | 2500 |
| Designer | Reuel Parker |
|---|---|
| Fuel Tanks | 1 x 210 gal |
| Fresh Water Tanks | 1 x 300 gal |
| Holding Tanks | 1 x 35 gal |
Description
For more complete description and information, also got to: www.EmeraldOE.com
THE BOAT
The hull is based on a scaled-up version of the traditional multi-chined Seabright Skiff, considered one of the most seaworthy small craft. It is made from multiple layers of marine plywood fully sheathed in epoxy-impregnated Xynole polyester cloth. A box keel provides a sump for the engine, tankage, and internal ballast, making for a low center of gravity. Foam-core sandwich decks and cabin tops reduce weight above. The hollow box spruce masts were originally junk-rigged, so they are free standing. When it was converted to a twin-headsail ketch, shrouds were added to the main mast to provide counter-tension to the headsail stays. The standing rigging is redundant for its support. The mizzen remains unstayed.
The boat is in excellent condition. There are no leaks to the below decks; there is never any mildew even after being laid up for months at a time. Every single item in the inventory above functions like new. In addition, there are original manuals for nearly every item listed.
Unique feature 1 – The Keel
A 3’ draft is unusual for 50’ monohull. This is typically achieved with a tilting centerboard. The impact is tenderness and reduced stability because of a higher center of gravity. That can be addressed with a lifting, ballasted keel. Tien Hou’s NACA foil shaped keel adds 3500 lb. of ballast that extends to a draft of 6’ 5”. This provides the stiffness of a deep-keel hull and full righting ability in the event of a knock down. At its base is a delta-shaped foil wing that improves hydrodynamic effectiveness in reducing leeway. The wing tucks snugly under the box-keel when the keel is raised, allowing the vessel to lay upright if dried out on a level seabed; it can be careened for inspection or cleaning without tilting.
Lifting ballasted keel designs are rarer than light weight centerboards because they are more challenging to engineer. The system I designed for Tien Hou met that challenge and has functioned flawlessly for 17 years. The keel retracts vertically into a 14” wide trunk separating the two berths in the main cabin that extends just 19” above the cushions. Drop leaf dining tables hang on the sides. Thus, some privacy when sleeping but face-to-face conversation at mealtimes.
The trunk’s 2” laminated walls support the two 4” x 8” laminated beams that the keel hangs on. A 2” schedule 80 ss pipe riding on greased Delrin plain bearings does the heavy lifting. As the pipe rotates, 3/8” Amsteel Dyneema lift lines (combined minimum tensile strength of the over 48,000 lb) on custom-shaped aluminum level winds maintain correct orientation from full up to full down positions. The forward end of the pipe passes through the watertight bulkhead separating the main cabin from the cargo hold on a third Delrin bearing. The drive for the lift pipe is a 1 hp DC motor transmitted through two reducers: an oil-bath, right-angle drive reduction gear and a 12” bronze gear driven by a worm gear. Total lift or lower time is about 45 seconds.
A hinged Lexan cover on the keel trunk allows immediate monitoring of the raising/raising process and direct access to the lifting lines and bearings. I change out the lifting line every 5 years or so, though they have never shown signs of significant wear. This is facilitated by four locking pins – machined ¾” diam. ss bolts that screw into the trunk walls and support the keel underneath its top flange so the lines can be released. The top of this same flange holds two 1 ¾” sch 80 ss lock downs rods for blue water crossings. These fold horizontally onto the flange when not in use. After the keel is fully lowered, they can be rotated to vertical and locked into place on the underside of the support beams. This ensures the keel remains rigidly down in the unlikely event of a full rollover. There are two control switches for the lifting gear – one at the helm, for quick adjustment of the draft (“Shoal ahead!”) and one at the forward end of the trunk for observation with the Lexan cover raised.
Anchoring
I’m an ardent believer in reliable and versatile ground tackle. I carry five anchors, from a 45 lb spade to a 100 lb Danforth storm anchor. Anchor rodes are 350 ft of 1” plaited Dacron and 200 ft of 3/8” galvanized chain. I trust the pair of 4’ long oak 4x6 Samson posts extending two feet below deck and secured to a watertight bulkhead far more than any deck-fastened cleat. It is infinitely safer and faster to belay a running rode under a load around a vertical post at knee level than a cleat at deck level. But the unique item is the windlass.
The original anchor windlass is a massive, solid bronze manual-only beast by Lunenburg Foundry.. I was unimpressed by the available electric alternatives, especially their options for manual backup. I didn’t want to give up the Lunenberg’s power and reliability. So, I electrified the winch while maintaining its manual system. I inserted a 60:1 reduction gear used in commercial crab boats between the rope gypsy and chain wheel. The 1-hp reversing electric drive motor hangs vertically under the gear, completely dry under the deck. It can pull in 90 ft/min of chain at 525 lb.
Accommodations
Master Cabin Aft: Transom gallery fixed ports; queen berth, two hanging lockers, overhead and reading lights; two Lewmar Ocean 40 hatches Caframo fan
Center Cockpit:
§ Hard dodger & windshield (center removable for ventilation), side curtains
§ 4’ x 4’ engine hatch (complete standing access to all sides of engine)
§ 6’ cockpit bench/pilot berth to port w/ two lockers under
§ Helm station to starboard, 30” wheel, single lever Morse engine control
§ Enclosed head w/ toilet, wash basin, hand-held shower, pressure water
Salon Cabin:
§ 56” x 20” desk plus 30” x 36” chart table to starboard w/ chart storage under
§ U-shaped galley to port; See "Galley Equipment" below.
§ Full size double berths port and starboard; flip up dining table between
§ two Lewmar Ocean 40 hatches, four Lewmar size 5 standard opening portlights, custom dorade, four Caframo DC fans
§ 5 overhead and 2 reading lights
Hold/Workshop: 12’ x 5’ “cargo hold” with 6’ headroom; 16” deep work bench w/2 vices; storage lockers and shelves for materials, supplies, tools, and spares
Forward Cabin: Twin 7’ long v-berths w/reading lights; Lewmar Ocean 40 hatch
Rode Lockers: Chain locker under forward cabin v-berths; rope locker in forepeak
Mechanical Equipment
PLUMBING
Galley: Hot and cold pressure fresh water plus foot-operated Whale Gusher fresh water
Head: Hot and cold pressure fresh water sink with faucet/shower head combo on 6’ hose
Toilet: SeaLand 911-M28 electric marine toilet; selectable fresh or sea water flush
Deck: Jabsco high pressure washdown pump; outlets at bow and on aft deck; selectable raw or hot/cold fresh water
Bilge: 3 x bilge pumps –
· Jabsco 4.5 gal/min self-priming diaphragm pump, #101 Water Witch sensor
· Rule 25 gal/min submersible pump, Groco AS-100 pressure sensor
· Guzzler 600 12 gal/min (2” inlet/outlet) fixed manual emergency pump
Hot Water: Torid Marine Systems model MVS 10, 10 gallon, stainless outer sheath, glass lined inner tank, engine coolant heat exchanger plus 110 v, 1500 W heating element
Raw Water:
§ Groco SA-100 ¾” inlet/outlet strainer w/ stainless basket
§ SpeedSeal Easy Slider engine impeller cover plate
Fuel Filters:
· Primary - RCI Technologies model FP fuel purifier/water separator
· Secondary – Parker Racor 120A spin on filter/water separator
· Tertiary – Yanmar engine-mount final filter
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DC
House Bank: 6 x 100 AH Duracell 27M Ultra AGM; purchased 2023
Start:1 x 55 AH Duracell 12-55P Ultra AGM; purchased 2023
Battery Management: Blue Seas – 5511E Dual Circuit battery switch + 7610 ACR relay
House circuit: New Mar/UPM with 15 circuit breakers
High-amp Circuit: Keel & anchor winches & inverter on dedicated circuit using
· 00 gage tinned copper cable
· 500 amp fuse
· Blue Sea Systems 150 amp thermal-trip waterproof breaker/switch
Battery Monitoring: Xantrax Link 200-R dual-bank status & volt/amp/amp-hour meter
Primary Charging Source: 2 x 255 watt LG solar panels
Solar Control: Midnite Solar Kid 30 amp MPPT Controller
Secondary Charge Source: Balmar 200 amp alternator w/ serpentine belt & pulleys, tensioner
Alternator Control: Balmar MC-614 multi-stage programmable voltage regulator
Tertiary Charge Source: Charles 30-amp multi-stage programmable AC to DC charger
AC
Shore Power: 2 x Marinco 25’ 30 amp cords; 50 amp to 30 amp receptacle adapter
Ground Isolation: ProMariner ProSafe galvanic isolator
House Power: 2500 watt DC-AC Inverter
Distribution: Blue Seas main plus 6 individual circuit breaker panel
AC Access:11 x 110 v receptacles throughout vessel
Nav Lights
Running Lights: Aqua Signal Series 34 LED
Steaming/Foredeck: Aqua Signal mast-mount combo
Masthead: Orca Green Marine LXTA-XP LED multilight, including –
· photodiode control
· tricolor
· anchor
· strobe
Galley Equipment
top-loading DC Isotherm 4 cu ft reefer/freezer;
Seaward Princess 3-burner propane stove w/ oven;
full size sink w/ hot and cold pressure water plus foot pump
Full set os pots, pans, dishware, cutlery, coffee makers, etc.
Deck and Hull Equipment
RIG
Jib Topsail - 190 ft2: Yankee-cut Dacron flying jib by Calvert Sails, 2005, excellent condition
Staysail jib – 150 ft2: Hank-on Dacron club footed jib by Calvert Sails, 2005; good condition
Mainsail – 520 ft2: Laced-on Dacron gaffed mainsail with full-length battens by North Sails; 2017, lazy jacks, excellent condition
Mizzen – 125 ft2: Laced on Dacron on sprit by Calvert Sails, 2005; lazy jacks, good condition
Miz. Staysail – 230 ft2: Nylon drifter by Schurr Sails, 2012; excellent condition
Spars:
· Bowsprit – tapered aluminum tubing
· Main & Mizen - keel-stepped hollow box Douglas fir and epoxy
Standing Rigging: 3/8” SS wire with Norseman terminals
Running Rigging: 7/16” and 1/2” double braid and 3-strand polyester
· All halyards are block and tackle
· All sheets tended from cockpit
· Jib topsail, staysail jib, and mizzen staysail sheets, lead to Anderson 46ST self-tailing two speed winches
· Main and mizzen sheets are block and tackle, lead to pin rail aft of cockpit
Reefing:
§ Jib topsail – Pro Furl NC-32 roller reefing
§ Staysail – NA
§ Main – jiffy slab reefing
§ Mizzen – NA
GROUND TACKLE
Rode: 300’ of 1” plaited nylon plus 50’ of 3/8” galvanized chain
Chain: 200’ of 3/8” galvanized chain
Primary Anchor: 44 lb. Spade model 100
Secondary Anchor: 50 lb. CQR plow
Tertiary Anchor: 43 lb. Danforth model S2
Specialty Anchor: 75 lb. fisherman’s (yachtsman’s}
Storm Anchor: 100 lb. Danforth model S3
Sea Anchor: 42” Galerider Drogue
Windlass: Luneburg Foundry bronze manual; professionally electrified
Reversing
Foot operated deck switches plus helm-mounted switches
Full manual capability retained for back-up
Navigation Systems
INSTRUMENTATION
Fully integrated and networked Raymarine system -
Chart Plotter/Display: C-120 12” display on swivel mount (viewable at helm or nav station)
GPS Receiver: RS 130 antenna
Radar: RD218 2 kW radome mounted on mizzen
Auto Pilot:
· Smartpilot SPX 10 corepack course computer
· Type 1 rotary drive unit (chain)
· Autohelm remote fluxgate compass
· Rudder position sensor
Sounders:
· DSM 30 digital sounder module
· DST800 Triducer Multisensor (depth, speed, temperature) transducer
· Auxiliary T912 depth transducer
Weather Access: SR50 Sirius Marine Weather Receiver and antenna
Cockpit Displays:
· C-120 chart plotter
· ST60 Tridata (depth, speed, water temp.)
· ST60+ Rudder angle indicator
· ST60+ wind speed and direction (apparent and true)
· ST7000 Plus autopilot display and controller
Compass: Ritchie Powerdamp Plus, 5” card
Barometer: Salem w/ 3.5” dial, compensated
Chronometer Weems & Plath, quartz w/ 3.5" dial
Sextant: Davis Instruments Mark 3
VHF Radio:
· ICOM model IC- M602, DSC; Shakespeare 4200 antenna on main mast
· Two ICOM IC -M1V handheld transceivers
AIS Radio AIS250 class B radio module; Shakespeare 4200 antenna on mizzen mast
Stereo: JVC model KD SX36MBT w/ Bluetooth, aux input; salon & cockpit speakers
SW/MW/LW Radio: Kaite KA1103 multi-band receiver only; can output WEFAX to printer or laptop
Additional Equipment
MISCELLANY:
Dozens of charts, chart kits, cruising guides, and reference books, including:
· Chapman, “Piloting, Seamanship, and Small Boat Handling”
· Nigel Calder, “Cruising Handbook”
· Donald Street, “Seawise”
· Ian Nicholson, “Boat Data Book”
· Edgar Boyn, “The 12 Volt doctor’s Alternator Book”
· Revere Comfort Max Model 61021 PFD; manual + auto inflation with safety harness
· West Marine Sospenders PFD; manual inflation with safety harness
· All USCG required Class 3 safety equipment
Dockage available: The privately-owned dock space in a bayou off Pensacola Bay, FL is available for rent at a below-market rate to the new owner. It is a former commercial shrimp boat landing that was recently reconditioned with new decking, power, water, and security lighting. A row of stand-off mooring piles parallel the dock. It is in one of the best hurricane holes within 50 miles.
