43' Custom Steel Ketch Motorsailor

Seattle Yacht Club
Historical committee
Old/classic boat records
Cape Star, document number 283999
AKA Caminata

I purchased the vessel in early 1994 and trucked it to Tacoma. Then constructed a 30 foot by 60 foot shed in my front yard and 5 years of reconstruction began. Also aquired all the parts from storage. It was a love affair at first sight. I continued to strip what was left, down to bare steel hull. This included bulkheads, teak dog house, cockpit and teak decking. Each one of these pieces was repaired to as new condition.

Then time for learning welding. 2/3s of the deck beams were rusted out, some places as much as 2 ft gone. Hull frames, only about 20 % rusted through. With all the structure replaced, it ws time to replace about 30% of the hull plating. One year later, it was time to put a redesigned boat back together. All of the salon leaded glass and cabinets were saved and rebuilt. Everything elsewhere, galley, head, v-berth and everything else in between was redesigned and made new. Cockpit layout much retained as original with a total rebuild of all the parts.

A total mock up of the new interior was installed, and redesigned 2 times to be just a 2 person boat. Didn't need to sleep 7. A 7 ft x 5 ft v-berth, stainless steel 3 ft shower, and total redesign. Captains berth became refer room and storage, new galley layout.

Deck repairs, 1200 pieces of teak resurfaced from 1.5 inches to 1.25 inches, installed over plywood and cold molded.

Time now for all new plumbing, electrical and power, a perkins 4-236. The old onan 7.5 was serviced and still going strong.

With mock up removed, total interior was sprayed with epoxy. Mock up material became interior templates and an interior was fitted.

Then the deck: new aluminum spares, standing rigging, running rugging, stainless self tailing winches and all the other stuff. The sail plan was extended 4 ft with bow lateform, new sails, and lines led-aft.

Exterior was varnished/painted throughout, exterior became red, and blue with white rub rail.

Lanching in 1999 and off to sea trials, around Vancouver Island and return to Poulsbo, was to finish head liner and interior trim.

3 months later off to Mexican waters including Sea of Cortez. After 1 year in the sea, back to civilation and start another project or 2. With many trips north, south and across the sea, Cape Starr has been home base in Mazatlan, Mexico for 30 years.

After retiring during January 2024, closing my company and letting go 10 employes, my schedule is to maintain the Cape Starr. Currently there is no to do list of maintainance. The boat is over 70 years old and I'm well over 70, it's time for new owners. Love at first sight during 1994 and well rewarded!

• 2021, install alum masts, new standing rigging, running rigging, lines led aft, Gauhauer vang and blocks, stainless steel chain plates
• 2022, new epoxy coating, antifouling, new hull paint
• 2024, new electronics, (sinrad chart, depth). Renew total interior paint and varnish
• Perkins 4-236, 406 hrs, rebuilt 2020
• Onan 7.5, rebuilt 1997, 525 hrs
• Anchors: primary cqr 45, s.S. Approx. 300 ft 5/16 chain, spare bow, 45 lb rock anchor, 45 danforth stern, windlass ideal 750
• 12 volt head
• 4 burner stove, propane, w/ solenoid
• 110 v refrigeration
• 4 extinguishers, serviced 2022, size: 5 lb
• Sails: hausey, 2010, main, genoa, jib, stay and mizzen, condition near new, plus spare sails, roller furling on genoa
• 280 watts solar w/controller
• Winches, 3 ST #28, cruising equip, 4 ST #24
• Air conditioning, 2015
• Air compressor, 110 v 2015
• All valves Marlon
• Stainless steel bbq
• Life sling, and horseshoe, Switlik life raft, (out of cert)
• Stainless steel davits, custom made
• Dinghy, Aquapro 9 ft alum inflatable 2007, w/wheels and sun cover
• Outboard motor, Yamaha 6, 2007
• Heart charger/Invertor 2500 watt
• 2 vhf, ssb w/auto tuner
• Microwave oven
• Am/fm/disc player, speaker system
• Pressurized water system
• Electrical Power: 12 volt system
• Batteries: 4 AGM gp 31, room for 3 more
• 110 volt shore power
• Sleeps 5
• One head, shower
• Chart plotter: Simrad EV03 with Mexican chart Pac
• Autopilot: Simrad AP20
• Main wheel rudder in aft cockpit for sailing, Auxiliary wheel in doghouse for motoring