Boat Search Carol Ketch

Boat Search Carol Ketch

On Friday we took a trip down to Newport to look at a boat. Many people are familiar with John G. Hanna's design for the Tahiti Ketch, once one of the most common Blue-water cruising boats. This boat is a Carol Ketch, more or less a larger version of the Tahiti Ketch.

Ken  the owner picked us up at the dock and gave us a wonderful tour. Scarab (renamed Indigo Blue) is a Marconi ketch rigged,  full keel double ender of some 30,000 lbs, 49.5' LOA, 36' LOD. Built of Port Orford cedar on sawn oak with all teak decks and house, spruce spars and mahogany interior, she has an incredibly solid feel. She has many beautiful antique details and with some work would be a real show piece and a serious bluewater boat.

View from the pulpit

 Foredeck with windlass (Ben liked the windlass)

 Side deck and cabin top

Helm, (loved the knot work)

 

 Aft deck

Forepeak

 Butterfly hatch and deck beams

 Main salon looking aft

 Screened bronze port holes and exotic hardwood posts

 Folding seat (Corrie really liked this detail) and Galley

We both Really liked this boat for it's solid feel, great wood details, classic bronze fittings and over all character. Unfortunately, she has some features and problems that don't fit our needs. Since both of us have families that are interested in boats and live near by we need more berths for guests. At over 49ft LOA, the cost of slip fees is really high for us for a boat with this number of berths. Also, we would really like a larger aft deck/ cockpit area, which double enders lack (Corrie really likes wineglass transoms). The spars and decks need some attention. Because, of the timing (and economic conditions for bladesmiths at the moment) we felt that we wouldn't be able to afford to fix this boat up the way it deserves.  I was worried that with all the deposits, insurance, registration, etc. that we wouldn't be able to afford to fix the problems in a reasonable amount of time.  We decided, with not a little regret, to pass on this one and continue our search.

Here are some links for those interested in John Hanna's designs: