Alita for Sale

Sparkman & Stephens yawl

Design #1245-S

Alita in Connetcicut — Alita in Connecticut

Alita is a Sparkman & Stephens yawl (design #1245-S), built in 1962 by Astillero Bottini in Montevideo, Uruguay. She is 39′ 7.5″ long, with a 11’3” beam and 22,000 lb displacement. Her draft is 3’11” (centerboard up) and 8’ board down. She is a sister ship of the famous Finisterre, 3-time winner of the Newport-Bermuda race (see https://sailboatdata.com/sailboat/finisterre-ss).

Asking: $19,000
Location: central Pennsylvania
Contact: alita.dunn@gmail.com

Construction

Hull consists of single planked mahogany from garboard to plank #7 then double planked Spanish cedar to just below the mahogany shear strake. Planking is fastened (bronze screws) to steam bent frames on 10” centers. Frames are bolted to the shear clamp and floors. The bronze centerboard is housed in a bronze centerboard trunk with integral bronze floors. Mast step is also bronze with integral bronze floors. Traditional hardwood floors elsewhere. Diagonal bronze hull strapping further stiffens the hull.

Plywood deck fiberglassed over.

7500# external lead ballast

Equipment

(2) 40 gal tinned copper water tanks
26 gal stainless fuel tank
42 hp Vetus diesel (removable drip pan)
2 blade prop
Duel bow anchor rollers
Cabin heater (charcoal)

Included items:

(2) anchors (CQR 35# & 45#)
Large collection of blocks & fittings
Radar (status unknown)
Roller furling jib hardware
Sails (main, mizzen, genoa – all like new except for 1” hole in mizzen and genoa (rodent damage), storm jib, .75 oz spinnaker, 1.2 oz spinnaker, mizzen staysail, spare main sail – all older but functional)
Cushions (cockpit & cabin)
(3) Dorade cowls
Spinnaker pole
Reaching strut
Mizzen boom
Main boom (to be repaired or replaced)
Mast winches (2 halyard, Barient #10, Barlow #2,
Merrimum #2)
Cockpit winches; (2) Barient #26; (2) South Coast
Standing rigging
Some running rigging
Anchor rode and chain
Life lines, bow and stern pulpits
Spray dodger
Sail covers
Awning
Misc. canvas
Cabin screens
Compass

Optional:

(9) boat stands ($900)

Below is a list of work that’s been done to date followed by a list of work that remains to be done, representing a minimum for a seaworthy vessel. At this stage, Alita should be viewed as a structurally sound bare boat that can be customized to suit the owner. To this end, I also provide a list of possible upgrades.

*** Note that no masts are included, as the original masts were deemed unsafe. ***

Work Done

Engine rebuilt and tested
Engine compartment rebuilt; new packing gland and Cutlass bearing installed
Single & double planking below WL replaced; single planking seams caulked
Aft bulkheads replaced
Several frames repaired
Rudder rebuilt
Icebox rebuilt – insulation replaced
Cockpit rebuilt – new floor, lockers & drains
Lazarette hatch rebuilt
Cabin top rebuilt
Companionway rebuilt; bridge deck replaced
Plumbing from water tanks to head and galley replaced with PEX
Water tanks painted and pressure tested
Sections of toe rail replaced; new taffrail ready to be installed
Bilge pump plumbing replaced. Manual pump replaced
Tiller steering replaces broken wheel steering
Centerboard pivot pin replaced
Deadwood replaced (required ballast removal; keel bolts inspected) Installed limber hole chains
Existing kerosene stove removed in anticipation of a future propane stove
Existing holding tank and plumbing removed in anticipation of a composting toilet

Work to be Done

Purchase and install engine throttle/shifter
Purchase and install longer prop shaft to accommodate change in engine position; install coupling and prop and align shaft
Replace rudder gudgeon bolts with rivets; install cotter pin in rudder nut Install existing compass
Install existing port lights
New wood spars (original spars deemed unsafe)
Repair/replace cabin sole
Install existing saloon table
Install existing ceiling in cabin
Purchase and install depth sounder
Make tiller
Purchase and install composting toilet with vent
Install new cap rail, taffrail, genoa track, & trim
Install basic electrical system: starter battery, 2 house batteries; DC panel; nav lights; cabin lights; reading lights
Install lifelines, bow and stern pulpits
Replace/repair companionway drop board
Install existing cockpit coamings, winches, lazarette hatch, mainsheet blocks, trim
Install cabin-top hand rails
Paint hull, deck, bottom, cove stripe, waterline
Purchase and install hatch hardware

Upgrades:

The following items represent optional upgrades that the new owner might include for cruising convenience.

Propane stove; tank storage in lazarette or in deck box aft of main mast
Upgrade wood spars to aluminum; painted to simulate wood
Install modern navigation system: chart plotter, depth, wind speed/direction, VHF radio & antenna, GPS, SSB radio
Upgrade electrical: AC panel, isolation transformer or galvanic isolator, inverter/charger, second alternator
Wash down pump
DC cold plate
Autopilot
Electric windlass

Photos:

New planking (brown). Lower 7 planks are single planked H. Mahogany. Upper planks are double planked – inner planks are Alaskan Yellow Cedar; outer planks are Wana. Sikaflex 291LOT sealant between inner and outer planks. Inner planks back fastened to outer with bronze screws.

Rebuilt rudder & rudder post. Trailing edge sheathed in copper. Bronze gudgeon temporarily fastened to rudder post with 5 thru bolts. Once propeller shaft and prop are installed bolts will be replaced by rivets.

Cabin top rebuilt; meranti plywood sheathed in 6oz glass/epoxy. Cabin sides refinished. Front and back panels replaced. Companionway rebuilt. Hatches refinished, acrylic hatch tops replaced. Dorade boxes rebuilt.