Presented by
Stephen Varrow
1981 Nautor Swan 51' (15.54 m) 51 Hull #14
Road Town, Virgin Islands (British)
Godspeed
Built by Nautor Finland in 1981 Godspeed is #14 of 32 Swan 51’s produced in a 4 year run, the first of German Frer’s many designs for the Nautor group.
Flag of Registry: Virgin Islands, British
Port of Registry: Road
- Cruiser-Racer
- Sail
- Used
- Diesel
- Fiberglass Hull
- HIN/IMO: swn51014F081
| FEATURES: |
|---|
| Rebuilt Perkins |
| New Transmission |
| New Teak decks |
| 16 deck Winches |
| Stainless Mast steps |
| Notable Upgrades: $25,000 in refinishing work including complete re-paint in Awlgrip Snow White and Empress Blue to the hull and Petit Vivid White Antifoul. Navtec dryform rigging and rod forestay. Custom Stainless steel mast steps and ‘keel bolt to beams’ floors. |
Unbelievable value for money
$ 120,000 USD
€ 110,737 Euros
$ 163,464 CAD
£ 93,328 GBP
Description
Godspeed has her original layout with the master cabin and en-suite head aft. The galley is alongside the engine bay below the central cockpit to port with the full-size chart table and nav station to starboard.
A large, luxurious salon midships, guest berth forward starboard and pipe berths to port with enclosed fwd head…
She went aground in 2018 and after a 3 year repair and refit at a well known repair facility in Nanny Cay she is looking for a new owner, all the hard work has just been completed, needs a re-wire, new electronics and some interior refinishing but for the right buyer offers considerable value for money. The main photo was taken during the 2022 Spring regatta..
It's possible the boat could be purchased as fractional ownership in a BVI company owning the boat as an asset, ideal for a group of friends wanting to compete in the Caribbean regatta circuit, full management and maintenance program available on request.
Specifications
HIN/IMO: swn51014F081
LOA: 51' (15.54 Meters)
Type: Sail- Used
Year: 1981
Beam: 14' 6''
LWL: 42' 3''
Draft Max: 8' 9''
Fuel Type: Diesel
Hull Material: Fiberglass
Fuel Tank: 69 Gallons (261.19 Liters)
Fresh Water: 184 Gallons (696.52 Liters)
Displacement: 96000 lbs
Ballast Weight: 16500 lbs
Photos click to view all
Multimedia
Full Details
Owners Notes
Godspeed was lying ashore at Nanny Cay Marina before Hurricane Irma struck the BVI’s. She was hemmed in between 2 smaller, weaker monohulls. Like 90% of the yachts in Nanny Cay, she was blown over to about 45 degrees during the early stages of the storm. The current owner purchased from her insurers at this stage and the minimal damage was repaired in time for the 2018 BVI Spring Regatta. Godspeed won every race in the ‘Performance Cruising’ division handily.
In early June 2018 she suffered a heavy grounding having broken free of her mooring in Sea Cow’s Bay, near Nanny Cay. She was pulled off the reef only to sink in about 30’ of water. She was salvaged the following day. There began a long 3-year period of repair. She was completely emptied including sole boards, tanks, headliners and a lot of joinery with everything getting deep cleaned and dry stored. The engine and transmission were running within a day of hauling. Many oil changes later and after much care both are now in great shape. The engine was reconditioned in 2016 by Trans Atlantic Diesel inc. And the original transmission was replaced with a ZF 63 continuous duty marine unit more commonly seen in Sports Fishing boats. The hull repairs to the starboard side were extensive but mainly below the waterline. A mold was cast on a sister ship which made repairs so much easier and accurate. Once hull repairs were completed, she was treated to a full awlgrip paint job in Snow White and Empress Blue.
During the repair all the original wiring was pulled out of the midship conduits. A temporary 12v house bank has been wired in with 4 ‘Blue Sea’ AGM batteries. This can be easily converted back to 24v in the future. At present the 12v banks powers the bilge pump, high water alarm, fuel tank gauge, freshwater pump, Nav lights and basic lighting. Engine start and stop is from a separate 24v bank. All batteries are in their original boxes. During the refit extra conduits have been installed to make the re-wiring project easier. Older Swans tend to have very congested conduits, not this one!
With all headliner panels removed it made sense to renew those plywood panels that were suspect and fit new headliner material throughout. All plywood panels, old and new have been treated with sealer before new Headliner materials was fitted. Like all Swans no headliner panels are glued to the underside of the deck, every panel can be easily removed for access to conduits and wiring.
Known History
Mast step replacement
In 2004 IYM was engaged by the then owner to carry out a mast step and forward cradle replacement, either side of the main bulkhead. Originally all Swan 51’s were built with galvanized steel mast steps and ‘keel bolt to beams’ floors. Replacement of the mast steps is a huge undertaking and a costly process. The owner used a notable BVI machine shop to fabricate the new parts and IYM worked alongside him to install them. These SS frames will not corrode and are for life. At this time the standing rigging was replaced with all new Navtec dryform rigging and rod forestay.
Engine and transmission 2016
The original Perkins 85HP 4326 engine was removed in 2016 and shipped to USA in exchange for an identical reconditioned unit. This was coupled to a new ZF 63 multi clutch continuous duty marine transmission. At this time a new custom SS exhaust manifold was fabricated and a dripless ‘PSS’ shaft seal was installed. Since installation approximately 150 hrs have been logged. The 1.5” shaft is straight and true but the 3 blade max prop has two slightly distorted blades.
Teak decks
Godspeed was fitted with new teak decks by the previous owner.
https://auerboatworks.weebly.com/swan-teak-deck.html
Date unknown but the teak is still in good condition with plenty of life left in the deck. The gelcoat topsides is original and has never been refinished. It needs some work after many years in the tropics but at least you can see what you are getting, nothing has been filled and ‘dressed up’.
Rigging
Original ‘bullet-proof’ Nautor mast and boom.
Navtec hydraulics with vang, backstay and inner forestay controlled by a manifold housed within the helm station. The manifold has just been rebuilt with new seals and bearings. No rigging problems were experienced during the very windy 2022 BVI Spring Regatta with full sail set on all 3 days.
Original Reckmann manual furler fitted over a rod forestay.
Sails
Doyle offshore double stitched and waxed main and 120% genoa in great condition. Harken mainsail track with full length battens.
Various race sails included, storm sails, a masthead asymmetric by Doyle and an ‘old school’ symmetrical spinnaker along with a beautiful carbon pole by Hall.
Deck and winches.
16 deck winches! All working bar two. Some original Lewmar ‘Wave train’ self furlers, other Lewmar ST’s and Harken 990 genoa monsters. Two Harken XX electric just ahead of the aft cockpit. Lewmar 3000 24v Windlass with 250’ ½” SS chain and rode. Fortress secondary anchor with 40’ chain and 300’ rode.
The two Harken electric winch motors and the windlass motor need repair or replacement.
Contact Us
Stephen Varrow
Yacht Broker
International house 10
Beufort Court
Admirals Way Canary Wharf
London E14 9XL UK
Office: +44 7340 482091
Cell: +1 786 246 0809
Email: steve@virginislandsyachtbroker.com
Professional Skipper Steve Varrow takes over the helm as senior broker for the Virgin Islands.
Steve takes the natural progression to a professional yacht broker after a lifetimes work on boats and being at sea, at 16 years of age he joined Princess Yachts in the UK as a shipwright and from there on has been on or around boats all his working life, for the last 17 years he has been Caribbean based as a well known charter skipper, RYA Instructor and charter yacht broker.
He has 5 transatlantic catamaran deliveries as skipper and numerous European, Caribbean and East coast USA trips on his extensive sailing resume, he has skippered virtually every model of Lagoon catamaran from the 380 up-to the 560 as well as many other makes in his role as charter skipper in the Leeward Islands and the BVI, he has a deep technical understanding of all yacht mechanical, hydraulic, electrical and electronic systems and specializes in helping clients navigate through the path to become a yacht owner and owner operator in the charter yacht industry.
He lives aboard his classic sailboat sailing between the BVI, USVI and the Spanish Virgin Islands and is ready to help you in all aspects of buying or selling your next yacht.
You can call Steve by phone or WhatsApp +1 786 246 0809
Email: steve@virginislandsyachtbroker.com