- Nothing is left of the original Beneteau rig. The spars, standing and running rigging, and all blocks, winches, and hardware are top quality and sized for ocean sailing.
- New rigging 2021, Forespar mast, Leisure Furl, Quantum sails, custom hard dodger, upgraded deck hardware throughout, Mastervolt lithium-ion batteries, etc.
- Original furling systems replaced. The headstay furler is Schaefer 4100, the Staysail furler is Schaefer 2100, mainsheet traveler replaced with Harken heavy duty system.
- Below waterline has been custom faired and sprayed with an exceptionally hard ablative bottom paint for speed yet also long-distance cruising without the need to scrub the bottom.
- Heavy-duty welded plates of the Passage Maker tangs for the standing rigging, and note the sturdy Leisure Furl gooseneck.
- Meets all current Newport to Bermuda safety requirements with certified in-date life raft, MOM 8A, EPIRBs, fire, propane, ditch bag etc.
53ft Beneteau 2005 Harpswell, Maine
Bidding Ended: May 2, 2023
"Sunflower" Vessel Overview
Sunflower is very likely the most heavily modified Beneteau Oceanis ever. She has been continuously modified to be a far stronger offshore yacht with her custom Forespar mast, Leisure Furl in-boom reefing, new rigging, new Quantum sails, custom hard dodger, upgraded deck hardware throughout, Mastervolt lithium-ion batteries, and much, much more. Having sailed three Newport to Bermuda races and one Marion to Newport, Sunflower meets all current safety requirements with certified in-date life raft, MOM 8A, EPIRBs, flares, ditch bag, etc.
Sunflower has been extensively upgraded by her meticulous single owner over the past 18 years, first to support long-range extended cruising and then to be a fast cruiser for ocean racing, the extensive list of modifications below attempts to capture the evolution of Sunflower by a very knowledgeable, marine-oriented, owner. To help illustrate the breadth of work completed over the years, we encourage interested buyers to watch the video interview with the owner of Sunflower (filmed 3/8/2023), seen in the photo gallery. You may also find the following documents, among many others attached in the “Documents” section, of considerable interest, and please review the extensive list of upgrades and improvements in the “Vessel Specifications” document:
- Navigational System Drawing (meticulous detail)
- Rigging Invoices – $105,000 Rigging Improvements
- Electrical System Drawing (meticulous detail)
- Sail Invoices – $61,000 Quantum Sails
- Lithium-Ion Replacement Article – Written by Seller
- Heating Invoice – $19,000 Hydronic Heating System
AUCTION PROCESS:
All auction participants must register by clicking the “Register To Bid” button. The deposit to bid on the 53′ Beneteau 2005, Sunflower, is $25,000. Deposits are held in escrow with the Listing Brokerage, East Coast Yacht Sales, and must settle in their account prior to access being granted to bid. Bidding opens at $200,000 and the official Reserve Price is $225,000.
