S/V Eolian was built by Downeast Yachts in Costa Mesa, California, one of 29 built between 1977 and 1981, and based on the Henry Morschladt-designed Downeaster 38. Eolian is a traditional modified full keel, Staysail Ketch with a wine-glass stern, heavy displacement, protected prop, and keel-attached rudder. The third owner has carefully maintained the boat since 1998.
By the mid-1970s, with the fiberglass evolution in boat construction, a handful of US builders briefly flourished each building "the best long-range cruiser" they could, focusing on traditional "safe" designs, and using the best materials, featuring teak and bronze. Companies like Seawind, Kaiser, and Downeast Yachts build semi-custom designs for their clients, while fiberglass race boats went through a competitive explosion of design experimentation that influenced the wave of lighter production boats.
DIMENSIONS
LOD: 45' LWL: 35.75' LOA: 52' (Bowsprit to Dinghy)
Beam: 14' Draft: 6' Mast/Air Draft: 65
Displacement: 39,000.00 lb Ballast: 12,000.00 lb
S.A.: 1,145-1,052 ft2 Capsize Ratio: 1.65
S.A to Displacement: 353 LWL to Beam: 2.62
Motion Comfort: 45.4! Pounds/Inch: 1834
HULL / RIG / SAILS / ANCHORING
One-piece Solid Fiberglass Hull, Barrier-Coated., with Internal Lead Keel. (NO Keelbolts or keel-to-hull joint!) Teak Rub Strakes. Molded-in strake lines resemble a carvel-planked wooden hull. (Look for the thick hull samples!) The deck is foam-cored heavy fiberglass w/nonskid. (NO Teak Decks!)
The hull-deck joint is Fiberglass with a 1" lap joint with through-bolted stanchions and pulpits. All bulkheads are glassed to the hull, and primary bulkheads are doubled or tripled.
Large Single-Spreader LeFiell OM-5C Main Mast, white two-part urethane. Air Draft 65, with Four bronze two-speed Halyard Winches. Keel-Stepped on a cast aluminum fitting bolted to the keel.
3/8" stainless steel forestay with Sea Furl MkII roller furling system, dual backstays, upper and lower shrouds + Running Backstays. Boom-mounted bronze two-speed winch for the mainsail outhaul and reefing.
Deck-stepped LeFiell OM1C Mizzen Mast w/ bronze halyard winch, supported by 3/8 and 5/16 stainless steel shrouds and a 5/16 Triatic stay which runs from the peak of the Main Mast.
Fully battened Main Sail with reef points, Roller-furled Yankee w/ Sunbrella strip, and Staysail (Reef-able, and Mizzen. Main Sail and Mizzen have stack-pack covers, and Staysail has a conventional sail cover. This rig and sails balance well. The two Genoas; 110% & 150%, a spare Mizzen, and the Mizzen Staysail are in storage. All sheets are lead to the cockpit.
Bowsprit; a 1 stainless steel pulpit, teak platform, with a 66 lb genuine Bruce anchor over a bronze roller, and 300' of 3/8 all chain rode, stored in a self-draining chain locker below deck. A Danforth S-2000 w/ 300 of 1 nylon rode is stored on bronze chocks at the bow. Both anchors are managed by a Simpson Lawrence Electric Windlass with chain-counter, and washdown pump. Cast bronze hardware is used throughout, including scuppers, gudgeons, anchor chock, cranse iron, thru-hulls, seacocks, deck cleats, rigging screws, winches, and the propeller shaft gland.
DESIGN / ACCOMMODATION NOTES
Eolian is a two-cabin, two-head design that features a light, airy interior - an early Deck- Saloon! The headroom is 6-5.
Forward cabin - 6' 6" vee-berth, isolated with louvered door, custom upholstered mattress, reading lights, hanging lockers, drawers, and extensive storage, 22 square opening hatch, and two Beckson 7x14 opening ports, w/ curtains, screens, and storm windows, and marine fire extinguisher. Forward Head serves the Saloon and the Forward Cabin with a Manual Jabsco Toilet, holding tank, SS sink, H/C Pressure Water, hand shower, hanging locker, toiletry cabinet, grate, and generous storage. The Forward Office is open to the saloon, with bulkhead bookcases, desk, lighting and Beckson 7" x 14" opening portlight.
The Saloon features a raised dinette on Port w/ seating for 4, with a great view out of the six 18" x 36" picture windows and a Settee with generous storage on Starboard.
Aft of the Saloon Settee on starboard, is the bright Galley. It is L-shaped, with self-draining sinks near the centerline, a cutting board, and foot pumps for fresh and seawater. Outboard-aft is the gimbaled propane 3-burner Princess Stove w/oven, propane solenoid switch, refrigerator, and microwave. Between the sink and the stove is the separate large freezer, with two holding plates. The large refrigerator aft of the stove has teak shelving and one holding plate. Refrigeration aboard Eolian is provided by a 12V seawater-cooled compressor located beneath the galley. There is generous storage for food, flatware, cutlery, and a very clever wine-glass rack above. Mid-ship is the handy spice cabinet and a large hidden pantry. A Dickenson propane-fired barbecue mounted on the stern pulpit, with aluminum 20 lb propane tanks for the barbecue and galley, w/solenoid valve and Sunbrella weather covers.
In the stern is the large Owners Cabin, with an ensuite head. A near full-width king-size berth has storage on each side; two cedar-lined hanging lockers and four large drawers. A vanity with lighting and a swing-out stool and drawer is on starboard. The cabin is provided with two overhead lights and two reading lamps. Ventilation is provided by four Beckson 7x14 opening ports with curtains, screens, storm windows, and a large overhead hatch. Behind the port door, is the large head with SS sink, Jabsco manual Twist-Lock head and the shower, a telephone-style shower head, curtain, and a Teak floor grate. There is storage behind and under the sink and behind the head. Note full-length mirror and dehumidifier. Eolian is equipped with a 16,000 BTU heat pump for primary heating and air conditioning, with outlets throughout the boat. The heat pump uses sea water as the heat source/sink. A bulkhead mounted Dickenson diesel heater with circulating fan heats at anchor. A Red Dot heater below the raised dinette sole provides hot air from the engine cooling water when motoring.
MACHINERY
Perkins 4-236, 75 HP fresh water cooled marine diesel engine. (4391 hrs)
Borg Warner Velvet Drive 71C, 1.9:1 water cooled transmission .
Three-blade 20x14 bronze propeller on 1- 1/4 prop shaft with shaft lock to minimize drag. Traditional Prop-shaft Packing-glan with Teflon packing. Oil has been changed religiously; once a year, about every 100 hours, or less. Fall of 2022, the valve cover was removed to check valve clearances (no adjustments were needed) - the engine interior looks new. Engine usually starts on the first revolution and does not smoke, burn oil, or leak.
Dual Racor 90 water separator/filters mounted in parallel, can be switched while underway without shutting down the engine. Electric fuel transfer pump to move fuel between tanks, or for engine priming. A bronze raw water filter supplies cooling water to the engine from a bronze external hull strainer. Original cast iron exhaust manifold has been replaced with a custom 316 stainless one.
Original heat exchanger has been replaced with a Monel heat exchanger, and the exhaust elbow and exhaust hose have all been renewed. The alternator has been replaced with a self- exciting one. The raw water pump cover has been replaced with a SpeedSeal cover that is o-ring sealed and does not require tools for removal. External expansion tank, and engine heated / 120v water heater.
ELECTRICAL
Eolian has four electrical systems, w/ main breaker panel located under the navigation station:
30 amp 120V shore power, via 2-50 30 amp cables, thru a galvanic isolator for loads and 120V GFCI protected receptacles
30 amp 120V 4 kW Kohler diesel generator generator with a Yanmar 2GMF fresh water cooled diesel.
A Freedom 20 2 kW inverter/charger supplies 20 amps 120V power from the battery bank, and acts as 100 amp battery charger for 120V, from shore power or generator. Switching is completely automatic. A Link 2000 inverter control and battery state panel is close to the main power panel.
12V power storage is provided by 6 group 31 115 amp-hr deep discharge lead acid 12V batteries (two banks of three).
Power usage, amp draw, voltage and charge state are monitored thru the inverter control panel. A separate battery is reserved for starting the generator and for the anchor windless.
INSTRUMENTATION
West Marine 500dsc VHF, protected inside the companionway, w/antenna on top of the 65 main mast. Wireless rechargeable Uniden VHF w/remote speaker/mic at helm.
AIS receiver, located in one of the cockpit coaming compartments. The AIS antenna is at the top of the mizzen mast.
Ratheon RL9 20 mile radar, antenna located on the mizzen mast and display on the cockpit coaming to the right of the helm.
Garmin GPS-520 chart plotter/gps, on the cockpit coaming to the right of the helm.
Raymarine ST5000 autopilot, driving a very heavy duty Benmar actuator
ST1000 secondary tiller autopilot with a hand-held remote, to drive the windvane trim tab, from the deck or Navigation station.
Standard Horizon SL-45 digital speed/log, on the aft face of the cabin.
Standard Horizon DS-45 digital depth sounder, on the aft face of the cabin.
Standard Horizon WS-1 analog/digital wind speed/direction, on the aft face of the cabin.
Ritchie Helm compass + Secondary compass, at the Navigation station.
Secondary depth Morrow S-60 flasher type, at the Navigation station.
Standard Horizon DS-10 secondary speed/log, at the Navigation station.
Kenwood TS-440S Ham transceiver, at the Navigation station. This radio is coupled to an insulated backstay as an antenna. If the next owner has a General class (or above) amateur radio license, this will be left intact. If not, the microphone will be removed to prevent illegal transmit, but retaining operation of the 0.15 MHz to 30 MHz general coverage receiver,
Engine instrumentation at the cockpit panel: Engine temp, oil press including an oil pressure loss alarm, charge/discharge amps, rpm, fuel gauge which can be directed to read either tank.
The GPS/chartplotter, AIS receiver, VHF, radar, and autopilot are all networked via NMEA 0183 so that the VHF can broadcast emergency messages which include an accurate position at the press of a button. The autopilot can follow a route, rather than just maintain a direction,. Current navigation data and a graphical depiction of the next waypoint are shown on the radar display, and the AIS positions of nearby vessels are shown on the chartplotter, complete with collision warnings and predicted time and position of closst point of approach, CPA
DECK NOTES
On the port side, permanently attached tubular boarding steps are mounted to the hull going down to the waterline, making boarding from a dinghy easy and straightforward. Deck lighting: 2) sealed beam lights on the main spreaders and a single sealed beam light on the mizzen spreader. Two lazarette compartments on aft quarterdeck for extra dock and spare lines, crab pot lines and floats, a reel of floating stern line, a soft bucket, washdown hoses, etc. Danforth S-1600 anchor with stored nylon rode is on aft port roller.
Scanmar windvane steering system, uses an auxiliary trim tab on the main rudder. SS dinghy davits with Achilles 11 inflatable fiberglass RIB, 3 HP Tanaka outboard, bilge pump, and a foot-pump
COCKPIT
Fully-enclosed, center cockpit; Sunbrella and Strataglass, on 1 SS tubing, with foam cushions. Steering pedestal with engine controls, a bright finished wood wheel with bronze fittings, large brass compass binnacle with Richie helm compass. A new approved marine fire extinguisher is mounted to the pedestal. A Teak table mounts to the binnacle, or is stored below behind the companionway stairs. The wheel can be stored on the cockpit enclosure framework for more entertaining space.
The Garmin chart plotter and the Ratheon radar display are at hand on starboard. Below is the engine control panel, with switches for navigation lighting, fuel gauge selector switch, spreader lighting switches, and the engine ignition switch. Wind speed/direction, and primary depth and speed/log instruments are on the forward cockpit bulkhead. The AIS receiver is hidden in one of the coaming compartments.
TANK NOTES
2) 150 Gallon Diesel Tanks (Aluminum)
2) 150 Gallon Water Tanks + 6 Gal. Hot Water Heater
+ 12V PowerSuvivior S-3500 Watermaker!
1) 45 Gallon Holding Tank (roto-molded polypropylene)
2) 20 lb Aluminum Propane Tanks
SAFETY
Eight inch Teak-capped bulwarks around the entire deck for safety. Wide side decks lead from the bow to the stern quarter deck. Varnished teak handrails on the cabin top from bow to stern provide safe handholds. Dual lifelines run from the 1 stainless steel bowsprit pulpit down both sides of the deck to the 1 stainless steel stern pulpit. Boarding gates are on both sides of the boat. Dinghy/swim boarding steps are mounted to the hull on Port. Vinyl covered stainless steel jacklines, tethers, Lifesling, Man-overboard pole, and Horseshoe buoy. Deck lighting: 2) sealed beam lights on the main spreaders and a single sealed beam light on the mizzen spreader.
A 6-man Avon inflatable liferaft (out of certification) is dogged down to the cabin top. A hand operated PowerSuvivior reverse osmosis water maker is in the ditch box, below. Generous fire extinguishers, smoke/CO2 alarms, flares, radar reflectors etc.
Eolian is a capable blue water cruiser, she sails well, and makes a comfortable live-aboard.
By Appointment Only
