50 Foot Custom Cold Molded Camper Nicholson

Description

Axel Heyst is a classic ocean racing boat that was one of the early applications of light weight cold molded construction. This boat was built to take part in the OSTAR (Observer Single Handed TransAtlantic Race) but was not completed in time. She made her way to the United States and has had a long racing career.
This is a very well built boat that is lots of fun to sail and can win races. I have raced her off shore in some pretty significant conditions and she hasn't complained at all. At one point (with a prior owner, decades ago) she was dismasted and rerigged with what is essentially a "turboed" deck-stepped SC-50 rig and an oversized pole (the prior rig was a yawl). She has been to the Caribbean, and to Hawaii in the Pacific Cup. She rates 96 in PHRF, but with a little wind can blow the doors off of a J-105. In fact, once I sailed well ahead of and around the front of the entire San Francisco J-105 fleet! With a bunch of wind this boat will surf in the mid teens.
A project boat, but one that will result in a fast and beautiful vessel that turns heads wherever she goes.
8 foot draft, disp. = 23,000 lbs
I have a pretty busy schedule but I'm happy to provide additional information or photos upon request.
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Strong preference and better price consideration given to a purchaser who can provide a good home to this very special boat. Would consider donation to a wooden boat program.
Let's talk.
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Other information/comments:
4/26/18 - In case I haven't mentioned this previously, the boat is sold "as it, where is". I have a bunch of equipment and sails that go with the boat - probably at least a couple of pallets worth, but strongly urge prospective buyers to physically inspect the boat before bidding. Thanks!
4/15/18 - Some additional information added. Please note that I will be advertising this boat in other forums. It is "first come, first serve".
3/20/18 - Please be patient if you send me an e-mail through e-Bay. I have a really busy schedule, and can't check in very often. Also, I am not certain that e-mails I am sending out are being received - if you haven't heard back from me, please try again. Thanks!
12/29/17 - Hi, Everyone: Thanks for the interest in this boat. 35 people watching. Wow! A couple of tips on this. I did lower the "buy-it-now" price as mentioned earlier and, as I've also mentioned, I'm not that particular about price. That said, though, if $35,000 is a barrier for you, you really should think twice about a boat this size. A 50 foot boat is not twice the operating cost of a 25 foot boat. More like ten times. You could easily spend $15,000 just buying a couple of sails for this boat. Yes, you can save a lot buying used sails, but you also need slip fees ($5000/year), insurance ($1200/year), Haul out and bottom paint ($2000/year). So, really, there is no problem spending $1000/month on this boat with minimal sailing.
Here's another issue: Note that the draft of the boat is eight feet. Lots of places where I am (San Francisco Bay Area) you can't find a slip with that much deep water that is also 50 feet long. If you aren't already in the San Francisco area, you could easily spend $10,000 - $20,000 to have the boat shipped to your location.
Don't get me wrong, this boat is a ton of fun to sail. But operation and maintenance on a 50 foot boat is not a trivial undertaking. The purchase cost is the smallest cost that you are facing! :)
12/15/17 - Conversations about the boat with a couple of people - I'll try to post my answers to their questions in the next couple of days (I hate to appear technologically inept, but for some reason e-bay doesn't want to post my e-mail replies!)
12/13/17 - Lowered the "Buy it Now" price so it doesn't seem so intimidating. My main concern is that the boat find a good home! :)
12/8/17 - I am a little confused by messages I am receiving from e-bay: It says there is a message, but I can't find the message. If you have sent me a message and don't get a response within a day or two, please send another! I appreciate the interest I am receiving very much and will do whatever I can to help provide information about the boat. - Jim
12/8/17 - I think I've set this advertisement to roll over a couple of times. So even if the advertising time is expiring, it should be back up against shortly.
11/30/17 - Axel Heyst was repowered by a previous owner. The engine location was moved aft and converted to a sail drive.
11/29/17 - I encourage anyone considering making a purchase offer to communicate with me first. I'm keeping the "buy it now" price relatively high so as to discourage anyone from purchasing the boat impulsively without a complete understanding of what is involved. I am certainly willing to consider a lower price for a purchaser who is knowledgeable about cold molded construction and repair practices and/or who can demonstrate the resources necessary to take care of this boat.

11/27/17 - Although I've mostly sailed Axel Heyst in a sloop configuration, the boat was originally designed to explore a cutter rig that used a Genoa stay sail combined with a high cut jib as shown on the cover of "Further Offshore" by John Illingworth - one of the designers of this boat. This is a delightful book and has photos of several boats that are very similar to Axel Heyst. (I'll try to get a better photo)



11/26/17 - Additional photos added (yuck - the deck looks horrible - it hasn't been cleaned in a while, and I think there was a bunch of ash from the Sonoma/Napa fires. I'll give her a wash next time I am there).

- Standing rigging replaced at refit in 2006. Not sailed very much since that time - in very good condition
- 16" 3 - blade Max Prop
I'm not sure how to place links into the eBay description, but a comparable boat can be found on Yachtworld dot com by searching for "Camper Nicholson 1965". The asking price is about $250,000.
"Cold Molding" is a type of wooden boat construction. Instead of using planks, thin sheets of wood are glued together in a laminate. This makes a very strong and light weight boat.