1990 Cheoy Lee 53 Motorsailor

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The 3rd owner, who purchased Cetacea in 2001 in St. Lucia, sailed her for 12 years up and down the eastern Caribbean islands as they continued to work in Houston, TX. Upon retirement in 2012, they equipped her for a circumnavigation and sailed her from St. Lucia to Phuket, Thailand over a period of 11 years. They had an extensive refit in New Zealand from November of 2017 to June of 2019. In May 2024, Cetacea was loaded onto a Sevenstar ship in Phuket, Thailand and shipped to Marmaris, Turkey, one of the greatest cruising grounds in the Med. She is currently sailing the eastern Turkish coast and some close by Greek Islands.

In 2013, the owners headed west from St. Lucia to start their world cruise. Like many cruisers, they had a 5-year plan. Due to many beautiful islands and friendly people, the 5-year plan is currently in its 11th year! Cetacea is still actively being sailed by the owners as they look forward to new adventures in the Med, starting with Turkey, as they are anticipating a 2-3 year cruise west to the Gibraltar/Morocco area, then on to St. Lucia.

Cetacea is new to the market and the only reasons for a potential sale are a “Cruiser’s Anchor” (AKA “Grandchildren”) and a desire to be closer to home. The boat has been constantly maintained and upgraded with limited issues along the 20,000 miles it has traveled since 2013.

Cetacea is an extremely comfortable boat with her 53’ length and 35 ton weight. She has great sail handling and speed for a vessel her size. An example of this is its crossing from the Galapagos to the Marquese’s Islands in French Polynesia. Cetacea traveled the 3,100 miles (point to point) over a period of 21 days which included 2 plus days of tacking for a total of 3,400 miles with an average speed of 6.75 kts. The first time an engine was turned during the passage was 18 hours out of Hiva Oa to avoid the need to tack which would add another 2 days to the trip. After 2 plus years in French Poly, the boat was sailed to Palmerston, Niue, Am. Samoa, Samoa, Tonga and New Zealand. She left NZ in June 2019 and headed for the Solomon Islands via Fiji and Vanuatu. The owners intended to leave Cetacea there for 2 ½ months; but COVID entered the picture and the boat survived very well until the owners returned in July 2022. After COVID, the boat went to Port Moresby, Papau New Guinea then transversed the Torres Strait en route to Darwin. After 4 months in Darwin, the boat ventured through the Indonesia waters to Nongsa Point Marina in West Indonesia across the Singapore Strait from Singapore. In January 2024, the boat traveled up the Mallaca Strait through Malaysia and Thailand, ending the Asia travels in March 2024 in Phuket, Thailand where Cetacea was loaded onto the Sevenstar ship.

INTERIOR LAYOUT

Pilothouse:

From the cockpit, one enters the pilothouse through the new full-size doorway. Immediately to the left are several large storage shelves with a breaker box below that controls all the instrumentation, nav lights and upper/lower cockpit lighting (red lights and white-dimming lights) as well as underwater lights at each side gate. There is a settee adjacent to the helm on the port side. To the right, there is a long, raised settee at the aft end of the pilothouse with a removable side back rest for better and more secure seating on the settee. This settee offers nearly 360 degree viewing. Forward and to port are both engine instrumentation and boat light/navigational light switches. Midship are the engine throttles and compass with the VHF below. To starboard on this panel are a 16” and 12” Garmin GPSMAP MFD’s. Along the starboard side is a large nav chart table and aft of it is a panel for the Stereo, SSB, AIS, Mastervolt Easy View 5, Spectra Watermaker Panel, Weems & Plath clock and barometer and Starlink Communications Equipment. Adjacent to the elevated settee is a cabinet for assorted items like handheld VHFs, binoculars, etc. and cup holders.

Galley:

Descend the 3 steps into the galley area to port and a large cabinet to starboard which includes a U-line ice maker (230V). (FYI – the boat is really a 230V boat.) The galley has a New Force 10 3-burner LPG stove and oven, 2 deep storage bins, plenty of work space and 2 air-cooled Isotherm 6 cu. ft stacked side opening fridges as well as lockers above the forward and aft galley workspaces and outboard of the stove. There is a rising powered vent hood with lights between the stove and the outbound cabinets. This is vented outside of the boat via the engine room. There is a microwave just forward of the port cabinets behind the stove.

Salon:

Forward of the galley is the U-shaped dinette which can accommodate 4 people plus another 1 to 2 persons in chairs. To starboard is a long L-shaped settee with a high back and a freezer in the cocktail table in front of the starboard settee. Underneath and behind the cushions on both sides is an enormous amount of storage and all bottom cushions have latches to secure them when underway. There is dimmable LED Cove lighting on both sides of the salon area. There is also a very large opening hatch centerline above the dining table.

Forward Area:

You descend two steps into the hallway for the starboard cabin, the port head and the forward V-berth. The starboard cabin has two over/under full length berths. There is a hanging locker forward and a small locker above the upper berth forward. Aft is a cabinet that contains the watermaker equipment with a flat area for odds and ends. The port side head has an electric freshwater head forward with a sink and cabinets above the sink and a flat storage area above the cabinets. Aft of the sink area is a walk-in shower with a seat and a hand-held shower head. There is a sliding shower curtain in the shower. There is also cabinet space in the shower area. Forward of the head is the V-berth with a removable filler. There is a large cabinet to starboard and a large shelf for storage. There are 2 drawers under the V-berth. The forward area has proper ventilation with a large hatch in the V-berth, a small hatch in the head and the starboard cabin. All three rooms have 2 opening ports each. There is also a 16,000 BTU AC/Heat unit that serves the forward area. In addition, there is also a privacy curtain at the hallway steps.

Aft Area:

On the starboard side heading aft from the galley area, you descent two steps and there is a small hallway leading to the aft master stateroom. There is an engine service room to the port side. The service room contains the ships main electrical service panel, washer/dryer combo unit, fuel polishing system and massive storage for various engine room fluids and equipment. There is an entry door into the aft end of the engine room for easy access to the main engines, fuel manifold and the dual Racor filters for each engine. In addition, there is another entry between the dining table and cocktail table for the forward engine room area where there are 2 generators, as well as the fresh water manifold.

Continuing aft in the hallway leads to the aft master stateroom. There are two large hanging cabinets to starboard and a dressing table centerline. Further aft are bookcases on each side as well as a large flat open storage area. The queen size bed is centerline with padded sides and padded back area. There are wall lights and reading lights on each side as well. Each side also has cup/glass holders and each holder contains the switches for the lights and fans for each side. There are clothes cabinets on each side below the open storage areas and three large drawers below the foot of the bed. There is also dimmable LED cove lighting on both sides as well as the aft end of the aft area.

The aft head is adequately large and the shower is award winning! The shower is inboard and the lockable glass shower door has whales applied to it. There is a Hansgrohe thermostatically controlled valve and a great shower head, also removable, with a non-slip shower pan and an exhaust fan. The electric fresh water head is just outboard of the shower and outboard of the head is a long cabinet with sink and above grade cabinets. Above the cabinets is another open storage area. There are 4 opening ports in the aft stateroom, one opening port in the head with a ventilation fan and an escape hatch which provides flow thru ventilation. The aft stateroom also has a 230V. 50/60 Hz, 16,000 BTU Air Conditioner/Heater unit.

Carpeting/Upholstery/Headliner:

All floor areas received new carpeting in 2019. All pieces are bound and shaped for access to various floor board areas and floorboard hatches. All upholstery was new in 2019 and specified by an Interior Boat Designer. All headliner was replaced in 2019.

EXTERIOR LAYOUT

Forward Deck:

At the bow there is the hydraulic Hood Sea Furl unit for the genoa/jib. There is a 3500 electric Maxwell-Nilsson windlass with chain gypsy on starboard capstan and a rope gypsy on the port side. There is a Navy Stock 125 lb (est.) anchor with all chain rode on the starboard side. The chain is 100 meters of Maggi G70 10mm. The port anchor is an 85 lb. Navy Stock anchor with 20 meters of chain and 75 meters of rope. Both anchors come up into the hawse pipe with the rope/chain leading through to the windlass and down into the divided anchor well just forward of the V-Berth. The “sissy” bars above the anchor windlass provide stainless chain claws to tie off the anchor chain for each anchor. The oversized cleats are just aft of the windlass.

Further aft is the LPG locker which stores 2 large LPG tanks for the galley and 2 small tanks for use at the stern BBQ grill. There is an opening door at the aft end of the locker where you can control the large LPG tanks. The LPG locker has several purposes and one is to provide a support for a dinghy when it is hoisted for passages. There are also dinghy tie downs forward and aft to provide a safe location for it. The locker also provides a stand for placing dive/snorkeling equipment for rinsing, dinghy rinsing and forward deck work space. In addition, the top of the locker has a separate piece that folds out so there is a table for plates, music box, bar, etc. It is very useful for sitting on the bow and enjoying sundowners or moon rises.

Just aft of the LPG locker is a bench seat and on the starboard side underneath the seat is a freshwater hose attachment for washing the boat or other items. There is over 50’ of hose so the entire boat can be reached. It also provides storage for various deck items. Heading aft on the port side of the deck area is the storage area for the two-piece 9’ aluminum boarding plank. On the starboard side is the storage area for the swim ladder and boat hooks. The main mast has large sissy bars on the port and starboard sides for safety at the mast. The life raft is located just aft of the large salon hutch. Further aft is the entrance gate on each side as well as the 230V electrical connectors for shore power.

Cockpit:

Continuing aft from the boarding gates is the entrance up into the cockpit. The cockpit is about 6” above the side deck and each side has a heavy cockpit door. Aft of each cockpit door is a large hydraulic primary winch. There is an oval settee that seats about 4 people comfortably with a large cockpit table. There is a large hard top covering both the cockpit and upper helm area. There are 2 dimmable white LED lights above the table and one light at each cockpit door. These lights also turn red when needed.

The upper helm is elevated about two steps up to a helm chair and a nav chair. There is a large window in the aft wall of the pilothouse with 2 sliding and locking openings to pass food and drink up to the upper helm and cockpit area. The upper helm has two LED lights, one over the nav area and one over the step area and two large opening hatches. These lights are dimmable white and red lights. There are 2 large lockable lockers under the upper helm deck area and 2 smaller but large lockable lockers on each side under the cockpit settee. These are very good for stowing deck items as well as dinghy/tender items. The cockpit has a fully enclosing canvas awning. The awning includes Strataglass for the upper helm with an opening area for breeze and side panels. The lower cockpit seating area can be fully enclosed as well with 3 large Strataglass panels. The lower cockpit enclosures are attached to the stern lifeline handrails which offers “flow thru” ventilation as they are not attached to the coming of the cockpit seat and “opens up” the cockpit area. The enclosure system is fairly “rainwater resistant” from blowing rain and wind. It provides good protection from the weather and also provides near 360 degree viewing.

Aft Stern Area:

This area contains the grill on the starboard side and the Kato motor lift on the port side. The aft Kato davits are located here as well and a large opening manhole to a good size “garage” for stowage of emergency equipment and hurricane lines. The hydraulic steering ram is below the upper level of the garage.

ELECTRONICS

There is a breaker box in the pilothouse that controls the electronics for all the instruments and pilothouse lights, etc. This breaker box has a Victron DC to DC 50 amp power source to protect the instruments and the NMEA 2000 connected instruments from any electrical fluctuations/surges. All instruments are interconnected via the NMEA 2000 network and work on various iPhone apps.

Electronics include:

• Garmin GPSMAP 8416 Pilothouse
• Garmin GPSMAP 8412 Pilothouse
• Garmin GPSMAP 8416 Upper Bridge
• Garmin Fantom 24Xhd – 48 mile Radar
• Garmin Vesper Cortex with wired and wireless MICs
• Furuno SCX20 Satellite GPS
• Furuno Autopilot 711C with Simrad hydraulic pump with Pilothouse and Upper Bridge Controls
• Furuno FI-70 color instruments – 6, 3 upper and 3 lower
• Furuno Wind machine with Actisense interface into NMEA 2000 system
• Airmar DST-810 depth, speed and temp transducer NMEA 2000 connected

ENGINE ROOM

Main Engines:

The main engines are Perkins 4-236’s. Each engine has a conical sea water valve with a secondary seawater valve for easily cutting off the seawater to the engine. In addition, each engine has a freshwater attachment for fresh water flushing each engine. Each engine has dual coolers for engine oil and transmission fluid. Each engine is fitted with dual switchable Racor filters and inline fuel pumps at the Racor filters. Both shafts have dripless shaft seals with spare seals on the shafts. Both engines have newly installed stainless exhaust manifolds. and Balmar 100 amp alternators

UNIQUE TO CETACEA, the main engines exhaust to the rear of the boat as opposed to the sides of the boat. While underway using the motors, the exhaust of other 53’s curl over the windward side and flows into the upper helm and cockpit area. This does not provide for enjoyable motor ing! This was cured by routing the exhausts through the aft cabin and into the rear storage area and out the stern (2000). This was a VERY hard and EXPENSIVE job, but was completed very well by DSL Yachting and there is no visible sign of exhaust hoses or exhaust sounds in the aft stateroom or head. Both generators still exhaust out the side.

Main Generator:

The main generator is a new Kholer 11 KW raw water cooled generator in an enclosed sound shield with an exhaust separator in the forward part of the engine room on the starboard side. This generator supplies 230V current to the main service panel.

Small Generator:

This generator is a MYT generator which is a Kubota engine driving a 160 amp alternator and it also utilizes an exhaust separator. It supplies electrons to the house bank via the electrical panel located in the starboard side cabinet of the galley area and feeds power to the house banks along with the solar panels and wind generator.

ELECTRICAL

The boat utilizes both 230v and 120v AC, and 12v DC electrical systems. There is a Mastervolt Mass Combi Pro 12V/3000w – 150amp (230v) inverter/charger (2023) and a parallel Chargemaster 100amp charger (230V 2019) for the house batteries in the main salon, starboard cabinet with a Mastervolt EasyView5 monitor in the pilothouse that shows all batteries except the Kohler battery as it is isolated for safety. In addition, there is a Mastervolt Chargemaster 230v, 50 amp charger to charge the 2 engine start batteries (2 Victron AGM 4D Start Batteries 2023) and the anchor windlass Lifeline AGM GP31XT (2023). There are two banks of 500 amp each LiFEPO4 house batteries (2019), with each bank being monitored by an Orion Jr. Battery Management System. There is an isolated GP31XT Lifeline AGM battery (2023) for the Kohler generator. Since the boat is mainly run off 12v, the MyTGen 12v generator easily maintains the house battery’s charge with little fuel consumption (0.3 gal/hr) with up to 150 amp charge. The Kohler is used for the AC, washer/dryer, and heavy draw 230/110v appliances. The boat has shore plugs for 230v (port and starboard connectors).

There are (3) 360 watt solar panels on top of the upper helm hardtop and a smaller 200 watt panel on the lower hard top. Each solar panel is controlled by a Victron MPPT regulator. There is also a Superwind 350 watt wind generator located on the starboard side just aft of the upper helm hardtop that also provides electrons to the house bank.

TANKS

Fuel System:

There are 2 fiberglass fuel tanks located outboard of each engine with approximately 400 US gallon/1,500 liter capacity for each tank for a total of 800 US gallons /3,000 liters. The fuel tanks have a manifold behind the port engine and supply fuel to each engine and the generators. Supply and Return fuel can be controlled at the manifold. In addition, the fuel polishing system runs through the fuel manifold and can be used as a fuel transfer system as well. The fuel consumption for each engine is approximately 1.5 US Gallons per hour at 1800 RPMs. Using both engines at 1800 RPMs gives a total distance of about 1,700 nautical miles at 6.5 kts/hour. If using one engine, the distance will be about 3,000 nautical miles at a speed of about 5.5 kts. This takes no generator usage into consideration and no sail assistance or current-wind effect.

Fresh Water System:

There are 4 fiberglass water tanks in the boat that total about 500 US gallons/1,900 liters. There are two saddle tanks port and starboard of about 130 US gallons, an aft tank of about 170 US Gallons and a forward tank of about 70 gallons. For the most part, the forward tank is not used and remains empty to lessen the weight in the bow when transiting. The boat has a Spectra Newport Mark II (12 V) watermaker with a remote panel in the pilothouse. The water can be diverted to all tanks except the forward tank and can produce about 15-17 gallons/hour. The hot water heater is a Raritan 230V/starboard engine heated 20 gallon tank, new as of 2023. It is located just forward of the big generator, starboard side.

SAILS AND RIGGING

Cetacea has hydraulic furling on the genoa and mainsail. There are mainsail hydraulic switches on both sides of the mast as well as the upper and the lower helm. The forestay hydraulic switches are located at each primary winch in the cockpit. The mainsail was new as of 2022 and the genoa as of 2015. It needs to be noted that the genoa was stored for 2 years in a garage in New Zealand and then stored of 2½ years inside the boat during COVID. So in reality, the genoa has 3 years of sun exposure and was inspected by South East Asia Sailmakers while replacing the sunbrella cover in 2024. The standing rigging was replaced in Marmaris, Turkey in June 2024 with stainless Dyform wire for the cap shrouds and standard 1X 19 wire for the balance of the rigging. New stainless turnbuckles, pins and toggles were added for the new rigging. All winches were removed and serviced during the refit. The hydraulic fluid was replaced in 2023 and found to be extremely clean. There are separate hydraulic systems for furlers and winches.

SAFETY EQUIPMENT

There is a 6-person canister Viking RescYou Pro (serviced 3-2016 good till 3-2019-CURRENTLY OUT OF INSPECTION) with offshore package. The life raft is mounted on a Viking cradle just forward of the pilothouse with a blue sunbrella cover (2019). There is an ACR RapidFix GPS EPIRB (2012), a McMurdo Precision manual 406 GPS EPIRB (2004) and a Jotran Tron EPIRB/AIS (2022) with GPS and AIS located in a yellow ditch bag in the pilothouse. In addition, the ICOM 605 which has GPS positioning for DSC broadcasting is linked into the NMEA 2000 system for emergency DSC reporting. There are fire extinguishers in all areas of the boat as well as fire alarms and CO2 alarms in the berthing areas. There are three SMX-Johnson 2200 GPH bilge pumps (forward, engine room and aft), two sump pumps (forward and aft shower) and a manual pump in the cockpit for the engine room emergency bilge manifold for the three bilge pump areas. There are three high decibel high water alarms in the fwd., engine room, and aft bilges. Adequate life preservers and standard US Coast Guard equipment is on board. There are also one handheld ICOM M1V radio and two Standard Horizon handheld HX890 VHFs. The navigation lights were upgraded to Aqua Signal LED masthead, side and stern lights as well as steaming and deck lights in 2019. There is a LED OPTO masthead lamp tri color/anchor/strobe light (2024) as a spare. A Starlink Global Marine satellite/communications system mounted on the boat aft hard top for both casual and emergency use and it supplies WI-FI to the boat.

OVERVIEW OF THE NEW ZEALAND REFIT, 2018-2019

Cetacea was fortunate to have one of the finest Shipwright’s, Steve Eichler of Lighthouse Projects, attend to its 2.5 year refit. An extensive list of most of the refit projects are outlined below. Some of the major items included replacing of the teak deck with proper fiberglass decking, complete repainting, replacement of all portholes and windows and finally, insulation for sound and heat was added to 85% of the ceiling and 80% of the hull. The insulation alone greatly dampened the sound and heat experienced when underway and at anchor. Several manufacturer defects were also corrected: Life line stanchions, cap rail issues, the replacement of many wood railings with stainless tubing, addition of a proper secure entryway from the cockpit to the pilothouse, replacement of the cockpit teak locker doors with locking aluminum powder coated doors and the rudder platform strengthened. In addition, a new Blue Sea electrical panel was installed as well as lithium house batteries.

Although the boat is 34 years old, the exterior and interior show as “like new”. The engine exhausts on Cetacea used to vent out the sides, which allowed the exhaust to curve around into the aft cockpit. After the rerouting of the exhaust through the interior (and out of sight), the engine exhaust is now discharged at the stern of the boat, which is a real benefit. The boat also has forward-opening salon/galley windows to port and starboard that provide excellent ventilation of both the galley area and the aft stateroom.

Below is a recap of MOST updates performed between 2017 and 2024. Many items were completed during the New Zealand Refit, 2017-2019.

UPDATES COMPETED IN 2023-2024

• Replaced Raritan 20 gal hot water heated
• Replaced Main Engine Dual Coolers
• Replaced All Zincs
• Replaced Main Engine Exhause Elbows with Stainless Steel Elbows
• Replaced All MFD’s, Radar and AIS.
• Replaced Airmar DST-810
• Rebuilt both Perkins Fuel Injector Pumps
• Added Fawcett Fuel Pumps to Each Main Engine
• Replaced Main Engine Fuel Manual Pump Valve, Port Engine
• Replaced Main Engine Fuel Lines from Manifold to Engine
• Replaced Engine Start Batteries, Anchor Battery and Generator Start Battery
• Replaced Main Engine Starter Motors
• Replaced Main Engine Alternators with External Regulators Wired to Stbd Electrical Panel
• Added Racor 1000 Fuel Filter to Gulf Fuel Polishing System
• Installed a New Kholer 11 KW Generator
• Replaced all Stainless Rigging with Stainless Rigging and Stainless Turnbuckles, Pins, Tangs
• Replaced All Raw Water Cooling Air Conditioning Pumps and hose
• Added Furuno SXC 20 Saellite/GPS Receiver
• Added Highfield Hypalon 340 Classic With Chaps and Deck Cover w/Stainless Boarding Ladder and Bow Roller with Cleat
• Added Starlink Communications and Wi-Fi System with Global Marine Receiver
• Replaced the Mastervolt inverter/charger with Mass-Combi Pro 12V/3000W – 150 Amp charger.

NEW ZEALAND REFIT ITEMS, COMPLETED DECEMBER 2017 - June 2019

LIGHTHOUSE PROJECTS, STEVE EICHLER:

• REMOVED TEAK DECK, EPOXIED, FAIRED, FILLED AND BROUGHT TO GRADE WITH MARINE PLYWOOD.
• EPOXIED AND FIBER GLASSED THE TOP LEVEL OF THE DECK IN PREPARATION FOR PAINTING.
• FIBERGLASSED AND FAIRED ALL TEAK PADS FOR MAINSHEET TRAVELER, WINCHES, ANCHOR WINDLASS, BRIDGE WINDSHIELD AND CLEATS.
• REPLACED TEAK BRACES FOR BOARDING PLANK AND SWIM LADDER WITH STAR BOARD AND VIKING STAINLESS LIFE RAFT CRADLE.
• REPLACED (ABOUT 80%) WHERE NECESSARY AND SERVICED TEAK CAP RAIL, ADDING HIDDEN BRONZE PLATES AT JOINTS WITH LIFELINE STANCHION ATTACHMENTS PROPERLY ATTACHED TO HULL/DECK MATING.
• RE-BEDDED SHROUD CHAIN PLATES AT DECK PASS-THROUGH.
• REPLACED ACRYLIC BRIDGE WINDSHIELD.
• REPLACED COCKPIT TEAK PLANKING.
• REBUILT AND FURTHER SECURED RUDDER DECK IN AFT GARAGE
• OVERSAW THE REPLACEMENT OF THE PILOTHOUSE ENTRY DOOR WITH FULL-SIZED SEMI WATERTIGHT DOOR WITH NEW ENCLOSURE VESTIBULE.
• REPLACED ALL 11 HULL PORTS WITH STAINLESS OPENING PORTS WITH SCREENS MANUFACTURED BY MAN, FAIRED TO MATCH HULL WITH NEW INTERIOR BEZELS.
• REPLACED ALL 16 WINDOWS WITH AL WINDOWS MANUFACTURED BY SEAMAC.
• REBUILT AND STRENGTHENED CHAIN LOCKER FLOOR.
• OVERSAW THE REPLACEMENT OF ALL WATERLINE THRU HULLS AND HOSES.
• ADDED VENTILATION FANS IN V BERTH, PILOTHOUSE AND AFT STATEROOM.
• ADDED FIBERGLASS ENTERTAINMENT LOCKER ON FORWARD DECK THAT INCORPORATES A FOLDING TABLE, DINGHY TRANSOM SUPPORT, VENTILATION FANS AND LPG LOCKER.
• ADDED INCREASED VENTILATION INTO AND OUT OF ENGINE ROOM WITH VETUS AIR VENTS
• DINGHY TIE DOWNS ADDED
• FIBERGLASS TEAK RUB RAIL AND REPLACED STAINLESS STRIPS WITH TACO SOLID STAINLESS 1/2” ROUND STRIPS
• REPLACED 4 COCKPIT TEAK LOCKER DOORS WITH LOCKABLE AL PAINTED DOORS.
• REPLACED 80% OF EVERY NUT, BOLT AND MACHINE AND WOOD SCREWS WITH QUALITY STAINLESS FASTENERS.
• INSTALLED ANCHOR BRACES TO PREVENT ANCHORS FROM MOVING WHEN UNDERWAY.
• REPLACED RUDDER HYDRAULIC HOSES IN GARAGE AND OVERSAW RUDDER RAM SERVICING.
• INSTALLED UNDERWATER LED LIGHTS AT BOARDING GATES.
• INSTALLED DORAD VENTS AND BOXES FOR AFT GARAGE VENTILATION.
• SERVICED ALL WINCHES
• VARNISHED CAP RAIL AND COMING OF COCKPIT
• REPLACED MAIN SHEET TRAVELER TRACK AND BLOCKS
• OVERSAW THE REPLACEMENT OF ALL BILGE PUMPS

INTERIOR – BOAT WIDE ITEMS:

• OVERSAW THE PLACEMENT OF INSULATION ON HULL SIDES CABIN TOP AND DECK TOP AREAS.
• ADDED BATTENS TO EXPOSED HULLSIDES IN ALL BERTHS AND HEADS.
• OVERSAW THE VARNISHING OF THE ENTIRE BOAT INTERIOR; DOORS, WALLS, TRIM, ETC.
• OVERSAW THE PREPARATION FOR AND THE APPLICATION OF 3M DI-NOC MATERIAL OVER TEAK VENEER.
• OVERSAW THE PLACEMENT OF CARPET PANELS THROUGH-OUT THE BOAT

PILOTHOUSE:

• REPLACED THE HEADLINER AND ADDED BATTENS AND INSULATION
• ADDED FABRIC AND DI-NOC LINER TO VARIOUS BULKHEAD AREAS
• REPLACED DECKING AREA WITH VINYL MATERIAL FWD. AND AROUND INSTRUMENT AND NAV POD.
• BUILD INSTRUMENT POD ABOVE NAV TABLE
• ADDED ADDITIONAL BACK SUPPORT FOR SETTEE
• REPLACED THE TWO AFT PILOTHOUSE WINDOWS WITH ONE LARGE SEAMAC OPENING WINDOW
• REFURBISHED MAIN ENGINE-NAV INSTRUMENT CONSOLE.
• INSTALLED PORT SIDE SEAT NEXT TO HELM AND DRINK HOLDER FOR SETTEE

FWD. V-BERTH:

• ADDED BATTENS TO THE HULL SIDES IN EXPOSED AREAS
• ADDED HEADBOARD PANELS TO BERTH WITH WHITE OVER BROWN VINYL
• REPLACED OVERHEAD AND BULKHEAD LIGHTING FIXTURES
• ADDED BROWN VINYL LEATHER PADDING TO SIDES AT BERTH LEVEL

STARBOARD BERTH:

• ADDED BATTENS TO BERTH SIDES
• VARNISHED LOCKER DOORS AND TRIM
• REWIRED LIGHTS

FWD. HEAD:

• ADDED BATTENS ON EXPOSED HULL SIDES
• REPLACED PLUMBING FOR SHOWER, SINK AND HEAD
• REPLACED SHOWER AND SINK FIXTURES
• REPLACED HEADLINER
• REBUILT HEAD DECK SUPPORT

MAIN SALOON:

• REPLACED HEADLINER AND ADDED BATTENS
• REPLACED LIGHTING TO LED DIMMABLE
• REINFORCED DINING TABLETOP ATTACHMENT
• ADDED TABLE FOR STBD SETTEE WITH FREEZER STORAGE INSIDE
• REFURBISHED LOCKER SLIDE ENCLOSURE
• REINFORCED SETTEE SUPPORTS AND ADDED CUSHION ATTACHMENT (LOCK DOWN) SYSTEM
• INSPECTED ALL CHAIN PLATES AND REPLACED ALL CHAIN PLATE NUTS, BOLTS AND WASHERS.

GALLEY:

• REFURBISHED CORIAN COUNTERTOPS AND INSTALLED LOCK DOWNS FOR HATCHES
• IMPROVED BOTH REFRIGERATION DOOR CLOSURE AND ADDED INSULATION
• REPLACED LIGHTING
• REPLACED HEADLINER
• ADDED SPLASH GUARD IN FRONT OF SINK
• REPLACED SINK FIXTURE
• MODIFIED CABINET INTERIORS TO ACCOMMODATE DISH, POTS AND PANS PLACEMENT
• ADDED ELECTRICAL VENT FAN FOR COOKTOP
• VARNISHED CABINETRY, DOORS AND TRIM

SERVICE ROOM:

• REINFORCED FLOORING
• IMPROVED AFT STATEROOM DRAINAGE INTO SERVICE ROOM BILGE

AFT STATEROOM:

• SERVICED FLOORING AND REINFORCED
• ADDED BATTENS
• ADDED PADDING TO SIDE OF BERTH
• APPLIED NEW DECKING TO SIDES OF AFT BERTH
• REPLACED LIGHTING IN CLOSETS
• ADDED AFT WALL COVERING PANELS
• ADDED NEW LIGHT FIXTURES
• ADDED CUP HOLDER AND POWER SWITCHES AS WELL AS READING LIGHTS TO EACH SIDE

AFT HEAD:

• REPLACED SHOWER SIDES WITH ONE-PIECE SHOWER LINER.
• ADDED NEW FIXTURES AND FIXTURE ATTACHMENT PANEL
• REPLACED SHOWER DOOR WITH CUSTOM DOOR MADE BY SEAMAC.
• ADDED BATTENS TO FORMICA SEAMS
• REPLACED SHOWER LIGHTING
• REPLACED SHOWER FLOORING
• REPLACED SINK FIXTURES
• REPLACED HEADLINER
• REFURBISHED CORIAN COUNTERTOP

TIM BROWN, SUNNY MARINE:

• REPLACED MAIN ENGINES MOTOR MOUNTS
• ADDED RAW WATER STRAINER BASKET AND BALL VALVE FOR MAIN ENGINES
• REPLACED DUAL OIL COOLER FOR EACH MAIN ENGINE
• REPLACED ZINCS IN HEAT EXCHANGERS FOR MAIN ENGINES AND GEN SET
• ADDED IMPROVED AIR CLEANER TO EACH MAIN ENGINE
• ADDED KIWI DRIPLESS SEALS WITH TEMP ALARMS TO EACH SHAFT
• REPLACED ALL SHAFT BEARINGS (3 PER SHAFT) FOR EACH SHAFT
• GREASED BOTH MAX PROPS
• REPLACED BOTH THERMOSTATS, STARBOARD WITH 1/8” ADDL HOLE. PORT REPLACED BY WHANGAREI MARINE
• REPLACED BOTH FW AND RAW WATER PUMPS.
• REBUILT PRIMARY HYDRAULIC WINCHES
• REPLACED BOTH ELBOWS AND GASKETS.
• REPLACED RUDDER STEERING ATTACHMENT BALL AND ARM

SIMON KRISTENSSON. NORTHLAND MARINE COATINGS:

• STRIPPED OLD AWLGRIP OFF, FAIRED HULL AND CABIN TOP AREAS
• HULL AND CABIN TOP AREA PRIMED WITH 3 COATS, PAINTED WITH 3 COATS AWLCRAFT 2000 INSIGNIA AND COATED WITH SEALX
• DECK PRIMED WITH 3 COATS AND PAINTED WITH 3 COATS AWLGRIP INSIGNIA THEN SANDED AND PAINTED DECK AREA WITH 1 COAT INTL PERFECTION WITH MEDIUM PARTICLES, THEN ONE COAT CARBONLINE ACRYLIC URETHANE, GRAY/WHITE MIXTURE.
• PAINTED BOOT STRIP WITH INTL PERFECTION, DARK BLUE.
• STRIPPED BOTTOM SIDES, USED INTERLUX 2000 THEN APPLIED 1 BLACK MICRON 66 LAYER, THEN 2 LAYERS OF BLUE MICRON 66 WITH A FINAL COAT OF BLUE MICRON EXTRA AS A SACRIFICIAL COAT FOR FRESH WATER WHILE BOAT COMPLETED REFIT.
• INTERNATIONAL PAINT REP ON SITE FOR APPLICATION CONCURRENCE AND METHODS USED.
• PAINTED BOOM AND LOWER 20’ OF MAST WITH SPOT PAINTING ABOVE THAT. ALL AREAS WERE BLASTED, ETCHED, PRIMED AND PAINTED TO MATCH BOAT.

ALLOY STAINLESS & MARINE LTD:

• REPLACED CABIN TOP HANDRAILS FROM TEAK TO 1 ¼” STAINLESS TUBES. REPLACED FWD. CABIN TOP HANDRAILS BELOW PILOTHOUSE SIDE WINDOWS AND AT COCKPIT COMING.
• RAISED ALL 6 AL CLEATS BY 2”
• REPLACED MAST BOOT WITH STAINLESS BOOT
• ADDED ADDITIONAL STAINLESS FLANGE TO ALL LIFELINE STANCHIONS AS ADDITIONAL SUPPORT AND STRENGTHENING.
• MODIFIED AND STRENGTHENED FORESTAY HULL TOPSIDE CHAIN PLATE.
• REPAIRED AND STRENGTHENED AFT PUSHPIT.
• MODIFIED THE 2 STAINLESS WHEELS FOR THE ANCHOR CHAIN CLAW LOCKING SYSTEM.
• REPLACED LIFELINES FROM GATE, AFT TO PUSH PIT ON BOTH SIDES WITH 1 ¼” STAINLESS TUBING.

EMPOWER:

• REPLACED HOUSE BATTERY BANK WITH TWO LI-ION BATTERY BANKS EACH WITH ORION BMS, 1000 AMPS.
• REPLACED SOLAR PANELS WITH THREE 360WATT SUNPOWER PANELS, AND ONE 200 WATT PANEL.
• ADDED A MASTERVOLT 100 AMP CHARGER TO HOUSE BANK CHARGER SYSTEM.
• INTEGRATED HOUSE BATTERY BANK, SOLAR PANELS AND WIND GENERATOR INTO MASTERVOLT ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.
• PERFORMED ADDITIONAL WIRING FOR NEW ELECTRICAL ITEMS IN VARIOUS PARTS OF THE BOAT.
• REPLACED ELECTRICAL OUTLETS
• ADDED 230V/12V INVERTER FOR GALLEY EXHAUST VENT FAN
• REPLACED FURLING SWITCHES (2) IN MAST.

MACKAY ELECTRICAL:

• REPLACED THE MAIN ELECTRICAL PANEL TO BLUE SEA 360 SERIES A PANEL WITH LED METERS FOR 230, 120 AND 12 VOLT.
• REWIRED WASHER/DRYER IN SERVICE ROOM
• SERVICED FURUNO NAVNET3D SYSTEM INTERGRATION

NORTH CANVAS:

• REPLACED COCKPIT CANVAS WITH NEW VISUALS
• REPLACED UPPER HELM CANVAS WITH NEW VISUALS
• REPLACED PILOTHOUSE WINDOW SUNSCREENS
• CANVAS COVERS FOR HYDRAULIC LINES FORE AND AFT, OUTBOARD ENGINE COVER, WINDLASS AND LIFE RAFT COVERS, MAINSAIL CLEW COVER AND 2 LARGE HATCH INSULATED COVERS.
• PILOTHOUSE NEW SETTEE UPHOLSTERY
• MAIN SALOON NEW SETTEE UPHOLSTERY
• MAIN SALOON NEW PADDED MAST WRAP

VARIOUS ADDITIONAL ITEMS PERFORMED:

• JAMES NILSSON LLC, ORIGINAL BUILDER OF THE MAXWELL WINCH, REPLACED THE MOTOR AND SERVICED THE ENTIRE WINDLASS. THE WINDLASS WAS PAINTED.
• ALL NAV LIGHTS AND SPREADER AND FORWARD DECK LIGHTS REPLACED
• REPLACED MAINSHEET BLOCKS AND TRACK AND OUTHAUL CAR.
• SUPERWIND 350 SERVICED AND RE-WIRED
• ALL MAIN ENGINE VDO INSTRUMENTS REPLACED IN PILOTHOUSE AND BRIDGE PODS.
• NEW VESPER AIS VISION2 ADDED
• REPLACED FORCE 10 3 BURNER COOKER/OVEN
• REPLACED MAINSHEET, JIB SHEETS, SPINNAKER HALYARD, TOPPING LIFT AND OUTHAUL LINES.
• INSTALLED WEBASTO AC/HEAT UNITS IN V BERTH AND UNDER AFT BED.
• RE-CHROMED REEFER HINGES, LATCHES, HULL FAIRLEADS, AND ANCHOR CHAIN DECK FAIRLEADS
• PURCHASED A NEW 10.5’ HIGHFIELD CLASSIC DINGY WITH BOW STORAGE UNIT AND FAUX TEAK FLOORING WITH BOW CLEAT AND ANCHOR ROLLER.
• INSTALLED NEW NAME AND HOME PORT DECALS
• REPLACED HALYARD SHEAVES AT MAST HEAD
• REPLACEMENT DRAPES FOR AFT STATEROOM AND HEAD
• REPLACED MARQUIP BOARDING LADDER ATTACHMENTS
• RIGGING INSPECTION BY NZ YACHT SERVICES 5-2019

OWNERS' STATEMENT

As you can see from the above information and descriptions, CETACEA has been constantly well-maintained and updated. When the original owner, a British couple, purchased her in 1990, they set her up for its offshore passage from England to the British Virgin Islands. The second owner, a Swiss National, bought her and delivered her to Antigua for several years using her for 2 months a year sailing her up and down the Eastern Caribbean. That owner had her delivered to St.Lucia by Ulrich Miexner, a Mechanical Engineer from Austria and owner of DSL Yachts. DSL maintained her and constantly updated her for its owner, always ready for his use and has NEVER been chartered. After the current owners purchased her in 2001, they left her under the watchful eye of Uli and DSL. For 12 years they also sailed up and down the Caribbean Island chain while they worked in the US and short-term vacationed in the Carib. They departed the area in March 2013 for their circumnavigation heading west.

Since then, the boat has sailed approximately 20,000 miles to Phuket, Thailand after visiting numerous countries in the western Carib and Pacific. Due to the 2023-2024 issues in the Red Sea and other issues in Africa, they decided to have Cetacea shipped to Marmaris, Turkey, arriving June 2024. As they are now in the Eastern Med, sailing between Turkey and Greece, they will stay in this area until Mid-summer 2025. The plan then will be to move to the Mid-Med and enjoy the areas around Italy – East and West side then move further west to the western Med.

This particular Cheoy Lee 53’ Motorsailer, a Seaton-Nevill design, is a “one-off boat”, built or hatched in 1989 and completed in 1990 in the Cheoy Lee Hong Kong yard. She has benefited from all the improvements made to the earlier hulls and then she was customized like no other CL 53. Cetacea is one of the last of its kind as Cheoy Lee moved to making very large motor yachts in 1990. This boat really has to be seen and compared to other CL 53’s to appreciate the quality and improvements of this particular late model (perhaps even the last!) hull and very few other comparable boats can match her performance and comfort. The improvements to this hull make it extremely comfortable, very stable, very good sailing, very good and efficient motoring, very quiet when motoring and/or sailing in all berth areas and entertainment areas. She remains cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter due to her added extensive insulation and sound proofing material. She is very easy to manage as a couple as she was set up for this purpose, easy long-distance sailing and fun local sailing.

This is the third consecutive Cheoy Lee owned by the owners over the last 40+ years and their sixth boat overall. CETACEA most likely won’t be their last boat, but it will certainly remain as the BEST boat they ever owned. Interestingly enough, when pulling into a marina or anchoring amongst other boats, heads are turned. Most experienced sailors recognize the quality, ease of maintenance and the appearance as that of a 63’ Cheoy Lee Motorsailer. What is the difference between the 53' and the 63'? The 53’ actually performs much better than the 63’, especially when under sail. The bottom line is that CETACEA IS A SAILBOAT!

The dinghy and outboard are excluded until the legal documentation process for transferring ownership outside of the U.S. can be confirmed.

The Listing Brokerage Company offers the details of this vessel in good faith but cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of this information nor warrant the condition of the vessel regardless of information provided. A buyer should instruct his agents, or his surveyors, to investigate such details as the buyer desires validated. This vessel is offered subject to prior sale, price change, or withdrawal without notice. PLEASE NOTE: All electronics are listed for verification purposes but not warranted in the selling price of the boat. All the yacht brokerage agents at the listing company are Independent Contractors.