Our boat is a 1984 Wauquiez Amphitrite. She is hull #113 and is a 43-foot center cockpit ketch. She is a full displacement boat designed and proven to take the rigors of demanding long-term off shore sailing. She is equipped for true blue water sailing and has already circumnavigated the world, with the original owners from France that bought the boat new. The next owners sailed from Portsmouth Washington to Mexico, through the Panama Canal and south thereafter, back up through the eastern US and the Canada canals.
We continue to improve her and add more equipment for safety, comfort, ease of sailing and convenience.
Core Boat Data
Dreamcatcher is a Wauquiez Amphitrite center cockpit modified keel, full skeg ketch. The boat is 43 long at water level, 13' 8" wide and has a depth of 5' 8". The center cockpit has tall sides to provide protection and comfort.
Mechanical
A new Beta 60 diesel was installed in 2019. The boat has a ZF-25m transmission which was installed in 2012. A flex prop coupling exists between the transmission and the shaft along with a PYI PSS Dripless shaft seal in front of the cutlass bearing that exits to a 21 inch Maxprop 3 bladed folding/feathering propeller which was rebuilt in 2020. The PYI PSS shaft seal was replaced in 2023.
The fuel is filtered with a dual Racor filtration system with easy access to change the filters. This is located in the workshop and you can switch the fuel flow to either filter on the fly. The engine area is accessible on all four sides, with the two side areas immediately accessible by simply opening a door or removing a panel. Fantastic access to all areas of the engine. An oil pump out system makes changing the oil easy. The boat can hold 110 gallons of diesel.
Electrical
The boat has a 1,000 amp battery bank (880 amps on the house bank and a separate 120 amp house bank) consisting of Lifeline AGM deep cycle batteries.
A Balmar 120 amp high output externally regulated alternator was installed in 2020 and is powered by a heavy duty polyvee belt system. The alternator is regulated with a Balmar MC 614 voltage regulator.
A Balmar Digital Duo Charge relay exists between the house and starter banks to manage the charging between the two banks. The batteries are charged by shore power, a high output regulated alternator and/or the solar panels. A Xantrax battery monitor is installed.
The boat has two 100 watt Ecoflow 9bb solar panels that are managed by a Bluesky MPPT regulator/controller. An additional 160 watts of portable solar panels are used for extra charging capacity. There is room to extend the solar setup. We also use an Ecoflow 1260 watt hour portable power station which can be recharged with the solar panels.
A Magnum pro-sine 2800 watt inverter/charger/controller provide power management. The primary electrical wiring and controls were replaced in 2017. The boat is 30 amp with stand-alone fusing.
Hull and Deck
The boat is a modified keel. She has a skeg mounted rudder for protection. A bowthruster was installed to help maneuverability in tight areas. The hull is extremely thick and can handle loads with ease. The boat weighs 28,600 pounds (empty).
The teak decks were removed and replaced with fiberglass and Kiwi Grip non-skid in 2020. The hull was awl gripped in 2020. Bottom paint is redone as needed, most recently in 2023. In 2022-2023, the hull was sandblasted and the gelcoat and epoxy below the waterline were removed. Thereafter, a new epoxy barrier coat was applied along with new hard bottom paint. The new epoxy bottom will help keep the hull moisture to a minimum.
The decks have a good amount of camber, are open and wide to provide full accessibility. High bulwarks throughout the boat help provide safe movement on deck. The large open aft area is ideal for lounging and fishing. The mast pulpits help keep you in place when working at the mast. The stanchions were extended higher to increase safety. A dodger with handholds on the top and sides make getting around easy. A bimini provides protection from the sun in the cockpit.
Steering
The boat has an Alpha 3000 autopilot as well as a Pacific Plus wind vane which has its own rudder for redundancy. This provides a fully second steering system with which a separate Raymarine tiller auto pilot can be connected. A third manual 'tiller' can be used in the event of a cabling problem with the wheel in the cockpit.
Sail Inventory and Rigging
The primary sails were replace with Precision Sails in 2021. These are Offshore Precision 500 Elite series Dracon 8 sails. The new sails include the 135% genoa, main and mizzen sails.
A full inventory of sails exists including mainsail with 3 reef points that ride on a Tides Marine batton system for easy sail raising and lowering. Lazy bags and jack lines control and store the main and mizzen sails with a super convenient zippered top. The mizzen has 1 reef point. The 135% genoa is very convenient. A asymmetrical spinnaker with ATN sock provide additional sailing options. A removable solent stay makes additional sail carrying on the bow possible. A 150% drifter hank on affords maneuverability in light wind. A working jib, storm jib, a mizzen stay sail and storm tri-sail with separate track round out the sail inventory.
All standing rigging is much beefier than original specs called for to provide additional safety. A total of 9 large Lewmar self tailing winches make sail handling easier. Extra halyards exist on both the main and mizzen mast as well as a traveler at the rear of the cockpit for the main. Adjustable blocks on tracks on both sides provide optimal jib control. A Harken ESP furler was installed for the genoa in 2020.
Anchoring Equipment
A large Lofrans windlass is used to raise and lower a variety of anchors. The boat has a 55 pound Rocna anchor as primary, and both a spade and FX-23 Danforth as secondary.
Water and Heating
The boat has 3 separate water tanks for a total of 150 gallon capacity. A Spectra 15 gallon per hour water maker is on the boat.
The pressurized water system can be heated by the Wabasto diesel powered hot water heater, the diesel motor itself, an instant propane water or shore power. The Wabasto also powers the heating system located throughout the boat with thermostats in each of the 3 main areas (aft, main salon, v-berth). The Wabasto is powered by diesel and the instant water heater is powered by propane so both are fully functional at sea or anchor. The Wabasto heating system extends the sailing season and provides a warm place to rest and relax and escape the chill - full year round sailing is what we do (in North Carolina).
Interior
A large queen size berth with large windows, desk and wrap around couch are in the aft area. The rear head has storage and a sink. 2 sea berths (or storage berths are actually how we use them) take you from the aft area to the navigation station, galley and main salon.
A workshop is opposite of the sea berths and engine which continually prove its worth. Few boats this size have a functional workshop.
The galley has 2 sinks, a 2-burner stove, and a top loading Sea Frost refrigerator. A small microwave and a fold up cutting board complement the Corian counter tops. We use an induction stove most of the time. This is usually powered by our Ecoflow Delta 1260wh portable power station. Several foot pumps provide water in addition to the pressurized hot/cold water system. Propane controls as well as a propane leak detection system with alarm round out the galley.
The salon has a 32 inch flat LCD TV, sound bar, JVC stereo with Bose speakers, seating and berthing areas along with a functional table surround tons of easily accessed storage.
Dual full size lockers are opposite the head as you go forward for guests or crew to store their gear. The shower, sink and Raritan toilet with Lectrasan controls are in the head, along with easy switching between the holding tank, Lectrasan and direct when offshore. A large v-berth is forward with lots of room for two to sleep and lounge comfortably.
While the boat is rated for 8 persons, it can handle 5-6 with relative comfort for a week or it can carry 2 couples with full privacy and plenty of room for extended cruises.
Alpenglow lights (2 level with both red and white) are used throughout the boat. Lee cloths are throughout the boat to provide safe sleeping while at sea. Handholds are also located throughout the boat to provide a sure grip during a passage. The interior has an enormous amount of storage throughout.
Electronics and Navigation
A full size, forward facing navigation station is conveniently located next to the companionway. The boat is well equipped to meet the needs of true bluewater cruising. The boat is equipped with an Icom M710 SSB (single side band radio) along with a Pactor modem for email and other data. A Furuno radar at the nav station is quite useful.
Raymarine instruments are in the cockpit (depth, speed, course, and wind) along with a ST-80 repeater at the nav station. An Icom VFH is at the navigation station and a command remote mic is in the cockpit. A Chelsea barometer, laptop with separate GPS and charts coupled with a mounted monitor are at the navigation station. A Garmin chart plotter and a Ritchie magnetic compass along with an Em-trac B954 AIS transponder round out the equipment at the navigation station.
The primary chartplotter in the cockpit has become our Sailproof SP08X tablet which is a waterproof large battery, 1,000 Nits (very bright) unit. We have several other tablets tablets also running Navionics and Aquamarine software along with a separate Lowrance chartplotter and a two other handheld backup units round out the electronics. The autopilot controls and key engine data are in the cockpit. The autopilot and windlass have remote control units in the cockpit along with the bow thruster controls.
Safety Gear
Dreamcatcher is a large, well built very strong boat built for the toughest conditions possible. It handles exhilarating to downright scary situations with ease and has never refused to perform as intended. Her technical specifications are impressive regarding ability to stay upright and blows away all modern 'production' boats.
A variety of safety equipment is on board. 2 high output electric bilge pumps are on the boat along with a backup Edson 1 gallon per pump manual pump with controls in the cockpit exist. A large life raft with anchor is on board. Halon based fire suppression with sensors and automatic activation in the engine room. Handheld fire extinguishers are als on the boat.
A large sea drogue anchor exists to slow the boat down in rough weather (drag off the stern). Additionally, a Paratech sea anchor (parachute) which attaches to the bow for use in storms when you need to quit moving is on the boat. A variety of rescue (throw) devices are on the boat in addition to a EPIRB to notify the Coast Guard of an emergency. Jack lines with tethers are on the boat as well as harnesses and ocean ready automatically inflated PFDs.
