(built from the 34 R/C plans but stretched 4 feet overall), and cutter rigged.
Launched in 1979, this is a well built, fast cruising Norman Cross Design that’s been well maintained and improved over the years. She draws only 3.5 feet. I’m the second owner.
She’s a US Documented Vessel and has cruised extensively in the Northern Bahamas, Florida Keys and Southwest Florida coast where she’s been home based her entire life. She was featured in the movie “Captiva” and as the subject on one of Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville T shirts because of her great lines.
We’ve had a fantastic time with Sister Whisper during the more than 30 years we’ve had her, over 50 crossings of the Gulf Stream as well as local sailing has allowed us to have countless great adventures with this boat but it’s time for me to find someone with the desire to take over the adventure of owning and sailing her.
45,000 buys the whole package, RIB inflatable and 8hp Yamaha 2 stroke included spares, etc. Sister Whisper is Ready to cruise.
“Sister Whisper” is a Norman Cross Design based on the 34 R/C plan but stretched to 38 feet in the building process. With the addition of a sugar scoop swim platform and bow sprit she’s a bit over 40 ft. in length. The boat is a round bottom, double diagonal planked design on a well-designed set of stringers, Fiberglass over Fir construction, making her light and strong with high floatation asymmetrical outer hulls. She has enclosed wing decks for a much drier boat that’s easier to move around on than an open wing deck boat. Something else Norm liked was having a fixed keel on a cruising boat and Sister Whisper only draws 3.5 feet which allows a much wider range of choices for anchorages.
She has a recently painted deck and Mast in Awlgrip, Trinidad 75 hard epoxy bottom paint, Awlgrip topsides etc. The interior features Mahogany galley floor, carpeted salon area. It has two double berths on the wing decks and a V berth forward of the head. The anchor locker is accessible from the V berth.
The Galley is near the companionway on the starboard side with a 12 volt refrigeration system and Shipmate propane stove with oven. The port side has the stainless steel sink, a hand pump for fresh water and foot pump for salt water. Cupboard storage is ample on both sides above the counters. The salon has a full length couch on the port side and a counter with storage and pull out table on the starboard side. The engine compartment is accessed from both the interior and the cockpit making access good.
The engine is a Yanmar 3 GMF that has never been rebuilt but doesn’t burn any detectable amount of oil which has been changed at 50 hour intervals throughout my time with her. I added a better stainless steel exhaust fresh water mixing tube as well as a higher capacity remote oil filter. I installed a 120 amp Balmar externally regulated alternator and battery tender system and 4 optima AGM batteries. The PUR Water maker is easily accessible at the interior end of the engine compartment.
She’s got a very comfortable cockpit and helmsman’s seat arrangement with a removable table and CSY binnacle with Edson steering, large compass and Garmin Chart Plotter GPS unit. The Autohelm 3000 autopilot has been flawless and is in place. The custom aluminum frame surrounding the cockpit has a hardtop made from Nidacore honeycomb material which insulates the occupants of the cockpit from the radiant heat that comes off canvas biminis making a huge difference in comfort level. A roll back canvas section allows sun in the cockpit when you want it. Access to the boat from the dinghy is easy with the dinghy fitting between the hulls and the swim platform next to it. The boat is well rigged with good high quality gear, standing rigging and all pins have been recently replaced and she’s been well maintained. She’s a proven cruiser with over 30 seasons in the Abacos and she’s seen rough conditions more than once, been through two hurricanes, in the eye for a half hour and then 120 MPH winds again, but that’s another story…..and there are so many. I have real confidence in her seaworthiness and with the wind ahead of the beam she’ll do about 4 knots less than wind speed. I’m in double digits with 15 K wind most of the time. It has a 450 sq. ft. full batten mainsail of cruising weight, a 100% jib on a Shaefer roller furling system and a genoa staysail as the working sails. In addition there is a 900 sq. ft. asymmetrical (genaker) in a furling system, a yankee, (high cut jib), a big genoa, (160%) that needs a new solar cover and a beautiful storm jib that I’ve only used once.
I’m offering the whole cruising package which includes the 10 ft. AB RIB Inflatable with its 8 HP 2 stroke Yamaha and remote tank, storage box, anchor etc. It has a daily use custom Sunbrella cover protecting it from the sun as well as a Sunbrella full cover for longer term storage. This is the perfect tender for this boat only 106 lbs. and fits between the mast and the staysail stay during offshore passages. There are some spare parts including an alternator, props and raw water pump.
I’m looking for someone who will take over where I left off and maintain her standards and take her on new adventures.
Gear etc.
Sister Whisper, documented as 609528 US Coast Guard.
Delta Anchor, 25 lb., approx. 20 ft. galvanized 5/16th in. high tensil chain and 200 plus foot heavy braided nylon rode
Fortress FX 27 Anchor, approx. 20 ft. galvanized 5/16th in. high tensile chain and 200 plus ft. rode
Schaefer Stainless Steel Roller Furling system
Mast head Windex wind direction indicator, tri color light and anchor lite
3 Solar Panels1-50W, 2-75W
3 Lewmar 46 self-tailing winches, chrome on bronze for mainsheet and headsails, 2 smaller barients for staysail.
Mid boom rigging with wide traveler and line clutches/locks.
E Meter electrical monitoring system and second meter for only alternator output
Fuel vacuum gauge to determine fuel filter change time
Raycore fuel water separator fuel filter
Spare Alternator, raw water pump, Prop for dinghy and Prop for SW
Shipmate Propane Stove/Oven with solenoid operated fuel off switch and aluminum propane cylinder
12 Volt DC Refrigeration System by Frigoboat
Kenwood 10 CD changer sound system with salon and cockpit speakers, iPod compatible
PUR 40E Water maker
Standard Horizon VHF radio
Garmin Chart Plotter GPS and large standard compass
Depth Gauge
450 sq. ft. Mainsail w/ 5 5/8th in. fiberglass battens, 100% Sobstad Jib, Genoa Staysail, Yankee (high cut jib), 900 sq. ft. 1.5 oz. Asymmetrical Genaker in Chutescoop furling system and turtle bag, Huge Genoa (165% needs new solar cover), Storm jib. All in good condition with the exception of the big genoa.
20 gallon stainless steel fuel tank
45 gallon freshwater tankage
Marine toilet with 5 gallon holding tank and offshore pump out capacity, (never used the holding tank, only for legal reasons)
