I’m proud to be a broker with Swiftsure Yachts, starting here in April, 2019. It was a big change for me, helping folks buy and sell boats instead of writing about them. While many aspects of this job are new to me, my passion for sailing and people have carried me through. It turns out the people who buy and sell boats are thoughtful, principled folk with the same feelings toward sailing as I have.
Swiftsure Yachts has established a market niche in the national yacht selling scene, and I’m proud to be a part of it. Swiftsure’s specialty is the high quality offshore cruiser – the kind you actually can untie and then take offshore to parts far, far away. On the brokerage side, many of listings are boats we’ve sold before, sometimes many times! Our new boat options; Allures, Garcia and Hallberg Rassy are all names that come up when discussions turn to serious cruisers. We’re no stranger to catamarans, and in fact have sold several Outremers.
Serious cruisers are not all we broker! Coastal cruisers and powerboats pass through our docks regularly. Our offices and dock spaces are at the north end of Lake Union on Westlake Ave. N, where once upon a time the LeClercq Marine, a real shipyard, was located. Drop-ins are always welcome.
The atmosphere around Swiftsure is professional, friendly and open. We go the extra mile with both effort and expertise for both sellers and buyers. -Kurt Hoehne
For Swiftsure’s current listings, check out our web page.
Freya – A Swan with a View
It’s not often one finds a boat that’s been configured with an entirely new, bold personality. Freya is such a boat.
This 1984 Swan 46 features the elegant and fast German Frers lines and the renowned Nautor construction, but with a twist. Freya was reconfigured for the Pacific Northwest with a pilothouse. It’s not a pilothouse in the sense of an inside steering station. Instead, it’s a weather protected, on-deck house that will make cold weather (and rainy) cruising very appealing.
One of the complaints about vintage racer cruisers is the lack of visibility when down below. With this modification, the down below can mean being at deck level with full visibility and heat! And with the remote autopilot, it serves nicely as a pilothouse for the wet deliveries. The traditional Swan interior is largely intact, with the forward cabin now functioning as the master.
Freya’s deck decks have been removed, so aging teak decks are not an issue. The deck layout too has been modified with several of the winches removed and the mainsheet and traveler reconfigured.
A survey was done earlier this year and the summary from that survey is available.
Verbatim – Saga 409 – Quality in a Modern Cruiser
Sometimes a model flies under the radar. This Tony Castro designed Saga 409 belies categories. At first glance it could be mistaken for one of the French imports with its deck salon design and high freeboard. One step aboard and it’s very clear that the 409 is not following in anyone’s wake.
While the Saga line was initially built in Ontario, construction was moved to Pacific Seacraft in California. The finish quality and equipment list are very impressive. Despite an extremely open feel to the salon, storage is ample and accessible. A watermaker, small generator and a full electronics package make Verbatim ready to sail. An asymmetrical spinnaker and modern lines will ensure she does more than her share of sailing, no powering, to the next port.
The listing is here.
Kurt’s Sold Boats
Scroll down this page to see a montage of boats I’ve worked with, either as a listing broker or a buyer’s broker. For more detailed info on each boat, click on the photo.
