1974 Scheel 45 Ketch Centerboard (New England)

S/V Jewel Of The Sea — a 1974 Scheel 45 KETCH RIGGED CENTERBOARD located in Charlestown, MA, for sale by broker. Responses to inquiries may come from a broker who is representing the owner as a fiduciary.

Having been actively involved in the brokerage and new boat and brokerage yacht industry since the 1975, we have been fortunate to have been able broker some very amazing and special yachts. Our specialty has always been quality, bluewater passage makers, so we are very pleased and proud to have been appointed by an experienced and life long yachtsman, to offer her highly CUSTOMIZED Scheel 45.

The Scheel 45 was designed and built in Maine by Henry Scheel one of the more innovative and forward thinking yacht designers of the past century. Today, he is often remembered as the father of the Scheel Keel , however the yachts he designed and built have earned him a solid reputation among the best designers of the modern cruising sailing yacht. Due to the economic and political realities of the times, there were only a handful for these great yachts ever built. Not only are they heavily built, they are extremely  comfortable, given the efficient modern hull form, for safe fast passages.

Upon acquiring “Jewel of the Sea ”, the owners undertook a thorough and complete 3  year refit of not only the interior, but also commissioned professional exterior refinishing.  All systems have been upgraded, including installation of a new 60Hp Beta Marine Diesel Engine with a custom 1000 gallon per minute engine driven bilge pump, a new Phasor 6.5KW generator, all brand new state of the art Garmin electronics, and even a Starlink Dish for round the world internet access.  The masts were repolished and finished and new sails were installed; all designed to enable a retired  short handed , to make safe, round trip annual passages between New England and Florida, the Bahamas and the Carribbean.

This ketch rig not only breaks up the sail area into a more manageable configuration, it also allows for the boat to be able to PASS UNDER ALL WATERWAY BRIDGES UP AND DOWN THE EAST COAST WITH A CLEARANCE OF ONLY 53 FEET. “Jewel Of The Sea” has a brand new  bow thruster that makes docking safe and manageable by the short handed crew. If you are in the market for a large, safe and comfortable long range passagemaker, you will find it well worth your while to give “Jewel of the Sea” a very through consideration.

Henry A. Scheel, was a yacht designer who brought innovations to boating at a time when tradition prevailed. He was a naval architect who studied at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the 1930s. After graduating he began working for the Bureau of Ships in Washington, D. C. during World War II. After the war, he opened a design office in New York City and later established a business relationship with Stonington Boat Works in Stonington, Connecticut. Together they produced the Stonington Motorsailer yacht series, as well as other custom and stock sport fishing boats, sailboats and power cruisers.

During the Korean War he was employed at Electric Boat in Groton, Connecticut. In the 1960’s Mr. Scheel left naval architecture and entered the textile business. In 1968 he returned to vessel design and joined Morgan Yachts in St. Petersburg, Florida, where he designed all the watercraft for Disney World. He formed a partnership in 1971 in Rockland, Maine known as Scheel Yachts Inc. and in 1974 he patented the Scheel Keel, a revolutionary keel that allowed for a shallow draft without a centerboard, for the lowest possible ballast for maximum stability and sail-carrying capacity and the fastest possible boat speed. The Scheel Keel can be found as an option on more than 50 different boat designs.

Mr. Scheel set up his first design office in New York City in 1946. In 1971, he and three associates started Scheel Yachts, a design firm in Rockport. During his life, Mr. Scheel developed plans for several hundred yachts, most of which were sailboats. But his most famous design was the Scheel Keel, a ballast strut for sailboats that was built with a flared shape at the base instead of a straight stem. The design was a precursor to the modern bulb keel, a strut built with a weighted bulb at the bottom. Cruising World magazine has estimated that since the first Scheel Keel was made in 1973, very few boats have been designed with this special keel that allows for stability in the deep sea, while lifting hyrdraulically for the shallows in the Bahamas.

ACCOMMODATIONS & LAYOUT:

The SCHEEL 45 is designed to exceed the performance and handling requirements of experienced sailors while also providing a high-level of comfort in a luxurious cruising yacht. This is a high quality, well designed cruising yacht that offers real value. The interior is elegantly detailed and finished with hand rubbed varnished teak. “JEWEL OF THE SEA” is well taken care of by her owner, and “BEAUTIFUL YACHT” is what you will  say, when you step aboard.

She is a classic and beautiful example of a Henry Scheel designed ketch, and “JEWEL OF THE SEA” is equipped and designed for heavy offshore and long range cruising, complete with a full sail inventory, large fuel and water capacity, and the proper equipment for short handed sailing and enjoying extended voyages anywhere in the world, free of shore facilities.

Her current owners, who has much loved this magnificent yacht, completely rebuilt, refreshed and renewed, literally “EVERYTHING” in an upgrade which took several years to accomplish, to their  meticulous standards. “JEWEL OF THE SEA is easily handled by a short handed crew and her classic lines, equipment, facilities, capabilities, and condition will please the most discriminating buyer.

This exceptionally spacious and well-laid out Scheel center-cockpit, shoal draft, blue water cruiser, is a robust, versatile ketch rig, offering ample live-aboard amenities, both below decks, on the spacious upper deck, and in the large cockpit. Accommodations include a large forward V-berth with removable filler cushion and access to the forward head, essentially making the forward area a completely separate guest cabin. The aft stateroom is “apartment size” and the new owners will be delighted with the separate Master Cabin and head facilities, including a marine head, BATHTUB and shower.

The 6’6” headroom adds significantly to the feeling of spaciousness below. The interior is a skillful blending of traditional craftsmanship and materials, with contemporary space planning and interior design principles. The result is both beautiful and livable; all areas have good natural lighting and ventilation. All the cabin ports are openable and are fitted with screens. The main cabin has large skylights overhead.

“JEWEL OF THE SEA” is a ketch rigged, two stateroom layout with a huge saloon and a walkthrough to the aft cabin. The deck layout and accommodations reflect her intended use as a long range, comfortable cruiser. The cockpit is designed for entertaining family and friends in comfort and safety and there is abundant storage for cruising and for full-time living aboard. She is a solid boat and tough enough to explore coastal cruising areas….. or the world. “JEWEL OF THE SEA” is a perfect liveaboard cruising or dockside yacht! She is seakindly and spacious, and this shoal draft yacht is ABSOLUTELY ONE OF THE NICEST YACHTS OF HER SIZE, ON THE MARKET!!

She has been designed, built and outfitted for Blue water cruising, has been fully restored and upgraded with everything new or renewed, rigging, sails, furling, engine, generator marine a/c, refrigerator, electronics, life raft and the interior, etc. This is a loaded turn-key boat. We have all heard the term “MUST SEE”….“JEWEL OF THE SEA” is TRULY a “MUST HAVE”, if you’ve ever considered owning a beautiful yacht that will take you anywhere in comfort, style and safety.

“JEWEL OF THE SEA” is offered for sale by her present owners, and is a beautiful example of a Henry Scheel designed ketch for heavy offshore and long range cruising. She has been professionally maintained since new and updated by her experienced and knowledgeable owners.   “JEWEL OF THE SEA” with her classic lines and excellent condition, will please the most discriminating buyer.

The center cockpit is huge with ample space for 8 adults. There are numerous opening ports and deck hatches  that have removable custom made covers that ensures good ventilation at anchor. This is a very comfortable boat for a cruising couple and crew. It is hard to beat the spacious layout of this Scheel 45’. Relax, recline and dine in this fabulous center cockpit! Many custom features make this boat a comfortable home. Plenty of storage space for provisioning, and the warm teak woodwork and natural lighting create an inviting living space.

Headroom is 6’6” or better, throughout the boat and storage capacity can only be noted as “incredible”. Beautiful teak joinery throughout and the glossy varnished cabin sole is teak and holly plank. The interior is finished with a satin varnish with high gloss accents on the trim and areas of the interior, such as the main saloon, galley and heads, are finished in the traditional New England style. “JEWEL OF THE SEA” sleeps up to 7 people in accommodations with the forward cabin, main salon and owners Master Stateroom.

Most forward is a large V-Berth with ample storage under the berth. Under the V-Berth Filler cushion, you will find a small upholstered seat with storage under. You will note storage and bookshelves outboard, fishing pole storage, emergency tiller storage  and storage under the berth. There is extensive storage in a starboard Lowboy cabinet with 3-deep drawers and fiddled top. To port is a hanging locker. Next aft to port is the good sized head, accessible from the forward cabin or main saloon, with ensuite shower, opening portlight and weatherproof dorade. There is a locker and drawer under the sink, teak grating underfoot, a large bulkhead mounted mirror, cabinets behind sink countertop area, fresh and saltwater pressure water and a S.S. sink.

Opposite the head is a full length hanging locker with double louvered door for excellent ventilation. Amidships is the main salon which features a beautiful center line GIMBALLED TEAK TABLE….YES, JUST LIKE JOSH SLOCUM’S BOAT, “The Spray”, had a gimbaled table!!! This is a large solid teak table built around the mast and has 2-large leaves to accommodate a group of friends for a sit- down feast.

There are 2 long sized straight settees to port and starboard, with comfortable cushions and side rest-arms. The starboard settee is convertible and pullsd out to a ouble berth. There is extensive storage under, outboard, behind and lots of light with curtained ports and overhead hatch. Also you’ll note full length teak handholds over settees. The salon ceiling has 6 custom built mahogany LED lights that allow for both white and red Aft of the main salon and to starboard, is the classic “wrap around” “U” shape configured, offshore safe galley, that will delight the gourmet, whether at sea or dockside, with three large, deep drawers, outboard of the large stainless steel sink, and two in counter storage areas, outboard of the frig/freezer.

There are multiple storage cabinets with sliding doors, over work surfaces and cup and dish storage racks on aft bulkhead. Over the refer/frig compartment, are more sliding doors with storage behind, a long louvered teak door with storage behind and additional storage shelves over. There is large dry storage bin, large cutting board surface over the top opening large capacity refrigerator area. Additionally, the refrigerator box opens from the front, as well as the top.

The owners installed a state of the art convection stove top and three way electric oven fryer and new microwave, all next to generous counter space. For added safety, all propane tanks were removed as unnecessary given the modern electric fixtures.

Over the galley is a large opening hatch for light and ventilation, also, there is a large port over the stove area for added light. The galley is U-shaped and features all the equipment needed to make great meals at sea, winning the honor of being more a kitchen, then galley. Directly across from the galley, to port, and down one step, is a proper offshore, forward facing navigation station and chart table with tremendous room for an exceptional compliment of navigation and electronic equipment for easy use while navigating. Again, we change from nautical terms here…this is truly an office, the ships command center.

The large forward facing nav table/desk has a generous storage locker under the desk top and room for the additional electronic navigation and communication equipment outboard. The nav seat is a round turning seat for ease of use underway. The forward desk is flat, good for computer equipment and the rear desk is slanted, good for plotting a course and reading essential ships manuals.

Overhead is a large port for light and grabrails for safety. Decorating the interior is a rare Abaco Half hull model built by the Pinder family and a beautiful Weems and Plath chronometer and weather station. After 50 years of yacht brokerage, I can honestly say I’ve never seen such an efficient, usable and large navigation area on a yacht of this size.

The walkthrough to the aft stateroom is worth some conversation here, unlike walkthroughs on most center cockpit yachts. Directly behind the chart table, is a large full sized locker. To starboard, the owner has installed a work bench and shop area with a long countertop for a work station. Above are a series of cleverly incorporated clear plexi covered storage compartments for ships parts and pieces.

Under the lid there is storage for navigation books and on the front surface under the lid…(LOOK AT THE PHOTOS CLOSELY, REMEMBERING THAT A PICTURE IS WORTH 1,000 WORDS), There is clever storage for charts without having to fold them into small documents. To port in the walkthrough, you will find engine room access, with easy access to the large, and almost walk around engine room, and also the “electrical room”, where all ships indicators are neatly mounted and marked. A little further aft and outboard is yet another full length locker with fiddled storage over. All fuses and over 500 yards of wiring were removed and meticulously replaced to ABYC standards.

The master cabin is further aft and offers a huge amount of storage starting with a full length hanging locker to port (outboard) with double louvered sections for thorough air ventilation. Next aft is a teak lowboy with 4 large drawers and storage over, with a fiddled top. Next is the Captains berth followed with an athwartship teak dresser with EIGHT LARGE DRAWERS and a fiddled top for storage. Outboard on the starboard side is yet another berth, with drawers and storage under. Many cruisers enjoy reading late at night, when their companion is sleeping and this second aft stateroom berth is excellent for that use, for having sleeping options depending on your long-term tack and if you have small children or grandchildren aboard.

This broker sailed from Hawaii to Canada years ago and spent 15 days of the 19 day voyage on ONE TACK. Such sleeping arrangements would have been a welcome respite!!! Just forward of the starboard outboard berth in the Masters Suite, is the private Master head. This is an incredible room and as you enter, and above in large lockers and a lowboy with storage under.

Directly across is a large round stainless steel sink with storage under. Also there is a large dry storage area with top opening lid, perfect for a laundry hamper. Just forward of the head and sink is a BATHTUB, with shower and also, additional double door access to the engine room.

The head and aft stateroom also have excellent ventilation provided by opening ports and an opening hatch overhead. There are 6 opening portlights,  and 5 Stainless Steel opening deck hatches with custom made removeable sun screens, to keep the boat cool , plus the companionway hatch, plus 5 Stainless Steel Hood Oval style dorades, all with Stainless Steel guards, all of which provide a tremendous amount of light and superior cross ventilation. Below deck ventilation far surpasses the standards in the industry. There are custom made louvres on all salon windows that allow for blacking out the light and for privacy at night, or allowing daylight  to flood the cabin.

GENERAL INFORMATION(ADDITIONAL SALESMANS COMMENT OTHER FEATURES & REMARKS)

““JEWEL OF THE SEA” is equipped for bluewater passagemaking, and is a highly customized yacht, that is kept up to present day standards. Her loving owners has decided to place this beautiful yacht on the brokerage market for her next discriminating owner.

She is a rare find, owned by experienced sailors. All manuals, warranties and original brochures are maintained aboard and will be passed on to her new owner. “JEWEL OF THE SEA” has been thoughtfully and expertly designed by the “best in the industry”, combining current technology for both comfort and speed. This results in a deck layout that would do justice to a Gran Prix yacht, an interior with accommodations that are consistent with extended, liveaboard, bluewater sailing, a standard of quality and luxury that those familiar with the highest quality cruising yachts, will readily acknowledge. Would-be buyers outnumber sellers, so if you are looking for a phenomenal yacht…. MOVE QUICKLY!” “JEWEL OF THE SEA” is a rare find and is well known by STANLEY DABNEY of Offshore Atlantic Yachts who is the listing broker and one of the original founders of VALIANT YACHTS! CALL HIM TODAY FOR MORE DETAILS.