MeraLee
Picture of MeraLee in the boatyard, freshly painted
Atkins design cutter rig sloop - customized Atkins design diagram
Atkin Thistle floor plan - basic design, ours is slightly different
Thistle Hull Design - keel/rudder design
MeraLee is a 32' Atkin Thistle ferrocement double-ender. She has a heavy displacement hull with an 11' beam and is therefore slow, sea kindly, and relatively comfortable for a small sailboat.
Power:
MeraLee has a 30 horsepower Volvo Penta inboard diesel engine, new in 1999, now with about 900 hours of use. We have three solar panels that charge a bank of three batteries, we plan to purchace an Air-X wind generator in the near future, and have a 1000KW Kipor gasoline generator as back-up.
MeraLee was designed and built for safe offshore cruising and is very seaworthy, with a recent Survey. Her portholes and cockpit are small, reducing the risk of taking on water, The utmost attention has been given to safety. She is equipped with 1 1/2" stainless steel stanctions, three rows of lifelines, lifeline netting, an EPIRB, two mounted VHF radios and two handheld VHF radios, single sideband radio with modem for long distance communication/receiving weather faxes, and a 6 person liferaft. Jacklines, harnesses, and tethers are handy for going forward in rough weather. Sanded, non-skid flush deck.
Navigation aids include two handheld GPSs, red light lit nav station, radar, radar detector, radar refelctor, an auto pilot, and an assortment of charts and guidebooks. The Sailomat a wind steering vane prevents fatique and helps avoid accidental jibes.
MeraLee has passed a Coast Guard inspection, and has a complete array of safety equipment including current flares, a flare gun, two fire extinguishers, an assortment of PFDs, a power horn, and an air horn. Several strobe and whistle combos are available for use suring all night watches.
The cutter rigging, large sail inventory, and soon-to-be-installed roller reefing allow a large variety in sail configurations with minimum effort. Lazy jacks and jiffy reefing make for safer sail handling. The boom is short and barely extends into the cockpit area, reducing the risk of being hit in the head. There is a good assortment of ground tackle with ample chain and rode.
The boat is equipped with rattlins, mast steps, and a bo'sun chair should the need arise to go aloft. There are also smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, as well as a bilge water alarm for added safety. This vessel is crewed by two EMT trained registered nurses and carries extensive first aid and emergency medical kits.
Comfort features:
Foam insulated and cedar-strip lined cabin, electric windlass for ease in weighing anchor.
Windsock, hatch netting, folding table, dodger, bimini, 12 volt fans, 11' beam, full keel and heavy displacement hull minimize heeling, makeshift shower, marine head, cushions with memory foam, feather pillows,
V-berth has a door for privacy.
