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Pearson 424 Cutter Ketch, 1978 Extensively modified & upgraded for live-aboard cruising, 2007-2017

$84,500  $79,500 Green Cove Springs, FL .. *pricing details

Boat Name: Length:  Engine: Location: Hull Material:

Silverheels 42' 4” Yanmar 4JHE 54hp diesel, 1900 hrs. Green Cove Springs, FL Fiberglass

Contact ---------- Tor Pinney (305) 767-4045 owner@silverheels.us

 

“The savvy boat shopper dreams of finding one for sale by a retired professional sailor with a lifetime of experience and nothing better to do than pour an absurd amount of time, money, labor and love into his personal dreamboat for the past 10 years. Silverheels is one of those rare finds, an uncommonly well-conceived, professionally upgraded live-aboard cruising sailboat, full of common sense improvements and smart innovations.” This well-known Pearson 424 has appeared repeatedly in SAIL, Cruising World and Blue Water Sailing magazines during the past decade, featured in stories of her cruising adventures and in articles illustrating some of the scores of upgrades, many unique, made to her by her owner/captain, Tor Pinney, author of “Ready for Sea! How to Outfit the Modern Cruising Sailboat” (Sheridan House). Between 2007 and the present, Tor has upgraded or replaced all of Silverheels’ systems and most of her equipment, tricking her out for long-term liveaboard cruising, sometimes in creative ways. Check out the refit list. It is extraordinary.

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The Pearson 424 is a modern American classic with many circumnavigations and countless ocean passages logged. Safe, seaworthy, spacious, seakindly, comfortable, fast, dry and easily single-handed, with a cockpit that seats 8 adults comfortably! So far, Silverheels has only cruised throughout the Caribbean, but she is ready to go anywhere her next skipper wants to take her.

 

Specifications

LOD: LWL: Beam: Draft: Displacement: Ballast: Mast Clearance: Sail Area: Wetted Surface: Headroom: Cockpit Headroom:

42'4” 33’8” 13' 5'3" (waterline raised to 5'6" for cruising) 23,000 lbs. 7,634 lbs. lead 48’10” 723 sq. ft. 372 sq. ft. 6 ft. 6 in. 5'10" (can be increased)

Designer: Builder: Model: Year: Construction: Rig: Keel: Hull Number: Documented:

William Shaw Pearson Yachts ~ Bristol, Rhode Island, USA 424 1978 Fiberglass Cutter-rigged Ketch Modified long fin w/ skeg-hung rudder 17 (of around 225) Bristol, Rhode Island, USA

 

"The Pearson 424 ~ a modern American classic"

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Silverheels

Silverheels spent her first 15 years on the Great Lakes, pampered with fresh water, short seasons and light usage. Her 2nd owner brought her to Florida, took her over to the Bahamas & back once, but otherwise never cruised her. The present, 3rd owner bought her (instead of some other Pearson 424) because she was structurally like a boat less than half her age, worthy of the time and money he intended to invest in her. That was Christmas, 2006. Since then, Silverheels has been continually renovated, upgraded, modified and outfitted for long-term liveaboard cruising by Tor Pinney, lifelong cruiser and sailing writer, author of the book, "Ready for Sea! - How to Outfit the Modern Cruising Sailboat," and scores of articles in Cruising World, SAIL, Blue Water Sailing and most other boating magazines worldwide. During the past 10 years, Silverheels has been featured in dozens of articles illustrating some of the many innovative improvements made to her.

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Captain Pinney converted this legendary Bill Shaw designed, Pearson-built classic into his ideal live-aboard cruising sailboat based on 150,000 nautical miles logged under sail during a lifetime at sea. Silverheels is truly something special. Here are just a few of the scores of modifications that make this unique Pearson 424 stand out even among her illustrious sister ships:

 

• Thru-hulls reduced from factory-original 18 down to 9 (4 below-waterline) (not standard on Pearson 424's)

• Deep, self-draining, divided chain locker (not standard on Pearson 424's)

• Removable chain locker divider for maintenance access (not standard on Pearson 424's, featured in SAIL magazine, October 2013)

• Back-plated stemhead eyebolt for optimum anchor chain snubber deployment (2008, not standard on Pearson 424's, featured in SAIL magazine, January 2014)

• Structurally reinforced forepeak and foredeck (2008/2013, not standard on Pearson 424's)

• Extra fiberglass laid-up on aft keel shoe (2014, not standard on Pearson 424's, but should’ve been)

• Custom, double-insulated fridge box (2009, not standard on Pearson 424's)

• Staysail (reef-able to storm jib) including removable inner forestay, running backstays, sheet blocks & fairleads, halyard & sheet winches and reinforced foredeck (2012, not standard on Pearson 424 ketch's)

• A real workbench in the forward cabin with a vise and large, deep tool storage underneath (instead of Pearson's standard vanity & inane 4th sink)

• Main cockpit sheet winches repositioned aft to vastly improve cockpit/side-deck passage and to enable the helmsman to tack the boat single-handed (2007; incredibly, not standard on Pearson 424's)

• Double backstays (2007, instead of the standard split backstay)

• All standing rigging UPSIZED w/ Sta-Lok lower terminals (2007, not standard on Pearson 424's)

• Low-hours, pampered Yanmar diesel engine w/ 105-amp custom-marinized Decca alternator & smart regulator (2007, not standard on Pearson 424's)

• Mast stirrup steps to the main masthead (not standard on Pearson 424's)

• New Schaefer 3100 genoa roller furling system (2015, featured aboard Silverheels in Cruising World magazine, February 2016)

• All new mast wiring (2007)

• New plumbing (2008)

• Custom dodger and bimini hardtops (2015, featured on Silverheels in Cruising World magazine, October 2015; definitely not standard on Pearson 424's)

• Custom foredeck and main deck rain-catcher awnings

• Custom, double-vented stainless steel holding tank w/ deck pump-out and overboard discharge (not standard on Pearson 424's)

• "Shaft-Lok" propeller shaft locking device, prevents freewheeling (2014, not standard on Pearson 424's)

• Dickenson Newport diesel cabin heater w/ independent, gravity-feed fuel tank (not standard on Pearson 424's)

• Custom seawater intake manifold, reduces thru-hulls by half (2013, featured in SAIL magazine, March 2014, not standard on Pearson 424's)

• Super-deep bilge sump, painted white for cleanliness and trouble-spotting

• High bilge water alarm (2009, not standard on Pearson 424's)

• Large custom storage locker outboard of shower stall (not standard on Pearson 424's)

• Organized lazarette rope hanging locker (not standard on Pearson 424's)

• Stern anchor chain locker (not standard on Pearson 424's)

• All kinds of spares, from bulbs & blocks to fan belts & filters; even a spare cutlass bearing!

• Custom-made stainless steel latches on flatscreen and aft cabin drawers

• Owner and/or Shop Manuals for everything, plus some of the most complete outfitting and provisioning master lists on the seven seas.

This is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. Read on! Silverheels is loaded with liveaboard cruising extras, common, uncommon and unique.

 

 

Mechanical

• Yanmar 4JHE 54 HP diesel engine, new 2007
  1900 hours, oil & filter changed every 250 hours
  Average Fuel Consumption: 0.6 gph overall, cruising

• Twin Raycor fuel filters

• Kidde Fyre Watch model 170 engine compartment automatic halon fire extinguisher

• Paragon transmission, complete shop rebuild in 2007

• Walter RV-20V Drive, 2:1 reduction, factory rebuilt in 2012

• Fixed 3-blade bronze propeller, 20LH11 (20" dia., left-hand, 11" pitch)

• Prop Shaft: 1½" bronze

• PSS dripless shaft seal

• Shaft-Lok prop shaft locking device (2013)

Tankage

• Diesel:         80 gallons + 30 gal. in deck jugs

• Water:         170 gallons in 3 tanks + (2) 5-gallon deck jugs

• Holding:       28 gallons, double-vented, w/ deck and overboard pump-outs

• Propane:      (1) jumbo 20-pounder + (2) 6-lb tanks also pre-connected

• Fire:              (3) fire extinguishers, inspected/re-certified January 2017

Plumbing

• Thru-hulls reduced from factory-original 18 (!!) down to 9, just 4 of those below-waterline (2007, not standard on Pearson 424's)

• Seacocks last removed/serviced 2014

• All new hoses & fittings (2008)

• Large primary freshwater filter

• Double secondary drinking water filters

• ShurFlo 45 psi, 4 gpm water pressure pump (2017)

• Hot/Cold pressure water at deep twin stainless steel galley sinks, head sink, and separate shower stall

• Pur PowerSurvivor 40-E 12-volt watermaker wired & plumbed, but requires a factory re-build. Currently boxed up & ready to ship.

• Rule 3700 electric bilge pump & float switch (2016)

• Henderson double-stroke manual bilge pump that's probably ready for another rebuild

• Raritan PH-II manual marine toilet w/ extended handle (2008/2017)

• ShurFlo 2.8 gpm shower sump pump (2016) w/ ShurFlo pre-filter

• Groco ARG 1000 seawater filter for engine raw water intake

• Perko 483 raw water filter for seawater manifold (2013)

• Custom raw water manifold (2013) reduces thru-hulls by half (featured in SAIL magazine, March 2014)

• Pro Blaster 4.0 GPM foredeck wash-down pump w/ ShurFlo pre-filter (2008)

• Portable hand-pressurized 3-gallon sun-shower can (featured in SAIL magazine, January 2014)

• Garboard drain plug for dry-dock storage (2011, featured in SAIL magazine, 2015)

 
Galley

• Adler Barbour 12V Super Cold Machine, top loading refrigerator w/ freezer box (new 2015)

• Fridge box completely rebuilt with double insulation (2009)

• Hillrange 3-burner propane stove w/ oven, stainless steel safety bar

• Magic Chef microwave oven (2015)

• Deep double S/S sinks w/ pressure hot/cold water

• Separate triple-filtered drinking water tap

• Lots of deep cabinets, drawers & lockers

• Hidden (hinged) trash bin

Navigation & Electronics

• Edson binnacle w/ 33” stainless steel wheel

• Emergency tiller

• Teleflex Riviera 5" binnacle compass w/ nightlight

• (2) small bulkhead-mounted compasses in aft cabin

• Davis hand-bearing compass

• CPT Autopilot, factory refurbished in 2017, spare belts

• Raymarine ST1000+ tillerpilot-to-windvane backup autopilot (2011) (featured in Blue Water Sailing magazine, April 2011, and in SAIL magazine, July 2011)

• Datamarine depth sounder (ancient*, needs replacing)

• Interphase Twinscope forward-scanning sonar (ancient*, needs replacing)

• Magellan GPS (ancient*, needs replacing)

• Apelco DXL 6500 Loran C Navigator (Don’t laugh! If the GPS system ever fails this could be a godsend.)

• Stereo cockpit speakers (2007)

• Pioneer stereo speakers mounted on salon forward bulkhead

• Bluetooth stereo speakers & sub-woofer in salon (2014)

• 17” flatscreen w/ custom hinge & latches (2007)

• Furuno 1623 16-mile radar (2007, cable plug needs re-soldering), w/ custom, 3-position bulkhead swivel mount and alarm booster

• AIS, Em-Trak B100 Class B Transceiver, send/receive, w/ dedicated VHF & GPS antennas (2015)

• Uniden full-function VHF radio (2015)

• Teak, full-chart-size navigation table

• Flexible-stalk halogen chart table light

• Seth Thomas clock and barometer set

• Abbeaon certified hygrometer

• EPIRB, AquaFix 406 GPS

• ICOM IC-706 Mk II SSB/HAM radio, copper strap counterpoise, and automatic tuner (2009) w/ Sta-Lok backstay isolator for tunable antenna, AND an 18” Dynaplate SSB grounding plate (2015)

• MicroTik wifi bullet & antenna, shroud-mounted at main spreaders for awesome Internet connectivity; up to 2 miles! (2015)

• D-Link router provides wifi throughout the boat (2015)

• VHF antenna at main masthead, new in 2015

• Available for downloading: Capn 6 Software, which (unlike newer versions) can read almost any digital chart format. Also, digital charts of the US, Caribbean, Central America and more.

Electrical

• Batteries:  Lifeline true deep cycle sealed AGM’s (the best!),
  all new in November 2015:
  (5) Lifeline GPL-31XT 12v, 125 ah
  (1) Lifeline GPL-27T 12v, 100 ah engine starter
  (1) Lifeline GPL-27T 12v, 100 ah for the windlass

• 350A compact battery switch, 4-position with alternator field disconnect

• Xantrex TrueCharge2 60-amp battery charger (2010)

• PROwatt Sine Wave 2000 power inverter w/ battery monitor (2014)

• 175W solar panel, swivel-mounted on the davits (2012)

• Blue Sky Solar Boost 1524iX 20-amp photovoltaic charge controller (2016)

• Air-X Marine 400-watt wind generator, mizzen mast-mounted on custom stainless steel swivel mount, w/shunt & amp meter and shut-down switch (2008/2010)

• 105-amp shop-marinized Decca alternator (2007)

• Xantrex XAR digital alternator regulator (2007)

• All new wiring in main and mizzen masts (2008)

• New interior wiring throughout (2007-2012)

• New shore power cord (2016) and several pigtail adapters

• Mostly LED bulb interior lights (2015, not standard)

• LED masthead tri-color + anchor light

• Super-bright spreader spotlights (2009, not standard)

• Mid-mast steaming light

• Bow pulpit running lights (2009, not standard)

• Stern light mounted on mizzen masthead, to avoid glare aft at night (2009, not standard)

• LG dockside overhead-hatch air conditioner (2017) w/ reusable installation panels

Hull & Deck

• Fresh bottom paint in November 2017

• Keel shoe, aft section (the P424's Achilles Heel), reinforced with additional layers of mat & roving (2014)

• Bottom professionally stripped & epoxy barrier-coated (2014)

• Stemhead eyebolt for optimum anchor chain snubber deployment (featured in SAIL magazine, December 2013)

• Ground Tackle (2009)
  - 66-lb. Manta anchor w/ 150’ 3/8” grade 40 hot dip galvanized high test  chain + 100’ 5/8” 3-strand nylon line, w/ color-coded chain markers (featured in SAIL magazine, January 2015)
  - 45-lb. CQR w/ 50’ 3/8” grade 40 hot dip galvanized high test chain + 200’ 5/8” 3-strand nylon line
  - extra 200’ brand new 3-strand nylon anchor line in reserve
  - 25-lb. Deepset T2500 (Danforth knock-off) stern anchor
    w/ 25’ 5/16” chain + 100’ of 1/2” 3-strand nylon line like new

• Lofrans’ Project 1500 vertical electric windlass (2009) w/ spare foot switch & rebuild kit, w/ dedicated Lifeline GPL-27T 12v 100 ah AGM battery under V-berth

• Solid, massively reinforced foredeck over a deep, divided, double chain locker, custom-built in 2008 (featured in SAIL magazine, October 2013)

• Chain locker anti-pyramid rod w/ foredeck access fitting (featured in SAIL magazine, February 2014)

• Double bow anchor rollers on stainless steel extensions, angles re-set for the vertical windlass

• Custom removable access plate to area beneath bow rollers

• Deck wash-down deck fitting

• Custom side roller for handling #2 bow anchor (featured in SAIL magazine [scroll down], January 2014)

• Stainless steel cabin heater chimney w/ custom guard rails

• Custom, shop-fabricated stainless steel mast pulpits (featured in SAIL magazine, September 2014), a must have for offshore sailing!

• New hatch gaskets in all overhead hatches (2012)

• New tinted Lexan in all overhead hatches (2015)

• Hatch springs on forward and galley overhead hatches (2014)

• Solar vent (2008)

• Removed the guaranteed-to-leak coach house teak brow and replaced it w/ a clean, painted brow stripe

• (4) covered fenders, 8’ fender board

• (4) boathooks (2 telescoping)

• Side deck jack lines, stowable

• Switlik 6-man offshore life raft w/solar watermaker & deck-mounted stainless steel cradle, Hammar automatic release (featured in Blue Water Sailing magazine, June 2010), + survival ditch bag ready belowdecks (featured in Cruising Helmsman magazine, January 2012)

• Stainless steel dorade above the head

• Cockpit box/table is the 20-lb LPG tank compartment

• Self-draining quarter-locker w/ (2) spare, connected propane tanks

• Throwable horseshoe floatation

• Life Sling system

• (6) adult life jackets, 3 children’s life jackets

• Outboard motor rail rack & mizzen boom lift/launch system

• Custom stainless steel davits

• Stern anchor chain locker

• Custom double-hinged transom swim ladder

• Auto-Helm windvane (2009/2015)

• Lazarette: Customized w/ hanging rope locker full of neat coils of new and good condition lines of various sizes & purposes, plus bins & hanger hooks for smaller lines and dock lines. Also, custom shelf for custom stern anchor rode container, and 2-section, perforated, painted marine ply bulkhead w/ Lexan viewing window, removable for access to steering quadrant & cables (which have been regularly inspected and serviced) and the rudder post stuffing box (which has been re-packed and adjusted).

Canvas

• Foredeck rain-catcher (featured in SAIL magazine, February 2014)

• Main-boom-length deck awning / rain catcher w/ sectional (stowable) PVC battens

• Custom hard-top spray dodger, new Strataglass in 2016

• Custom hard-top bimini w/ sliding and zippered hatches and sail view windows w/ shade covers (featured in Cruising World magazine, October 2015)

• Removable Sunbrella connector between dodger & bimini, with windows & shade covers (2016)

• Reversible weather cloth (featured in SAIL magazine, March 2014)

• Closed-cell foam & Sunbrella all-around cockpit cushions + throwable squares

• Windscoop (new)

• Parachute-type sea anchor

• Indoor hatch & companionway screens all around
   

Sails

• New sails made by The Irish Sail Lady, St. Augustine (2014)
  - 130% roller-furling genoa
  - staysail/storm-jib
  - fully-battened mainsail
  - fully-battened mizzen sail

• Custom foredeck staysail bag (staysail can remain hanked-on)

• Sunbrella sail covers, serviceable (2007)

• Mizzen staysail & sail bag, serviceable

• Spare genoa, serviceable

Rigging

• All new, all upsized 1x19 stainless steel rigging wire, turnbuckles & clevis pins, main & mizzen (2008)

• Sta-Lok rigging terminals alow, swage fittings aloft (per rigger's recommendation)

• All new chain plates (2015)

• Schaefer 3100 genoa roller furling system, new in 2015 (featured in Cruising World magazine, February 2016)

• Wire halyard & wire winch for genoa only (2013)

• Massively strong, keel-stepped aluminum mainmast

• Stirrup steps to the main masthead

• Winch handle holster

• Wincher self-tailers on main & mizzen halyard winches

• Re-primed/re-painted mast steps, mainmast & mizzen (2007)

• New mainmast boot (2011)

• Telescoping whisker pole, 3” diameter + mainmast mounts and hoisting track & tackle (stows on forward side of mainmast)

• Stayset-X halyards (2008)

• Spinnaker halyard tang & block aloft

• Flag halyards, port & starboard w/ shroud cleats

• Radar reflector

• Custom mainsail lazy jacks (Don't leave port without 'em!)

• Mainsheet traveler, refurbished (2010)

• Custom staysail installation (2013)
  - Substantially reinforced foredeck
  - Removable inner forestay
  - Heavy duty mast collar & fittings
  - Running backstays
  - Custom halyard winch mount

• Double main backstays (instead of the standard split backstay)

• Sta-Lok backstay isolator for SSB tunable antenna

• Lewmar 48 self-tailing primary sheet winches, custom relocation

• Sleeved lifelines w/ port & starboard double boarding gates (2008)

 

Cosmetics

	Seller’s Comments: Silverheels is a clean, handsome, well-maintained seagoing vessel that any cruising sailor can feel proud to own. However, prospective buyers should not come expecting a yacht club show boat. For example, I don’t varnish. Exterior teak is naturally grey, and I’ve always preferred that traditional look. I've cleaned and oiled Silverheels’ teak every 6 months since I’ve had the boat, so the wood is at least as healthy as it was when I got her, but a couple of weeks after oiling, teak returns to its natural grey color. Another owner might prefer to varnish or paint it, a matter of taste and priorities.
Belowdecks, Silverheels is very clean. Even the deep bilge sump is painted white and the ½” of water in it is perfectly clear. The engine is likewise white-glove clean, the interior teak is oiled regularly, and the head doesn’t smell. That’s just the way I keep a boat. On the less lovely side, the portlight lens tinting is overdue to be renewed, and a new owner might (or might not) choose to reupholster the settee cushions. They're serviceable, with easy-to-clean Sunbrella slip covers, but the natural cotton duck base fabric shows dirt and can be a challenge to keep spotlessly clean. (I just preferred a light, bright interior.)

 

Accommodations Seller’s Comments: Silverheels’ interior teak was wood-stained dark, probably as an original factory option. When I bought her, the interior cushions were covered in a very dark blue fabric, and many flat surfaces belowdecks were factory-finished with a hideous mustard-color Formica, a Pearson favorite at that time. The combination made the interior dark and depressingly uninviting, so I set out to lighten it. I scrubbed and bleached the teak, which helped a little. Natural cotton duck cushion covers added light and warmth, but turned out to be an impractical fabric that I’ve improved upon somewhat with easy-to-clean, ivory-white Sunbrella slip covers. I also painted many of the flat interior surfaces a warm off-white.

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This, offset by ample natural teak trim, cabinet doors and bulkheads, creates a bright yet cozy, comfortably traditional interior. Many Herreshoff yachts were done this way, and Pearson’s clean New England joiner work welcomes the offsetting contrast. (Silverheels was built just a couple of miles from the Herreshoff museum in Bristol, Rhode Island.)

The teak & holly cabin sole is genuine ¼” planking over high-grade marine plywood. And for live-aboard cruisers, there are lots & lots of deep storage lockers throughout the boat.

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Forward Stateroom – Large V-berth with Hella turbo fan & reading lights, shelves above and deep storage bins underneath, large hanging locker & dressing seat, drawers and cabinetry, custom work bench with vice, substantial tool storage compartments and drawers outboard and beneath. The Pearson 424’s forepeak hull sides are notoriously flexible, one of two design/construction shortfalls in these otherwise superb vessels. So Silverheels’ foredeck and tabbed shelf stringers have been substantially strengthened, mechanically bonded to the fore & aft structural bulkheads with custom designed & fabricated, thru-bolted stainless steel brackets, which have proven their mettle across many thousands of ocean miles.

Salon - Centerline dropleaf table abaft the keel-stepped mainmast. The starboard leaf has been divided, the halves individually hinged to create an unobtrusive “desk” in port. Long facing settees port & starboard pull out to double berths, w/ deep storage lockers and shelves outboard. Ample lighting. Mounted on the starboard forward bulkhead; ship’s clock, Hella turbo fan and Dickenson Newport diesel cabin heater w/ gravity-feed tank. Bluetooth stereo speakers & sub-woofer, 17” flatscreen on a custom hinge, handsome Naugahyde mainmast sleeve, gimbaled kerosene lamp, and other amenities.

Galley – To port and aft in the salon, Silverheels features the coveted, spacious L-shaped galley (!) with deep drawers, ample cabinets and a teak cup rack. Hansom Dutch tiles flank deep, double stainless steel sinks. The Hillrange 3-burner stainless steel stove/oven boasts new burners & hoses (2012), and the refrigerator box has been substantially re-insulated. (The Pearson 424’s standard fridge box was very under-insulated.)

Opposite – Aft to starboard, a 2^nd large hanging locker and shelves, and the distinctive, surprisingly useful Pearson 424 mid-ship salon companionway, ideally positioned for quick access to the side deck & foredeck, and for bringing bulk provisions directly into the galley. This “extra” companionway also lets in lots of fresh air and light, and enables crew to come and go without passing through the captain’s cabin aft. You quickly learn to love it.

Head - Abaft the starboard side mid-ship companionway, the roomy head compartment boasts a Raritan marine toilet (new in 2007) and a separate, full-size shower stall (new faucets in 2015) with a dorade overhead and a large Bomar opening porthole providing excellent ventilation. Large, custom storage locker outboard, counter & stainless steel sink w/ hot/cold faucets, shelves, cabinets, and another jumbo under-counter storage bin.

Aft Stateroom - Spacious queen-size Pullman berth to port with custom-made and hinged Riverside spring mattress (new in 2015), a Bomar opening screened porthole, and lots of bins, shelves, deep drawers & cabinets.

Navigation Station - To starboard, a full-chart-size teak navigation table w/ ample chart storage beneath the hinged lid. Flexible-stalk halogen map light, breaker panels and deep shelf above, and drawers beneath. An additional bulkhead multi-cabinet is just forward. A Hella turbo fan and a large, deep, shelved storage locker are abaft the table.

Engine Compartment – Removable engine compartment lid and box. The customized back panel is cut & hinged for quick access (not standard on Pearson 424’s) and supports a handy, removable teak basket-rack. The centerline companionway leads to the cockpit.

Cockpit – One of the Pearson 424’s most outstanding features is the generous cockpit, which comfortably seats 6 or 8 adults for socializing. On Silverheels, a large, custom box table sits between the mizzen mast and the Edson steering pedestal, housing a jumbo 20-lb. propane tank. Lewmar 48 self-tailing primary sheet winches have been relocated aft to enable single-handed tacking and also permit safe passage to and from the side decks (which the factory-standard positioning emphatically does not). Two additional 6-lb LPG tanks, hooked up and ready to use, are in a sealed locker beneath the port aft corner of the cockpit seats.

Dodger/Bimini – Silverheels’ unique hardtop spray dodger and bimini tops were featured in the October 2015 issue of Cruising World magazine. The envy of the fleet, these custom, maintenance-free additions look great and will last indefinitely. Two custom sliding hatches and two custom zippered hatches in the bimini top give access to the mizzen boom for furling and reefing. There’s a Sunbrella connector piece, new in 2015. The dodger Strataglass was replaced new in 2016.

Pricing

Seller’s Comments: There are lots of Pearson 424’s on the market in the $60,000 to $70,000 price range, and even less. A conscientious buyer would do well to inspect as many of them as possible before considering Silverheels. Then review the information presented here. If you don't see the additional value in this boat - or if you just prefer working on boats rather than cruising them - then by all means buy the cheaper boat. That's what I originally did, and I kind of enjoyed those 4 years in the boat yard and the ±7,500 man-hours I've put into renovating & outfitting this good old ketch (at the probable net pay rate of minus 6¢ an hour). Nor do I regret a penny of the additional $100,000 I’ve put into the boat since originally buying her “for a great price” 10 years ago. That's because when I add up my real time value, even at a very modest $20/hour, plus materials, I actually got to go cruising on a $300,000 Pearson 424!

Seriously, if you want to rebuild a boat and you have unlimited time, money and patience for the project, buy the "cheap" one. But if you want to go cruising… There is only one Silverheels and she's only available to one appreciative new owner. Thanks for looking.

Reef early,

Tor Pinney, author of “Ready for Sea! ~ How to Outfit the Modern Cruising Sailboat” (Sheridan House)
 

Contact

phone: (305) 767-4045
email:  owner@silverheels.us

 

Exclusions

Items not listed above are not included in the sale of this vessel, including but not limited to: personal gear, tools, clothing, paintings, photos, molas and other souvenirs, the small portable boombox, laptops & accessories, etc.
 

Disclaimer

Details of this vessel are offered in good faith, but the accuracy of this information and the condition of the vessel are not guaranteed or warranted. While efforts are made to keep this listing up to date, information provided at the time of listing is subject to change.  A prospective buyer should instruct his or her agents and/or surveyors to investigate such details as the buyer desires validated. This vessel is offered subject to prior sale, price change, or withdrawal without notice.

 

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