DE32 Gracie Emmett Boat Profiles Forums

Most of these interior photos were take during the 2010 season. Our emphasis has always been on simplicity, structural integrity and

environmentally friendly products/systems. For those who may be chemically sensitive, we use lemon oil for the interior finish. The

interior lights above the navigation station and galley are LED red/white. In addition to the interior AC outlets throughout the boat,

we have installed DC outlets at the chart table, galley, vee berth, and on deck.

The conventional flush toilet was replaced with a USCG approved SunMar dry composting head. The water pressure is a manual foot

pump. (For those wanting conventional plumbing, re-conversion will not be difficult. All of the seacocks, bulkhead cutouts, pumps,

deck plates, etc. are still in place. Even the molded platform for the marine head has not been altered, in the event that a future owner

may want to convert back to a flush head. However, the dry composting toilet’s installation would be improved if the molded head

platform were removed.)

A recent marine surveyor’s remarks: “GRACIE EMMETT was an attractive example of a cruising classic, a mixture of significant upgrades,

and relatively Spartan cruising amenities by owner choice. Her sail inventory, rig including bowsprit, ground tackle, and dewatering capacity

were of a high order…The rig was well-cared for and the beneficiary of significant maintenance and upgrades…The vessel was in above-average

condition for her type and vintage…The accommodation space wood work and upholstery was in excellent condition, reflecting significant

recent work.”

The mid-boom main sheet on Gracie Emmett was completely upgraded in 2007. The new main sheet configuration allows the main to be

self-tacking, along with the stay sail, while beating windward. When the boat is running or on a broad reach the leeward sheet acts as a

boom preventer. There is another bail attachment point on the boom 18” forward where 4:1 boom preventer/vang blocks are set on

both starboard and port side rails. These act in tandem with the main sheet to adjust sail shape and spread the load on the boom and

are set as wind conditions dictate.

The main sheet is served by two Harken 32.2 two speed, self-tailing winches that are backplated with 1/8” aluminum plates. The main

sheet lines are each 50’ of ½” StaSet X. The ½” line is easier on the hands. All of the blocks and winches were recommended by a

professional rigger and are oversized for offshore sailing. The estimate cost for the main sheet gear (not including preventer) is

approximately $3,000 – $4,000, depending on winch style and finish.

Main Sheet Specs

• (2)  ½” Sta-Set lines, 50’  (9,600# breaking strength) ($1.99/ 100 LF = $200)
•  (2)  Schaefer Fiddle Block with becket (Model 705-55)  2 3/8” sheave (2,250 safe working load) takes up to a 9/16” line. ($115/each = $330)
• 7 Series Fiddle Block with Becket Fiddle Block with Stainless Steel Cheeks and Becket.

 Features: Universal Head design may be locked in place or allowed to swivel. Delrin sheave maintains strength and low-friction. For boats to 34'.

Combine with 705-45 for a 4:1Purchase.

Specifications: Sheave Dia. 2-3/8" (60mm) Thickness 1-3/32" (28mm) Width 3-31/32" (101mm)

Length 8-25/32" (223mm) SWL 2250 lbs. (1020kg) Weight 1lb 5oz (595g) Max Line: 1/2" (13mm

•  (2) Schaefer Double Block  with univ. head(Model 504-25) 2” sheave (1,750 safe working load) takes up to a ½” line. ($92/each = $184)

Double aluminum block with high strength head. High-strength head retains three-way locking feature. Use with #747-08 duraratchet for complete

mainsheet or vang control. Use with 5 series adapters for custom applications. Length: 5 1/16" Width: 2 1/8" T: 1 21/32" Weight: 8.3 oz.

5 Series blocks offer small to medium sized racing and cruising yachts an extremely high strength to weight ratio and oversized sheet capacity.

They are true workhorse blocks and will provide years of trouble-free service. Versatile head design has a three-way, built-in locking feature and

accepts multiple universal adapters for custom mounting Choose between brilliant stainless steel or tough, hardcoat anodized aluminum cheeks with

UV protected Delrin sheaves or Delrin ball bearing sheaves  Sheave diameter: 2 Pin diameter: 1/4  SWL: 1,750 lbs.; ball bearing: 1,500 lbs.

•  (2) Harken winches 32.2 self tailing, two speed, with 1/8” aluminum backing plates with 1” overlap from winch base. ($1,755/each = $3,500)

 Features:  Unique self-tailing device permits adjustment to varying line sizes by depressing a spring-loaded flange on the device and turning for

proper sheet diameter. Ball bearing feeder greatly decreases friction, protects sheets and increases efficiency. Roller bearings on the interior

center shaft. 17-4 PH stainless primary gears.

Specifications:

#1 Gear ratio: 2.4:1

#2 Gear ratio: 4.7:1

#1 Power ratio: 16.4:1

#2 Power ratio: 32.2:1

Fastener circle: 4-1/8"

Fasteners (FH): 5" x 1/4"

Drum diameter: 2-5/16"

Base diameter: 5-7/16"

Height: 6-7/16"

Weight: 11.2 lbs

Line diameter: Minimum – 5/16"

Line diameter: Maximum – 1/2"

Line entry height: 2-3/4"

Here are several photos showing the hull of Gracie Emmett. As can be seen from these recent photos, the original gelcoat is still

in very good condition. Clean, polish and touch-up the antifoul, and bulwark and boot top paint, and the hull is ready for launch.

 (7 Brownell boat stands are included with boat inventory.) The hull form of the DE32 a displacement type hull with a clipper bow

and bow sprit, curved hull sides with bulwarks and tumblehome, traditional sheer, and transom stern with wineglass sections.

The bottom has slack bilges forward which transition to harder after sections and a full-length keel, with cutaway forward.

These are some of the Construction Specifications from the builder, Down East Yachts, Inc.

• One piece hull, hand laid-up with mat and roving. Double laminated to top of bulwark with triple laminate to top of boot exceeding
• Lloyd’s specifications.
• Double hull laminate over inside lead ballast forming separate watertight ballast compartment.
• One piece hand-laminate deck, cockpit, and trunk cabin reinforced with traditional deck beams and carlings.
• Rudder molded of glass reinforced high density foam over a steel backbone with a heavy wall stainless steel tubular shaft.
• Upper and intermediate bearing bronze with sturdy bronze lower bearing and gudgeon combined.
• Deck core is Conolite closed cell foam with strands of glass fiber is exceptionally strong in shear, waterproof and impervious
• to heat in normal use.

       (There are several deck core samples available for inspection.)

s/v Gracie Emmett is at Chipman Point Marina, 68 Chipmans Point Road, Orwell, Vermont 05760 (Tel: 802.948.2288)

This family operated, full service marina and camp grounds provides friendly and capable assistance to those calling

Chipman Point home port, as well as, transient boats and visitors. Located on the southern end of Lake Champlain,

the marina is surrounded by the picturesque rural Vermont landscape.  The stone buildings date back to the early 1800’s

when the warehouses, hotel and post office served the bustling Lake Champlain canal and ferry traffic.  The buildings were

placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996. http://www.fort-ticonderoga.org/
Part 2 /archives/1826
Part 3 /archives/1858
 

The port side settee has a couple notable berth features. When the settee seat slides inboard

and the hinged backrest swings upward and is latched into position with underside barrel bolts,

the settee is converted into a double berth, using extra cushions stored behind the backrest,

and the backrest converts into a pilot berth.

The original head plumbing in our DE32 included a vanity/sink that connected to a seacock,

with a tee that supplied water to the flush toilet that would then drain to a holding tank

(30 gallon capacity) in the V berth or overboard via another seacock. There was also a port

side deck plate for pumping out the holding tank.

We wanted to find an alternative to the conventional marine sanitation device (MSD) and

rid ourselves of the odor associated with storing onboard sewage, the continual dependency

and expense of marina pump-outs, the need for two dedicated seacocks, and the

unpredictable failure and on-going maintenance of a flush toilet. We also wanted more

interior storage space, and a system that was more environmentally sound and easier to

maintain. So we began to research alternative MSDs for our boat.

A dry composting toilet (DCT) is a viable alternative for a cruising couple. A larger vessel with

two heads, with DCTs in each, could accommodate the continuous needs of a family or two

couples. The Sun-Mar DCT (current retail price: $1,625 USD), which we chose, is a USCG certified

Type III MSD— the same classification as most conventional marine flush toilets with holding tanks.

This Sun-Mar unit was designed for marine application and has many features for that purpose,

such as a folding foot rest, a gasketed drying chamber draw with finger turn screws, a locking

compost drum that seals itself when not in use (think inverted), base and rear mounting brackets,

etc.  This model has a sloped back that conforms to hull's shape, a better fit than the straight back model

currently produced by Sun-Mar.

The way this DCT works is that solids are naturally decomposed and liquids are evaporated

through regular rotation of the drum, 12v inline vent exhaust fan, and, if needed, a 1 amp,

110v heating element at the base of the evaporation chamber.

We’ve made some modifications to our unit. Instead of the inline vent fan, we installed a Nicro

PV solar/high capacity NiMh battery fan on deck that continuously vents the DCT, which aids

the natural evaporation process without drawing on the battery bank. We also installed an

effluent overflow line, with a shut off valve, which leads to a portable 5-gallon collapsible holding bag

that is stored in the area under the cabin sole, near the forward seacock. We’ve also replaced

the plastic screws that secure the gasketed finishing draw with galvanized wing-headed screws.

Under normal use, with the continuous vent fan and the effluent overflow bag, we have found

that the DCT requires NO electricity from house batteries or shorepower, the 5 gallon (usually only

partially filled) portable container needs to be taken ashore and flushed in a toilet or otherwise safely

disposed every 5-8 days, warmer temperatures accelerates evaporation. The decomposed solids are

emptied from the small drying draw every 4-6 weeks.

The DCT would have installed much better if we had removed the pre-molded platform that

the conventional flush toilet was mounted on, but we opted not to make that alteration for

possible resale purposes. Instead, we had to attached wooden leg extensions on the base of

the foot rest to gain 6”.

(The photos below are from Carl Wood’s excellent article about the

Sun-Mar DCT he installed on his Great Lakes DE38 s/v Libertad. These photos illustrate an

improved installation with the pre-molded platform removed.)

Our own sailing webmaster Scott Carle of DE38 s/v Valkyr has also made the

conversion and continues this discussion of DCT at another forum link.

For those who wish to delve even deeper into this subject and the general discussion

of resource conservation there is an online version of  Humanure  

A few miscellaneous photos of the mast. Notice the welds at the spreader and upper shroud plates, and

masthead. The inner stay and mast ring plates are also well secured. (Not shown is a reinforced

welded aluminum band at the mast base.) Also notice the condition of the standing and running

rigging, which have been recently replaced with many upgraded offshore attributes.  

The masthead sailing instrument unit (Data Marine) was recently replaced. All of the mast and deck light fixtures have been recently

 replaced: anchor, foredeck, steaming, stern and bow. (There are replacement light bulbs for all light fixtures.)

These are the staysail blocks and sheet.

These are the cabin oil lamps. (There is a supply of lamp parts, including: oil, glass chimneys and wicks.)