Bay Meadows Boat Yard Schooner

Alca i is a beautiful 3 masted Schooner designed specifically for Research in Subartic and Artic.

A true oak-epoxy composite with 8 watertight bulkheads with both independent and central bilge pumping capabilities for safety in remote areas.

Cruises at 8.5 knots with a 2000NM range. A 6kw and 17kw generator will supply all the electric power one could want.

Autopilot, SSB, Sat phone, triple redundancy in standard Navigation electronics, 2 inflatables, a dive compressor and dry suit dive gear. A full workroom with standing headroom. A beautiful main salon and spacious galley.

Alca i had a complete refit in 2013 and is now ready for any Worldwide Adventure.

R/V Alca i. is a 50 ton, 20m (LOD) and 5.2m beam, double-ended, three-masted schooner; completed in 2003, it was designed by George Buehler and built by Bay Meadows Boatyard. The R/V Alca i was built specifically for algal research in the Atlantic Subarctic and the Arctic. The hull of Alca i. is plank-on-frame, heavy construction, with keel, frames and floors of epoxy-laminated and glassed white oak backed up with bronze, monel or 316 stainless fastenings. Of 2m draft, for negotiating shallow, poorly-charted waters, the keel is long and straight and bears a 2000 kg, steel I-beam shoe with 4000 kg of lead ballast.

The hull is strip-planked of 6 cm red oak, using bronze, grip- fast nails and epoxy, with bronze screws to frames, and is double sheathed, inside and out with epoxy saturated glass mat (four layers at the water line) to provide additional strength for Arctic work. All fastener holes were epoxy lined before fasteners were driven, and each wood member epoxy sealed before placement; Alca i is a true oak-epoxy composite. The hull is also provided with eight water tight bulkheads, including a double collision bulkhead, with both independent and central bilge-pumping capabilities, for safety in remote operations. Watertight bulkhead and external doors and hatches are Freeman aluminum construction.

The Alca i. powered by a 180 hp. Cummins diesel, cruises at 8.5 knots, and has a range under power of 2000 nm. The engine room supports standing headroom with shop facilities both port and starboard sides. The 5200 liters of diesel fuel is distributed in 10 bilge tanks for safety, has dual transfer pumps and auxiliary filter systems. Electrical power is provided by 6kw and 17kw generators; cooking and heating are electrical. The vessel has a 25 lph water maker and 5000 l fresh water storage. Both main engine and 17 KW generator drive a hydraulic system that powers deck winches, a 25 hp. bow thruster and a central, emergency bilge pump system that reaches all compartments. Each compartment has independent electrical bilge pumps.

Alca i has a central electrical control panel that supports independent 12V DC and 120V AC systems. Main engine, generator and house battery systems are placed beneath the main panel, and the house system consists of two large glass mat batteries capable of 12 hour independent electronic operation.

The Alca i. is provided with double or triple redundancy in standard navigational electronics, including a Robertson Auto Pilot, and carries both satellite and single-side-band communications. The satellite phone is an Immarsat, Thrane and Thrane FleetBroad-Band Sailor 150. The vessel carries a standard crew of six, plus two for short term exchange cycles. The very large master cabin is currently amidships forward of a spacious galley. The aft-most cabin is a 12 sq. m. wet and dry laboratory that is easily converted to a master cabin or lounge. It has a large stern cockpit bearing an oceanographic winch and A-frame. With two inflatables, an air compressor and dry suit dive gear, the vessel was designed principally to support marine studies using SCUBA.

Features: