Alden 45 Aft Cockpit - Available now

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( http://swiftsureyachts.com/mischief/ )

When Niels Helleberg of Alden Yachts designed the Alden 43/45 to replace the venerable Alden 44 he stayed true to Alden Yachts form with an aesthetically pleasing design and seamanlike cockpit, deck, and interior.  The Alden 43/45 benefits from a major performance improvement with its 5’ 9” shoal draft bulbed fin keel and large, balanced spade rudder.  With a priority on sailing performance and safety, the house is kept narrow and side decks wide.  The 45 version of this design with its traditional overhanging counter stern will have a more seakindly motion and a voluminous stern storage locker.

MISCHIEF is hull no. 2 of the Alden 45 series.  She has a two stateroom, two head interior arrangement with a single pilot berth in the salon.  Her interior is optimized for offshore racing and cruising with crew.  Her first owner sailed her to Europe from New England soon after she was completed.  She was based in the Netherlands and England for a decade.  In 2002 she was sailed back to Rhode Island and spent summers cruising New England and Maine.  In 2003 she competed in the Marion to Bermuda Race.  From 2005 to 2010, she was stored and maintained at Morris Yachts in Maine.  All significant stateside work was performed by Alden Yachts in Rhode Island and Morris Yachts in Maine.  The second owner purchased MISCHIEF in 2010 and she was trucked to Seattle.  She has been cruised locally in the Pacific Northwest for the last three years.  Each winter she's been protected with a full boat cover.    

Inspection will reveal a superbly maintained yacht that has benefited from very knowledgeable and caring owners.   She was just hauled in October of 2013 for annual bottom maintenance and received two coats of Micron Extra.  Her Max prop was greased and the running gear coated with Pettit Zinc Coat Barnacle Barrier.  Interior and exterior brightwork is well maintained.  Hull sides and cabin sides are glossy.  The Westerbeke engine was replaced in 2003 and has been used minimally since.  A bow thruster, diesel forced air cabin heater, Monitor windvane, single sideband radio, and other nice gear allow her to comfortably cruise or race offshore.   A North Marathon 3DL mainsail and genoa were purchased in 2012 and are in “as new” condition.  In 2011 the upholstery was returned to the original supplier, S&S Fabric Products in Rhode Island, for cleaning and service.  New foam was installed in all salon cushions and the master stateroom received a new latex foam cushion.  The same year new clear Lexan was installed in all the hatches, ports, companionway sliders and washboards.  All in all MISCHIEF is a proper yacht in superb condition that will provide any owner with immense pride of ownership.     

MISCHIEF has an elegant hand fitted American Cherry interior well laid out for offshore racing and cruising.  The experience and attention to detail of the Alden craftsman at their Rhode Island yard is evident throughout the interior accommodation.  The companionway is well sheltered beneath the cockpit dodger.  One steps over an unfinished teak threshold plate six inches above the cockpit sole and onto the companionway ladder.  Access to the interior is five easy steps down from the cockpit.  Three heavy duty clear acrylic washboards and a clear acrylic companionway slider allow light when closed and will effective close the interior when secured. Grab rails on either side and raised cherry traction bars on each tread lend towards offshore safety.  Beneath each of the piano hinged treads is a storage bin with locking pin: a nice location for winch handles, blocks, and other gear needed on deck.

Once below and fully ensconced in the warmth of the varnished cherry interior one will inevitably pause and savor the elegant fit out and details.  All joinery is of varnished American Cherry with large flat surfaces rubbed to a satin finish.  Select trim details are gloss varnished to accentuate their presence.  Overhead panels are of padded white vinyl over marine plywood and secured with cherry battens and screws.  Cabin doors are arched and paneled.  The cabin sole is of solid teak and holy and has just received a new coat of satin varnish.  All floorboards lock in place as required by offshore racing rules.  Hull side ceilings are of solid cherry slats.  Abundant overhead dome lights are fitted with red and white LED light bulbs.  Matching stainless steel Frigast reading lights are well placed in the salon and staterooms.  Handholds and fiddles are fitted as one would expect on an offshore yacht.  White and green curtains are hung on tracks above the cabin side ports.  Flush mounted wood framed hinged screens are located at each overhead hatch.  Tasteful lush green upholstery is used on the salon cushions and mattresses.  Lee cloths are fitted at the port and starboard salon settees, and pilot berth.  Elbow catches accessed through finger holes secure cabinet doors where ventilation is provided by artistically patterned flush slots in each door.   Hanging lockers and cabinets intended for clothes storage are lined with cedar.  Ample natural light and ventilation are provided by opening overhead hatches, cabin side ports, and cowl vents.

The interior layout is all about security and comfort at sea without sacrificing life aboard while in port.  Forward is the master stateroom with large “V” berth and ensuite head.  The main salon has a centerline drop leaf table, “U” shaped settee to starboard and straight settee to port.  A pilot berth is outboard and above the port settee.  The large “C” shaped galley is to starboard and just forward of the companionway.  An outboard facing navigation station is to port.  The aft quarter cabin is to port and the aft head/shower is to starboard, aft of the galley.  Headroom measures 6’ 3” throughout the interior.

Starting forward one enters the master stateroom through a privacy door to port of the mast.  The “V”-berth is fitted with a removable infill and measures 6’ 6” long by 2’ 10” forward and 7’ wide aft.  The mattress is deluxe latex foam measuring 6” thick.  Hypervent Mattress Pad is fitted below the bunk to control condensation in cold climates.  At the foot of the bunk, double hinged doors access the chain locker.  Hinged doors beneath the bunk access the bow thruster-forward, large sail storage area-middle and two large top opening bins-aft.  Ten inch wide shelves run along the hull sides outboard of the bunk, below the deck edge on each side.  Aft and to port is a locker with shelves over a chest of two drawers and two lockers and offset by an open 3’ long by 1’ wide fiddled shelf.  A dome light, two reading lights, large overhead hatch, and two opening ports supply light and ventilation.

The ensuite forward head is to starboard and aft in the master stateroom and entered through a locking privacy door.  This space is surfaced in easy to clean and bright white laminate over marine plywood and has select varnished cherry trim.  The sole is a fiberglass pan and fitted with a drain and overboard pump.  A removable teak grating covers this shower pan.  Outboard is the Groco Type “K” manual pump head.  A vanity with mirror above an oval shaped stainless steel wash basin is along the aft bulkhead.  A Scandvik faucet/hose pulls out for showering.  A curtain covers the head outboard when showering.  Storage cabinets are located under the sink and outboard of the head.  An overhead dome light, 110V outlet and two towel hooks complete the fit out of this space.

The main salon runs between the main bulkhead to the galley/navigation area partial bulkhead and is visually open to the companionway.  The cherry drop leaf table slides aft on its pedestal stowing it forward for ease of access to the dinette or aft for full dining deployment.  A bottle locker with holes for 6 bottles and a slide out wine glass holder are located in the table base.  With both leafs raised this table measures 4’ wide by 3’ 4” long.  The dinette settees are optimized for sleeping overnight race crews while still allowing six to comfortably dine at the table.  Cushions are contoured for comfort.  With the seat back cushions removed, the starboard seat measures 6’ 5” long and 2’ wide.  An An insert and cushion also converts this settee to a double berth.  Three locking storage cabinets are outboard of the seat back cushions.  Further up and outboard, below the side decks, open bookshelves are flanked by two storage cabinets with shelves.  Water tanks are beneath the salon settees.  The Port settee measures 6’ 6” by 1’ 11” with the seat back cushions removed.  This settee can also slide further inboard to add an additional six inches of width if desired.  Three locking storage cabinets are outboard of the seat back.  An open pilot berth measuring 6’ 6” long by 1’ 3” forward to 2’ 3” aft is outboard beneath the side deck: a wonderful place to sleep when underway or store duffel bags during day sails.  Forward of this port settee is a set of lockers with shelves.  A Weems & Plath gimballed kerosene ship’s lantern is mounted on the main bulkhead to starboard.  Two dome lights and three reading lights will also illuminate this space at night while an overhead hatch, three opening ports and two fixed ports will provide natural light and illumination.

The navigation station is to port of the companionway: in close proximity to the cockpit, galley, and salon.  Given this boat’s distance race winning mission the space dedicated to weather analysis, communication, and routing is no surprise.  The navigator sits in a comfortable, leather covered barrel chair which rotates and swivels atop a custom stainless steel swing out arm.  The outboard facing chart table measures 4’ 6” long by 2’ 6” wide.  A low fiddle will keep charts secure atop this table while a lid opens to access a 4” deep chart and navigation tool storage locker.  The AC/DC switch panel, navigation, and communications electronics are flush mounted in a cabinet beneath the deck edge.  Two small lockers with shelves are located beneath the chart table on each end.  A 110V outlet, 12V outlet, dome light, and chart light are also fitted at this location.

The large “U”shaped galley is to starboard and immediately forward of the companionway.  It’s a proper seagoing galley with deep centerline sinks, gimbaled stove with crash bar, tall countertop fiddles, and top loading fridge/freezer.  Starting inboard is the double stainless steel sink with each basin measuring 10” wide by 14” long by 10” deep.   Hot and cold pressurized fresh water flow from the faucet and a Whale foot pump supplies salt water to a dedicated spigot.  The Westerbeke propulsion engine is in an insulated compartment beneath the sink, on centerline, and well centered fore and aft in the boat.  Forward is a silverware drawer over a locker with shelves.  A custom 21” by 15” vertical clear fir butcher block fits snugly atop the counter over this cabinet.  To starboard and forward is the top opening 6.0 cubic foot freezer/refrigerator compartment.  Analog Grunnert thermometers are mounted in a cabinet over the refrigerator space and display freezer and refrigerator temperature without needing to open the lid.  Outboard, beneath the deck edge, is a locker with shelves and moveable dowels where the plates, cups, and bowls are stored.  Further aft is the Force Ten three burner stove with oven and broiler.  This stove is gimbaled and protected by a stainless steel safety bar.  Outboard of the stove is an open shelf and a storage locker with sliding doors.  Storage for pots and pans is located in a locker beneath the oven.  Two dome lights illuminate the galley at night.

The aft head is to starboard and aft of the companionway.  A locking privacy door separates this space from the galley.  The Wilcox Chrittenden Skipper head is aft and inboard.  A hanging wet gear locker is outboard of the head.  Like the forward head, this space is constructed of marine plywood topped with easy to clean and bright white laminate.  Select varnished cherry trim provides accent.  Outboard is a vanity with round stainless steel sink.  Outboard of the sink a medicine cabinet is accessed behind mirrored sliding doors.  A Scandvik pull out sink/shower nozzle allows one to shower in this space.  A shower curtain and rod keeps the vanity and head dry while showering.  A teak grate covers the sole, sump, and attendant overboard shower discharge pump.  An overhead hatch, two dome lights, and two towel hooks complete this head/shower space.

To port of the companionway and through a folding privacy door is the guest stateroom.  Standing headroom is forward for dressing with the door closed.  The bunk measures 6’ 8” long by 5’ 8” wide forward and 3’ 8” aft.   A small infill and lee cloth make this bunk useable as two singles or, when an insert in place, as a couples berth.  The mattress is 5” thick  high quality foam.   An 8” wide shelf runs outboard along the hull side.  A fixed port, overhead hatch, and opening port into the cockpit side provide natural light and ventilation.  At night, an overhead dome light and reading light will illuminate this space.  Forward and outboard, is a storage area with large cedar lined hanging locker and chest of two drawers and storage locker.                 

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