George Sutton Custom Steel Motorsailor - Partial Project

Iron  Eagle  was  designed  by  George  Sutton  for  GR  Tyyrell  of  Seattle.   It  was  built  in  1967  at Duwamish Welding and Construction in Seattle.  She is 55’ on deck and very pleasing to the eye
for a steel boat.  This is in part the result of the plate steel being rolled before being welded
into  place.    There  are  collision  bulkheads  fore  and  aft  reducing  interior  space  by  7’.    It’s
reported to have had 4 owners and its service has probably been limited to the West Coast
including Mexico and Alaska.

The current owner purchased it in 2002 and she went to the Point Hope  Shipyard  in  Victoria  where  it  was  for  3  months  of  work,  including  sand  blasting  and recoating. The water tanks were blasted and recoated as well. The fuel tanks were emptied, cleaned and the fuel polished.  It is currently estimated to have 1700 gallons  onboard.  After being returned to rigorous standards for insurance purposes it was sailed to Portland (October 2002).  The current owner was an electrical engineer and reverse engineered all the operating systems  as  well  as  maintaining  and  upgrading.    Every  system  has  schematics,  drawings  and supporting documentation/manuals.

The design is for a moderate draft (6’) with a keel plate, a maximum of 34” wide, for much of
the bottom together with bilge keels to each side.  Apparently the intent was to enable the
boat to sit on its own bottom.  Though built as a pleasure craft, its construction and equipment
was  of  commercial  standards,  one  of  the  particular  appeals  to  the  current  owner.    Also
appealing was its range with 2000 gallon fuel capacity and its legendary 6-71 Detroit Diesel. 
The solid teak interior was quite well done as well.  The steel construction includes the decks 
up to the roof lines of the fore and aft cabins.   The sails had limited use and are in dry
storage after having been professionally serviced and cleaned in Seattle. 

Outstanding project items: service/replace generator heat exchangers and one exhaust oil bath; main mast - replace or sand, prime and paint; update electronics; top side pressure wash and paint; reconnect helm and engine room gauges; install new heads and holding tank; reinstall diesel heater; install engine room fire suppression system.

Main Mast: 53' Spruce

Mizzen Mast: 39' Steel

Sails professionally cleaned and reconditioned - 2002 (unused since)

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