About Rutea, a Contest 48 Ketch

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Length overall 48’3” 14.7m

Length at waterline 37’7” 11.45m

Beam 14’2” 4.3m

Draft 6’5” 1.95m

Displacement 37,881lbs 17,500kg

Ballast 12,179lbs 5,524kg

Mast Height Above Waterline 62’2” 18.95m

Sail Area/Displacement ratio - 18.1

Fuel Capacity - 180 gallons 680 liters in two tanks

Water Capacity - 120 gallons 454 liters in one tank

Engine – Beta Marine 90 Kubota V3800-9A2567 WOC – K23237

Transmission – Hurth ZF45A 2.48:1 S/#17432U

Prop – Gori 24”x18” 3-blade Left hand rotation

Prop shaft – Aquamet 35mm

Flex coupling – R&D Marine P/# 910-009

Shaft Seal – Lasdrop Gen II 35mmx51mm

Genset – Aqua Marine Kubota EA330-E (-NB1) with Leece-Neville 150-amp Alternator

Steering - Whitlock Mamba push/pull system with drag link

Windlass - Lofrans 1500-watt Progress II

Primary Anchor - 30kg Bruce w/ 350' 3/8" High-Test chain

Secondary Anchor - 20kg Bruce w/ 50' 3/8" H/T chain and 150' 3/4" Mega Braid

Stern Anchor - 50lb Danforth w/ 50' 3/8" H/T chain and 150' 3/4" Mega Braid

Kellet - Kiwi Anchor Buddy

Sea Anchor - ParaTech 18' + 300' 1" Yacht Braid w/ eye splices on each end

Drogue - ParaTech 96"

Watermaker - Spectra Cape Horn Extreme 330

Victron Energy MultiPlus II Inverter Charger 12VDC - 120VAC

House Battery Bank - Trojan T-145 6-volt Deep Cycle Batteries (quantity of 8)

Engine Battery - Optima Group 27

Solar Panels - Kyocera KD215GX - 215 watts (quantity of 2)

Solar Controller - Morningstar Tristar MPPT

Battery Monitoring - Xantrex LinkPro

Refrigeration - Isotherm air cooled (quantity of 2)

Stove - Force 10 4-burner

Propane Detector - Fireboy-Xintex with solenoid and sniffer

Heater - Espar Hydronic M-II M8 (also heats domestic hot water)

Dinghy - Cholamark 3.1 RIB w/ FRP hull, hypalon tubes, custom chaps

Outboard - Yamaha 15hp 2-stroke

Outboard - Tohatsu 5hp 2-stroke

Davits - Simpson Davits model D250 (250kg capacity per pair)

Hooka Compressor - Air Line 12V160-3 with 60' of dive hose and 2-stage regulator

Headstay Roller Furling - Profurl C420

Inner Headstay Roller Furling - Profurl C320

Headstay – 1/2" Dyform 17.25m

Backstay 1x19x12mm 17.50m

Uppers 1x19x12mm 16.50m

Aft Lowers 1x19x12mm 6.75m

Inner Fore Stay – 1x19 10mm 9.50m

Intermediates 1x19x10mm 12.50m

Mainsail Halyard wire/rope splice 15.85m 5mm wire-17.15m 14mm rope

Headsail Halyard wire/rope splice 15.80m 6mm wire-17.70m 14mm rope

Main Boom Topping Lift – 12mm rope 33.00m

Spinnaker Halyard (2x) 12mm rope 35.00m

Spinnaker Pole Topping Lift (2x) 12mm rope 24.50m

Spinnaker Pole Control (2x) 10mm rope 11.50m

Main Sheet – 14mm rope 35.00m

Genoa Sheet – 18mm rope 18.00m

Jib Sheet – 18mm rope 17.00m

Spinnaker Sheets (2x) 14mm rope 23.00m

Spinnaker Fore Guy (2x) 12mm rope 21.00m

Mizzen Upper Shrouds 1x19x6mm 12.60m

Mizzen Lower Aft Shrouds 1x19x6mm 6.25m

Mizzen Intermediates 1x19x6mm 10.00m

Mizzen Lower Forward Shrouds 1x19x6mm 6.25m

Mizzen Halyard 10mm rope 23.50m

Mizzen Staysail Halyard 10mm rope 24.50m

Mizzen Boom Topping Lift 8mm rope 23.00m

Mizzen Sheet 12mm rope 18.00m

Littleton Sails - 150% genoa

North Sails - 110% jib

Littleton Sails - Staysail

Littleton Sails - Main

North Sails - Mizzen

North Sails - Anchor Riding

Spinnaker - Symmetrical w/ 'sock'

Spinnaker - Asymmetrical w/ 'sock'

Mizzen Staysail

Main Trysail

Garmin - GPSMAP 6208 Chartplotter

Garmin - GMR 18 HD Radar

Garmin - 600 AIS Transceiver

Garmin - GWS 10 Wind Sensor

Garmin - GMI 10 Instruments (five)

Simrad - AC42 and AP24 Autopilot

Icom - IC-M802 SSB/HF Radio w/ AT-140 Tuner

SCS - PTC-2 Pro Pactor Modem

Icom - IC-M502 VHF Radio

Satellite connection - Iridium Go! 

Standard Horizon - CP190i Chartplotter

Standard Horizon - Eclipse VHF Radio

Stereo - Alpine CDA-9856

Speakers - Bose 151 (quantity 2) PolyPlanar MA5500 (quantity 2)

Television - RSE 19" with built-in DVD player

From her solid construction, her beefy rigging, reliable electronics and bullet-proof auxiliary power plant, Rutea is capable of taking her owners to anywhere in the world. 

There is not a single system on Rutea that hasn't been replaced with the exception of her Whitlock Mamba steering (which is designed for boats of up to 70 feet) and her Selden spars (all of the standing and running rigging have been replaced).  In 2000, her teak decks were removed, three layers of fiberglass added and then painted with a durable nonskid (it was repainted and new nonskid applied in 2023).  All deck hardware was replaced at the same time including hatches, genoa and staysail tracks, turning blocks, stanchions and handrails.  In 2009, Rutea got a new Beta Marine 90 horsepower naturally-aspirated diesel along with a new single-cylinder diesel that drives a Leece-Neville 150-amp alternator.  Her ZF-45A transmission is rated for up to 330 horsepower and has a ratio of 2.5:1.  We also installed a new propellor shaft, coupling, dripless seal and a Gori 3-blade folding propellor.  Rutea also sports a custom-made hard dodger that supports a complete cockpit enclosure, providing shelter from inclement weather and shade while in the tropics but also allowing excellent visibility.  In 2010, she got a brand new electronics package using a Garmin GPSMAP 6208 chartplotter (we have all the charts to sail around the world on SD cards), a Garmin GMR 18 HD radar, Garmin 600 AIS transceiver, a Garmin GWS 10 wind sensor and five Garmin GMI 10 instruments (three mounted above the companionway in the cockpit, one at the navigation station and one in the aft cabin). The original portlights were replaced with Newfound Metals opening portlights (including stainless steel screens). All of her pumps have been replaced.  Her toilets are new (one direct discharge and one composting).  We installed a new Force 10 4-burner stove in 2017 and two new refrigeration systems at the same time.  

All the way forward inside of Rutea’s  cabin, a ’wet’ head is separated from the anchor locker by a water-tight bulkhead.  This well-varnished head has two sinks, two hanging lockers and a direct-discharge Raritan PH-II marine toilet.  On the sole of the head is a teak grate and the Scandvik 46011 combination fixture provides a shower head and a basin supply of hot and cold pressure water.  A dedicated Jabsco positive-displacement sump pump drains the shower quickly.

Immediately aft of the forward head, on either side of the hull, are two cabins, each with a door to the forward head.  Both of these cabins have upper and lower bunks, all bunks have very comfortable, custom-made mattresses and each bunk is also fitted with a Hella two-speed fan and an LED courtesy lamp.  All berths aboard Rutea have both lee cloths and lee boards except the aft stateroom which only has a lee board.

Aft of the forward cabins is Rutea’s main saloon with her massive drop leaf table, ample seating (we have served up to 13 people at this table) and commodious storage spaces.  The table has a beautifully-built silverware caddy built in and under the caddy is a well-hidden liquor storage area.  When we were in Thailand we had the veneer of the table replaced with a 5mm-thick teak veneer and 12 coats of varnish.

Aft of the main saloon, to port, is Rutea’s L-shaped galley with a double stainless steel sink and granite countertops.  There are two refrigerators, both with access from the top and one with a front access as well.  A gimbaled 4-burner Force 10 range is fitted with a Xintex propane solenoid control and gas sensor.  Above the range is a custom-made spice rack and behind the range are 3 lockers for storage.  In front of the range is a stainless steel safety bar that keeps the person cooking from falling into the range if the weather gets heavy - it also has attachment points for a ‘galley strap’.

Aft of the main saloon, to starboard, is the forward-facing navigation station with its large chart table and convenient storage underneath.  Under the seat is where all of Rutea’s files and documents are stored.  Both the Icom single side band and the VHF radios are mounted here as well as the Standard Horizon chartplotter.  All of the information from the Garmin instruments is repeated here.  The well-labeled DC circuit breakers are accessed from the navigation station, too. And there’s a 12-volt ‘auto plug’ conveniently located there.

Directly behind the navigation station is the workshop.  This well-lit space has a large work bench (complete with a  120mm Heuer vise) and plenty of storage for tools and spare parts.  There’s also a hanging locker, a 12-volt 'auto-plug' plus access to the engine and genset.  Ask yourself this:  how many sailboats of this size can you have access to the boat’s mechanical systems in a place where the work you’re doing doesn’t hinder everyone else’s coming and going?  On most sailboats of this size you either have to lift the companionway ladder or remove floor boards when you need to access the engine - not so on Rutea.

On the opposite side of the hull from the workshop, just aft of the galley, is the aft head, with double doors.  You can use the AirHead composting toilet by opening the door and closing it behind you or you can open both doors, which makes the head significantly larger and take a shower.  Of course, with both doors ‘open’ access to the aft cabin is blocked but by using the companionway to the aft cabin as a shower stall, a tremendous amount of space is saved.  After all, showers typically don’t take very long and the inconvenience of not being able to access the aft cabin for a few minutes while someone is showering is a small price to pay.  Many of the dedicated shower stalls I’ve seen on cruising boats wind up being storage areas.

Rutea’s aft cabin is a delightful and private retreat.  With a very comfortable double bunk, two hanging lockers, a spacious settee, a folding vanity and plenty of bookshelf space, it’s the perfect place to sleep or just relax.

Rutea’s auxiliary engine is a Beta Marine 90, which is a Kubota V3800DI-E2B (the ’V’ designates that it’s a 4-cylinder, the ‘38’ designates its displacement, the ‘00’ doesn’t mean anything in this case, the ‘DI’ designates that it‘s ’direct injection’ and the ‘E2B’ designates that it’s a Tier-2 industrial diesel) naturally-aspirated (no turbocharger), 4-cylinder, in-line diesel engine that Beta Marine marinizes.  This 3.769 liter (230 cubic inch) engine weighs in at 256kg or 564 pounds, has four valves per cylinder and direct center injection - eliminating the need for glow plugs.  This undersquared baby is governed at 2,600 rpm and uses a gear-driven raw water pump.  It sports two Iskra alternators, one a 90-amp and the other a 150-amp, using two serpentine belts.  Diesel fuel is filtered for the Beta 90 by three Racor filters in series:  The first is a Racor 500 with a 20-micron element; the second is also a Racor 500 with a 10-micron element and the third is a Racor 445MAM with a 2-micron element and a manual priming pump.  There is a significant inventory of spare filter elements. Besides the mechanical lift fuel pump that's built into the engine, diesel fuel is delivered additionally by a Stewart-Warner 82091 electric fuel pump. Three engine hour meters have failed so the exact number of engine hours is unknown but it’s slightly more than 5,000 yet the engine uses no lubricating oil between changes.  The engine is remarkably quiet, efficient and reliable - cruising under power in calm conditions at 1,400 RPM would push us at 5.5 knots per hour and we’d consume .89 gallons of fuel per hour - that’s not bad for a 40,000-pound boat.  The engine has needed no significant repairs and has never overheated.

The genset on Rutea is a Kubota EA330 single-cylinder diesel that was marinzed by Aqua Marine and sold as their My-T-Gen.  The engine originally came with a Delco-Remy 150-amp, 12VDC alternator but I swapped that out for a Leece-Neville of the same amperage.  This engine is extremely thrifty with fuel. The alternator is regulated by an external Balmar MC-618 regulator that maximizes the current flow into the batteries.

Both of Rutea's Selden masts are deck stepped.  The main mast has two sets of spreaders, an inner forestay but no forward lowers.  The chainplates are positioned well inside the cap rail which allows for much tighter windward sheeting.  There are two massive downwind poles and two spinnaker halyards.  The upper ends of all the standing rigging is swaged while the lower ends are all Norseman swageless fittings and all of the turnbuckles are Hayn open body.  Running backs are made of  1/2" Dyneema which shackle to 3/4" yacht braid that turns through a second genoa car - it then runs through the lazy turning block and up to the lazy primary winch.  There's a Harken backstay adjuster and the backstay is insulated for the 40 meter high frequency band.  The boom is rigged for a midship traveler and the vang is a 3:1 ratio.  A Hella Module 70 LED worklight is mounted above the steaming light, facing forward.

The mizzen mast has one set of swept back spreaders and mounted above the spreaders is the boat's radome.  Underneath the radome is Rutea's horn which is powered by a Maserati compressor.  Since we frequently use the mizzen boom to yard the 15hp outboard on and off the dinghy, the mizzen sheet is rigged at a 5:1 ratio.  There are three high-lumen deck lights mounted on the mizzen mast and a single running back.

The observant mariner will notice that Rutea has no dorades yet below decks the air remains fresh and there’s never been a mold problem, even in the tropics. I attribute this to the Bomar hatches we installed when we did the deck refit in 2000.  These hatches have a two-position dog:  Position 1 dogs the hatch tightly shut but Position 2 dogs the hatch with a slight gap and provides excellent ventilation throughout the cabin.  The hatches don’t leak in position 2 unless a boarding wave washes over or there’s a torrential downpour.  Typically, the cabin will stay dry with the hatches dogged to Position 2 even when hosing the boat down.

The center cockpit on Rutea is much more than a place from which you steer and control the boat.  It’s a perfect place to relax, enjoy a meal or just observe your surroundings.  It’s a very secure spot when underway and even if the weather gets heavy, one feels safe.  If the weather turns cool, a complete Sunbrella and Isinglass enclosure makes the cockpit cozy. The visibility is excellent with removable polycarbonate panels that extends from the hard dodger to the originally-equipped windshield.  The sturdy bimini provides welcome shade and a removable Sunbrella panel connects the bimini to the hard dodger.  There are two Hella white/red light fixtures attached to the hard dodger.  Two Polyplanar MA5500 3-way speakers provide clean, crisp music.   The Simrad AP24 autopilot control head is located within easy reach of the helmsperson as is the Standard Horizon Eclipse VHF radio (the Icom IC-M502 VHF is located at the navigation station - each VHF radio has its own antenna:  the 502 antenna is on top of the main mast and the Standard Horizon is on top of the mizzen mast. Both antennas are Metz Manta 6.).  There are four attachment points for securing a harness.  A folding teak table is part of the binnacle guard.  There’s also a 12VDC ‘auto-plug’ and a double USB-A outlet.

We invested heavily in spare parts for our blue-water passages.  Our mantra became, "If we have the spare part, we won't need it."  When we purchased the Beta Marine engine, I negotiated with the dealer that he would sell me the spare parts I wanted at his cost - I wound up spending almost US$4,000 in spare parts, almost none of them have ever been used.  They include a spare starter, injector, a complete gasket set, primary fuel pump, raw water pump, coolant pump, belts, zinc anodes and others.  The autopilot motor had been working very hard as we sailed from Mexico to Hawaii and when we got to Hilo, I called Whitlock and inquired about purchasing a spare motor for the autopilot (on the Whitlock Mamba system, the autopilot motor is part of the steering system and is not provided by the autopilot manufacturer.  The Whitlock representative I spoke with said he had never sold a motor to someone as a spare as he had never seen one fail.  It was US$2,300.  I bought it anyway.  We have all of the components to completely replace the autopilot - The AP24, the AC42 and the rudder position sensor.  It wouldn't surprise me if we had almost 50 pounds (20 kilos) of plumbing fittings on board.

Having all the right equipment and having it installed properly can minimize worry, concern and anxieties while making blue-water passages but those things are relatively unimportant if the boat doesn't sail well.  Frankly, Rutea's best feature is the way she sails - from dead down wind to close hauled. miles disappear in her wake.  Beautifully balanced on any point of sail, it's remarkable how little correcting the autopilot has to make, even in significant seaways.  Not only does this reduce wear and tear on the steering system but the current draw from the autopilot is less.  Her maneuverability and responsiveness is amazing despite her length and displacement.  Weather helm is negligible.

1. Inspect Rutea.  Ask questions.  Review documents and records.
2. Buyer deposits US$14,000.00 in an escrow account.  The deposit us fully refundable should the buyer decide not to proceed.
3. Purchase and Sale Agreement is signed.
4. Sea trial.
5. Survey.
6. Final US$126,000.00 is wire transferred to Seller's account.
7. Seller clears out personal effects not included with the sale and Buyer takes delivery.