Tag: worldtravel

Brewer 44 Sailboat-(Sold)

by Scott and Kathy Erwin, Sail the World, posted in Sailing

SV SEA BELLA (sold)

Make: Brewer, Model: Brewer 44 Cutter, Builder: Fort Meyers Boat Works, Florida, USA, Length:                       44’ (13.4m) Year:  1990  Location:  Fiji                  

DESCRIPTION: Sea Bella is an exceptionally well built and equipped cruising sailboat capable of a fast and safe offshore passage in a wide range of conditions.  The Brewer 44 is a durable, heavy displacement boat made to be comfortable at sea. She has been sailed by myself; Kathy and my husband; Scott for 6 years. She was remarkable on our journey from California to her present location in Tonga, that’s nearly 12,000 miles with hardly a glitch. She is turn key and ready to go, nothing needed. We are eager to find her a happy new home so we can upgrade to a Catamaran.

in the last 3 years. Scott is a 100 ton USCG Captain as well as an industrial engineer, taking great care of her. She is equipped to be an offshore boat to sail around the world. Redundancies exist in most systems as well as an impressive replacement parts inventory. The sellers (Scott and Kathy), realizing they will be at sea for the long term, are upgrading to a performance Catamaran.

The Brewer 44 is a Center cockpit cutter designed by the late and prolific Ted Brewer. She boasts a 37.14 Comfort Rating making her very comfortable at sea and very stable. Sea Bella’s newer sails leave her with many options in multiple weather conditions at sea. The cutter rig, as well as the triple reefs available in the main, means she is comfortable even in a big blow. The asymmetrical spinnaker is easily flown to achieve hull speed even in lighter winds. The boat has a shoal draft keel making it easy to anchor close to shore. She has a swing down center board that allows sailing close to the wind. The center board system works flawlessly. This boat does NOT have a bolt on keel. The solid glass hull encapsulated keel means no keel bolts to rust.

The entire cabin is designed for ultimate comfort at sea as well as at anchor. The Center cockpit is one of the top cockpit designs and holds 8 comfortably for social hour or sleeps 2 for general sleeping or underway. The center cockpit also creates a comfortable aft master cabin with a bed wider than a Cal King. The mattress was made custom in San Diego by a professional marine bed company. It is a modern “bed mattress” that is 17cm thick.  Yes, good enough to live on.

Nearly every system has been replaced, installed new, or upgraded between 2019 and today, making Sea Bella one of the safest and most well-equipped boats in her class.  The added stainless arch at the stern is a huge tool for managing the dinghy and power systems. The arch was built in Mexico in 2019 and provides solid rails to mid-ship for safety at sea. She is ready TODAY to cross oceans or relax by your favorite island.

Sea Bella’s engine and transmission are in great shape and the transmission is only 6 years old. The Perkins 4.236 is a 85hp naturally aspirated engine that has approximately 4200 hours. This engine should go at least another 5000 hours.  The boats entire fresh water plumbing was replaced in 2023 with Pex type tubing.

Sea Bella will have a very comprehensive turn over to the new owner by Scott, the captain. Her systems are not complex, and she is easy to maintain and sail.   

NOTE: Sea Bella is a USA flagged vessel that entered French Polynesia on March 2023 sailing from Mexico. In April 2024, she continued her westward route, currently sailing from Tonga to Fiji. If the boat is not sold in Fiji by early 2025 the present owners will continue westward in their circumnavigation.

GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

LOA:                            44’ (13.6m)

Displacement:            29,000lbs (13,154kg) 

Beam:                          13.5’ (4.11m)              

Draft Board up:          4.5’ (1.37m)        

Draft Board down:       9’ (2.74)

Mast Clearance:          59’                              

Hull Material:              GRP (fiberglass)

Fuel Capacity:             135gal (515L)

Water Capacity:          200gal (757L)                         

PROPULSION

Engine:                        Perkins 4.236

Engine Hours:             1100 hours on current meter

plus 3100 on previous meter

Fuel Type:                   Diesel

Horsepower:               85 metric HP @ 2300 rpm 

Speed:                         6.5 knots at 1500 rpm

Spare parts include a starter solenoid, Heat exchanger, water pump, raw water pump, fuel pump, Thermostat, zincs, belts, all filters, hoses.

ENERGY SYSTEMS

House Batteries:         4 x 280ah EVE LiFePO4 (2020)

Overkill BMS’s

House Capacity:         840 Amp-Hours

Starter Battery:           AGM (2020)

House Voltage:           12v DC and 120v AC

(Soon to be added a 220 inverter)

Battery Charger:         Pronautic 1260P Battery Charger

Inverter:                       Victron Phoenix 3000 watt/

120amp charger

Engine Alternator:       Balmar 180amp.

Alternator Regulator:   Balmar 618

(New Wakespeed, not installed)

Battery Monitor:          Victron 712 (2020)

Shore power:              30amp 120V

Solar:                           1300 watts total

Solar Controllers:        2 ea Victron MPPT (2020)

Generator:                   8kw diesel Onan Genset

Sea Bella is very energy independent, has been cruising and not plugged into a dock in 2 years. The high efficiency solar panels provide 80% of total electrical needs. The main engine alternator is a high output Balmar180amp and contributes the energy efficiency.  The 8kw Diesel Onan Generator is overkill and used very seldomly.

HULL & DECK CONSTRUCTION

Hull:                           Solid GRP (fiberglass) with epoxy

barrier on bottom

Deck and Topsides:  Solid GPR (fiberglass) in high

stress areas otherwise marine plywood

ACCOMMODATIONS

Berths:                         Forward “V berth”, main salon/

cabin, aft berth

Sleeps:                        4 comfortably, 5-6 maximum

(cockpit comfortably sleeps 2 persons, outdoors)

Sea Berth:                   2 sea berths in salon with lee

cloth.

Air Conditioning         Air Marine Air Systems 1600

BTU Air conditioner Main Cabin

Cushions:                    New foam and Sunbrella fabric

on all cushions throughout boat.

Showers:                       Dedicated H/C showers with in

forward and aft head. Half

bathtub in aft head. Additional

H/C shower on back deck

Stereo:                        Fusion 770

Forward Head:         Jabsco Pump head with 25 gal

holding tank. Macerator for open

ocean pump out or deck level

fittings for pump out.

Aft Head:                   Jabsco Marine electric head.

Overboard only.

Television                  Hisense 32” Smart TV with Wifi

GALLEY

Stove and Oven:        Force 10 -3 burner stove

Water maker:             SeaWaterPro 40 gallons per

hour. Installed in 2022. Runs

easily off the inverter.

Refrigeration:              CoolBlue 12v Compressor (New

2021). Huge, insulated box with

top and bottom access

Freezer:                       CoolBlue 12v Compressor (New

2021) Huge, insulated box

(Very Cold-keeps ice frozen)

Microwave                  1000 watt Microwave

ELECTRONICS & NAVIGATION

Chartplotter:                B&G 12” Zeus 3s

Radar:                         B&G Halo 20+

Instruments:               B&G Wind, depth, temperature,

and speed

Displays                      2ea  Trition 2 Displays in cockpit

                        2ea Triton 1 Displays in nav

station and master cabin

AIS:                             Emtrac B254 Class B Transponder

and Receiver with WiFi (2020)

Transmits AIS and GPS to various

apps like OpenCPN and Navionics

Autopilot Computer:    B&G Nac 3 with remote control

OTHER:  

NMEA 2000 and NMEA 0183 navigation systems are networked for for redundancy

DataHub installed to communicate directly to

Predictwind and Marine Traffic

COMMUNICATION

VHF Radio:                 Standard Horizon Matrix 2000

with integrated AIS receiver and hailer

VHF Cockpit Mic:        Standard Horizon RAM4

Backup VHF                ICOM IC-M504 installed in Captains Cabin with separate Antenna

SSB                             ICOM M802 Marine Radio w/Pactor 4 Dragon Modem

Starlink                       Starlink System with wifi

MAST, BOOM, RIGGING, & DECK HARDWARE

Rigging:                       Replaced all mast wire rigging new in 2020

Mast                            Pulled and rewired in 2019

Boom Vang:                Forespar boom vang (2021)

Spar                            Forspar extendable whisker pole (2021)

Primary Winches:       2 x Barient POWER winches

Running Rigging         All new in 2020

SAILS

Mainsail:                      New 2020

Genoa:                        New 2021 130% genoa with sunbrella sun cover.

Staysail:                      New 2021  sunbrella sun cover.

Spinnaker:                   North asymmetrical spinnaker with new sock. Recut and rebuilt 2023

ANCHORING

Anchor:                        Mantus 30kg

Windlass:                    Maxwell windlass with gypsy and capstan.  New 2018

Chain:                          330’ 10mm DIN chain.  New in 2023.

Other:                          Stern anchor – Fortress FX23. Chain/rode.

SAFETY EQUIPMENT

Alarms:                        Carbon monoxide/smoke detector 

                                    Bilge High Water Alarm.

Fire Suppression:        Fire extinguishers throughout cabin (2023).

Emergency Tiller:        Included.

Liferaft:                        Life raft                        Viking Rescyou Offshore 4 person liferaft. (Service due 2024)

EPIRB:                        ACR RLB-32 EPIRB

Satellite Comm:          Iridium GO with external antenna

Bilge Pumps:              

ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT

Dodger:                       Stainless steel frame with Sunbrella fabric. ½ is new 2023. Removable Sunbrella covers.

Bimini:                         Stainless steel frame. Sunbrella fabric. Removable Sunbrella shade piece connects bimini and dodger. Roll up removable side panels.

Sea Cocks:                 Spare Parts:                Extensive inventory.

Equipment Covers:     Bergundy Sunbrella covers for winches, compass, jerry jugs, hatches, 2 rain fly

Tender:                        AB 10’6 Aluminum RIB. 2020 with 20HP 4 stroke Tahatsu 2020, anchor and chain

Stackpack:                  Bergundy Sunbrella, dyneema lazyjacks

Fuel Transport:            Scuba Equipment       Compressor, 2 Dive tanks

Stainless Steel Arch:  2” custom arch with solid rails to mid-ship. Two stainless built in seats at stern. Motor mount for storage

Portholes:                   

DOCUMENTATION

USA flagged vessel.

EXCLUSIONS

Owners’ personal items are excluded from this sale and may include items shown in online videos or images.

DISCLAIMER

The details of this vessel are offered in good faith, but we cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of this information nor warrant the condition of the vessel. A buyer should instruct their agents, or their surveyors, to investigate such details as the buyer’s desires validated. This vessel is offered subject to prior sale, price change, or withdrawal without notice.

Laundry on a Boat?

by Scott and Kathy Erwin, Sail the World, posted in Sailing

Let’s talk laundry! We all have it. It’s a chore for all of us, like it or not. 😝 Whether you’re lucky and use a laundry service or your washer/dryer does most of the work, laundry is still a chore.


😅 Well, let me tell you…it’s quite an ordeal when living on a boat, and in the rainy or windy tropics. 😎 Here is the run down. First, I wait for a sunny morning and hope it stays that way all day, without huge winds. (I may have waited a week or 2 for this weather window, btw) Next, I make sure we’ve made water, and the tanks are full. If I am lucky we have hot water from yesterday’s motorsailing. In our small galley sink, I hand wash our clothes, being careful not to use too much soap or too much water, 😂! Next, (if rain suddenly appears) I string up my cockpit laundry lines. If it’s still sunny, I wipe the dust off all the boat handrails. I wring out the sheets and towels using the handrail. I then hang up all the laundry with very strong stainless steel clips. I stay home for 4 hours to keep a good watch out for sudden squalls or any change of weather. I take them down, fold and put away (The only typical part of laundry. Phew, done!! 🥰 It’s much easier to just wear a bathing suit and shower in it after my swim. Or the wind blows a towel overboard, thank goodness for the boat hook.

Is it just Fishing or Catching?

by Scott and Kathy Erwin, Sail the World, posted in Sailing

We have hand fishing lines (yoyos) we pull be hind the boat when we are sailing. They are 250lb tuna cord lines with long surgical tubing that stretches to fight the fish. Fishing rods just don’t work well when sailing down wind and you hook a big fish. You can easily spool a reel before you can get the boat turned and your crew to the helm before you start fighting the fish.

Well, the other day we hooked a big something! Before we could get back to grab the line something bigger took the fish. Probably a shark or the fish was a massive tuna or something. (It’s not unusual to pull up a half a fish).
The swivel on the left is a 80lbs swivel and the one on the right is the same swivel that failed us with that fish. Pretty impressive. I’ve lost a a ton of tackle in the last four months. Cheaper to just buy the fish I think. lol

Note: I can up size all my gear and prepare to land a bigger fish……but what the hell would I do with a fish over 100lbs. lol
You can only eat so much tuna……🤢

Provisioning and Food Planning While Living Afloat.

by Scott and Kathy Erwin, Sail the World, posted in Sailing, Travel
Sea Bella tiny Galley

Making my own breads, yogurts, tortillas and muffins have been a fun new way to provide staples for Scott and I. Often breads are not to be found at the small island stores. I wonder, how do they make a sandwiche? Homemade baked goods are fun to bring to cruiser parties or as gifts for the village locals. We keep a sourdough “mother” which was given to me from a cruiser friend in Mexico and has provided us well over 50 or loaves! It’s also difficult to find or store packaged yeasts.

Making my own yogurt has also been key, not only does it reduce my plastic trash, it’s versatile and a good staple ingredient for other recipes. Storing large amounts of yogurt also takes up valuable refrigerator space. All I need for making yogurt is powdered milk, easily found and easily stored, and 1 small thermos (oh, and a thermometer)

Another idea I considered was having a small hydroponic garden for a few favorite herbs and sprouts. Fresh greens were the hardest to find in remote islands. I have dappled in this area, since it’s a major land hobby of mine and I come from a family of gardeners. But, nonetheless, it’s quite difficult on a boat. Why hydroponics? Well, having a plant with dirt doesn’t do well while healing sideways, but water only spills and dries up, no mess at all. Hey, we live on the water. My last batch of basil and rosemary got scorched in the direct sun, so back to the drawing board I go. Currently, I don’t have any plants, unless you count my very tiny cactus.

I have dappled in pickling, jarring and drying foods these last 2 years. But, since the mason jars/lids are difficult to find, I decided on mostly storing cheap canned or frozen veggies instead, I know, yuck! I can hardly complain though.

I had learned about pressure canning and was quite successful, only took me one full day! Since I knew we would spend a year in the French Polynesian islands, where meats are pricey and some hard to find, I started my research. It paid off! We had many delicious home made lasagnes, meatballs and stews during the 6 months spent in the remote Tuamotus Atolls. In Mexico, I had made 14 jars total of pork and beef, but the best was italian sausage.

My biggest answer to storing foods while on a boat: Ziplocks! Bulky storage containers often are not airtight and don’t fit well in small fridges, freezers or lockers. Since ziplock bags are hard to find out in the islands, I bought many and use and reuse them until they are so thin or have a tear. Even then, I tend to use them, double bagged style. I was raised to be thrifty, which now comes in very handy!

Provisioning and prepping foods while living on a boat in remote places is quite a challenge but a fun one that I have embraced. My Mom always said “cook with love” which proved to be great advice. Cooking on a boat is a topic for another time, but shopping, storing, and keeping foods and drinks cold is the tricky topic of the day, especially in remote locations and foreign countries. I feel I have done well so far, but have only experienced Mexico and French Polynesia. Learning to be resourceful and having flexibility in the foods you eat are the main key.

That’s about a wrap for the day, no pun intended!!

Cruiser Friends

by Scott and Kathy Erwin, Sail the World, posted in Sailing

I just love our sailing friends!

Some anchorages just have that super strong sense of community, it’s hard to pull anchor and leave. We have been so blessed in this small bay named Hooumi. 4 boats are our good friends from Mexico, 6 boats are new friends we met a few months ago here in FP. We feel like such family, with daily activities loosely organized by different people every day. The spontaneity and variety is just so cool. 19 friends showed up for my Yoga and meditation this morning, hugs of gratitude all around. Yesterday, some of us dingied up the river to a little village, bought a few staples and did cannon balls in the clear and refreshing river water with the local children.

We all laughed and drummed ourselves silly the other night at the beach. Bonfires and s’mores are always fun. One boat had us all over for Taro Card readings and appetizers. There was a scotch tasting on SV Captain Music. Last week, Ingrid made enough Poke Bowl to share with us all. Luckily, English is our common language but we’re from 6 or so countries. It really doesn’t matter the age, socio economics, political opinion, religion, how long cruising, what country you launched from or where you are headed. We all have one thing in common, a positive outlook with an adventurous spirit. Mind you, not everyday is easy and fun, but we are in it together.


To Name a few: Joanne Pilkington and Scott, Jutta Birfelder and Mike. Michelle Fetkenhour and Jeff. Margot McKirdy and Elliott. Bruce Balan and Alene. Ingrid and Adam Lewis. Emma Aingé and Dan. Candice Deal and Jason Deal. Jan, Inge, Lauren and Liam.

My 15 day Sailors Yoga Camp is now compete!

YOGA CAMP

Testing out my new skills was easy and fun with my cruiser friends. I tried new poses, transitions, meditation themes and even stumbled my way with chatty children and a few locals at my side. The last day I was presented with a special card signed by all the Hooumi Bay sailors. Then they performed a ‘Trust Experience’ for me, where 20 students lifted me up, wow I felt so loved and cared for. I’m feeling inspired to do Yoga Around the World!

NUKU HIVA, Marquesas, South Pacific

by Scott and Kathy Erwin, Sail the World, posted in Travel

Not just your average anchorage; Hakatea Bay (aka and formerly Daniel’s Bay) Nuku Hiva. (The most remote Island in the world).
This is the site of Season 4 of the TV series “Survivor” and also the last known case of Cannibalism in the Marquesas. How recent you might ask? Recent enough that I think the guy is still in jail. lol.


This amazing place was the Royal center of Nuku Hiva for over 1000 years. Up to 20,000 natives lived in this valley until Small Pox and other introduced diseases wiped out thousands, in past centuries. Now and over the past 80 years less than an average of 10 people live in the valley.

Video tour of the Royal Palace

As we hiked up the Royal trail to the waterfall we came across dozens of Pae Pae’s or foundations of ancient buildings. We are amazed that they are basically in the process of returning to earth. Over grown jungle and trees growing through the middle of many of these ruins. Archaeology has shown that in some cases the heads of families members or warriors have been buried under rocks in the Pae Pae’s after the tribe or leaders ate the eyes and brain out of the skulls. (To take their visions and knowledge). We didn’t move any stones!

Boy was that waterfall loud!
A rendition of the village a few hundred years ago.
2 Tiki’s



The local family that is still in the valley cooked us lunch and filled our bags with fruit upon our return.

It’s very difficult to explain the day and what we saw. All I can say is I can’t believe this place isn’t a museum. Oh yeah, the water fall was cool too. The only way to get here is by boat. Ya have to see it to believe it…..

Coral Photo Dump…Just too many pretty pictures to NOT add them all.

by Scott and Kathy Erwin, Sail the World, posted in adventure, Scuba Diving

There is one special coral head in the center of the Tuomotu Archipelago Makemo that we were mesmerized with. We kept going back, again and again. Not sure why this one had so many more colorful and shapely corals, and huge clams than we have seen in the 17 islands that we have been to this sailing season. Below our video is (the photo dump).