I am placing this ad on behalf of my friend, Erik Gastelaars, who wishes to sell his Badger sistership. I have sailed aboard and admire her. Photos can be accessed in my member profile here.
Isabella is a sistership to Badger, the 34ft sailing dory made famous by Annie Hill’s book, Voyaging on a Small Income. She was built to an exceptionally high standard over 12 years by Erik Gastelaars, in Maleney, Queensland, Australia. The attention to detail reflects her owner’s superb craftsmanship and commitment to serious cruising. Isabella is in superb condition and is currently moored at Kawana Waters Marina, Mooloolaba.
Badger was commissioned as a comfortable cruising home for a couple, and Isabella’s interior follows her tried and tested design. There is a large, functional galley to starboard, opposite an enclosed toilet compartment and full-sized chart table. Forward of this, the saloon has port and starboard settees, providing seating for several guests and snug sea-berths for two. The forepeak contains a genuine double berth, with chain locker forward. There are ample lockers to stow the gear required for living aboard and long-term cruising.
The raised cabin amidships gives the interior an astonishing amount of visual space. The saloon is bright and airy, with several opening portholes, plus a number of fixed deadlights and skylight hatches. Painted light cream, with elegant varnished trim that has hand-carved motifs, and attractive upholstery, her saloon is a delightful and beautiful place to relax in.
On deck, the raised cabin provides plenty of room to walk on. No narrow side decks to negotiate here! She has carefully placed, substantial cleats, fairleads, anchor rollers and winches. There are a pair of handsome, bronze self-tailing winches for the halyards. The masts are built from hollow timber, the yards and battens are timber, and the heavily-built, flat-cut Dacron sails are in good condition, with new sail covers. She has an autopilot and a Windpilot Pacific mechanical self-steering unit, plus a 22hp Diesel auxiliary engine, and extensive equipment as listed below.
Isabella has cruised extensively in Australian waters, from Queensland to Tasmania. She has been displayed at the iconic Hobart Wooden Boat Festival where she was much admired. She is reluctantly offered for sale due to the owner’s changing commitments, and it is rare that the opportunity occurs to purchase a boat that is built, equipped, and maintained to such a high standard.
Dimensions:
LOA 34’.
Beam 11’.
Draught 1.6m.
Structural specifications:
The hull and deck are marine ply, fully sheathed in 420 gr double bias glass fibre.
Hull sides and deck are 2 layers of 9 mm ply.
The hull bottom is constructed from 3 layers of 12 mm ply.
The chine log, sheer strake, floor timbers, stem, stern and deck beams are made of laminated Oregon.
The masts are hollow and built of clear laminated Hoop Pine.
Hull weight empty is 2.5 tons.
The long fin keel weighs 1.8 tons.
Sails:
Mainsail area - 328 sq ft/30.5 sq m.
Foresail area - 305 sq ft/28.3 sq m.
Deck gear:
2x Hutton-Arco self-tailing 2-speed halyard winches, bronze finish.
8x Rugersen rope clutches for running rigging.
Full, weather-proof canvas cover for cockpit, transforming it into another cabin in port, excellent for protection from rain or sun.
New sail covers (2021).
Ground tackle:
1x manual anchor winch. (Moyle Marine “Bull Dog”).
1x 35lb Manson Plow.
1x Bugle Anchor.
1x Fortress Utility folding anchor, made from high-grade aluminium/magnesium alloy.
35m of 10mm anchor chain, plus 125m of 16mm dia braided 16-strand rope.
Engine and ancillary equipment:
Kubota 22hp, 3-cylinder diesel, cooled by heat exchanger, on Volvo sail drive unit with 3-bladed prop.
85-amp Bosch alternator.
70L fuel tank, plus extra 50L carried in jerrycans.
Fuel passes through Ryco fuel filter with water separator.
Large filter between seacock and raw-water cooling pump.
Impeller for raw-water pump has “Speadseal” plate for quick emergency access.
Engine revs and gear selection controlled by single lever in cockpit.
Instrument panel has oil pressure, water temp and voltmeter gauges.
Navigational and Electronic Equipment:
Plastimo compass.
Clipper/NASA: depth sounder and log.
Raymarine T 2000 tiller pilot.
VHF radio: GME GX600D (Digital Select Calling).
EPIRB: GME MT403G (GPS version, manual and water activation).
GME (GD9520) am/fm radio with MP3/USB/SD card.
2x GME water proof speakers.
Collision avoidance:
Firdell radar reflector.
Windvane:
Windpilot Pacific model.
Electrics:
1x 100 Amp hour AGM dedicated engine battery (separate from house batteries).
200 Amp hour Lithium-Iron house battery.
JLD 404 Intelligent AH monitor/meter.
Powertech solar charge controller.
Invertech battery management control system.
240V system for shore power, with circuit breaker and 1500w inverter.
2x 80w solar panels.
LED nav lights on masthead.
LED cabin lights throughout.
2x Fluro cabin lights.
4x 12V cigarette lighter type sockets in cabin.
2x Caframo fans in cabin.
Toilet:
Natures Head composting toilet.
Grey water holding tank 65L with Jabsco macerator pump(12v-6amp/125GPH)
Bilge pumps:
1x electric Johnson 12v bilge pump, 750L/125GPH capacity, with float switch.
1x manual bilge pump with flexible extended hose.
Safety equipment:
1x fire blanket.
3x 0.9 kg, BE powder-type fire extinguishers.
1x Life Sling.
2x Life rings with strobe lights.
1x Dan Buoy.
1x Technics collapsible safety ladder.
Galley:
Tudor Maxco Industries 2 burner gas stove with grill.
2x 4kg gas bottles, stowed externally in dedicated, vented box.
Waeco 40L fridge, enclosed in dedicated, heavily-insulated box.
Water tanks:
2 fixed tanks with a combined capacity of 120L under bunks, plus 140L in jerrycans.
Water to galley and head are gravity fed from day tanks. Day tanks can be filled manually with jerrycans or from tanks via 12V pump.
Dinghy:
8’ nesting dinghy fits on foredeck, and can be rowed and sailed. Sailing rig included.
Price:
AU $58,000, negotiable.
Contact:
Erik Gastelaars
Phone (within Australia) 0413205597
Phone (international) +61 413205597
Email ewgisabella@yahoo.com.au