COCKPIT
Holy Grail was designed for a couple – to take them offshore for long periods without resupplying, in comfort and safety. She is an open plan, aft cabin, aft cockpit pilot house flush deck cutter. The most comfortable place at sea on a boat is aft. Consequently the master (and only) stateroom is aft, under the deck level cockpit and bridge deck. This close proximity permits easy communication between the watch keeper and the sleeper. The deck level cockpit avoids those troublesome crossed drains and seacocks and allows good visability over the pilot house. For other crew, settees convert to bunks.
Instrumentation, separate ventilation to the aft cabin and engine room, and antenna real estate is provided on the radar arch which we call the gantry. The cockpit is very protected by the dodger, bimini, and gantry. In 50,000 miles there has never been white or green water in the cockpit. Six Stainless Andersen winches are on the combings with reach in storage under.
Visibility from the pilot house is 270 degrees through seven windows. The windows are custom built with heavy 1/4″ aluminum flange frames, tinted 3/8″ anealed safety plate glass and 3/8″ lexan storm shutters. Storm shutters are permanently installed on the inside with a 1/2″ air gap between layers.
There are two heating systems aboard, both radient diesel heaters, each with a circulating hot water system. The unit in the aft cabin incorporates a water boiler which circulates antifreeze via 5/8″ heater hose to a Red Dot radiator in the pilot house and through the domestic hot water heater in the engine room. There are three hatches in the pilot house cabin sole, providing full access to the engine room.
The engine room is fully insulated for sound and thermal. Four Stainless water tanks are outboard, two on each side, all insulated from engine room heat. These tanks were new in 2016.
HEAD
To starboard at the bottom of three steps is the head, enclosed with a Cherry and Pecan door, with stall shower, and compartment for a washer/dryer unit. There is a tile sink counter and cantelavered brass sink. The fore and aft head is an electric fresh water 2016 Dometic. On one bulkhead is a multi-tier towel bar, heated by the saloon circulating diesel heater.
SALOON
Bifold doors fold against the mast which is stepped on the keelson, to provide privacy from the galley when used as a stateroom. A center-line table with folding wings seats six. The port settee is a pull out fan berth which is a cozy double, while the starboard settee makes into a fixed single. On the mast, forward, is a Dickenson Newport diesel radiant heater which has a circulating hot water element routed to a radiator under the starboard settee, and to the head towel bar.
FOREPEAK
Through a splashproof door in a water tight compartment is the workshop, complete with metal workbench with a small drill press, tool box bolted down, with a shelf underneath for spares and “stuff.” Below that is a bin for portable tools, all on the starboard side. To port is a rack for material storage, a bin, and a cabinet for fasteners – a bigger inventory of screws, nuts and bolts than most marine hardware stores!
While the forepeak is now fitted as a work space, it is large enough to fit out as as forward sleeping cabin, if desired.
AFT CABIN
The aft cabin is fitted with a queen berth to starboard. To port are two secure built in chairs, hanging locker with large drawer under, diesel heater, and large chart storage drawer for about 100 folded charts. There are a number of clothes lockers with shelves, and the bunk sloping headboard (not in view) has a large linen locker behind sliding doors.
As shown in the lower photo, the interior throughout is light colored pecan paneling with cherry trim. Limited ash and neutral formica are also used. Wood is finished with many coats of high gloss varnish. All visible surfaces are either solid wood, 1/8″ to 3/16″ solid wood veneer, or formica – no painted or varnished plywood.
PILOT HOUSE
Holy Grail is organized in several levels. The pilot house is five steps below the bridge deck, with helm station to starboard, and nav table just aft. The helm seat raises for the helmsman, or lowers and swivels aft for use at the nav table, along with another fixed height chair aft of the table. This is where we spend a lot of time at sea. On the aft starboard bulkhead are the electrical panel, and inset radio equipment cubby. The nav table articulates up and can be secured out of the way for access to two large lateral file drawers. There are two more drawers outboard of the aft chair. Also outboard of the helm seat is a large locker and cabinet for writing supplies. To starboard, the settee pulls out into a double berth. Note the radiator under the settee – keeps us toasty in very cold weather.
Galley
Next forward is the galley to port, down three steps. Fitted with a 3 burner propane stove and oven, with ventilated hood over, microwave, top loading frig and freezer, and center-line deep round stainless sinks, there is also a very generous locker for cookware, and four drawers under the Peninsula counter. The counters are highly finished pecan hardwood, except at the sinks which is granite, and fitted with brushed stainless pull down faucet, as well as two more spouts, both foot pumped salt and fresh water.
Tambours hide the appliance garage with a locker overhead, and another just out of view upper right. Under the counter in lower right of photo is a huge pot locker, and small liquor cabinet inboard.
Aluminum Cutter; the design, the build, the world 