M55 VERA Classic Pilothouse Cruiser

Introduction

Today the most producers are  going on one way of modern “innovated” style yachts, sometimes poor sailers, with standard layout and even doubtful ergonomic of cockpit, for coastal or charter sailing. 
Another trend is fast and light racing or cruising boats, who needs some high level of sailing experience and which are not for pleasure blue water cruising.
There are some clients who is looking for solid built seagoing boat with comfort and with minimal dependence on modern electronic devices and equipment, which need much attention and service.
Most of such owners choose from old built Scandinavian, American or Dutch yachts, which are already about 15-30 years old now.

After many contacts and summary of discussion with such clients, who followed my projects (MT-37 Nordic Duck, M-53 Meta, M-64 Atoa),  I feel that my new yacht has to include the traditional comfort of old cruisers in combination with simple handling, low maintenance and rather good sailing ability in open seas.

Some points of their wish list are accepted by me, some points no:
They talk about: aluminium hull with build-in keel, long keel or rudder skeg, central cocpit, simple classic interior, cutter or  ketch rig, pilothouse or  deck salon, 40-55 ft long, draft 2m or less, no teak on deck, bow platform with 2 anchors, propeller shaft, wind self-steering, 2-3 watertight bulkheads,  good storage capacity, slab reefing, dinghy davits or garage, one owners cabin, one toilet with separate shower, one guest cabin.
Besides their wishes, the boat should have own style and be a good looking yacht, in line with traditional old boats with of Bristol Pilot Cutter or similar.
Herewith we present the new design line of Classic Pilothouse Cruiser: M40 ROSA, M45 MIRA, M50 RITA and M55 VERA and hope that you choose one of them as your next boat of dream.

Alexander E. Morozov

Concept

M55 VERA is flagman yacht in the concept line of semi-classic pilothouse cruiser for long range cruising with small crew. The boat will be built with practical and minimalist concept as the base. It means that boat will have the simple neo-classic interior with painted surfaces and minimal teak wood trimming, the deck will be painted or covered with non-skid  cover for easy maintenance.

Aluminium welded hull can be with bare metal surface or painted up to choice of colours or covered with vinyl.  The deck is composite, made of foam sandwich with vacuum infusion or wood/epoxy.

The equipment will be basic and simple, but enough for sailors to make safe cruising with minimal problems for repair or service, in opposite to modern over-equipped yachts.

Practical ketch rig, central cockpit, spasious aft and forward cabins with sparate toilet and shower, moderate draft, skeg protected rudder and propeller, built-in (no bolts) keel, no genoa furlers, no generator (only solar and wind charging), all for simple and and reliable cruising worldwide. This yacht will be built by Dutch specialists upon order and final specification.

Features

• practical ketch rig

• central cockpit and aft master cabin

• fully enclosed pilothouse for all weather sailing

• partly protected cocpit by pilothouse roof and sides

• full size bimini for protection of all cocpit from sun

• medium displacement hull with balanced heeled waterlines

• aluminium alloy 5083 welded hull with 3 watertight bulkheads

• foam insulation min 100 mm above water line

• watertight rudder compartment for safety reasons

• watertight forpeak sail locker

• folding transom part as swimming platform with removable ladder

• aft dafits for full size rigid bottom dinghy

• built-in rub rail and bulwark with integrated fair leads for mooring lines

• separate battery and pumps compartments

• built-in keel (no bolts) with moderate 2 m draft

• composite foam or wood cored deck, pilothouse and cocpit, more height inside and better insulation

• tampered glasses with aluminium frames on pilothouse

• Lewmar deck hatches “Ocean” type with moskito nets and blinders

• Deck ventilators Dorado for cabin, salon, galley, toilet, pilothouse.

• deck ventilator “Air-only” in sail locker

• 1 master cabin, 1 guest cabin, 3 guest berth in salon, storm berth

• full size shower and separate toilet

• significant volume for storage

• all water in hull is collected in central bilge tank in keel

• gravity drained black water tank (no electric pump)

• gravity drained shower compartment to central bilge tank (no electric pump)

• gravity drain from galley to central bilge tank or to sea

• 2 electric and one manual pumps to drain out the main bilge tank

• standard diesel engine Nanni 50 h.p. 2800 rpm with M4 rating, alternator 100A + Balmar alternator 130A

• 3 blade folding Gori propeller with overdrive option

• 2 fuel tanks with drain plug, 2 fuel filters and water separator

• hot/cold water pressured system with low noise and consumption electric pump

• diesel heater in main salon (option)

• gas or diesel cooker in galley

• aluminium Selden rig with RDS cars and reliable reefing system, s/steel rigging

• Ullman full batten mainsail

• Ullman genoa and staysail on hanks, no furlers

• reversible Selden winches

• Selden, Lewmar deck ware

• deck anchor winch 1300W with cabestan for second anchor rope

• B&G Triton instruments

• JEFA LD-100 autopilot ram

• B&G autopilot computer + remote control

• Icom VHF radio with remote control in cocpit

• Mastervolt battery charger 220/12V 50A

• hot water boiler (220V, engine)

• one main anchor Rocna 25 kilos with chain 10mm 60 m + rope rode 40 m

• safety raft for 4-6 person