FOR SALE Cal 2-46 - $129,000 USD

The Merry Dolphin:

The Cal 46 is on a select list of passage making sailboats.  Almost all of the Cal 46s are all are still sailing and many, many of them have circumnavigated, some multiple times.  She is commodious, strong, comfortable, capable and is a fantastic sailing machine.  The Merry Dolphin is a special example among her sister ships with electric winches, a teak-cherry sole, very strong and beautiful custom window frames and lovely strong davits. Merry Dolphin has also been extensively refitted over the past 5 years and has been substantially upgraded.  Over $200,000 has been  invested with all projects completed to very high standards with the goal of having boat that will be ready to cruise in comfort and style for the next 10 years or more.

Merry Dolphin has just successfully completed a crossing to French Polynesia and is ready to continue exploring the South Pacific or she can be delivered to your preferred location in the Pacific.

Contact: merrydolphincal@gmail.com

Recent upgrades include:

New Spectra 150 deluxe water maker (2016)
New Lifeline AGM batteries (2016)
New 3000 W Victron Inverter (2016)
New ProMariner Batter Charger (2015)
Solar panels (2016)
Salon interior refitted (2015)
 - New Hatches
  - LED low power lighting (2015)
  - Sunbrella Settee cushions
 - new headliner
  - deck hardware rebedded (2015)
New chart plotter, radar and AIS system -Garmin GPSMAP 1040xs & 4 kW Radar (2015)
Electrical system upgraded - new sub panel (2015)
Gori three blade 26" folding propeller (2015)
New Bimini/dodger - over sized tubing, heavy duty Sunbrella and highest grade window material (2015)
New forward head (2015) Rebuilt LeVac aft head (2015)
Refitted engine room (2015)
New Stove/Oven (2012)
Hydrovane self steering (2012)
Barrier coat and bottom paint (2012)
New Genoa (2012)
New furler (2012)
Engine overhaul (2012)
Completely refitted mast, with new standing rigging (2012) and new spreaders and paint (2015)

Specs

Builder: Cal Yachts

Designer: Bill Lapworth

Flag of Registry: Canadian

Keel: Modified full
Year: 1974

Dimensions

LOA: 45 ft 5 in

Beam: 12 ft 6 in

Minimum Draft: 5 ft 0 in

Displacement: 30000 lbs

Ballast: 8000 lbs

Headroom: 6 ft 3 in

Engines

Engine Brand: Perkins (overhauled in 2011)

Engine(s) Total Power: 85 HP

Engine Type: Inboard

Drive Type: Stern drive

Propeller: 3 blade 26" gori folding and 3 blade fixed propeller

Cruising Speed: 7 knots @ 1600 RPM

Maximum Speed: 8 knots

Range: 1000 nm

Year Built: 1974

Engine Hours: 1850 (400 hrs since overhauled in 2011)

Tanks

Fresh Water Tanks: 1 stainless fwd tank plus 2 new bladder tanks (160 Gallons)

Fuel Tanks: 2 (260 Gallons)

Accommodations

Number of single berths: 2 with lee cloth

Number of double berths: 3

Number of cabins: 2

Number of heads: 2

Sails

Full batten mainsail (Northsails) in very good condition

Spare mainsail in fair condition

Furling genoa (Mack sail, new 2012) in excellent condition

Spare furling genoa in very good condition

Spinnaker with sock in good condition

Furling mizzen (Leitch and McBride, new 2010) in excellent condition

Rigging

Ketch rig

Electric Barient sheet winches

Standing rigging replaced in 2011

Boom vang

offshore spinnaker pole with T-150 fitting mounted on track on mast (new 2016)

Electronics

Wind speed - Signet

Autopilot – Raymarine and Comnav Marine

Compass - Ritchie

GPS – Garmin 1040xs (new 2015)

VHF – Icom

Radar - 4kW Garmin (new 2015)

AIS (new 2015)

Radio – am/fm/cd with speakers throughout
EPIRB (new battery 2016)

Inside Equipment

Electric bilge pump

Manual bilge pump

Battery charger

Hot water - 6 gal-dual heating

Fresh water maker – Spectra 150 Deluxe (new 2016) 

Range – Force 10 (new 2012)

Marine head – Lavac aft

Forward head –new 2015
Salon fans (2016)

Refrigerator – 120v freezer and fridge (runs off inverter)

Filtered potable water tap and raw seawater tap in galley

Electrical Equipment

Shore power inlet

Inverter –Victron 3000w

Electrical Circuit: 12V

2 Kyocera 150w solar panels

ProMariner battery charger

4 Lifeline house batteries (new 2016)
Link 10 Battery monitor (2016)

2 start batteries (2016)

Sub panel new (2015)
Galvanic Isolator (2015)

Outside Equipment/Extras

Hydrovane windvane self-steering (new 2012)

Cockpit cushions

Outboard engine brackets

Heavy Duty Davits

Liferaft -  6-person (certified 2012)

Electric windlass (new clutch pads and Gypsy) 

Covers

Bimini Top

Dodger

Mainsail cover

Saloon portlight covers

Ground tackle

60 lb CQR w/220' 3/8” chain. 

Large Fortress

Large aluminum Fortress

Loads of line and extra chain.

Preparing for storage

Sailing into Port Phaeton, Tahiti.

Merry Dolphin has held up well sailing over 4000 miles in last few months.

Fuel tanks have now been filled to prevent moisture from condensing in the tanks during storage.  An additive has also been added to the fuel to prevent algae growth in tanks and lines.  There will be many preparations done over the next two weeks to ensure she will remain in great shape ready for more adventures.

Tahiti

We left Fakarava for more adventures.  Carrie, Sophie and Robert on their way to a side trip to Bora Bora and David and the boys bringing the boat to Tahiti.  

Crossing from the Tuamotus to Tahiti is 2 days at sea.  We kept the main sail double reefed... which turned out to be a good decision when a big squall hit.  Shorten sail early and head off when the boat speed gets too fast, kept things safe, even in 40 knot winds.

This is a shot of "Garmin" the chart plotter...  surfing, Merry dolphin achieves boat speeds over 12 knots.  We try to keep things powered down and speeds below 8 knots.  Here we are with just a double reefed main.

We all toured Tahiti before the side trips begin... here is Robert chilling in a water fall.

Lush Tahiti

Sophie on a black sand beach.

Dingy ride to the wave at Teahoupou

The wave at Teahoupou... very powerful

Father's day sail from Port Phaeton to Papeete, swell obscures the horizon.

Fakarava South and Toau

After enjoying the underwater marvels of the South Pass we headed north within the Fakarava atoll as our supplies were dwindling.  We reached a little "Pension" called Pakokota, that was not in the guide books, found by good fortune.   Matthieu and Agnes run a small yacht services business too and they helped us out greatly.  For very reasonable prices they helped us acquire eggs, gas, laundry and groceries.  

We were so happy to have some fresh food!

We enjoyed a lovely meal Agnes and Matthieu made for us in thier open air kitchen dining area.

We went to Toau, an atoll just north of Fakarava.  We had an exciting time going through the pass which was reported to be dangerous,  We actually took a run at exiting the pass while the tide was still outgoing a couple of knots, which pushed the boundaries as we sailed through some breakers.  Next time, on a pass like this, we will probably wait for a completely slack tide, although Merry Dolphin proved herself by handling surfing very well.

Back in Fakarava we got to do some biking!

Coconuts are free, smiles are abundant, clean clear blue water everywhere.  Chicken is very reasonable.... but produce not so abundant, one pepper, one carrot and one grapefruit was almost $10 Canadian dollars.

Carrie and Sophie with Merry Dolphin anchored behind

Again tonight we had a great opportunity to see some great Polynesian culture: a show at the school with local dancers and some amazing kids who came from the Marquesas. 

Head bird

These woman could shake!

 This girl was calling out!

A local cutie.

After enjoying Fakarava and the Tuamotus we are excited to head to Tahiti  were Carrie, Sophie and Robert will hop a commuter flight to Bora Bora, crossing off a long standing item from Carrie's bucket list while Dave and the boys do a sailing rally (i.e. Regatta) and some surfing.

The adventure continues!

Leaving the Marquesas for the Dangerous Archipelago

 Reluctantly we left the beautiful Marquesas May 21 st as a favorable weather window appeared for a nice sail to the Tuamotus (theoretically).  If we missed this weather it would be at least 10 days until we might be able to leave.  Although the Marquesas are fantastic, we have a lot of things we want to see and do ahead in the Tuamotus and Society Islands.

After getting out of the lee of Ua Poa, day one of the crossing lived up to stories and descriptions of ideal trade wind sailing in the south pacific.  The breeze was and an incredibly steady 12-14 knots from the east with comfortable seas allowing us to smoothly glide along toward our destination with good speed.   To top it all off we saw a beautiful pod of dolphins.

Day 2 started out much the same as day 1, but by as the day progressed the skies clouded over.   Night brought heavy rain which did not let up until morning.  This rain was colder than the rain at the equator and Carrie and I donned our foul weather gear.  Even with the rain gear we were immediately soaked right to the skin and we did not sleep at all.

Day3 was wonderful again, allowing us to forget the night before!  As we neared Kauehi, our destination atoll, the weather turned sour again.  It was the wee hours of the morning and the crew was catching some much needed rest and Dave was on deck furling the jib and dropping the main as the wind died.  Then we were slammed by a full on squall.  The water went completely white.  The rain was blowing horizontally and there was so much wind and water it was difficult to breathe.     Dave hopped up to release the mizzen sail but it was so dark and rainy that seeing the lines was next to impossible.  Luckily Sophie appeared offering her help and she shone the flash light allowing Dave to release the sail.  We were safe and we survived a nasty White squall.

In the morning things were grey and cloudy as we neared the pass into the atoll and again a massive pod of dolphins came to greet us.  These lovely creatures made us all forget the bumps of the night before.

In order to enter an atoll requires going through a pass.  Passes are usually only safe at slack tide.   The entire water of the tide has to squeeze through the often very tight passes.

After safely navigating the pass we radioed our friends on “Day Break” to let them know that the pass was safe for entry and they entered behind us.  The skies were still grey but as we followed the channel towards the village anchorage, the sun started to burn away the clouds and by the time we arrived at the anchorage the spectacular view of our first south pacific atoll lay before us.  We had survived the passage and our first pass in “Dangerous Archipelago” (i.e. Tuamotus).

Pristine beauty of our first atoll

Yael wind surfing in the Kauehi atoll.

From the beautiful anchorage we were able to go into the village.   A mere 150 people live on the atoll called Kauehi.   We walked through the very simple village.  We met the self-proclaimed ‘mayor’ named “Adram” who farms black pearls.    He invited us to his home where he and his wife welcomed us with exceptional generosity of spirit.  They showed us black pearls and Dave picked out the finest for a necklace for Carrie as a birthday gift.   Adram’s wife offered Carrie a ring she made with her own hands as a birthday gift.  She then drove us around the atoll on a tour to her cousin’s property at the far end of the atoll.  It is an old pearl farm and they have thousands of old mooring balls which they have piled up against the bases of coconut trees to make “jolie”.   It was an exceptional day for all of us and particularly for Carrie on her 35^th birthday. 

We spent 3 days in all at this atoll and with some degree of sadness about leaving,  made ready for passage to our next stop in paradise “Fakarava” 30 miles south.    It is extremely important to plan for entry through passes and atolls.  There are currents,  tides and light to consider.  Once through the pass the atolls are also very tricky to navigate as there are coral heads like ‘mine fields’ waiting beneath the surface.  We had a couple of close calls in the Kauehi  lagoon.

Fakarava

We sailed an uneventful overnight  passage to Fakarava in order to arrive at slack tide in daylight at Tumakohua pass.  This is a world class diving location.  At the side of the pass there is an old Polynesian village complete with grass huts where guests can  stay.    It is a deep pass with steep coral side walls.  Multiple species of sharks make this pass their home.   We swam in little lagoons in the village in the company of needle fish,  “Napoleon fish”, “meroux” and black tipped sharks.