Specifications Northstar 80/20 Ketch

TYPE:	Center Cockpit Ketch	LOD:	39' 7"
LWL:	31'	BUILDER:	Northstar
BEAM:	13'4"	DRAFT:	4' 9"
MODEL:	80/20	YEAR:	1974
DESIGNER:	Sparkman/Stephens	RIG:	High Aspect Ketch
ENGINE:	Single 54 HP Diesel 1974 Westerbeke 4-154	HULL:	Fiberglass
WEIGHT:	24,000 lbs.	BALLAST:	9,500 lbs.
TANKAGE:	Fuel: 65 gal. Water: 120 gal.	I J P E PY EY	49.3 14.0 43.3 14.0 27.8 9.3
Sail Area Jib Main Mizzen	345 sq ft (100%) 303 sq ft 129 sq ft	SA/Disp	14.9

Note: I am always, always, far behind on keeping this page up to date. If you see something on here you would like to know more about, please ask. Sometime I have photos I can share as well.

Background

Northstars were built in Huron Park, Ontario Canada. About 80 hulls of 80/20 model were built in the mid to late 70's. Fetchin' Ketch is hull number 30. The manufacturer, Hughes Boat Works, was owned by US Steel at the time(?!). More boats of the identical design were also sold under the Hughes name, until the late 80's. Also, very similar "Swift 40" built by Swallow Craft in Korea. If you're really interested, more of the history can be found HERE. And, if you are considering buying a Northstar or Hughes, I have more information for you HERE. If you already own one of these boats, I have collected some of the details that only we would care about HERE.

ACCOMMODATIONS AND LAYOUT:

Sleeps two in the aft cabin, two good sea berths berths in main salon and 2 v-berths forward. The master stateroom is aft with full head, queen size bed, and opening port in the transome. The aft head has been converted to a respectable sized hanging locker. A custom latex matress added in 2001 has made life aboard much more pleasent.

There is one head forward with shower. Also 6' 4" headroom throughout the salon and cabins.

A Dickinson "Newport" model diesel fired cabin heater was added in fall of 2000 does a great job of heating and keeping the damp winter musties away. If you are interested in installing one of these, talk to me about fuel pumps before you buy the standard model.

Interior completely redone in 1995, with new varnish, cushions, and paint. New main saloon overhead hatch in 2000.

GALLEY:

New in 2003 is a three burner Force 10 range which is proving to be a vast improvement over the old 70's vintage Shipmate stove and oven. How did I ever live without the broiler? A compact microwave oven. 110V or engine heat can warm the water heater, pressure and manual fresh and foot pumped salt water systems. New propane installation 1996. New water heater April 1998. In 2006 we upgraded the propane tanks to the new lightweight fiberglass tanks.

A high capacity Spectra watermaker has been purchased, but not yet installed. It does us no good while at the dock in San Francisco Bay, where the water contains far too much sediment to use it. It will be a challange getting enough time to test it thoughly before a prolonged cruise!

A complete rebuild of the galley sink and associated structure was done in 2005. Switching from 1970's blue (yuch!) formica and chrome to varnished mahogany, brass and bronze. A beautiful improvement, if I say so myself. Over the recent past shifted almost all of the trim metal in the main cabin from chrome and stainless to warmer and more traditional brass and bronze. The bronze galley sink (an $18 steal on ebay) was a particularly impressive find.

ELECTRONICS AND NAVIGATION EQUIPMENT:

In general, I keep this simple. The fancy toys can be a lot of fun, and we do have some, but the general philosophy is to keep things as simple as possible. Almost nothing on the boat beyond the rig and the hull should be indispensible.

Try this question: If componant "X" failed while you were anchored at a remote island in the Pacific, what would you do? Would you be stuck in port waiting for repair/replacement?

Ritchie binnical mounted compass
Jensen marine CD changer Stereo
Horizon VHF Radio with remote mic in cockpit
A very clever arrangement combining the brains of an Navman autopilot with the braun of a CPI cockpit mounted autopilot drive. Works like a charm!
A Navman 3100 wind instrument
A Furuno 6100 fishfinder with speed and temperature transducer.
A JRC 1800CP 24 mile Radar for those foggy days!

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:

12 Volt (DC), New 30 AMP 110 VAC supply panal in January 1999.

In June 2005 we added 440 AH in the form of 6 volt battteris from American Battery, with a seperate engine starting battery, and an emergency cross connect panal. At the same time all of the high amperage distribution wiring was torn out and replaced. All properly fused and switched.

Battery charging is by a 120 amp Powerline alternator with a Xantrex multistep regulator and a Freedom 1000 W inverter/charger. A Link 1000 monitors the charge status of the battery. All of these were added in 2005.

All AC and most DC wiring replaced in 1999 & 2000.

2005 Haulout also had us pulling the masts and installing conduit to keep the electical wires from banging annoyingly.

In the relm of cruising and live aboard "luxuries" top place has to be the washer/dryer. The Splendide 2100 was a very thight fit, but it's water and power use fit within a reasonable cruising budget.

DECK AND HULL:

2 anchors (CQR with 100 feet of chain and Danforth with 30 feet of chain), anchor davit, Solid Bronze manual anchor windlass, bow pulpit with rails, side stanchions with lifelines, new dodger in September 1998, large propane deck box aft, endgrain balsa cored fiberglass deck with non-skid surface, life ring, Lifesling man overboard system. A new OGM LED tricolor and anchor light was installed in 2005.

New fixed and opening ports installed in Main saloon in 2003. Sailomat windvane added in 2003.

Last hauled in August 2005 for bottom paint, topside paint, mast conduit, thruhull installation, new prop, and stuffing box.

SAILS AND RIGGING:

Aluminar spars stepped on keel, stainless wire standing rigging, all replaced between April 1998 and November 1998, Harkin roller furling, Bartlet winches, 3 dacron sails - main (~320 sq ft), working jib (~300 sq ft), mizzen (~129 sq ft), and a nylon mizzen staysail. New sail covers 1995. New 2-speed (6:1 and 3:1) mainsheet block system from Garhauer in 2006. Also in 2006 bought a like-new asymetrical spinnaker of about 600 sq feet, and added self-tailing conversions to the main winches. The mast was equiped with a spinnaker crane as part of the original design, but as far as we could see it had never been used.

MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT AND ENGINE DETAILS:

Edson wheel steering, automatic and manual bilge pumps, Electric vacuum head with 50 gallon flexible Nauta holding tank.

54HP Fresh water cooled Westerbeke 4-154 Engine. In fact, the Northstar 80/20 was the cover photo for Westerbeke's advertising for this engine.

During the 2005 haulout she got a new 3 blade Max-Prop feathering prop. What an improvement in handling in close quarters. Propwalk in reverse is not gone, but is much reduced and more predictable. My regular berth is a sidetie between two other large boats which basically requires me to "parallel park" starboard side to. It's a lot easier now than it was.

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