Boat Model: Beneteau 473

Year: 2006

Name: Patronus (A patronus is the protective spell that is created by using the spell: Expecto Patronum!  It takes the form of an ethereal white light that sometimes takes the shape of an animal.  Each wizard’s patronus is unique to him or her.  Our patronus is our boat.)

Description: Patronus has three cabins, 2 heads, a salon, a full galley, and a spacious, open cockpit.  It is a 47′ sloop with a roller furling mainsail, a roller furling jib, and we plan to add spinnaker gear in the spring.  It has a white hull with navy blue waterline and blue canvas.  The engine is a Yanmar 76 diesel.  It has a generator, 2 zone air conditioning, radar, and plenty of navigational electronics.  We purchased an AB Marine dinghy and a Yamaha outboard engine this winter.

Click here to see and hear our engine come to life after Chris completely disassembled and reassembled her:

Our Little Bundle of Yanmar Joy

Safety Equipment: 6-man offshore liferaft, EPIRB, Handheld VHF.  Offshore lifejackets, jacklines and tethers.

Buying our Boat: The search for Patronus began in March 2011.  Chris quickly became familiar with the many manufacturers and models of cruiser/racer sailboats.  He searched the internet for boat listings from New Jersey to Texas and beyond.  He quickly homed in on the Beneteau 473.  After looking at various boats from Newport to Connecticut to Annapolis, we determined that the Beneteau 473 would be the perfect fit for our family and this voyage. Unfortunately, we couldn’t find one that had the specifications we wanted AND was in great condition.  We looked at beautiful 2 cabin versions, ones with every feature we wanted but in awful shape, and everything in between.

In September, we drove 2 1/2 hours up to Essex, CT to look at yet another Beneteau 473.  It was a 2006, which is the last year that the 473 model was manufactured.  We immediately had a good feeling about the boat when we arrived in Essex and realized the boat is docked at Essex Island Marina.  This is the marina that Erica and her family visited many, many times on their boat when she was a child.  Taking the mini-ferry/launch over to the marina felt like walking into the past.  The marina hasn’t changed in 30 years!

Eating an oh-so-nutritious Hot Pocket on the delivery.

The boat was in pristine condition with only 150 hours on the engine.  It had a generator, a/c, and three cabins.  The only issue was a mast leak which had damaged one of the floor boards.  After a few weeks of negotiations, we had the boat surveyed, we closed, and we were ready to take our new boat “home”.

Chris, Tom (Chris’ brother), Mark (our friend from college), Bryson, and Reese did the 22 hour delivery from Essex, CT to Haverstraw, NY.  The “maiden” voyage didn’t start out well.  The winds were stonger than forecast, the current was against them, and the waves were huge.  Everyone was feeling seasick and they weren’t making much progress.  It looked like they might have to abandon the trip and pull in somewhere for the night.  But once they got down to the shore of Long Island, the land protected them somewhat and they were able to make much better progress.

Everyone loved seeing the lights of Manhattan as they sailed down the East River, around the tip of Manhattan, and north up the Hudson River.  Under the George Washington and Tappan Zee bridges and Haverstraw is up aways on the west bank of the Hudson. Chris’ careful planning and attention to safety and detail saved the trip and they arrived safely early Sunday morning.  They were lucky to have Tom on board, who is an accomplished sailor as well as Mark, who is always up for an adventure and willing to help in any way.

Uncle Tom and Reese enjoying the sunset.

We look forward to smoother sailing in the future but we are glad to have such a great story for our maiden voyage!  See the Gallery Page for more pictures of Patronus!