S/Y Sundance – 36′ Morris Justine
Sundance is a product of Maine. She was designed by Chuck Paine in Camden and built by Morris Yachts in Southwest Harbor. Paine’s design is called the Justine and Sundance is Hull #28.
She’s our home! Less than 200 Square feet of living space, but the yard is pretty amazing.
Line Drawings
As Seen from Afar
On Deck
Interior
Specifications
- Built in 1991 by Morris Yachts
- Hull #28
- LOA: 36′ 3”
- LWL: 29′ 6”
- Beam: 11′ 7”
- Draft: 4′ 6”
- Displacement: 15,600 lb
- Ballast: 6,500 (Lead)
- S.A./Disp.: 16.13
- Bal./Disp.: 41.67
- Disp./Len.: 271.28
- Comfort Ratio: 29.3
- Rig and Sail:
- I: 46.5′
- P: 40.8′
- J: 15.3′
- E: 13.3′
- S.A. Fore: 355.73 ft2
- S.A. Main: 271.32 ft2
- S.A. Total: 627.05 ft2
- Construction: Fiberglass (1991)
- Engine: Yanmar 3JH40 (2021)
- Water: 2 @ 50 Gallon tanks + Spectra Cape Horn 15GPH water maker
- Fuel: 33 Gallons (Diesel)
- Solar: 700 Watts
Our Dinghy
Heidi t/t Sundance
Builder: David Birch
Designer: Steve Redmond
Design Name: Tetra
Guide to construction by Tom Hill:
I wrote an essay about our tender for Points East Magazine:
The Little Red Boat That Could Points East Magazine June 2021
Back in 1999, my father built a rowboat. He named her after his granddaughter Heidi, who was born the same year. The boat has provided excellent service for our family and especially for me. I calculate she has been towed and rowed over 35,000 nautical miles, a distance equal to 1.41 trips around the globe at the equator. She is eager for more. At 22 years young, she is just now entering her prime.
All the memories she’s provided drift back to me when I have her up on sawhorses for paint in the spring. Most prominently featured are the hours spent transfixed by her dance on the tow line. She skips along back there mile after mile in the random chop, always doing her best to catch up. Weeks, maybe months, of my life have been spent contently gazing upon this happy futility.
The boat was built to a Steve Redmond design called Tetra. Tom Hill’s helpful book, Ultralight Boat Building, details a technique for constructing her out of plywood and hardwood. My father chose Okoume plywood, 6-mil for the planking and 12-mil for the bottom and transom. The rails, keel, skeg, stem, breasthook, quarter knees, frames and seats were cut from Honduran mahogany. A handsome pair of spruce wide blade spoons with mahogany inlaid tips were provided by Shaw & Tenney for power.
I remember taking my coffee for a slow row and drift around Long Cove on Vinalhaven Island one silent morning. Margaret Wise Brown’s famous bedroom window from her children’s book Goodnight Moon came in and out of view through the fog. As did the tops of the trees surrounding the harbor and the tops of the masts in it. When the fog suddenly lifted, color flooded over everything. I rowed back toward the smells of frying eggs and bacon surrounded by the clearest, brightest Maine morning I had ever been a part of.
At only 44 pounds, Heidi’s no Ever Given and will never be stuck for long in any canal. Two people can carry her easily. In a pinch, one person can manage her on a shoulder alone. (I’ve been in exactly that pinch many times.) Thanks to her significant skeg and a narrow transom at the waterline, she tracks well under oar and rides light and straight on the towline. A low sheer line and graceful overhangs deliver a boat that rows like a dream and is pleasing to the eye. It also delivers a boat that is small for her 9’8’’ LOA. What she gains in performance and displacement, she gives back in load carrying capacity. She’s an ideal boat for a rower and a dog.
One powerful row down and back the length of Lake Tashmoo stands out. With Bill the dog settled in and still on the aft seat, my rowing rhythm settled in to match and we found ourselves in a rare groove. Every stroke sent us surging faster across the flat water. The big spoons snapping from feathered at the catch, grabbing water and tossing us forward in perfect balance stroke after stroke. If the dog so much as twitched his tail, all would have been lost. But he stayed impossibly still and we remained at the apex of balance and speed for an epic ride.
In the rowboat’s early days, a human passenger made any journey into a bit of a slog. When so loaded, she trimmed decidedly down in the stern and freeboard aft became precariously low. Add some chop, and the calmness of a slow row with a passenger was displaced by the angsty possibility of sinking. I eventually addressed this shortcoming with an expansion of the center bench and the addition of a second rowing station 16 inches forward of the original. She trims out nicely in her new configuration and ferrying a crew member now involves a good deal less bailing.
The obligatory morning row to the beach is one of the many advantages of sailing with a dog. A recent summer sunrise found us anchored off of Camp Island in Merchant Row, decadently situated between Maine’s Penobscot and Jericho Bays. The water here is clear and the beaches are very fine. It’s the sort of spot that begs to be explored by oar.
“Hop in Bill,” I said, “No time to waste. The boat needs a row.”
S/Y Sundance
Maintenance History
New Hydrovane self steering – 2023
New Watt & Sea 600 hydro power drive – 2023
Starlink satelite system – 2023
New Spectra Cape Horn 18 GPH water maker – 2021
New Yanmar 3JH40 diesel engine w/ new transmission – 2021
New built on engine oil change pump – 2021
Engine N2k network to RayMarine MFD – 2021
New propeller shaft – 2021
New cutlass bearing – 2021
New PSS shaft seal – 2021
New Max Prop – 2021
New engine shift and throttle cables – 2021
New custom 33 gallon aluminum fuel tank – 2021
New Maretron tank gauge system for fuel, and both water tanks – 2021
New fresh water system including all hose, faucets, pumps & filtration system – 2021
New North Sails fully battened mainsail with three reef points – 2022
(2017 North main kept as a spare.)
New North Sails 135 genoa – 2017
New North Sails 110 genoa – 2022
All new standing rigging and turnbuckles – 2019
New Harken roller furler – 2019
New LED masthead anchor/tricolor light – 2019
New steaming light – 2019
New VHF antenna – 2019
New Raymarine wind transducer – 2019
New Windex – 2019
All new mast wiring – 2019
New Edson leather spreader boots – 2019
New custom Forespar aluminum/carbon whisker pole w/ mast mount storage – 2019
New radar backstay mount – 2020
Strip bottom paint, barrier coat and paint – 2020
All new Ray Marine electronics:
- New Raymarine Axiom Pro Chatplotter/Radar display – 2019
- Dopler2 Radar – 2022
- Below decks autopilot – 2016. (Control head replaced 2023)
- New spare autopilot with all components – 2021
- 3@ i70s displays for depth, speed, wind – 2023
- New RayMarine AIS transceiver – 2020
- New Standard Horizon VHF/AIS w/cockpit remote – 2015
7 new 100 watt Sunwear solar panels – 3 @2017 / 2@2020 / 2 @ 2023
New house bank batteries: Lithium – 3 @ Battleborn 100AH – 2022
New engine start battery: Odyssey AGM Group 31 – 2022
New Victron battery monitor – 2020
New iPad at nav station for Victron display and Ray Marine MFD repeater. – 2020
New Viking 4-man RescYou Pro life raft – 2020
New ACR 406 PLB – 2015
2 new ACR 406 PLB/AIS – 2023
New ACR ditch bag – 2020
6 new inflatable life jackets / harness – 4 @ 2020 / 2 @ 2023
New flare kit – 2020
New Force 10 three burner stove/oven – 2019
New propane line from locker to stove – 2019
New Propane solenoid and regulator and sniffers. – 2019
5 new aluminum propane bottles – 2020/2022
Custom pushpit propane canvas storage sleeve for additional bottles above – 2022
New Manual bilge pump with all new hose – 2020
New electric bilge pump with all new hose and float switch – 2020
New high water alarm & pump complete w/ new hose and float switch – 2020
New steering cable and chain linkage – 2019
New Bimini – 2016
New dodger with new fly to Bimini – 2020
New canvas pedestal cover – 2016
New custom oar storage bag for both primary and back-up oars – 2022
New forward hatch rain fly – 2019
New SeaFrost DC refrigeration system – 2016
New running rigging – 2016/2020/2023
- Main halyard
- Genoa halyard
- Spin halyard x 2
- Main sheet
- Jib sheets
- Jib car control lines
- Traveller control lines
- Roller furling
- Boom vang
- Topping lift
- Reefing lines
New anchor chain – 180’ of 5/6’’ G4 – 2022
New anchor – Rochna 25 (55lb) – 2022
Replace cockpit scupper drain deck fitting elbows – 2022
New Harken traveller car – 2022
New hot and cold cockpit shower – 2023
New paper charts for entire East Coast plus Bahamas plus Bermuda & Azores – 2022
New Navionics chart chip for east coast plus Bahamas – 2022
New C-map chart chip for Bahamas – 2022
New fenders and fender covers – 2021
New sink and counter top in head – 2020
New rain water collection system – 2020 (featured in SAIL magazine)
New custom knife block with hidden magnet – 2020 (Featured in Good Old Boat mag)
New mainsheet blocks – 2020
New custom drawer for tools at nav station – 2020
New cutting board for galley sink cap – 2020 (Featured in Good Old Boat Magazine)
New custom toilet pump handle – 2020 (Featured in Good Old Boat Magazine)
New Sextant – 2018
New toilet – 2018
All new head hoses and Y-valve – 2018
New Bomar overhead opening hatch in salon and fwd stateroom – 2018
New engine raw water intake hose and clamps and sea strainer – 2018
New Jonbouy man overboard inflatable horseshoe and pole – 2018
New cockpit drain hoses – 2019
New teak helm step – 2017
LED running lights – 2017
New fire extinguishers – 2017
New anchor windlass – 2017
New cabin lights in fwd state room – 2017
New handheld VHF – 2016
New handheld GPS – 2016
New Weems and Plath clock & barometer – 2015
New Edson single lever engine shifter – 2015
New wheel leather and dodger grab bar leather – 2015
New engine driven cabin heater – 2015
New salt water washdown pump, hoses and sea strainer – 2015
New stereo – 2015
Rebed deck prisms – 2015
Rebed side deck scuppers – 2015
Rebed chain plates – 2015
Rebed teak grabrails (Grabrails stripped and varnished off the boat) – 2015
All exterior teak stipped and refinished with 4 coats of Cetol topped with 4 coats of Epifanes. – 2015
Routine maintenance:
Prep and apply 2 coats of exterior varnish every 6 months
Change engine oil and filter every 250 hrs
Change fuel filters every 500 hrs
Change engine raw water pump impeller every 500 hrs
Change Max-Prop zinc every 2 months
Regular interior and exterior cleaning
Service winches, prop and steering system once a year
Hard sand prep and apply 2 coats of Interlux Micron CSC bottom paint once a year
Diver to scrub bottom once between annual haulouts for paint
Wax boat every 6 months (Topsides, smooth parts of cockpit, house and deck)
Varnish cabin sole every other year
Replace sails every 30K miles
Spares:
Engine raw water pump
Engine raw water pump impellers
Engine fuel and oil filters – 8 of each
Engine belts
Steering cable/chain linkage
Engine shift & throttle cables
Autopilot – complete with all components
Hydrovane offshore spares kit
Rule bilge pump (2)
Rule float switch (2)
Victron solar panel controller
Solar panel plug ends both male and female
LED running lights fwd and aft
Windlass controller
Windlass – complete
Toilet pump
Toilet pump handle (Custom)
Toilet rebuild kit
Propane regulator
Propane solenoid and controller
Fresh water pump
Fresh water foot pump
Saltwater wash down pump
Saltwater wash down hose
Saltwater wash down quick connect fitting
O-rings for above
Fresh water system filter elements
Water maker replacement filters
Water maker offshore spares kit
Water maker product test probe
All light bulbs & fuses
Halyards and sheets
Zincs
Life Jacket cartridges
Oars
Oarlocks
Dinghy garboard plug
Boarding ladder stand-off pads
Eyeglasses
Sunglasses
Hat
S/Y Sundance – Fuel Chart
Fuel capacity: 33 Gal. Conservative Range @ .8 gal/hr: 41 hrs or 246 miles @ 6 knots
Yanmar 3JH40 Eng. #: E10755 Transmission: KM35A2 Ratio: 2.64:1
Engine oil: Shell Rotella-T 15W40 Transmission fluid: Straight 30 weight engine oil
Oil filter: Yanmar: 119305-35170
Fuel filter: Prime: 121857-55710-2 Secondary: 129A00-55800-HD
Impeller: 129670-42610 Belt: 129675-42280
Mack Boring: (908) 964-0700
Date Hour Meter Hours Run Gallons added Gal/hr
2014 – 2020 N/A 1026.5 691.3 .67
New Yanmar 3JH40 engine installed 2021
2021: 202.9 202.9 119.6 .59
2022: 672.5 469.6 336.8 .72
2023:
S/Y Sundance
Storage Plan
1. Aft hanging locker
Small hand tools
Dewalt drill and saw
Fasteners
Misc. electrical supplies
Sealants
Lubricants
Refrigerant supplies and tools
Sewing kit
Ditch bag (Passports, EPIRB, VHF)
Anchor bag
Foul weather gear
2. In Chart table
Batteries
Computers
Ships papers
Pens/pencils
Eye glasses / Sun glasses
3. Under Chart table
Engine filters, supplies & spares
4. Under Galley sink
Water filter spares
Filter wrenches
Dish towels
Spare dish and hand soap
5. Low between engine and aft hanging locker
Dorade caps
Prop & hull zincs
Max Prop spares
Wooden plugs
6. Under Port Settee
Rule 800 Bilge pumps
Rule Super Switch float switch
Toilet rebuild kit
Toilet pump – complete
Propane solenoid, regulator & controller Windlass controller & Solenoid
Battery Switch
Solar panel plugs
Oar locks & garboard plug for tender Boarding ladder stand-off pads
Manual bilge pump rebuild kit
Steering cable/chain linkage Misc.
RayMarine cables
Barient winch parts
Blocks of wood
Solar panel regulator
Elec. & foot fresh water pumps
Running lights
7. Under Stb Settee
Water maker spares and parts
Shift & throttle cables
Bungs
Replacement faucets
Misc. small parts – bulbs, etc.
Misc. plumbing supplies
Hose clamps
Force 10 stove spares
O-rings and rubber gasket supplies
8. Outboard of stb settee seat backs
Aft: Paint locker: Varnish & sandpaper, etc.
Fwd: Life Jackets & Harness tethers
9. Outboard of port settee seat backs
Aft: food
Fwd: blankets
10. Salon stb fwd locker
AC Heater
Flags
Lead line
Flare kit
11. Salon stb aft locker
Dog food & supplies
Vacuum
Dinghy cable lock & oar clamp
12. Salon port fwd locker
Placemats and napkins
Screens
Candles
13. Salon port aft locker
Food
14. Outboard of toilet in head
Spare toilet pump & spare handle
Spare foot pump
1st Aid Kit
15. Below floorboard in fwd cabin
Spare Depth/Speed/Temp transducer
16. Below seat in fwd cabin
Behind seat-back: sockets and wrenches
Below seat: large hand tools
17. V-berth footwell port low
Extra cleaning supplies & trash bags
18. V-berth footwell stb. low
Rain boots
19. Below V-berth fwd. low
Spare anchor windlass
20. Aft cockpit locker
Dock lines
Spare lines
Spare hose
21. Port cockpit locker
Spinnaker
Fender board
Scrub brush
Scuba
22. Stb cockpit locker
Cockpit seat and cushions
Swing seat
Wine & beer
Fenders
23. Under autopilot at steering quadrant
Spare Autopilot