Ravn is for sale

Ravn on her second sail.

I thought when I built Ravn she would be my last boat. That I would sail her until I could sail no longer. She turned out even better than I expected, and I expected a lot. Every time I take her out for a sail or a row she delights me.

But now I must sell her. I will miss her, but where I'm going she can not come. My wife and I recently bought a new boat that will be our home and our magic carpet to take us to warm waters and places I have dreamed about since I was a boy. We want to follow Emerson's directive: "Live in the sunshine. Swim in the sea. Drink the wild air." So everything that doesn't fit on the boat must be sold, including Ravn.

Those of you who know me or read this blog, know that I have lavished time and used only the best wood and materials on this boat. I never intended to sell her. Who I sell her to is almost as important as what I sell her for, so I'm hoping my friends and readers of this blog will find a good new steward for this excellent boat.

I need to sell Ravn for $7,900. I, of course, think she is worth much more than that. Here's what she is and what is included in the sale:

• She is a faering, built to the beautiful Valgerda design by Atkin: 18 feet 9 inches LOA, 14 feet 9 (or 11) inches LWL, 5 feet 8 inches beam and a draft of about one foot. Yes, as the Atkin site says, I took some liberties with the keel, making a shallow draft version. It's worked out well and I would do it all over again.
• Ravn won the People's Choice Award at the seventh annual Toledo Wooden Boat Show in 2011.
• She comes with a sail, rudder, spruce mast and all other sailing gear, including handmade wooden blocks.
• Four, handmade wooden oars 10 feet long. Ravn can be easily rowed with one, two, three or four rowers.
• A full, close-fitting acrylic canvas cover that can be used while towing Ravn at highway speeds.
• A beautiful, fully-galvanized and customized Easy-Loader trailer with bearings that never need greasing. I bought it new when I finished the boat and it is wonderful!
• A Danforth anchor with eight feet of chain and 150 feet of 3/8 nylon rode in a canvas bag. 
• Dock lines and two black fenders.
• The plans drawings from Atkin that are suitable for framing and a collection of information about faerings that include a famous, but rare, English monograph about the original Kari.

Ravn at Hope Island.

Serious buyers may contact me at brandonfordus(at)yahoo.com.