BST: Willard Horizon for sale.

[Lawrence Zeitlin]

Good news and bad news. The good news is that I have been retained to  
write a book on cross-cultural research in management based on some  
research I did before my retirement. A major publisher specializing  
in business tomes came across some papers I wrote over 12 years ago  
and decided that a book along similar lines would be a hot seller in  
today's depressed global economy. We will be doing a lot of traveling  
for the next two years, visiting businesses, interviewing executives  
in the US and abroad to update the older papers.

The bad news is that my wife and I will have no time for cruising in  
the Willard Horizon we have owned for the last 14 years. We could  
store Puffin ashore but by the time the book is published we will be  
both over 80 and probably will be in condition only to while away the  
days rocking on our front porch waiting for the children and  
grandchildren to call. So we have decided to sell or donate our boat.

This is an objective assessment of the boat - no puffery, no rose  
colored glasses.

Puffin is a 1974 Willard Horizon. That's the one with the mast and  
sails. It is a very attractive boat but I'll be the first to say that  
it not a cream puff. It has been used hard. But it is not a project  
boat either. The engine is the original Perkins 4-107 and is in good  
condition. It starts right up, burns very little oil, does not smoke  
and enables the boat to reach hull speed at 2400 RPM. We generally  
cruise at 6 KT at 2000 RPM averaging .82 GPH. That's 7.3 NM/gallon.  
We used Puffin all last summer. The boat is now on stands in the  
Viking Boatyard in Verplanck, NY, where it has been stored for the  
winter. Verplanck is a Hudson River town on the east shore about 40  
miles north of New York City. For those of you who know the river, it  
is four miles north of Croton Point and across the river from the  
Haverstraw Marina.

All of the blisters below the waterline have been repaired and the  
hull painted with 6 barrier coats of Interprotect 2000/2001. There  
are some small gel coat blisters above the waterline but since they  
posed neither a structural or safety hazard, they were ignored. The  
hull has been painted with a satin finish coat of Hattaras White,  
really a very light cream color, and easily passes the 30 foot rule.  
If you are concerned about appearance at the yacht club the topsides  
will need repainting. The light grey paint is checking and the paint  
on some side deck walkway areas is flaking. We intended to sand and  
scrape, then repaint over the summer season, but we will not have a  
chance to do it. The teak on the caprail is original but the joints  
need recaulking. Similarly the companionway sliding panels need some  
woodwork and painting. The boat is respectable but will not win any  
concours d' elegance prizes. Appearance has nothing to do with  
seaworthiness, of course.

The interior shows the wear appropriate for a 35 year old boat.  
Nothing that a little woodworking and a coat of varnish couldn't fix.  
The head is equipped with an ElectroSan and a Raritan electric flush  
toilet. The upholstery is is fairly good condition. Since alcohol  
fumes make me queasy in a closed saloon the kamikaze Galley Maid  
alcohol stove was replaced with a small butane stove years ago.

The sailing gear is in good shape. The boat comes with jib and  
mainsail. The halyards show wear and probably should be replaced  
soon. Additional gear has been added to make sailing easier. These  
include cleats, a boom crutch and a topping lift. The mast lowers  
forward for passage through low bridges and canals. One person can do  
the job in about 15 minutes. There is a large swim platform which is  
the envy of other Willard owners. It makes boarding the high sided  
Willard from a dinghy quite easy. It also offers a place to store the  
dinghy when under way.

The instrumentation is stock Willard. The original Stewart Warner  
tachometer, ammeter, oil pressure all work perfectly. Two Humminbird  
depth finders are installed, one in the pilothouse, the other at the  
upper helm. There is an electrical panel with DC and AC breakers, a  
voltmeter for house and starting batteries, and appropriate  
switching. The boat comes with an Standard Horizon VHF radio and a  
Loran receiver. The Navico 5000 autopilot works perfectly. For  
entertainment there is a Sony auto radio with tape deck and stereo  
speakers in the saloon. No fuel gauge was fitted to stock Willards,  
just a dipstick. But since the fuel burn is so low, a full tank will  
last most of the summer. Incidentally, the twin black iron 64 gallon  
fuel tanks are tight as a drum. No rust and no leaks. At the moment  
the boat has 80 gallons of fuel in the tanks as an added incentive.  
There is a large collection of spares, filters, etc.

The boat comes with the original owner's manual, including wiring  
diagrams, operating and shop manuals for the engine and BW reverse  
gear, and manuals for most fitted equipment. The boat has been  
inspected by the USCG several times in the last few years and meets  
all safety requirements.

At the end of last summer the drive shaft and supporting bearings  
were replaced. All Willard owners know that this is a major expense  
item but the new owner will not have to worry about it for another 30  
years. The rear oil seal on the BW reverse gear leaks a few drops of  
oil. Nothing that an oil sock in the bilge can't absorb. The boat  
moves well under power. In case of catastrophic failure the boat has  
sails for emergency get-home capability.

The boat is in sail away condition except for a few tasks. The engine  
and shaft need a final realignment to minimize a residual vibration.  
Oil in the engine and gearbox should to be changed and new filters  
installed. The stuffing box needs to be repacked. The usual stuff.

I must dispose of the boat by Apr. 30 because that's when my winter  
storage time is up. I will start traveling immediately after that  
date. My accountant tells me that I will probably get a $15,000 tax  
deduction by giving it to a charitable organization but I would  
rather see it go to a Willard or trawler enthusiast. The first  
$15,000 check gets it. As is. I will not have the time to bring it up  
to showroom specs. Fixing the most egregious defects should cost no  
more than $2000. Less if you do the work yourself. So for a few extra  
bucks you could have a seaworthy, attractive, go anywhere Willard.  
The NADA Blue Book value for a 1974 Willard Horizon in average  
condition is approximately $18,000.

I would be happy to send photographs and other relevant material to  
anyone who is interested. But time is of the essence. The deadline is  
firm.

Lawrence Zeitlin
(914) 737-4905
lrzeitlin at aol.com