Fisher 34 Pilothouse Ketch

Design Overview

The design of the yacht is derived from North Sea fishing vessels with a relatively high displacement, round bilge hull with a long keel loaded with 10,000 pounds of internal ballast. The hull is very strong and seaworthy, easily driven under power for economical cruising and capable of sailing effectively, especially downwind. In heavy winds the jib and the mizen can be used without the mainsail for enjoyable stress free sailing.

The yacht was built by Fairways Marine/North Shore Yacht Yards, of Sussex, UK in 1985. The hull has a raked bow, rounded forefoot, moderate keel and canoe stern. The hull sections have hollow garboards and firm round bilges. The outboard running gear of shaft and propeller are protected by a skeg from the end of the keel aft to the lower bearing of the rudder. The yacht has a lively high sheer. The apparent height of the topsides is visually reduced by a heavy teak guard that runs 16” to 19” below the sheer and teak planked bulwarks above the teak guard. 

The deck is arranged around a deep aft cockpit, a raised pilothouse and a forward trunk cabin. The 12V Lofrans windlass bolts through the foredeck. The anchor stows in a bow roller over the stemhead. Lifelines are strung along the deck edge to pulpits fore and aft. An emergency escape hatch is forward on the cabin top. Two ventilation hatches are aft and outboard on the cabin top. The pilothouse features a large sliding hatch that acts like a sunroof in nice weather. The cockpit has a central footwell, U-shaped seating sides and back and high coamings. The lazarette, with steering gear and storage, is accessed through a hatch in the aft seat. Aft and above the lazarette hatch are the dedicated propane locker to port and a deck locker to starboard. Other deck lockers are located forward under the side benches. The rudder post comes through the top of the aft coaming and has a tiller for outside steering. The mizzenmast steps forward on the centerline against the back of the pilothouse. To port is the sliding door to the interior pilothouse helm area.

The yacht is rigged as a ketch with deck-stepped, hollow section aluminum masts and booms, 1 x 19 stainless steel wire standing rigging and braided Dacron running rigging. The forestay tacks to a stemhead fitting with foil and roller furling drum. Shrouds lead to chainplates at the bulwarks. The main mast has split backstays, the mizzen jumper struts on the forward upper shrouds. A springstay connects the mastheads. The rig is split among three sails, none of them large and therefore easily handled by one person. Winches are minimal with two halyard winches on the main and primary winches at the cockpit. The main is controlled with a block and tackle sheet and vang. The mizzen is controlled with the sheet to the top of the stern pulpit. 

Accommodations

The essence of the Fisher designs is the relatively large pilothouse much like what would be found on a North Sea fishing vessel. Entry to the pilothouse is from the cockpit through a sliding door on the port side of the mizzen mast. The helm station is forward to port with a fold-down helm seat, an upholstered settee to starboard and a navigation table forward. Large, heavy glass windows all around provide excellent visibility. A large sliding skylight panel overhead provides light, extra ventilation and a good view of the main sail. The helm station provides a large flat area ahead of the wheel for electronics.

A stairway down leads to the main salon area with the galley to port and a door to the aft cabin to starboard. The salon table is center around the mast and can be configured as a long, narrow table with walk around room on either side or opened up with leaves on either side to a roughly square dining table reaching to the built in seating on both sides. A "U" shaped couch is built in to port and a straight couch is built in to starboard. A Newport Diesel Furnace is mounted in a nicely tiled area on the forward bulkhead adjacent to the U-shaped settee providing heat and ambiance to the salon. There are five large stainless steel opening ports that flood the salon with natural light and provide excellent ventilation. The salon sole is traditional teak and holly. Storage is provided under all seating. A small fold out table on the divider between the galley and the port settee facilitates passing of dishes from the galley. The galley features a new Force-10 two burner propane range with an oven below. The refrigerator/freezer unit is built into the counter top next to the sink. The stainless steel sink provides pressure hot and cold water as well as a manual water system. Counter space and storage in the galley is ample. Lighting above throughout the salon and galley area is LED with both red and white light selections.

The comfortable private aft cabin features a double berth with a new mattress extending aft along the starboard side under the pilot house settee as well as a dresser cabinet of drawers and a full headroom area forward of the berth. A full length mirror for her is mounted to the forward bulkhead in the stateroom. There are two LED lights mounted above with both red and white light selections, and a Perko reading light on the inside bulkhead adjacent to the berth.

Forward of the main salon is the VIP cabin in the bow with the head to port and a storage locker to starboard. The berths are arranged as two singles in a "V" berth arrangement but with a filler panel that makes it into a large, triangular double berth as desired. The head compartment is equipped with a manual head and and sink. The space also serves as the shower. The anchor chain locker is accessible forward of the berth.

Navigation Electronics

The navigation electronics have been upgraded on KETCH PHRASE to a newer Raymarine configuration supported by a NMEA 2000 backbone. All electronics are fully functional and conveniently mounted at the pilothouse helm.

• Raymarine E125 Hybrid Touch Multifunction display
• Raymarine GPS
• Raymarine Digital Radar
• Raymarine Fish Finder / Sounder
• Raymarine Autopilot
• Raymarine Wind / Point Display above the companionway
• Raymarine Depth Display above the companionway
• Raymarine Speed Display above the companionway
• ICOM ICM502 VHF w/ external speakers
• Compass
• Stereo System

Disclaimer

The Company offers the details of this vessel in good faith but cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of this information nor warrant the condition of the vessel. A buyer should instruct his agents, or his surveyors, to investigate such details as the buyer desires validated. This vessel is offered subject to prior sale, price change, or withdrawal without notice.