Teaching safe boating at Gibsons on the Sunshine Coast

Thank you everyone for allowing us to share the teaching experiences on Seabird 37 cutter Mistress   boat.  After 30 years in the recreational boating school business we are now planning to retire.  Thank you for your support. This business and our boat has now been sold to new owners.  Further updates coming soon.

The Seabird 37 cutter Mistress was designed by Naval Architect Stan Huntingford and built by Cooper Industries in Port Coquitlam, B. C., in 1980. She was purchased in 1994 and brought to Gibsons to start up the Suncoast Sailcruise recreational boating school activity to Canadian Yachting Association standards, as recognised by Transport Canada. She was chosen because her 37ft length encloses a flexible accommodation arrangement with more privacy with four students and an instructor than is usual in boating schools. Her 4ft draft means less risk of grounding, and her 54hp Isuzu diesel give more power for manoeuvring and excellent fuel efficiency. Her 100 gallon fuel and water tanks mean no worries about running short. Her cutter rig with main, yankee, and staysail is more easily handled by mature students while producing satisfying performance and comfortable passage making in a fully covered cockpit. Down below is a fully quipped galley with modern propane stove supplied by 20lb tanks (no running out of propane). The accommodation cabins are heated by an efficient Webasto diesel furnace with individual fan controlled radiators. For anchoring she carries a main 35lb CQR with 100 feet chain plus 150 feet nylon rode, deployed and recovered by a manual windlass. For exploring the anchorage she carries a Walker Bay inflatable dinghy on a swim grid powered by a Suzuki 4 stroke 2.5hp outboard. This vessel has been well maintained by a professional engineer. All machinery has been serviced annually and in 2013 the hull was completely stripped at Silva bay Shipyard with two coats of epoxy sealer applied for many more years of trouble free sailing. As well there is a comprehensive inventory of spares and tools. A condition and detail survey for insurance was performed in April 2013. This vessel has been moored in a 40ft berth at Gibsons Marina (B-12) since 1994 and the moorage agreement can be transferred to the new owner. The vessel logbook records that over 750 boaters have been on board for their training to Canadian Yachting Association Standards on courses lasting from 1 to 6 days. Sheltered local waters are ideal for day sailing and it is a perfect reaching course in NW or SE winds for just 16 miles across to Gabriola Passage for a Gulf Island Cruise & Learn. While taking time to find a buyer the owners are continuing to operate and maintain this vessel in top condition.  

Fully enclosed cockpit for all season comfort and safe amidships gate for ease of docking

Comfortable private instructor’s cabin  Sails and wheel can be trimmed for relaxed hands off reaching from Gibsons across the Strait to Gabriola Pass

The Mistress with all sails set on a broad reach at Gibsons