Nelson 45 (1991) Zu verkaufen in Pwllheli, Vereinigtes Königreich

English

Extensively and meticulously refitted

Complete list of refit works and August 2023 Survey available on request

157 High resolution images and extensive video walkthroughs available on request

Seaward Sapphire is a rare example of a meticulously restored 1991 4/6-berth, Nelson 45 motor yacht, a classic fast seagoing craft built for reliability, speed and safety.

This Nelson 45 has recently undergone a complete refit by the current owners with sympathetic attention to the original design detail and aesthetics, making her one of the most immaculate examples of this type on the market today.

From the bilges to the top of the mast head, every detail has been restored, refurbished or replaced, with systems and accommodation upgraded to modern expectations.

This Nelson 45 was designed by Arthur Mursell of TT Boat Designs and built to exacting specifications in Guernsey by Seaward Marine.

She has all the original teak rubbing strakes and timber detailing in immaculate condition, characteristic Nelson rubber D fender, heavy duty alloy deck fittings, Lofrans windlass, and many other original features and details that have been carefully restored.

The hull and deck mouldings are exceptionally heavyweight GRP with sturdy bulkheads, deeply profiled ribs and stringers and steel reinforced engine girders. These build features are what gives the Nelson 45, and this vessel in particular, such a reputation for seaworthiness and strength.

Mechanical systems are equally robust: a pair of 370 hp Ford Sabre diesel engines drive 26” bronze propellers through 1 ¼” stainless steel propeller shafts, with the capacity to achieve a comfortable 22 knots. Throttle and gearboxes are operated by Kobelt dual station controls in conjunction with upper and lower helm hydraulic steering positions.

The hull has a round bilge form with a long keelson, a raked stem and transom stern. The superstructure consists of fore and side decks with a forward coach roof, a wheelhouse/deck saloon, and raised aft deck with upper steering position.

The Nelson Heritage

The Nelson evokes widespread admiration for its functional beauty, traditional good looks and sea worthiness.

In the early ‘60s Peter Thornycroft, who went on to found TT Boat Designs, conceived an optimum semi-displacement hull form, capable of much higher speeds than a conventional displacement vessel. This new concept sparked the creation of the original Nelson 34, followed by the Nelson 40 and other variants, including the Nelson 45, in commercial and leisure versions.
 
In the commercial field, although the Nelson was extensively used by the Navy it  became the definitive pilot boat, capable of ferrying pilots safely between ship and shore whatever the weather. By way of illustration, Seaward Sapphire was delivered from Northern Ireland to Pwllheli in a force 7 by the late Jeff Lancaster, who said he wouldn’t have missed it for the world!

The Nelson Boat Owners Club website outlines the design principle behind the Nelson series: ‘A long waterline, moderate beam, high bows and round bilges ensure excellent handling throughout the speed range, designed for fuel efficiency and a soft ride at semi- planning speeds. Nelsons can better maintain speeds in heavy weather and are vastly more comfortable on passage than chine planing power craft’.

Specifications and Inventory List

General Info:

LOA – 45’ (13.85m)
Beam – 13’ (3.9m)
Draft – 3’6” (1.07m)
Displacement – 15.5 tonnes
Top speed – 22kts
Fuel capacity in 4 tanks – 2000 ltr
Freshwater capacity in 2 tanks – 1067 ltr
Engine hours - Port engine 1209. Starboard engine 1218
Steering - Hydraulic steering dual station

Engines & Drive Systems:

Engines:
A pair of Sabre Lehman type 370L turbo charged 6-cylinder straight diesels coupled to MG 507A Twin Disc gear boxes. Port engine serial no. B9137, hours logged 1209. Starboard engine no. B9138, hours logged 1218.

Engines are installed in an enclosed engine bay beneath the wheelhouse, accessed via a floor hatch with gas lift. They have flexible engine mounts bolted to substantial glassed-in longitudinal engine beds. Cooling is indirect, via raw water heat exchangers, with heavy duty bronze raw water intakes fitted with stainless steel strainers. The wet exhausts discharge as follows: main 5” exhaust pipes port and starboard through underwater outlets. Smaller diameter exhaust pipes derived from these discharge at the waterline, ensuring exhaust back pressure is minimised when the engines are idling.

Kobelt 2090 push-pull remote controls are fitted at the wheelhouse (main station) and at the upper helm (slave station), with a control panel, start/stop and warning gauges for each engine at both helm stations.
 
Steering Gear:

Located in the aft cabin steering locker. A pair of stainless-steel rudders are fitted through glassed-in tubes and lip seals with remote greasers.

The dual helm consists of hydraulic pumps attached to each wheel, plumbed with copper and flexible hose connections to the hydraulic ram in the aft steering compartment.

Provision is made for emergency steering in the event of hydraulic system failure, with access points through the top of the steering locker, through the head lining (with teak closer, labelled accordingly) and out through a labelled screw cap in the aft deck. The necessary drive rods are stored under the aft cabin bed base boards.
 
Stern Gear:

3-bladed 26”x27” bronze propellers are fitted to stainless steel 1¼” shafts running through cutlass bearings which are contained within bronze P-brackets. The shafts are sealed through grease packed stuffing glands, and water lubricated. ‘SPURS’ rope cutters are fitted forward of the props. 
 
Generator:

G&M 4.2Kva generator set is installed within a sound insulated steel casing at the aft end of the engine room. This is powered by a Volvo 2001 direct raw water-cooled single cylinder diesel engine and generates 230V AC at a fixed 3000rpm. Fuelled from the aft keel tank.

Generator starting is via a 12V dedicated starting battery with isolation switch, independent of the main battery banks. When running, the generator battery is charged as normal by its own alternator. To avoid self-discharge during prolonged periods of inactivity, there is also a Victron Orion 24V to 12V battery-to-battery charger supplying the gen set battery from the main port battery bank.

Cooling is via a dedicated generator seacock on the port side and the wet exhaust system incorporates a Vetus water lock, muffler and gooseneck, discharging through the starboard topside at the waterline.

Bow thruster:

A Max Power CT60 twin propeller 24v bow thruster is installed under the forward V berth. It is powered by a pair of 12V batteries connected in series and fitted under the forward cabin berth in a dedicated battery box. The bow thruster battery bank is charged via a 24V-to-24V split charge relay connected to a 35mm fore and aft cable feed to the windlass and controlled by a 70A breaker on the 24vDC panel.

The bow thruster circuit is protected by an overload fuse and master switch. This compartment is vented by the bilge ventilation system and fire protection is provided via a fire port situated between the two V-berths.

Joystick bow thruster controls are fitted at both the wheelhouse helm station and at the upper helm.

Fuel, Freshwater, Heat & Light, Gas and Ventilation.

Fuel Installation:

Two in-line 100-gallon GRP keel tanks are moulded into the vessel, situated between engine bearers. Each engine is independently supplied by its own dedicated keel tank – port engine: port keel tank, stbd engine: stbd keel tank.

These keel tanks are gravity fed by elevated 115-gallon port and starboard tanks in the aft cabin (wing tanks) with the fuel feed controlled by appropriate isolation and cross-pipe valves.

The aft tanks are filled via dedicated labelled fillers (colour coded red), situated in the port and starboard side decks and connected to the port and starboard aft tanks only. In this way, the fuel supply to each engine can be maintained as an independent system, reducing the risk of inadvertent fuel contamination simultaneously to both engines.

All tanks are fitted with tank breathers, opening to the aft topside port and starboard.

The fuel system pipework is copper and fuel grade hose with a substantial Racor filter/fuel separator to each engine, with a fuel gauge to each tank. There are a further two engine mounted fuel filters per engine, connected in series.
 
Freshwater Installation:

Two GRP freshwater tanks (154 and 80 gallons) are moulded into the forward bilge under the galley and forward cabin sole. These are filled via a labelled and colour coded (blue) filler cap in the port forward side deck and vented through the port forward topside. The tanks are connected to a 24V Cleghorn Waring Maxi System pressurised pump and accumulator bank which supplies the hot and cold-water circuits throughout the boat.

A separate independent deck-wash system and independent screen wash system are both supplied from the freshwater tanks via a non-return valve.
 
Hot water:

Provided by an ASAP 55ltr Hotpot calorifier heated either by a 240V immersion heater or else by the diesel-powered heating system. Connection terminals are fitted to the starboard engine’s cooling system should this be required as a heating source.
 
Ventilation System:

ACS stainless steel mushroom vents are fitted to all accommodation spaces; the en-suites have switched extractors. Additional switched extractors are fitted in aft and fore cabins.

Bilge air extraction is installed throughout the boat, with a 240V extraction fan located in the engine room port aft which discharges through the wheelhouse side via a stainless-steel grille (a 24V fan could be substituted). This system also vents the bow thruster battery compartment.

The engine room is ventilated through signature Nelson air intake cowls to port and starboard in the wheelhouse sides, with two 24V blowers switched as required from the helm.
 
Gas Installation:

All gas appliances and pipework have been removed but the external gas locker remains on the port side deck and houses the black water pump-out terminal and vent.
 
Heating and Lighting:

Space heating is provided by a 5kW MV Hydro 24V diesel heater, installed in the engine room starboard side aft. This supplies a 22mm speedfit heating ring circuit serving 6 Kalori Silencio matrix heat exchange units with 24V fans to: fore cabin, forward en-suite, galley, wheelhouse saloon, aft cabin, aft en-suite. Each heating zone is controlled by a Heatmiser thermostat control panel.

Lighting is all 24V, with LED overhead lights flush mounted throughout, and switched stainless steel LED reading lights in the two cabins and the galley.

General Equipment:

Fiamm Horn:
Mounted on the wheelhouse roof and operated from the wheelhouse and upper helm instrument panels.
 
Wynn Straight Line Marine Window Wipers:
Type C x3 operated from wheelhouse instrument panel.

Screen Wash:
Operated from wheelhouse instrument panel.

Lights: 

All operated from the wheel house.

Search light mounted forward on the wheelhouse roof.

Aft facing fixed spotlight with LED lamp.

Port and starboard led navigation lights mounted on wheelhouse roof.
Steaming light, all-round white light and stern light all with LED lamps and mounted on the mast.

Red night light in wheelhouse and galley.

Red flexible chart light stbd nav station.
 
Navigation Equipment:

Sestrel magnetic compass wheelhouse mounted.

Furuno Model type 1930 open array radar 0.25 – 26 mile range, mounted on the wheelhouse roof forward of the mast.

Raytheon ST60 Tri data instrument – speed/log/depth wheelhouse mounted.

Raymarine C90 GPS/plotter wheelhouse mounted.

Raymarine ST7002 autopilot, wheelhouse mounted with fluxgate compass mounted under forward seating in galley.

Raymarine ST60+ depth instrument mounted upper helm with depth transducer aft of the port engine.

Raymarine ST60 electronic compass mounted upper helm

Raymarine ST60+ speed/log mounted upper helm with speed/temperature transducer mounted forward of the starboard engine.

2x GPS domes mounted on the mast, not currently in use.

NASA Target Navtex-pro-plus mounted wheelhouse starboard navigation desk.

All Raymarine instruments are daisy chain linked by Seatalk cables.

VHF Equipment:

Icom IC-M56 VHF radio with handheld speaker – mounted on the wheelhouse starboard navigation desk.

Navico Axis RT1200 VHF radio with handheld speaker mounted at the upper helm.
  
Entertainment Equipment:

Fusion RA60 2-zone marine stereo with Bluetooth, mounted aft saloon by companionway steps.

Speakers – 2 aft cabin, 2 saloon, 2 galley.
 
Main Batteries and Charging:

8 x 115Ah lead acid batteries installed aft in the engine room in 2 banks (Bank 1 stbd, Bank 2 Port) connected in series-parallel to give 24V supply. Boat functions are split between the 2 banks.

Engine starting - port engine Bank 2, stbd engine Bank 1, with battery combining switch in main battery fuse box operated by push button on the instrument panel at the lower helm.

Victron 40Ah Centaur 24/40 charger, using 2 of the 3 available output terminals.
 
Security and Fire:

Fire extinguishers AFFF as follows: upper helm 6kg, saloon 2kg, galley 2kg, fore cabin 2kg

A fire port is fitted to the fore cabin between the V-berths to enable firefighting in the enclosed bow thruster area. 

Seafire fire extinguisher in engine room – fixed installation operated from saloon.

Emergency air shut off levers for port and starboard engine room air intakes.

Kidde carbon monoxide alarm fitted in engine room.

Hull:

The hull is GRP, stiffened by substantial bulkheads, ribs and longitudinal stringers, with heavy duty engine mountings (see original design drawings, courtesy of Arthur Mursell, TT Boat Designs).
 
The exterior of the hull topsides is finished in blue gel coat with varnished teak rubbing strakes and classic Nelson teak detailing fitted to the top side and transom.
The underwater area is finished in red commercial antifouling with a white gloss boot top.

Cathodic protection is provided by a pair of 200mm hull anodes through-bolted to bonding cable connecting engines, P-brackets, props and prop shafts, rudders and bronze skin fittings.
 
Collar anodes are fitted to the prop shafts and dedicated anodes to the SPURS rope cutters.

The deck to hull edge is protected with the distinctive Nelson heavy duty black rubber D-fendering.
 
The interior surfaces of the hull and deckhead have been accessed in virtually all areas for a complete clean and re-paint. The deckhead has been insulated throughout with PIR insulation board, and the engine room with Quietlife foil faced insulation with polymeric barrier.

Superstructure and Coach Roof:

Superstructure and coach roof are GRP finished externally in white gel coat with varnished teak edging and detailing.
 
Fore and side decks are finished with Treadmaster and the aft deck with solid laid teak.

Windows and Hatches:

Cabin and wheelhouse windows are alloy framed and glazed with toughened glass, with sliding panels port and starboard to the wheelhouse and hinged openers in the galley and en-suites.
 
Five Lewmar alloy framed hatches are fitted and secured with twin locking levers onto rubber seals.

Deck Fittings:

Stainless steel pulpit with stainless steel side rails; aft rails are varnished teak on stainless steel stanchions.
 
The Lofrans windlass is operated by a pair of deck mounted foot switches and controlled by a 70amp breaker at the main 24VDC breaker panel. The anchor is a 60lb CQR shackled to 50m of 10mm galvanised short link chain leading through a chain pipe into a locker in the fore peak.
 
The bow roller is stainless steel, and the rest of the deck fittings, fairleads and mooring cleats are heavy duty alloy.
 
A white painted alloy mast is fitted to the coach roof, carrying navigation lights.
Cabin top and wheelhouse handrails are stainless steel tube. At the stern is a pair of Whittall stainless steel davits, together with a stainless steel and teak bathing platform/boarding ladder.
 
8 fender baskets are fitted at the stern with new fenders and fender socks.  The emergency steering gear access point is located on the starboard side just forward of the transom, colour coded and labelled.

Colour coded and labelled fuel inlets (red) are on the port and starboard side decks, and a colour coded water inlet (blue) is located in the port side deck.

Upper Helm:

Fitted with an alloy windscreen glazed with toughened glass. 
 
Besenzoni pedestal seats for helm and co-pilot. The upper helm is to starboard with Kobelt throttle controls, start/stop for both engines and an upper instrument/navigation panel.
 
This area is protected by a navy canvas canopy on stainless steel tube frame, with spray dodgers fitted around the aft deck.

Interior Layout:

The interior is fully refurbished, with new teak veneered cabinetry in the galley, and the original teak re-built or restored throughout the rest of the boat. The new sole boards are teak veneered on plywood, and all soft furnishings reupholstered with fire retardant fabric.
From the upper helm, a pair of teak companionway doors leads to the wheelhouse/saloon and the main helm.
 
At the main helm are Kobelt throttle and gearbox controls for both engines, instrument panel, gauges and navigation equipment, all stationed to port.  Stationed to starboard is the chart table with red chart light, VHF, and Navtex. 

Helm and co-pilot/navigator both have Bremshey fully adjustable suspension seats with seat belts. 

The 24VDC breaker panel is located on the starboard side of the steps down to the galley, with the AC breaker panel and generator start/stop on the aft starboard bulkhead of the galley. 

Centrally placed steps lead down from the saloon to the galley, which is on the starboard side, with the dining area to port.

A 3.8m long white Corian style worktop carries an inset compact sink/drainer and 4 zone Neff induction hob with stainless steel splashback. Sited below the induction hob is a Neff stainless steel multifunction oven. Flexible storage is provided by way of a gas lift panel set within the worktop.

To the left of the oven is a narrow 5-drawer stack, to the right a cupboard space for either a compact washing machine, compact dishwasher (plumbing and power present) or additional galley storage. 
 
Adjacent is an under-sink cupboard with a 24V DC/ 240V AC Dometic fridge/freezer.

This is connected to the boat’s electrical systems by a Waeco rectifier/inverter which provides automatic switching between 240VAC (prioritised) and 24VDC.

A pull out shelving stack returns the worksurface to the galley newel post.
 
There is a run of storage cupboards with gas lift doors to the back of the worktop, with a stainless-steel microwave located to the right of the sink.
 
Positive latching is provided by stainless steel catches.

A door from the galley leads forward to a V berth fore cabin with port side en-suite compartment equipped as follows:

Tecma electric push button ceramic freshwater macerator toilet.

The fore cabin en-suite WC is connected to a moulded Vetus blackwater holding tank with dockside and marine discharge options.

Corian style moulded wash basin with chrome basin mixer which is integrated seamlessly into the white worktop.

Integrated GRP shower tray with teak slatted floor and recessed thermostatic chrome shower control and riser bar. The fully automatic Whale intelligent shower pump out switches on as soon as water is detected in the shower drain, with discharge through the topside.

Ceiling mounted extractor fan and LED lighting.
 
The aft cabin is reached by steps from the saloon on the port side.  This  includes a double berth on the port side, with a double upholstered seat to  starboard and a spacious en-suite also to starboard. This is fitted out similarly to the forward en-suite but with direct w/c discharge.

Tender 

Avon 3m rigid floor rib