What a classic - a Nelson 40 with aft cabin. Blue Minstrel is a fine example of the sought after Nelson 40, which offers renowned sea keeping qualities.
She is a classic motorboat, with not only an attractive appearance, but also a practical, modern and comfortable layout for leisure boating and life afloat.
Having been maintained to a very high standard, she is very clean and in lovely condition throughout.
Last survey was 2022 and no defects were identified. As of now, everything on this boat works as it should.
Currently lying in the water by Belfast Lough; County Down.
Dimensions
Length Overall: 12.5m / 40'1"
Length at Waterline: 11.68m / 38'4"
Beam: 3.64m / 11'9"
Draft: 1.04m / 3'5" Max draft 1.22m / 4'
Displacement: 12,000 kg / 26,455 lbs. (GT 17.92 RT 12.19)
Max speed - 18 knots. Cruise at 8 - 12
Max air draft: all up 20'9" / 6.24m
Headroom: Pilothouse 6'4" ; aft & fwd. cabins 6'3"
Construction
GRP hull with marine epoxied ply superstructure and marine ply glassed and painted decks. All internal and external fittings are to the usual high Nelson standard.
This particular boat is a rare leisure market example and finished to an exceptionally high standard with solid teak finishing's, which can be seen right throughout this vessel. (It is not a conversion).
Forward and aft cabin windows are dressed with low-level solid teak mouldings and overall the internal environment is bright, airy, modern, warm, comfortable and very dry.
The material type used for the cabin walls on refurb is the same texture as the original which maintains the character of the boat whilst being very functional and easily cleaned
The externals and internals were completely stripped, painted and, where required, refitted between 1997 and 2005. The engines were also removed and epoxy sprayed at the same time
Further external painting was completed in 2012 and new curtains fitted 2017.
Nelson 40 Hull Number 151 - Designed by T.T Boat Designs, moulded by Halmatic and fitted out by Keith Nelson & Co. (Bembridge) in 1967, she has had only 5 owners from new, the current one being the 5th - having owned her since 2001.
- Original history documents available, with full inventory of the original build. Engine and equipment manuals all available.
Engines and Stern Gear
Blue Minstrel is powered by 2 x straight 6BT 5.9 210 H.P. commercial Cummins diesels with Velvet Drive Borg Warner gearboxes which were all fitted new in 1991/1992 and commissioned in 1993/1994, having now completed 1900 hours since installation. Upgraded flexi joints between gearbox and shafts around 2008/10
2 Auto fire extinguishers engine room.
New stern gear fitted in 1996 including new props, new rudders and bushes and greasers, new P brackets.
New Spur rope cutters fitted around 2005
All P bracket and stern tube bearings replaced 2012 (8 of)
All skin fittings checked, metered annually and where necessary greased, McDuff anodes used throughout
Engine mountings, alternators, starter motors replaced around similar time.
Comprehensive spares kit also includes a new starter motor and alternator.
Engine thermostats and pump belts replaced around 2016. Spares of each in spares kit.
2019 - 2022 Injector pumps professionally stripped, rebuilt and calibrated and injector nozzles replaced and pressure set. (approximately 110 hours use since these refurbishments).
Regular service changes - oils (engine and gearbox) and oil filters / fuel filters.
All fuels treated as a combo with Standyne (recommended by Cummins for lubrication and bug treatment) as well as Fuel set (additional anti bug treatment) also being used.
Owner has used Lucas Magnum oil and stabiliser in combo throughout current ownership and in 1000 hours neither engine has ever required a top up between servicing.
Engines start instantly from cold (no turning over), even in the coldest of winter conditions. They are very clean burning.
Mathway rod steering - as used by RN.
Tankage
Fuel: 1454 l / 320 gal (in 4 tanks)
Water: 900 l / 200 gal (approx. in 2 tanks)
Original chromed bronzed water and diesel fillers. Diesel fillers are double capped with solid threaded bronze inner sealing tops.
All tanks are stainless steel loop vented on deck.
Accommodation
Wheel House
Steering and navigation seats plus foldaway navigation table. Two foldable double bench seats. Side and under helm storage areas
Double access doors to side decks, one to port and one to starboard via sheltered drained and illuminated companion ways. Each has two bespoke fitted teak duckboards and
bronze light and switch.
Gas locker port side - externally drained - containing two cylinders and isolator valves, one feeds aft heads and the other the galley. Starboard drained gas locker contains two spare canisters and shore power plug and cable.
Forward Cabin
Two generous sized port and starboard extendable single berths, which can be converted to a very large double.
Forward locker storage with TV and sound system, with speakers throughout the boat
Removable forward locker door which doubles up as a dining table. (Original teak table with wine storage and bolting wing nuts is in storage and also available)
Galley area fridge, fridge/freezer, cooker extraction and hot and cold running pressurised water system and storage above and below.
Forward heads hot and cold pressurised running water system,
Very adequate upper sliding door cupboard storage port and drawer storage port and starboard with under floor storage also.
Hanging locker starboard side.
Aft Cabin
Set out as two berth, with the ability to turn the starboard berth into a double (giving sleeping for three). In the boats build configuration there are 5 potential berths.
Side storage cupboards and reading lockers both sides with reading lamps.
Two spacious aft standing cupboards starboard side.
Stern heads with shower, gulper and Vaillant gas boiler
- Outside Space
Aft sitting out cockpit space (drained and illuminated) and accessible via aft doors from the stern cabin (also accessible from the outside decks) - rebuilt during the refurbishment, plus new waterproof spring buttoned canopy cover (approx. 2019). Bespoke varnished teak duckboard in central floored area.
Seating port and starboard with good accessible and generous outside locker space housing rudder greasing pumps and tubes etc
Integral folding transom boarding steps for dinghy access (refurbished epoxied and painted 2012).
Electrical
24V, supplied from 3 battery banks, 1 starter bank and 2 domestics All replaced between 2021 & 2022. All keyed with manual switching for
isolation purposes. Sterling shore power charging - and via engines.
Galvanic isolator
Sterling 3 bank digital charging system and battery voltage monitoring.
Navigation Equipment
Icom Radar fitted 2021 (demo boxed from new but little used)
Pinta auto pilot with movable hardwired auto and manual control pad. Control circuit boards rebuilt 2023. Second set rebuilt 2024 + spares kit.
Cobra DSC VHF
Sailor RT 144 VHF radio
Sailor Radio Receiver
Cetrek chart plotter
2 Garmin plotters
Digital yacht AlS receiver with wifi (can be use with tablet / mobile charts)
C-Net echo sounder
Compass - Sestrel speed grid compass
Francis searchlight
Kent clear view wiper on navigators side
Wynn wiper on helmsman side (stripped and rebuilt 2023)
Ships horn (sounds like an ocean liner)!! - activated by heavy duty compressor
All lighting internal and external, apart from search light, modified to Searolf LED bulbs
Safety/Deck Equipment
Seago 4 man Liferaft
Safety packs at both wheelhouse doors (emergency knives, torches, etc.)
Simpson Lawrence 1200 electric anchor winch (serviced 2024)
Anchor winch deck switches
Aluminium beaching legs
Radar reflector
Digital TV aerial
Forward coach roof - 2 varnished original 1967 teak boat hooks
Rebuilt solid teak forward escape hatch with new cover (approx. 2019)
3 fire extinguishers, 1 fire blanket
Automatic extinguishers in engine room x2
Gas detector twin head
Gas detector single head
Carbon monoxide detector
2 Danforth anchors and 30 meters of chain approx.
Electric bilge pump x 1
Manual bilge pump x 5
Fenders and warps
Winter covers available
2 x life belts with autolights (new 2024)
Original heavy duty chromed bronze cross bollards 3 forward and 2 aft
Fully stanchioned decks with double stainless steel guard wires all round vessel, with opening gate to stern boarding ladder. 2 roped deck access midship points port and starboard
Domestic / Other Inventory
2 burner gas cooker with grill and oven
Gas / electric refrigerator
24v freezer which can also be used as a fridge.
2 original Simpson Lawrence marine WC's (well maintained)
Shower (aft heads only)
Fresh water hot & cold pressure system with calorifier and accumulator (new June 2025)
2 Vaillant gas operated water heaters forward and aft.
3 Tannoy reversible fans (both heads and galley)
Loose cushions, pillows and duvets
New (2025) 5kw Hcalory Diesel ducted heating which vents through all areas of the vessel. Exhaust (also new 2025) through double skin fitting starboard side
Galley cutlery, pots, pans, etc