51' 1956 Vic Franck Built Custom Ben Seaborn Sloop - Sea Fever

“Sea Fever” is a true classic designed by Ben Seaborn and built by Vic Franck in 1956. The former owner has sailed her to New Zealand and back. “Sea Fever” was built as a racer/cruiser and is considered by many to be Ben Seaborn’s finest yacht design. She is ready for her next refit and adventures.

Construction
“Sea Fever” is strip planked mahogany with monel nails. The first two planks off the garbard are traditionally calked then the strip planking begins. The story goes that after building “Sea Fever” in ’56, the guys at Vic Franck’s didn’t want to do another messy strip planked boat so they built her sistership, “Helene” traditionally! She is strong and solid. The framing at the keel step was originally a steel frame structure that was replaced with a more conventional wood frame grid in 1999 by Jesperson Boatyard in Sydney BC prior to her cruise of the Pacific. She originally had canvas deck coverings and no stand-up aft cabin.
• 1 & 1/4″ x 2 & 1/4″ covered mahogany strips glued and edge nailed over bent
light oak framing to create a seamless hull.
• The timber keel is one piece of 48′ x 18″ Alaska yellow cedar.
• Lead filled steel keel
• Teak decks over plywood core
• Sitka Spruce mast Box construction (new in 1996) & solid boom. In 1998/1999 in preparation for going offshore she underwent a refit including rebuilding the mast step from steel to wood, replacing the floor timbers, pulling the keel bolts for inspection, enlarging the cockpit drains and thru hulls for quicker drainage, adding the inner forestay with runners and more.

The Sea Fever Story
“Sea Fever” was the brainchild of 3 forward thinking owners and the brilliant Ben Seaborn. Born out of specific requirement of her owners, Ben Seaborne appears to have met all of their criteria: 1. Racing ability – she has raced and done well in numerous Trans-Pacs, Swiftsures, and local races. 2. Fast cruising here in the Northwest under sail and power, and 3. The ability to sit in and see out as the weather doesn’t always cooperate. “Sea Fever’ is truly a joy to sail and with her big rig, deep keel and large rudder she is balanced and powerful yet handles like a dinghy. Her legacy of sailing includes local races, Swiftsure, around Vancouver Island, Desolation Sound, Barkley Sound, Trans-Pacs, Vic Maui, the “Cruise of the Century” sailing from Seattle to New Zealand via Hawaii and the South Pacific for the America’s Cup in New Zealand and the Millennium from 1999-2001.