Nauticat 33 Pilothouse Ketch

Birgitta is a beautiful Nauticat 33, strongly built in fibreglass in 1979. She is a proper motor-sailer with a powerful rebuilt Ford Lehman 80hp diesel engine, dual steering positions, generous internal volume, and a character that is hard to find in more modern boats.

For a 33-footer, she feels much larger inside than expected. The layout is practical, warm, and very liveable, with a large aft cabin, enclosed wheelhouse, separate saloon and galley, upgraded head and shower, and forward berth.

She has been extensively upgraded by her current owner over the past three years. I am a commercial skipper and originally considered using Birgitta as a small charter vessel on Cowan Creek, but the commercial regulations for this type of vessel were too restrictive. Instead, she has been used privately and improved with comfort, reliability, and long-term usability in mind.

Accommodation and Interior

Aft is a large private cabin which has been redesigned and updated with a generous double bed, storage, fans, and TV. Moving forward and up two steps, you enter the wheelhouse, which is really the heart of the vessel. It has comfortable seating for around 3-5 people, an inside helm position, nav table, full engine controls, and excellent all-round visibility through the windows. There are heavy timber sliding doors on both sides, giving direct access to the side decks.

Forward of the wheelhouse is the saloon, with the galley to starboard and a generous table and lounge area that can seat around six. Headroom here is approximately 1.7m, so it is lower than the wheelhouse, but it becomes easy enough to live with once aboard.

The galley includes a top-loading fridge, sink, storage cupboards, drawers, and a gas stove/oven.

Forward to port is the head, which has been enlarged and fully upgraded by the current owner. It now includes a quality porcelain toilet, raised sink, timber finishes, and a 12V electric shower. Forward again is a single berth, or tight double, in the bow.

Engine and Mechanical

Birgitta is powered by a rebuilt Ford Lehman 80hp diesel engine, model 2712E, with approximately 1,100 hours since rebuild. She has mostly been used like a motorboat during our ownership, and the engine has been regularly serviced and maintained.

A number of reliability upgrades have been carried out, including an electric fuel pump, new exhaust box, and various smaller improvements to remove weak points and keep the engine dependable.

She carries approximately 600L of diesel in two tanks, port and starboard.

The transmission has had an intermittent leak of transmission fluid. We monitor the level and top up as required. We are likely to remove the transmission and replace the seals in the next few weeks, so this may be resolved before sale.

Sailing Setup

When we bought Birgitta, she did not have sails fitted and the boom was set up for old-style roller reefing. We converted the setup to a more conventional on-boom arrangement and fitted a used mainsail in a beautiful maroon colour, along with a used genoa.

The mizzen is not currently used for sailing, although there is an original mizzen sail aboard. At present, the mizzen is mainly used as a strong support for the full aft shade cover.

Deck and Exterior

The aft deck is raised and flat, with the master cabin below. It has custom-built timber seating wrapping around the area, making it a great space to sit at anchor or underway. There is a quality BBQ fitted to the starboard rail.

Above the aft deck is a full shade cloth cover which rolls out over the mizzen boom, creating a very comfortable outdoor living area.

The vessel has beautiful timber railings, which have been kept varnished over the past three years. The varnish is mostly still in good condition, although it would benefit from another coat soon.

Aft, there are strong davits carrying a one-year-old 3m inflatable dinghy. The tender comes with an electric trolling outboard, which makes for a quiet and simple tender ride. Mounted above the stainless-steel davits is a 380W solar panel on a strong aluminium frame, running through a Victron 30A solar regulator.

The outside helm is on the aft deck and has full engine controls, making Birgitta very practical to handle from either inside the wheelhouse or outside in the open air.

Moving forward along the side decks, the cabin top has timber lounge chairs on each side. The rounded bow has a lovely open feel, with curved gunwales and timber railings. Ground tackle includes an electric anchor winch, controlled from both the bow and the inside helm, with approximately 30m of chain and 40m of rope. There are also two timber sampson posts for mooring lines.

Electronics and Electrical

The vessel has been substantially upgraded electrically during our ownership. The electrics are in very good condition and were designed with reliability and practical use in mind.

Navigation equipment includes a relatively recent Raymarine depth sounder and chart/navigation equipment. Both helm stations have full engine controls.

Solar is provided by a 380W panel on the aft davits, connected to a Victron 30A solar regulator.

Mooring

Birgitta is currently on a premium mooring at Apple Tree Bay Sailing Club, giving direct access to Cowan Creek and Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park. In my view, this is the perfect setting for this vessel. She is best suited as a gentleman's cruiser: beautiful to look at, strong, comfortable, and ideal for relaxed cruising in sheltered waters.

Ownership Options

The vessel is currently owned with a friend who holds a one-third share. He is open to either increasing his ownership to half, in which case we would sell the remaining half share at half the listing price, or the whole vessel may be purchased outright.

I am happy to talk through the details properly by phone. I will also try to prepare a detailed walk-around video soon for anyone seriously interested.

Birgitta is not a neglected old project boat. She is a characterful, strongly built Nauticat 33 that has had a lot of thoughtful work done over the past three years. She still has the normal quirks of an older vessel, but she presents as a very comfortable, capable and distinctive cruiser.