V Adaia – Brewer Alaska 43
Background
This master built, long range, steel cruising yacht was launched in July 2015 in Ballina NSW after a 6 year
build at the Ballina boatyard. It’s a custom heavy displacement cruising yacht designed by the renowned
Ted Brewer from Canada. Details can be found on his website www.tedbrewer.com Ted Brewer is very well
known for his highly seaworthy designs and the “small ship” style of this vessel. Comfortable at sea – it
pushes through chop and gives a great sense of security. The rig is simple and easy to sail solo. It sips fuel
under power and can go from Sydney to Auckland under power alone.
About the Boat Builders
Julian Reynolds is a qualified boilermaker and boatbuilder which has worked at various times for several
major boatbuilders. He has built over 25 metal boats and his skills in metal work are simply unsurpassed.
He is also an experienced sailor growing up on a boat and having personally sailed around the pacific. This
is a rare combination of high level trade skills and practical experience. The resulting metalwork on Adaia is
simply outstanding.
Barry Kean served his apprenticeship under Clem Masters (of Moreton Bay Boats fame) and at one time
was the lead boat builder for Kay Cotte when she built her high end cruising yachts. Barry is a brilliant
shipwright and the impeccable fit-out inside Adaia is a testament to his skill.
Mitchell Phillips, in consultation with Ted Brewer, customised the original Brewer design, to create a roomy
main cabin with easy internal access. With comfort and function a priority the layout is open, provides easy
access and is very comfortable at sea. Storage has also been well considered and all materials used are
superior in quality. Every detail has been carefully considered to provide simplicity, low maintenance and
seaworthiness.
Mid 2020 to March 2021, Adaia underwent a full electrical fit out and upgrade. Newly installed Garmin
Radar, Transducer, Chartplotters and new autopilot. With integrated Simrad equipment and redundancy
systems, you are set up for any adventure with the latest in technology and the best quality sails and rigging
on the market. Browse through the many newly installed features outlined in the specifications list, no
expense has been spared in ensuring this vessel is comfortably, bluewater capable.
Construction details
Adaia is built from 5 mm steel in the hull, the deck is 4mm steel and the deckhouse is 3mm steel. All the
steel was pre blasted and coated with a welding primer. All chainplates, deckhouse edges, bollards, lifeline
rings were in 316 stainless and welded on.
The handrails which are high and very secure are from galvanised pipe painted as per the pain system
described below.
Then after metalwork was completed the entire boat was blasted inside and out and coated with a paint
system that included an initial 2 pack zinc rich primer, then 3 coats of high build epoxy primer were applied
inside and out. All frames, corners, edges etc were stripe painted by hand to ensure that every surface is
coated correctly and fully covered.
To finish the paint job a sandable high build was sprayed and several areas on the deck and hull side where
faired and sanded then final coats of Polyurethane to coat were sprayed to give the superb finish you see
today.
Underwater is painted with Altex anti-foul done annually. The hull has multiple zinc anodes attached to hull,
rudder and prop shaft.
All tanks were fabricated in steel and are welded as integral parts of the hull. Water and fuel tanks have
large removable inspection hatches for future maintenance.
Mechanical
Adaia is built for simplicity and reliability.
The engine chosen was a marinised Isuzu 4JB1 of which hundreds of thousands have been built globally.
Parts are available anywhere. It's naturally aspirated , no electronics and dead easy to look after. It’s fitted
with an 80 amp above earth alternator to protect against stray current.
The engine is keel cooled – one of the unusual features of this boat. The after section of the keel is a narrow
profile and has been welded shut and plumbed to pipe cooling water and coolant in and out of the engine
for cooling. There is no heat exchanger on this engine. It works perfectly and eliminates one of the main
issues of engine reliability. The exhaust is water cooled.
The running gear consists of a flexible shaft coupling to minimise vibration, mechanical stuffing box and
stainless shaft to a 3 blade fixed 22inch prop. The gearbox is a PRM 3:1 hydraulic box which is fine with
free spinning under sail.
The fuel system is set up to run via a primary Racor 500 A filter.
The engine room is brilliantly accessible doors on gas struts open on all 4 sides its lit and ventilated by a
heavy duty engine room blower.
Sails and Rigging
The sails are Rolly Tasker Offshore Premium Sails and the rigging set up by World Champion Sam Newton
from All Marine Rigging. Furlers on both headsails. The main is raised and lowered from the mast into a
boom bag and lazy jacks. It has two reefing points managed at the mast and is fully battened. The rig is
powerful and the boat sails surprisingly well given its weight. The mast measures 50 ft from deck. Its deck
stepped and supported under the deck by a welded heavy steel pipe, welded at the deck and into the
frames on the hull. Incredibly strong and simple.
Winches – 5 new Stainless Anderson winches at the cockpit for managing the Genoa and staysail. There
are 2 new stainless Anderson winches fitted at the mast combined with a custom boom with clutches
making for reliable and easy reefing.
Other deck details
Muir electric winch at bow for anchor. 80 metres of 10mm chain attached to a Rocna 33kg anchor. Also
included is a Rocna Style spare anchor.
The hatches are all Goit brand.
Rear dinghy davits and frame holding 400 watt solar panel.
Inside fit out
Adaia has a beautiful light filled interior. The timbers used are Celery Top pine trim and planking all
varnished. The floor is Jarrah. All main surfaces are faired, corners coved and painted with 2 pack pain
finish. Every piece of plywood used in the fit-out was first edge saturated in Epoxy wood preserver and then
painted with 2 coats of epoxy before being fitted into the boat. Everything is fastened with 316 fasteners
and epoxy glue. This was before it finally pained. This finish is easy care and will last for decades. It’s a
classic finish that wont age or look dated in years to come. For example the overhead is routed and
grooved – a classic nautical look.
All lighting is LED. The wiring is carefully installed and labelled to a primary switch panel in the deckhouse.
As well there is a master battery supply, Anchor switch a breaker, nav lights panel and bilge alarms.
12 volt fans are fitted throughout the boat.
The area below the deckhouse floor has been set aside as a machinery and plumbing area. Fuel filters,
water heater, saltwater manifold and valves, fuel control lines and shut off hydraulic steering pump and
autopilot pump, pressure pump for diesel heater and fresh water outlet and sight gauge and inverter are all
installed in here.
Other
I made a conscious decision not to instal a genset however this space has room for a genset if a new owner
ever wanted to instal one. Fuel lines, access to sea water and the space to install it are all there.
Helming the vessel is done from either outside in the cockpit or the comfy inside steering area which has a
close at hand watch berth. Good quality helm chairs are fitted. When the boat is running under autopilot
sitting at the rear of the vessel on the rear seat under the shade of the solar panel provides a superb view of
the whole boat under way.
The galley has a high quality Force 10 stainless stove and oven fitted running on gas. The refrigeration is
built in under the bench and runs off 12 volt or 240 volt. Its sourced from Ozefridge.
The boat has huge quantities of storage throughout the boat. This is truly a vessel designed to go
absolutely anywhere in the world. Everything is in excellent condition and ready to go.
Boats like this of this age and condition are extremely rare to find in Australia and any inspection will
highlight the quality of every aspect of this boat.
