1966 K. Aage Nielsen / Paul Luke 40 - Shoal Draft Centerboard Sloop

SPECIFICATIONS

Country Built: USA
Designer: K. Aage Nielsen
Design Number: 326
Builder: Paul E. Luke (East Boothbay, Maine) Hull Number: 73
Keel Laid: January 1966
Launched: July 1966
LOA: 39’ 0”
LWL: 27’ 4”
Beam: 11’ 1”
Draft: 4’ 5” (Board up) | 8’ 5” (Board down) Displacement: 19200 lbs
Ballast: 5700 lbs (lead + bronze centerboard)

CONSTRUCTION

Planking: Double-planked Phillipine & Honduran Mahogany over White Cedar Fastenings: Silicone Bronze screws and bolts (refastened 1994)
Keel: Oak
Stem: Mahogany 6” (tapered to stem head)

Timbers: Laminated White Oak (1 1⁄2” x 1 1⁄2”) Floors: Oak 1 -/8”
Sheer Clamp: Fir 2” x 2 3⁄4”
Bilge Stringer: Fir 1 1/8” x 7 3⁄4”

Deck Frame: Fir 1-1/4” x 1-7/8”
Reinforcement: Bronze strapping amidships
Deck: Fibreglass over Marine Ply (Refurbished decks with all new cloth 2021) Transom: Mahogany (Bright)
Cabin Top: Fibreglass over tongue and groove (original)
Cabin Sides: Teak (Bright)
Cockpit Coamings: Teak (Bright)
Cockpit Seats: Teak (Natural)

RIGGING / SPARS

Type: Masthead Sloop Rig – Keel Stepped
Mast: Original (Custom) “Ted Hood” Oval, Tapered Aluminum Mast – Painted White (Refurbished 2021, Pulled and Re-Stepped - Blackline Marine 2021)
Strong Track Sail Track and Slide System
2 (at masthead) Mast Steps (NEW 2021)
Spreaders: Single Spreaders (Teak - painted)
Custom Masthead Arrangement with Windvane and VHF Antenna (NEW - Blackline Marine 2021)
Standing Rigging: 1x19 Stainless with Norseman Terminals, NEW Uppers (Blackline Marine 2021) Turnbuckles: Bronze - Wilcox Crittenden (Serviced 2021)
Backstay Tensioner: Bronze - Wilcox Crittenden (Serviced 2021)
Chainplates: Bronze
Running Rigging: Dacron Sheets + New Hi-Tec Halyards (NEW - Blackline Marine 2021)

Harken Roller Furling
Boom: Aluminum (hollow) with internal reefing (Refurbished 2021) – Painted White Spinnaker Track System on Mast
Aluminum Spinnaker Pole
Mainsail Cover: UK Halsey “Stack-Pack” (Green)
Lazy Jacks: Dyneema (NEW 2022)

DECK EQUIPMENT

Winches: Two (2) Lewmar 46 Self Tailing (primaries) – Serviced 2022 Winches: Two (2) Barient 22 Bronze (secondaries) – Serviced 2022 Winches: One (1) Barient 22 Bronze (mast) – Serviced 2022
Winches: Two (2) Merriman Brothers No. 2 Bronze (mast snubbers) Rigid Boom Vang: Garhauer (NEW 2022)

Lewmar Mainsheet Traveller Lewmar Genoa Fairleads Spinnaker Pole Mast Track System Stainless Steel Pulpit

SAILS

Sail Area: ~ 685 sq. feet
Main: Strong Track Sail Tracks, Full Batten, 2 Reefs (with lines installed) – Serviced by Leitch & McBride 2021 – Condition = Good
Genoa: 130% Roller Furling – UV Protection Restitched by Leitch & McBride 2021 – Condition = Good Spinnaker(s): Two bagged Spinnakers – Condition = Unknown
Tri=Sail: Condition = Unknown

MACHINERY

Engine
Propeller
Shaft
Seal
Diesel Tank:
Bronze Deck Fill Fitting

STEERING

Volvo Penta 2003T 43HP Diesel 15LH11 (3-bladed)

1-1/8” Stainless
PSS Dripless Seal (NEW 2021)
28 Gallons (Monel) with working bronze gauge

Edson Pedestal with Compass* and SS Controls + Bronze Quadrant Wheel: Custom Cast Aluminum + Teak (Bright)
Emergency Tiller
*Compass is currently leaking/needs fix

PLUMBING

Fresh Water: 60 gallons (2 @ 30 gallon Monel tanks) port and starboard Galley: SS Sink with Traditional Bronze Manual Faucet (Whale foot pump) Head: SS Sink with Traditional Bronze Manual Faucet (hand pump) Toilet: Raritan PH-II Ceramic Toilet (Refurbished 2022)

Bilge Pump: RULE 2000GPH 12V electric with float switch (plumbed to thru-hull with vented loop – NEW 2021) Bilge Pump: EDSON 30 GPM Fixed, Manual Bilge Pump
Replacement Deck Fill and Drinking Water lines to Galley and Head (NEW 2021)
Bronze Deck Fill Fittings (Water and Pump Out)

NOTE: No holding tank, pump out not used.

THRU-HULLS

Six (6) Original Spartan Marine Tapered-Plug Seacocks (Serviced 2021) Raymarine (Airmar) Depth Transducer (NEW 2021)
Groco Saltwater Sink/Washdown Thru-Hull

GALLEY

Stoves: Origo 3000 two burner SS alcohol stove plus original Paul Luke Heritage Gimballed Stove/Oven (decommissioned)
Huge, heavily insulated under counter icebox (designed and built by the second owner while in the Caribbean), with 10 ice block capacity for extended cruising.

ELECTRICAL

Mast pulled and rewired (NEW 2021)
Boat interior stripped and rewired (NEW 2022)
Marinetics DC/AC Breaker Distribution Panel (AC wiring removed)
Two (2) Lead Acid GRP24 Batteries (1 House, 1 Starter – NEW 2018) in ventilated battery box Alternator
Victron 7A AC Battery Charger (NEW 2021)
Renogy 100W Flexible Solar Panel with stowaway clips (NEW 2021)
Victron MPPT 75-15 Solar Panel Controller (NEW 2021)
Interior Lights: Combination of Brass and Chrome Dome and Reading Lights throughout (all LED) Navigation Lights: Masthead Tri-Colour LED + Anchor (NEW 2021)
BlueSeas 12V USB Charging Ports throughout (including cockpit)

ELECTRONICS

ICOM M330G VHF (DSC) Radio (NEW 2022)
Shakespeare VHF Masthead Antenna (NEW 2022)
Raymarine ST60 Depth Display (installed to Transducer – see Thru-Hulls)
Raymarine ST4000+ Wheel Autopilot Control Unit Display and Equipment (Wheel Drive, Rudder Sensor, Fluxgate Compass) – Currently Not Installed

GROUND TACKLE

Anchor: 45 lb CQR (primary)
Anchor: 35 lb Bruce (secondary)
Anchor: 75 lb Paul Luke Fisherman (Original) – Collector’s Item
Rode: 3/8” chain x 100’ plus 5/8” nylon x 100’ (NEW line & splice – Trotac 2021) Windlass: Simpson-Lawrence S-L 555 2-Speed Manual Windlass (Refurbished 2020) Bronze Anchor Roller

SAFETY

All TC Required Safety Equipment (current)
24” Lifering
Flares
Two (2) Fire Extinguishers (1A 10 BC dry – Companionway), (3A 10 BC dry, Galley)

ARRANGEMENTS

Standing headroom throughout
Berths: 6 Total - 2 Quarter, 1 Double (to Port), 1 Single + 1 Pilot (to Starboard) Galley: SS Sink, Gimballed Stove, Large Icebox, Cabinet, Drawers, SS Countertops Nav Station with Opening Chart Table
Storage: Cabinets, Drawers, Closets – All built for sailing
Folding, stowable, gimballed dining table
Large Sail-locker, stowage at bow
Large head

EXTRAS/OTHER

Cockpit sunshade
Fenders
Docklines
Aluminum (Offshore) Spinnaker Pole Last haul out 2022

OWNERSHIP Year
1966 - 1977 1977 - 1984 1984 - 1993 1993 - 2018 2018 - present

Yrs Name

11 Direction 7 Daybreak 9 Eventide 25 Eventide

6 Direction C.P.

Owner Location

W.G. J.N. P.R. W.O.

New York, NY Cambridge, MA Portland, ME Victoria, BC

Victoria, BC

SUMMARY

An excellent, and increasingly rare opportunity, for someone looking to acquire a classic wooden sailing yacht, from a renowned designer (K. Aage Nielsen) and builder (Paul E. Luke), at a very affordable price.

As with all Aage Nielsen custom designed and built bluewater yachts, he worked directly with the boatyard (Luke’s), overseeing every aspect of the construction of Direction, and continued to collaborate with the first two owners, whenever upgrades were considered. Nielsen is well known for his attention to detail and strict build oversight, detailed in the beautiful 2006 book Worthy of the Sea, with forward by Olin Stephens.

Direction is very much of the period (1960s), with shoal draft centerboarders being the desired ocean racer/cruiser of the day. Nielsen’s boats were all designed for bluewater sailing and Direction fulfils that brief, having safely and comfortably carried her owners (often double-handed) for over 25,000 bluewater miles, from the U.S. East coast to the West Indies on several occasions.

Double-planked, bronze fastened with bronze strapping amidships, she is robust and capable. Solid teak cabin sides and cockpit combings speak to the era, when these boatbuilding materials were still readily available and affordable.

Both Nielsen and Luke were known as innovators, and Direction shows evidence, with a 1960s blend of modern materials complementing a traditional build. Above the hull, she was designed and built with fiberglass decks, a sleek (Ted Hood) custom-designed tapered aluminum mast, and cast aluminum wheel.

As with all wooden boats, there is as much work to do as is desired, and Direction is no exception. I was introduced to Direction through a friend, who had been keeping her safe on her mooring for an aging owner. Our family was looking to move up in size from a smaller wooden sailboat, so Direction – a 40’ purpose-built cruiser - fit the bill perfectly and turned into a satisfying pandemic project; cleaning her up from stem to stern, pulling and refurbishing the rig, making necessary repairs throughout, laying a new fibreglass cloth deck, replacing dated systems and gear, and generally bringing her back to life as a functional, stylish, Salish Sea cruiser.

Direction sails beautifully. She is easy on the helm with a comfortable motion underway – all traits we had hoped for with a Nielsen design. Her wide flat decks and cabin top are uncluttered and functional while sailing, and a dream at anchor, providing additional space for sitting and lounging, in addition to the oversized and comfortable cockpit.

All was well until recently, when her very reliable Volvo diesel started acting up with a diagnosis of “injector blow by”. An unwelcome surprise that caught us completely off guard. We contemplated an engine overhaul or Beta repower, but family commitments and a potential move, has led us to the difficult decision to sell.

She is a proven, safe and comfortable cruiser, worthwhile of time, love and investment. Given her pedigree, she’s also a candidate for a full, cabin off rebuild if you are in the market – there are local boatyards experienced in restoring classics – A&G in Brentwood Bay, Port Townsend Shipwrights Co-op and local shipwrights as well. She is a rare find on the West Coast, with only a few Neilsen’s in the Pacific Northwest.

As evidenced in the specs, there is a ton of value in the boat. There are also potential extras for the right owner, including bronze and stainless hardware, fasteners, paint, etc.

Out of water survey in 2022. Moored and insured at Royal Victoria Yacht Club in Victoria.

Asking price: $25000.00 CND

Open to reasonable offers

Contact Chris

cp.bc@telus.net