2003 Lien Hwa 45' Gatsby

This is the story of our time with the Gatsby. If we were contemplating buying her, we would have the following two questions: Why are you selling her and why didn't you use her more. Hopefully this will explain.

The original owner, from whom we bought the boat, was a very well-known sailor from CT, Ted Jones. He was the president of the Joshua Slocum society in CT. We have seen him in You Tube videos. After being lifelong sailors, he and his wife were getting older but didn't want to give up sailing entirely. He was 73 years old when he had this boat built in 2003 by Lien Waa a top-quality builder in Taiwan. It was designed by Ed Munk Jr. He used the best of everything. This boat looked like a 1920's motorsailer but was fiberglass with a modern Yanmar engine, Northern Lights generator, 3 air conditioners, washer dryer, ice maker in the bar, red full batten sails that rolled up in the booms, self-tending jib, electric halyard winch, bow thruster, electric windlass etc. In other words, it was the perfect yacht for a couple who wanted to still sail but were getting older.

We found the motorsailer in Connecticut. It was named Vagrant II, a name that was not ideal. It was big enough to live on and we loved the unique classic look. We had previously owned and a 1960 33 Rhodes sailboat we restored and a 1941 53 Sword fishing yacht we also restored (it is in a museum now).

When we found the boat, it had been stored in the back of a heated building at Safe Harbor in Deep River CT for 5 years. It was behind 12 huge yachts. The marina was closed due to Covid. I had a lot of experience restoring boats and had a surveyor look it over, but we could not sea trial it. We made an as is offer and the owner's wife accepted. It was quite a while before the marina reopened and we could get the boat out. We had the marina change oil, impellers, belts, filters. Then took the boat home to Greenport with no issues.

Gatsby was pretty much ready to go. With her 54' air draft and 5'8" draft she would work fine for the intracoastal, Florida and the Bahamas. However, my wife said "I will live on a boat with you for six months, we must buy a bigger boat". When your wife says that you do it.

This is why Gatsby is now coming up for sale. I think she would have worked out great for FL and the Bahamas but keeping the Admiral happy is essential. She is a nice comfortable boat with a great motion. She can sail great when the winds cooperate and is comfortable motoring when they don't. She carries plenty of fuel and water. As a new owner you will need to allow for extra time for people asking questions about her every time you come into a marina. I will be sad to see her go.

• January 2022 Stripped all the varnish on deck, bowsprit, toe rails, rub rails but not pilothouse
• January 2022 marine carpenter replaced damaged teak railing and made the new teak salon table from the plywood prototype I made
• February 2022 Sanded all stripped teak with 120 and 220; Varnished new table and round fan tail table in my shop
• March 2022 applied 3 coats of Smith's Clear Penetrating Epoxy on bare teak and 5 coats of Total Boat Lust varnish
• April 2022 Boat launched. Sick with Covid.
• April 2022 installed new salon table and bobstay protector; Installed new 4K smart TV
• May 2022 installed Jib, installed LED bulbs everywhere
• May 2022 - installed new cushions in lounge area and new butterfly hatch covers
• May 2022 replaced broken mizzen sheet block
• June 2022 another vessel hit our boat in the slip again! Bent SS bracket for davits. Marina will fix and bill the other vessel's owner who hit us.
• June 2022 Found brass filings in bilge. Inside cutlass bearing was wearing. Filings were being pushed through the dripless shaft seal. Yard pulled the boat, took out shaft and prop and sent them out for testing. It turned out the Yanmar motor mounts had sagged while the boat sat for years in that heated building. Yard installed new cutlass bearings, motor mounts, dripless seal and installed reconditioned prop and shaft. They also added a line cutter to the prop.
• November 2022 Boat pulled for the winter and shrink wrapped
• January 2023 purchased Plastimo 800# davits and telescoping SS boarding ladder. Designed installation
• February 2023 had North Shore Welding install the davits and boarding ladder
• April 2023 had the yard check everything and prep boat for the season
• May 2023 found crack in aft 7 gallon holding tank
• May 2023 Sealogic installed new B&G multifunction display, B&G Radar, B&G Depth and Speed, B&G forward looking depth finder
• June 2023 designed new 22 gallon aft holding tank. Had tank custom made and did carpentry to accept it.
• June 2023 installed new holding tank. So now have a 22-gallon holding tank aft and a 7-gallon tank forward. Checked front tank for leaks and rebuilt holding tank pump. Installed locks on holding tank pumps.
• July 2023 Installed preventers and pad eyes for main and mizzen
• September 2023 replaced 20-amp slow blow fuse that stopped main engine start battery from charging. Now have many extra fuses on board.
• October 2023 Had the boat pulled and put in greenhouse. Previous Lust varnish failed in one year. Total Boat said it was because it didn't react well to the Smith's Epoxy.
• November 2023 set up scaffolding and lights in greenhouse. Stripped all varnish off teak on deck and pilothouse with exception of pilothouse window frames and doors.
• January 2024 sanded all stripped teak with 120
• March 2024 Applied 2 coats of Cetol Natural Teak and one coat of Cetol Gloss. Applied as per direction when temps were over 50 degrees in the tent. Future maintenance will only require 3M pad scuff on the parts that get sun and a maintenance coat of gloss
• April 2024 Yard launched the boat, rigged and de-winterized.

The interior woodwork has solid teak doors, cabinets, walls and ceilings combined with brass and bronze hardware. The Day Head is forward with a Porcelain sink, new plumbing fixture, Jabsco manual toilet and storage. The Main Saloon features a beautiful overhead Butterfly Hatch, large round Bronze Opening Port Lights and matching leather settees with pilot berths above. The solid teak table has been modified to create a large lounge with back rest to enjoy your favorite film or a sleeping berth. Moving aft the U-Shaped galley is to port. It also sports all new plumbing fixtures, double SS sinks, two burner propane stove, microwave oven, Toshiba refrigerator freezer, abundant storage and counter space. Across from the galley is the bar area with ice makers and storage. The washer dryer is located outboard in the passageway to the aft master cabin. Engine room access is inboard. The engine room can also be accessed by removing the Pilothouse floor above. The aft Master Cabin with en-suite head has bronze opening port lights, overhead hatch, Queen size bed, TV, 12V fans, storage cabinets and drawers. There is a makeup table with a stool to port. The Master head has all new plumbing fixtures and a separate shower stall. The large pilot house with full 360-degree views is the command center for the vessel. The interior spaces are something special to behold.

• New B&G Multifunction Display 
• New B&G Radar 
• New B&G Depth and Speed 
• New B&G Forward Looking Depth Finder
• Raymarine ST7000 Autopilot
• Icom IC-M502 VHF Radio
• Hailer Speaker
• (2) New TV's

• Nordic Aluminum Main and Mizzen Masts
• Sailtainer Roller Main and Mizzen Booms
• Rigid Boom Vangs
• Installed Preventers and Pad Eyes for Main and Mizzen
• Fully Battened Main and Mizzen Sails
• Self-Tacking Roller Furling Jib
• Lewmar 44ST-2 Speed Electric Winch
• Lewmar 40ST 2-Speed
• (2) Lewmar ST 2-Speed Main Mast Winches
• Lewmar ST 2-Speed Mizzen Mast Winch
• Lewmar Travelers
• Control Lines Led to Cabin Top
• All New Line Clutches

• Four New 230-amp 6 V Golf Cart Batteries
• Two New 1000 CCA 12v Starting Batteries
• Xantrex Battery Monitor
• 120V Shore Power
• Quicksilver Galvanic Isolator
• GFI Outlets
• Northen Lights M643-5N Generator 252 Hours
• Heart Interface Battery Charger with Inverter
• Cruisair 120V AC/Heat 7,000 BTU Forward Unit 
• Cruisair 120V AC/Heat 7,000 BTU Aft Unit
• Cruisair 120V AC/Heat 12,000 BTU Pilot House Unit
• Capilano Hydraulic Steering both Helms
• Joystick Controls both Helm Stations
• Two Electric Bilge Pumps
• New Whale Manuel Bilge Pump
• Two Shower Sump Pumps
• Forse 10 Water Heater
• Toshiba Refrigerator Freezer
• Ice Machine 
• Combo Matic 6000 Washer/dryer
• Wesmar 4 Blade Bow Thruster
• KE-4+ Electronic Engine Controls at both Helm Stations 
• New Cutlass Bearing
• New Motor Mounts
• New Dripless Shaft Seal
• Reconditioned Prop and 1 1/2" shaft 
• New Line Cutter Installed
• Plastimo 800# Davits and Telescoping SS Boarding Ladder

• Rocna Vulcan 33 Anchor and Mantus Swivel 
• CQR 55 SS Anchor
• All Chain Rode
• Lewmar Electric Windlass with Helm Controls and Deck Controls

I am extremely proud to represent this exceptional vessel. Gatsby is bound to impress. Gatsby has been constructed and upgraded with the finest equipment. The interior craftsmanship is a work of art with solid teak, brass and bronze fittings throughout. The engine room is ship like organized, accessible and functional. All the systems are first rate. The in-boom roller furling full battened Mainsail and Mizzen sail are deployed via a Harken powered Halyard winch. Combine this with the Self tacking jib sailing is easy and enjoyable without the need for crew. Gatsby incorporates timeless beauty with modern functionality. A vessel unlike any other that will provide "Pride in Ownership" to her next steward.

Engine and generator hours are as of the date of the original listing and are a representation of what the listing broker is told by the owner and/or actual reading of the engine hour meters. The broker cannot guarantee the true hours. It is the responsibility of the purchaser and/or his agent to verify engine hours, warranties implied or otherwise and major overhauls as well as all other representations noted on the listing brochure.

The company offers the details of this vessel in good faith but cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of this information nor warrant the condition of the vessel. A buyer should instruct his agents, or his surveyors, to investigate such details as the buyer desires validated. This vessel is offered subject to prior sale, price change or withdrawal without notice.

Listing MLS by Yachtr.com