CATALINA SUNSHINE came to life as the best originally equipped and finest finished 64’ Grand Alaskan Pilothouse ever built. And since, she has been extensively upscaled from a coastal cruiser to an accomplished international passage maker. This yacht, with her designer specified finishes, was originally built, and has since been continuously and vigorously upscaled, maintained and upgraded, with an open checkbook. With all of CATALINA SUNSHINE's major systems like new, she is ready to go anywhere.
Upscaling
Although CATALINA SUNSHINE was equipped with two 800 hp 3406E commercial grade caterpillar engines at the factory, she is the only 64’ Grand Alaskan with these large engines. Cruising at 9 to 10 kts, she operates at 50% of capacity giving her large engines more life plus a higher top end speed of 19 kts when needed to evade pirates and storms).
Both main engines were overhauled in the boat, at the beginning of 2011. With her vigorous open checkbook maintenance and the skilled helmsmanship of her owners, CATALINA SUNSHINE is still young and ready for her next passage.
Catalina Sunshine’s original equipment also included larger stabilizers than those put on any other 64’ Grand Alaskan. The size of her stabilizers, along with her deep entry bow and full keel, provide an extraordinarily comfortable ride at all points of sail. The original equipment included a fuel polishing system with the ability to transfer the polished fuel between the four tanks on the boat.
The original equipment also included two hydraulic pumps attached to the power take off connections on the Twin Disc marine transmissions, one redundant, each is capable of powering the hydraulic bow thruster, the hydraulic stabilizers, the hydraulic windless, plus a large hydraulic engine room bilge pump (the engine room has three bilge pumps, two redundant, the large hydraulic pump, an electric pump, and a manual pump). Original equipment, and this sale, also includes a spare set of props.
Other upscaling included:
- Replacing the undersized original exhaust system to properly accommodate the 800 hp 3406E Caterpillar engines in 2011
- Adding a Side Power electric stern thruster with its own electric battery bank and charger, including a stainless steel crash rail in 2022
- Building and installing a one off large highly finished fiberglass flybridge cover built by Hutchins Marine boat building yard in Jacksonville Florida in 2013
- Upgrading to a high end Rendova dinghy and subsequently adding a support system to remove the load imposed on the aft deck fiberglass cover by the large 14’ Rendova RIB dinghy loaded with equipment (including working lights and VHF antenna on a stainless-steel arch and stainless-steel center bench supports that triples as a swim ladder and rack to carry diving tanks). This upscaling of the aft deck cover included a support system adding two 8’ long by 6” aluminum powder coated beams welded to a ½” aluminum plate with the dinghy supports attached, this work was done in 2019
- Rebuilding the forward deck between the hulls under the Maxwell windless, removing all core material and reconstructing with solid fiberglass including adding a new solid fiberglass bulkhead between hulls at the aft end of the chain locker to adequately resist loads imposed by frequent use of the windless with its upscaled ½”chain rode and upscaled 132 pound Ultra anchor. This work was done in 2022
- Removing all core material upgrading to solid fiberglass behind five upgraded new high strength stainless steel bollards cleats and two existing high strength bollards cleats, to upgrade cleats to handle full hurricane winds and seas. This work was performed 2021 and 2022
- Include a world wide AIS class B system integrated into chart plotter and radar showing relative location of all ships and other vessels within range on both chart plotter and radar screens, and additionally tracking CATALINA SUNSHINE’s location world wide, this work was performed in 2015
- Adding the newest technology in the Iridium satellite phone, with world wide coverage in 2022
- Adding a redundant second salt water electric cooling pump for the stabilizers, bow thruster, and windless (primary salt water pump is hydraulic) in 2023
- Upgrading to second redundant B&G radar in 2013 which was again upgraded in 2021
- Upgrading three swim step stainless rails to two and a half inch diameter rails, adding supports to the aft swim step rails for two custom davits to hold a second 8’ dinghy for beach landings (davits included in sale but second dinghy is not), rod holders and a carbon fiber boarding ramp for Mediterranean mooring common in the Caribbean, work performed in 2015
- Stainless steel ladder added with dual purpose of being able to climb from pilothouse roof to the top of the new fly bridge cover and alternatively, to climb up to carbon fiber Mediterranean boarding ramp, work done in 2015
- Adding a blocks and tackle with pad eyes added to lower radar arch and top of new fiberglass fly bridge cover, to get under fixed bridges for the Great Loop and the Down East loop, work done in 2017
- Adding rocker stopper system with two 15’ booms with block and tackle used by current owners for down island anchoring on the lea side of small islands with a rap around surge perpendicular to the wind, work done in 2014
- Upgraded primary chain rode (CATALINA SUNSHINE includes two stainless steel anchors) to high strength ½” chain with 400 feet of rode; upgrading primary anchor to a 132 lb Ultra stainless steel anchor to accommodate full hurricane winds, work done in 2015
- Upscaling to a 7/8” nylon bridle with snubbers, on both sides of the bridle, with attachment to two of the high strength bollards fastened to the upgraded fully fiberglassed deck discussed above, work done in 2014
- Upgraded the master stateroom with 40” flatscreen television and rebuilding existing cabinets where tube television was removed, to include new hidden safe and entertainment system components all in high level teak cabinetry built by Hutchins Marine boat building yard in 2015
- Relocating all engine room strainers to each side of the passageway between the engines, to place them where they can be easily inspected and maintained, work performed in 2018
- Upscaled to Miele stainless steel clothing washer and separate dryer in 2015
- Upscaled 1,500 lb hydraulic crane to add a larger fluid tank to better accommodate the very frequent use of the crane while extended cruising, work performed in 2018
- Upscaled to add Flir thermal night vision camera with integrated display in pilothouse and fly bridge in 2016
- Rebuilding and upgrading engine room components of the HeadHunter fresh water and sanitary sewer system to include new 24 volt DC redundant back-up pump to the main AC Pump, new gauges, new water lines, valves and replace old expansion tank in 2014
- Adding an upgraded four filter freshwater purification system, connected to the ice maker and two separate faucets one in galley and one in master head in 2015
- Upscaled to canvas sunshade with two stainless steel posts supported from rod holders on stainless steel rails at swim step, work done in 2021
- Upscale to an automatic generator starting system for anchoring extended period instead 2016
- Removed track system for fender attachment and upscaled to leather and sheep skin Fender Hooks with jam cleats which attach to the teak rails, work done in 2011
- Upscaled to heavy duty stamoid Rendova cover in 2020
- Added two marine grade folding electric bikes with a custom design and fabricated cushioned Stamoid weather tight bike bags in 2015
- Add parachute sea anchor in 2016
- Upscaled to fiberglass propane tanks in 2017
- Upscaled to on-board plumbed water softener in 2016
Upgrades And Maintenance
- One-thousand-hour Caterpillar main engine and Northern Lights generator maintenance, following an engine survey with a number of other items that were corrected in 2023
- Five-year TREC stabilizer maintenance including five-year maintenance on American Bow Thruster, in 2024
- Upgraded ABT TREC stabilizer with new control system in 2023
- Rebuilt and powder coated Maxwell windless with four control stations and chain counter in 2022
- Added new 50 hp Yamaha outboard engine to dinghy in 2021
- Upgraded to new Simrad chart plotter and depth sounder in 2017
- 1,500 lb davit crane for the Rendova dinghy with powered boom, winch, and rotation, was rebuilt and powder coated in 2017 and 2024
- Two coats of bottom paint with Prop Speed on main props, shafts, bow and stern thrusters in 2024 (the topsides were painted with AwlGrip Fighting Lady Yellow and Snow White in 2011 with touch up spot painting almost yearly)
- Topsides waxed in January and June of 2024
- Replaced components of Spurs line cutters attached to props to make like new in 2024
- Rebalance props in 2024
- New designer specified fabric settee cushions in salon 2024
- New designer specified fabric settee cushions in pilot house 2024
- New surround sound stereo system with new hi-grade speakers in salon with speakers in pilot house 2023
- New surround sound stereo system on fly bridge in 2023
- Upgraded auto pilot with hand held remote in 2020
- Re-varnished teak rails June 2024
- New 6 person emergency life raft and new EPIRB with AIS in 2022
- Upgraded electronic engine controls with redundant manual controls in pilot house, with controls on flybridge and remote controls with attachment to both port and starboard teak rails at pilothouse doors and port and starboard rails on aft deck in 2019
- Upgraded engine room and rear cameras with integrated display in pilothouse 2024
- Replaced Venturi plexiglass and plexiglass sliding fly bridge door/hatch in 2014
- Replaced Bomar stainless steel and plexiglass VIP deck hatch in 2017
- Replaced air compressor and operating system for the Kahlenberg triple air horn in 2018
- Replaced water heater with upgraded heater in 2019
- Replaced flybridge refrigerator in 2024, and aft deck freezer in 2019
- Replaced and upgrade galley refrigerator and freezer/ice maker with stainless steel GE Profile unit in 2014
- Upgraded stern underwater lights with 6,000 lumens each in 2024
- Upgraded Furuno chart plotter and 74 mile radar with screens in pilothouse and on flybridge in 2020
- Six 8-D batteries replaced in 2022 and two additional 8-D batteries replaced in 2023
- HeadHunter system maintenance in 2024
- Maintenance of Village water maker 2024
- All 6 Cruise-Air systems maintained including recharging in 2024
- Engine room fire suppression system and hand held fire extinguishers serviced in 2023
- Rebuilt lithium batteries for electric bikes in 2024
- Serviced Miele stainless steel washer and dryer in 2023
- Upgraded Rendova chart plotter to Simrad unit in 2019
- Upgraded Rendova hypalon inflatable tubes to new two color tube assembly in 2017
- Replaced 50 hp Yamaha replaced in 2020
- Replaced dinghy bimini in 2019
- Replaced dinghy fuel tank in 2018
- Reupholstered dinghy cushions in 2015
- Replaced salt water wash down pump in 2024
- Replace shower drain pumps in master and VIP in 2024
- Re-upholstered galley bar stools in 2018
- Added hand operated fuel pumps to both generators to clear any air in lines in 2024
- Rebuilt DCS bbq in 2017
- Added dock rolling, boarding stair with hand rails each side for fixed docks, with attachments port and starboard at pilot house doors in 2019
Specifications
- Twin 800 hp 3406E Caterpillar engines
- Two Twin Disc transmissions
- 1,400 gallons of diesel fuel in four tanks
- American Bow Thruster TREC hydraulic stabilizers
- 38 hp hydraulic American Bow Thruster
- Equivalent powered Side Power electric stern thruster with stainless steel crash bar
- Two 16 kw Northern Lights generators with automatic starting system
- 1,200 gal/day Village water maker
- Redundant radars, 72-mile Furuno main and B&G 48 mile back-up, both with screens in pilothouse and on flybridge
- Redundant chart plotters, one Simrad and the second Furuno, both with screens in the pilothouse and on flybridge
- Redundant depth sounders
- Redundant VHS radios, two in pilot house with AIS alarms, and one on fly bridge
- AIS class B system integrated chart plotter and radar with worldwide tracking
- Custom high finish fiberglass flybridge cover with red and blue night lights
- EZ 1500 Nautical Structures davit crane with boom and winch lift, and power rotation
- Wind and depth instruments in pilothouse and master stateroom
- Glendinning electronic engine controls in the pilothouse and on flybridge with manual Glendinning redundant back-up controls
- Remote mobile engine and thruster controls that can be attached with a custom designed leather and sheep skin fender hook, to the port and starboard teak rails adjacent to the pilothouse doors, and to the port and starboard aft rails with full engine and thruster control at any of these stations
- Flir thermal night vision camera integrated into system with display in pilothouse and on flybridge
- Electric powered adjustable leather Stidd helm chair with stainless steel base in pilothouse
- World wide satellite phone which connects to your cell phone
- Glendinning 50 amp cable reel with 85’ cord at stern
- Two additional 50 amp 50’ separate power cords which can be attached at bow or stern
- Fire suppression system in engine room with hand held cylinders throughout the boat
- On-board fuel polishing system
- On-board fuel transfer system with manifold panel connecting all tanks, engines and fuel polishing system
- AC HeadHunter main water pump
- DC 24 volt HeadHunter back-up water pump
- 350 gallon fresh water tank with stern and bow connections
- HeadHunter sanitary sewage system with 150 gallon holding tank and macerator
- HeadHunter holding tank gauges
- Plumbed-in water softener
- Magnum inverter/charger/house bank manager/main engine starting bank manager, with auto generator start, redundant house battery charger, separate generator batteries and battery charge, and separate stern thruster batteries with separate charger
- KVH satellite TV with four separate DirecTV boxes and four flat screen TVs, one 40” and another curved screen 32” TV screens
- Demon amplifier with separately controlled speaker zones in salon, and pilothouse
- Salon has a full surround sound system
- Flybridge has a second entertainment center with four speakers
- Two polished stainless steel anchors, the main is a 132lb Ultra with 400 feet of ½, high strength chain, the second is an 100 lb Bruce with 100’ of 3/8” chain and 400’ of one inch nylon rode
- Third stern anchor is a Fortress FX 55, with 25’ of 3/8” chain and 200’ of 3/4” nylon rode
- Maxwell duel gypsy and duel winch drum windless
- Parachute sea anchor
- Two underwater lights on stern with 6,000 lumens each
- Custom stainless steel guard rails at swim step with attachment to removable davits for a second 8’ dinghy (davits included but second dinghy is not included) to use for beach landings
- Custom swim step rails also include rod holders as well as an attachment for Mediterranean mooring a folding carbon fiber boarding ramp
- 14’ Rendova RIB is cradled on fiberglass flybridge aft deck with 50 hp Yamaha, Simrad chart plotter/depth finder, VHS radio, stainless steel arch, two colored hypalon tubes and work lighting
- Work lighting on aft flybridge deck to facilitate loading Rendova dinghy on and off boat at night
- Rocker stopper stainless steel plates with two 15’ aluminum spinnaker poles
- Two teak chase lounge chairs with fabric cushions
- Two flybridge umbrellas for shade over the chase lounges
- Built-in stainless steel DCS BBQ with two fiberglass propane tanks
- Flybridge sink and refrigerator plumbed for ice maker
- Hinged electronics arch with block and tackle to pass under great loop bridges
- Flybridge blue and white striped cushions
- Two white Stidd helm chairs
- Full electronics at flybridge helm
Accommodations
- Three owner and guest staterooms
- Midship master stateroom with a king berth
- Separate staircase for privacy to master stateroom
- Built-in teak cabinets, closet
- 40" flat screen TV
- Head with granite counter tops
- Two (2) stainless steel sinks with Grohe fixtures, 1 with purified water connection
- Black HeadHunter toilet
- Shower with teak seat
- Teak/holly varnished floor
- Forward VIP stateroom with a queen berth
- Built in flatscreen TV, closet, teak cabinets under berth
- Third stateroom with twin single bunk beds
- Shared staircase and head for state rooms
- Black Headhunter toilet, large shower with teak seat and linen closet
- Granite countertop on teak cabinets, stainless steel sink with Graph fixture, varnished teak/holly floor
Additional Features
- Folding crafted high/low teak tables in salon and pilothouse
- Folding large teak table on aft deck with two teak chairs and cushions, and six folding teak/canvas stools for entertaining large groups
- Two high/low smaller fiberglass tables on flybridge
- Four folding beach chairs and two beach umbrellas
- Canvas shade screen over swim step with two stainless steel poles supported from rod holders to provide shade for aft deck from afternoon sun
- Textured vinyl seat cushions on aft deck settee, and bench built into the Portuguese bridge on bow
- Plumbed-in water softener
- Boarding rolling stair for fixed docks with hand rails both side and attachment hardware at pilothouse doors both port and starboard
- Nutone built in central vacuum system
- Tank tender gauges to measure fuel and water in pilothouse
- Separate glass sight fuel gages on each fuel tank
- Complete Stamoid covers for all teak rails
- Heavy Stamoid cover for Rendova dinghy
- Sunscreen type Stamoid covers all pilothouse windows
- Stamoid covers for all exterior cushions
- Three sets of dock lines, one black 7/8” braid, one brown 3/4” braid, and the third white 60’ long 1” line for extreme tides
- Guides, charts, and chart books for all of the east coast, the Great Lakes, Nova Scotia, the Bahamas, and the Caribbean
- Complete set of tools
- Complete maintenance records for the last 14 years
History
CATALINA SUNSHINE is hull 25 of the approximately 30 Grand Alaskans which were built by Tania Yacht Company in Taiwan, the same quality builder of all Outer Reef Yachts. The Grand Alaskan line was designed by Arthur DeFever for Oviatt Marine who produced the Line.
CATALINA SUNSHINE was purchased by one of its current owners in 2010. This current owner, is a retired Navy Captain, has a USCG Captains License, has a master's degree in civil engineering with structural emphasis from MIT, is a licensed architect, and founded what became a large design and build construction company, under his leadership. In addition, he directly managed the design and build of two other boats of the 9 total he has owned, one a 49-passenger vessel Coast Guard certified for daily transport between Orange County California and Catalina Island, a 26-mile open ocean passage. It’s this skilled hands-on leadership that managed the upscaling of CATALINA SUNSHINE to a true passage maker, with the highest-quality systems and finishes. Home-ported in southeast Florida (the large boat capital in the U.S.) under the same owner for the last 14 years, CATALINA SUNSHINE has benefited from developing a long list of highly skilled manufacturer certified technicians who know the boat inside and out.
