RELIANCE, a Cal 46

My parents boat, also aquired through an insurance auction of damaged vessels, a 1977 Cal (Lapworth designed) 46' center cockpit. One of if not the first truely functional center cockpit raised salon vessels ever designed and put into limited production. The Cal 46 is considered one of the few most stoutly built and comfortable liveaboard/cruising boats of all the vessels in existance today.

A few interrior pics at initial aquisition. No cleanup has been done at this point. The layout is functional and roomy. Head off aft stateroom includes a shower. A second head is forward of the main salon.

Reliance arrived equiped with a hefty 4 cylinder large displacement Perkins diesel, and a 4kW diesel generator. The main engine is in excellent condition, with features such as a remotly mounted oil filter, dual racor fuel filters with cockpit mounted vaccum gauge, engine driven bilge pump in case one should ever be needed, and elaborate monitoring and alarm system (if engine gets a little warm or oil pressure drops a nav station buzzer, engine room bells, and mast mounted loudhailer all notify the skipper of the condition). Even after having slept for nearly nine months the main engine fired up instantly after jumping the batteries. It starts every time with a light flick at the start button. I don't think it even makes two revolutions of the crankshaft before firing off. (Actually it starts more easily than the brand new Yanmar in the Hans, and Yanmars are known for quick and easy starting).

The engine driven (mechanical clutch engagement on demand) bilge pump

Fuel filters, sea strainers, ancient but yet very effective (though should not be left unattended to prevent overcharging) battery charger

The generator, mounted in a wood enclousure to insulate the sound.

The starter brusher were worn out, but $4.00 and an hour later it fired up.

Main electrical panel at the nav station. Also at the nav station are controls for the Vigil inverter, radar, RadioDirectionFinder, Depth, wind, and knot log instruments, AC and DC voltage and amperage meters, VHF radio, Jensen stereo, printer (for weatherfaxes), a loudhailer, and engine alarm panel. A bronze Baramoter/Thermometer (Weems and Plath) is also mounted for easy viewing at the station. Below the tabletop are drawers containing spare parts, winery, and paperwork on all the installed equipment and documentation of additions, wiring, plumbing, rigging, running gear, and other such papers.

BAck side of the electrical panel (accessed from the engine room) is actually very clean and neat. It's easy to trace any wiring and all is properly secured against movement or chafing while under way. Very few boats, especially those that aren't direct from the factory, have decent wiring.

The batteries. Presently 2 8D batteries but soon to be replaced with 6 6v deep cycle golf cart batteries (far superrior in tolerance of viberations, repeated deep discharges, and with more years of life in general). Bus terminals and battery switches from Blue Sea Systems will also be added.

The water system includes a new pressure pump. There is also an expansion chamber to reduce pump cycling. The stainless hot water tank features not only 120vac heating coils but a heat exchanger to heat water off the main engine cooling system.

Diaphram style bilge pump. Far more desired than rotary type submerged pumps with boats of the deep sump and draft type such as sailboats.

The only major damage was to the starboard forward corner of the raised saloon cabin. The hull had a few minor scrapes as all the boats from the marina in Slidell, bent stanchions, and some other bent railings. The main mast spreaders and upper and lower stays on the starboard side of the main mast were also damaged. None of the damage was as bad as it appeared in pictures. The cabin damage in particular was not extensive (beyond a few hours with some fiberglass and foam coring material). After removing the old headliner panels the entire cabin looked much better.

Both masts were straight and undamaged. They're also keel stepped for excellent structural properties. Keel stepped masts typically fair better under emergency situations and storm damage (if it should ever happen, like if ever sailing the southern ocean in winter with 60'-150' waves) in that the mast or at least part of it will stay with the boat should the stays part. The jib and main sails are both on roller furling, the mizzen conventially raised on a track. There is also an inner forestay, I assume for carrying a storm jib. The main mast also still has tracks affixed so a conventional main sail could easily be used. A partial height secondary track is also proply mounted to handle a storm trysail. The main mast also includes steps for going aloft with a harness instead of having to deal with a bosun's chair. There are also mast pulpits to lean against when handling sails, one removed because of cabin top damage but neither bent. An accidental jibe preventer is also rigged on the main boom. Apparently the previous owners didn't want to get boomwhacked while sailing downwind in light air.

All winches are in good condition, most still have the canvas covers on. The main jib winches are also self tailing.

Cockpit mounted main engine panel with gauges.

Propane tanks. The propane system includes a solenoid valve so the propane can be shut off from the galley without going on deck. A good safety feature that encourages shutting off the propane supply when the heater or stove is not in use.

A few things the auction company forgot about... 6 person liferaft hidden under a cover just forward of the mainmast.

...Oh, and a gas powered compressor rigged for filling scuba tanks.

Besides an electric windlass forward, there's also one aft with rope, chain, and danforth anchor.

...Oops. When we salvaged and towed the boat to Madisonville and the boatyard (Riverview Marine Services Inc.) we didn't get around to cutting the lock off the aft deck locker. Unknown to the auctioneers it contained all the sails, and thousands of dollars of spare parts. There are enough oil filteres onboard to motor from California through the Panama Canal to Florida and back. (as well as water pump rebuild kits for the engines and fresh water system, diaphrams for the bilge and shower sump pumps, rigging parts, outboard parts (boat included a 5hp nissan outboard in damaged but likely salvagable condition), sail repair equipment, spear gun, boat poles, spare VHF radio, and other such things.

Some of one of the two main anchor chains up forward.

Reliance, Silent Partner, and the Watkins 33 I lived aboard April 2005 through April 2006 (now listed for sale). No, the rest aren't mine, just ones the yard was in charge of looking after (that I had to keep afloat and properly moored for a few months while the previous owners and insurance companies haggled around.