2000 Custom Ian Franklin 53 Sloop

Starting aft in the owner's cabin is the queen-sized berth on centerline, starboard settee, hanging locker and abundant drawers and cabinets, vanity is to port; overhead opening hatch and 4 opening ports provide for a light and airy cabin.

There are two access doors from the cabin; the portside door leads to the aft head and shower and the starboard door leads to a well-equipped galley.  The galley is extremely well laid out providing an efficient, safe, cooking and food preparation area. There are two opening ports, one to cockpit and one outboard which provides light and ventilation as well as pass thru to the cockpit.

The Nav Station is forward facing, located forward of the aft head to port, and is very well equipped.

Midships is the spacious main salon which features a light and airy ambiance. There are large Lexan windows, the bottoms of which are 5'4" off the floor, offering a clear view outside. Two overhead hatches and two opening ports provide additional light and viewing along with superb ventilation. A beautifully finished salon table to port opens to seat 7-8 comfortably for dining or socializing. A settee to starboard pulls out and converts to a small double berth.

Crystal and wine storage cabinet is located forward of the starboard settee.

Continuing forward to port is a guest cabin with double berth; hanging locker, drawers and cabinet. To starboard is the large guest head with shower, Corian countertops and spacious linen closet.

Further forward is another guest cabin with queen berth, hanging locker and abundant drawers and cabinets, as well as a small settee to starboard.

The interior features beautifully finished teak, using world-class workmanship and joinery. The headliner is cream colored ultra-suede and easily removed for access to coach roof. There are handsome blue fabric settees throughout.

Both heads are finely finished in high-gloss fiberglass with Glacier White Corian countertops and teak grates over the shower floors. Galley countertops are Savannah Magna Corian with raised edges to avoid water seepage to the teak.

There are Halogen lights overhead and reading lamps throughout; Eight Hella fans are strategically placed for added ventilation. All hatches have retractable screens and shades.

The owner's cabin features a centerline queen-sized berth, small settee, hanging locker, abundant storage with vanity, large and small drawers, cabinets, four opening ports for excellent ventilation and 270 degree viewing. One large opening hatch overhead with retractable screen and shade, overhead Halogen lights and reading lamps, as well as Hella oscillating fans.

The middle guest cabin features a double berth, hanging locker, drawers, cabinet, overhead Halogen lights and reading lamps, oscillating fan, large overhead hatch with retractable screen and shade, opening port for good ventilation and viewing outside. The forward guest cabin features a large centerline queen-sized berth, small settee, hanging locker, drawers and cabinets, overhead Halogen lights, reading lamps, two opening ports, large overhead opening hatch with retractable screen and shade and two Hella oscillating fans.

The main salon is spectacular - exceptionally spacious and very bright and airy. The cabin features a U-shaped settee to port, full-length settee to starboard, cocktail/dining table with adjustable height, crystal and wine bottle storage cabinet, AM/FM radio and CD stereo system with Bose marine speakers in interior and cockpit, two large opening hatches with retractable screens and shades and two opening ports. Large Lexan windows surround slightly raised cabin sole and large windows provide exceptional outside light. Beautifully finished teak interior is accented by blue upholstery and cream ultra suede ceiling liner.

Top and front opening fridge and freezer for full and easy access with 5" insulation. Sea Frost separate engine driven and DC refrigeration systems. Full-length Savannah Magna Corian counter tops with dedicated dishware compartments built-in. Force 10 three burner stove with oven and broiler Microwave Oven Small pantry and abundant storage.  Double s/s sink with retractable spray hose

• Electrical system designed by Nigel Calder; 900 amp/hrs gel cell house battery bank; dedicated battery for main engine starting.
• Full compliment of navigation lights, running lights, anchor lights, etc.
• Shorepower connection for electrical outlets, batteries, fridge & freezer charging
• Heart Interface Freedom 25 inverter
• Balmar 180 amp alternator in addition to Yanmar alternator
• Link 2000 battery charger and monitoring system
• Battery parallel switch for both battery banks

(8) Raytheon ST60 multi-function displays

       (3) displays over companionway

       (3) Navigation Table

       (1) Helm

       (1) aft stateroom

RayMarine Axiom chart plotter at the helm

RayMarine LC 70 Chart plotter at Navigation desk

Raytheon ST 7000 autopilot w/type 300 core pack

ICOM M710 SSB radio w/AT-130 antenna tuner

ICOM M45 VHF radio w/ mast-mounted speaker

• Full-size chart drawer
• Chart table w/opening top & 3 large drawers
• Four long storage cabinets

Teak seating and floor in cockpit, with teak on aft coach roof and mast step area; teak seats, port and starboard, in custom stainless steel push pit; toe rail is white painted composite with custom two-tone grey/white non-skid decks; 32" custom tapered s/s stanchions w/double plastic covered lifelines. Two large lazarette aft, port and starboard. Large sail locker at foredeck behind deep anchor chain locker. Dedicated vented propane locker to secure two - 20lb tanks.  Whitlock Deluxe Mamba 1001/130 DL Bevel drive steering system for precise feel and control, w/recessed Ritchie compass white enamel aluminum steering wheel w/leather cover. Dodger and bimini with s/s framework, clear overhead panel and removable sides for total enclosure. Four 50' Yale 5/8" blue docklines w/loops; four white 10 x 30 fenders.

Humphrey's designed hull shape with two watertight collision barrier bulkheads forward. Extremely strong Kevlar composite hull with Airex closed cell foam core (epoxy E-glass unidirectional and triaxial with Kevlar cloth on fore foot area), Resin-International Product XTR; fiberglass layup (material and design by High Modulus), Forespare Marlon  thru-hull valves.  Humphrey's designed unique bulk lead keel, bolted on and glued with Epiglass glue; keel has stainless steel internal frame with centerline bolts of 32mm diameter reaching to bottom of keel; 18mm top plate stainless steel between keel and hull. Large custom carbon fiber spade rudder with Harken rudder bearings. Painted topsides

Fuel transfer from lowest parts of tanks for testing or transfer; oil change pump on engine; PPS Shaft Sea; Aqua Drive coupling; Groco manual head system; redundant freshwater system with two Jabsco freshwater pumps; integral tanks with inspection, "Tank Tender" system to monitor fuel and water tanks.

All winches are conveniently located in the cockpit; electric winches have foot controls at helm allowing skipper to easily trim and ease sails. All halyard & reef lines led through Lewmar turning blocks and clutches to cockpit. Harken unit 3 roller furling for jib.  Sparcraft Hi-tech Composite custom carbon fiber autoclave construction mast designed by Bruce Thompson/America's Cup NZ; custom Marten Marine Leisure-Furl roller furling boom for fully battened mainsail, retractable stowage cover slides forward on boom to easily cover sail when not in use, reef line to cockpit; custom Sparcraft boom vang with control line to cockpit; carbon whisker pole.

•  519 sq/ft Doyle Vectran (DV 18/6P) 100% genoa roller furling jib with UV cover and Sea Foam luff;
• 108 sq/ft Doyle Dacron 8.62 oz 50% staysail storm jib bank onto inner forestay
• 811 sq/ft Doyle Vectran 18/6P fully battened mainsail; (2014)
• 166 sq/ft Doyle hank on storm trysail with separate halyard point;
•  1,469 Doyle 1.6 oz nylon Asymmetrical spinnaker with adjustable luff line and ATN snuffer sleeve; staysail hanks onto inner forestay. 

Fractional rig with prebend, 75' off water; mast is 68' above deck with 22 degree sweptback double spreaders, 78' air draft; running rigging in Vectran and Spectra; oversized discontinuous rod rigging; Harken roller furling manual Series 3; Harken B503 manual backstay adjuster; Kevlar check stays with block and tackle for use when inner forestay is employed; dedicated separate trysail cable adjacent to mast for easy deployment of trysail; hydraulic mast jack for easy spar work when necessary; colored Spectra halyards. Stainless steel inner forestay cable with Wichard quick release (inner forestay needed only when storm staysail is to be employed). Custom stainless steel chainplates; angle of chainplate 22 degrees.

• Two Lewmar 64 CEST electric primary winches
• Lewmar 54 CST electric main halyard winch
• Lewmar 54 CST electric main sheet winch
• Lewmar 54 CST halyard winch
• Lewmar 16 CST traveler winches
• Lewmar 16 CST jib reefing winch

Safety equipment: six USCG approved offshore PFD's; horseshoe buoy; EPIRB 406 GPS: flares; bell. Heavy duty bolt cutters.

Simple mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems mean easy maintenance and minimal downtime, while the simple sail plan makes for safe, fun easy and fast sailing. A 2000 model, "Independence” provided years of cruising for a family of 8 from Maine down to the Bahamas and has been well maintained by a knowledgeable owner.