BAREFOOT is a purpose-built aluminum expedition sailing yacht designed by renowned naval architect Angelo Lavranos and constructed by Dearden Marine in British Columbia. Her design emphasizes offshore performance, safety, and reliability, with a rugged long fin keel, watertight welded aluminum hull and deck, and fully insulated interior for comfort in both high-latitude and tropical conditions. The build began in 2006 and the interior finish and sea trials were completed in 2010, with the furniture, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, rigging, and sails developed over 4 years. Her owner, a highly experienced sailor who had racked up more than 60,000 ocean miles before commissioning BAREFOOT, incorporated this extensive experience into build details and systems fitout. On deck, she is configured with a aluminum hard dodger that provides ultimate protection. A powerful rig includes a full sail inventory optimized for shorthanded offshore sailing. Steering and autopilot systems are robust and redundant, and tankage is extensive for long-range cruising, including integrated diesel and water tanks within the keel.
Below deck, BAREFOOT’s layout is both traditional and highly functional, designed for life at sea. A dedicated mechanical room houses critical systems like the generator, heater, and watermaker, while the navigation station is fully equipped with Furuno electronics, SSB, AIS, and Iridium GO satellite phone. The interior layout features a master cabin forward with large head, spacious salon, secure U-shaped galley and a open quarterberth aft. Secure handholds, ample storage, and practical safety features throughout. Heating is provided by two independent systems and there is excellent ventilation via opening ports and hatches throughout. Storage is optimized for long term life aboard. Every detail reflects a commitment to offshore readiness and self-sufficiency, making BAREFOOT a well-engineered, expertly built yacht for serious bluewater voyaging.
Yanmar diesel engine – Kubota DC generator – 150 watts solar – Watt and Sea hydrogenator - Webasto hydronic cabin heat and Dickinson bulkhead mounted heater – water cooled refrigeration – Echo Tec watermaker – insulated aluminum hull and deck – aluminum hard dodger
Interior Accommodations
BAREFOOT features a classic sailing yacht interior. One descends the companion way five steps to the salon.
To the starboard aft (under the cockpit coaming) is a large two person berth.
To the port aft (under the cockpit coaming) is virtually all of the mechanical equipment of the boat with easy access and a workbench 5 feet long and 21” deep that narrows going aft. This area includes DC diesel generator, Webasto heater, watermaker, diesel day tank, 2 hot water tanks, 3 bilge pumps, 1 shower/icebox pump, auto pilot pump, steering gear access, inverter, SSB radio antenna tuner, VAC wiring circuits and breakers, VDC pump solenoids, wiring, and breakers, and a portion of the N2K, and 0183 wiring connections.
Going forward on the port side is a narrow line hanging locker, then forward facing navigation chair, then navigation desk (approximately 30” by 32”), then another small computer useful surface (about 18” by 20”) and then a long settee about 79”. Then forward is a hanging locker and panel of storage lockers and next forward is the vee-berth.
On the starboard side forward of the above described quarter berth is the galley. Forward of the galley is the starboard settee which is “U” shaped having forward and aft facing seats at each end of the settee. Next forward is the head and shower and then the V-berth.
Back at the bottom of the companionway steps, directly forward is the main engine located inside removable insulated panels. Two large 10” high fore and aft removable stowage boxes are mounted over the engine and provide extensive galley counter space. (Temporary grid fiddles can be fitted on the counter when at sea). The engine may be completely exposed and serviced with easy removal of the four side panels and two top boxes.
Electronics and Navigation
At cockpit:
Suunto round the world balanced compass at steering helm
(2) Furuno multi-function FI-70 displays for wind speed and direction both T and A, depth, boat speed, and all GPS info
Signet analog masthead wind speed and direction instruments
Signet analog knot meter
Autopilot remote control
Navigation station:
(2) Furuno RD-33 displays
Furuno 1832 radar
Furuno GP-33 GPS
Signet analog masthead wind instrument repeaters
Signet knot meter repeater
Signet knot log
Active transducer depth sounder reading up to 1,000 ft
DC Generator: Kubota EA300-e2 diesel 7hp with 210 amp Balmar alternator
Battery/Charging:
Watt&Sea 300 Hydro-generator, 12 volt (970mm)
Balmar ARS-5 external regulator for 120 amp alternator on Yanmar main engine
Balmar MC-612 for 210 amp alternator on Kubota DC diesel generator
Eight 6-volt 180 AH Gel cells batteries in two banks
Three 50 watt flexible solar panels w/ external regulator
McCarron 30 amp battery charger
Charles isolation transformer 120/240 VAC
Mechanical Systems
Engine:
Yanmar 4JH3TE 75HP diesel engine with ZF25A direct drive transmission (3900 hours)
Propeller: Flexofold 3 blade 22x12 (2022)
Steering:
Edson cable steering (42” leather covered helm). Powerful and precise hydraulic auto pilot with independent 1/4HP WH motor (reversible, variable speed), hydraulic pump that drives Kobelt hydraulic ram. Simrad NAC3 electronics, AP44 control head and OP-12 cockpit remote control auto pilot from cockpit or navigation station below. Directional steering input from Simrad fluxgate compass, or true/apparent wind via radar mast mounted LCJ Capteurs wind sensor, or Airmar wind sensor.
Tankage:
Diesel: main tank (in fin keel) 90 gallons, day tank 10 gallons
Water: main tank (in fin keel) 99 gallons, poly tank (under cabin sole) 25 gallons
Holding tank: poly (in head) 15 gallons - gravity drain or pump out
Water maker: Echo Tec 260-DML-1. 12vdc, 13 gph
Rain water catchment from deck via diversion of scupper drains using port and starboard valves to direct water to main water tank or poly water tank.
Heating:
At the front of the main cabin by the compression post is the Dickinson bulkhead diesel heater. It is gravity fed from the diesel day tank.
Five heat vents with muffin fans throughout cabin (including head) each individually controlled. Webasto model DBW-2010 hydronic diesel heater distributing to the five heat vents.
Main engine external heat exchanger distributing to the five heat vents.
Hot water:
Everstor storage tank 6 gallon heated by shore power, Webasto diesel heater, or Yanmar engine
Everhot copper tankless water supply heated by Webasto or Yanmar engine
Galley:
Force 10 3 burner gimballed propane stove (2025)
Separate top loading freezer and refrigerator fresh water cooled (via water tank in keel) with Dan Foss compressor
Deck and Hull
The unpainted aluminum hull is formed with compound curves; her slippery design is evident when she motors sedately at 6 knots with virtually no visible wake. The aluminum plate alloy is 5083/5086 and extruded frames and stringers are 6061 alloy. All frames and stringers are “L” shaped, rather than flat bar. The aluminum deck is continuously welded to the hull providing a watertight structural envelope. All chain plates, cleats, chocks, stanchion bases, dorade boxes, granny bars, handrails, mast step, and genoa tracks are welded in place, immoveable, and waterproof. The six deck hatches are mounted slightly elevated to reduce exposure to wave wash at sea.
The aluminum hard dodger offers complete spray protection for crew seated forward in the cockpit. The arch at the aft edge of the dodger carries the mainsheet traveler with end-boom sheeting. The double ended main sheet and traveler control lines fall in the spray protection zone.
BAREFOOT’s underbody is configured with a long fin keel (10 foot length at bottom). The keel is packed with lead ballast and also contains a 90 gallon diesel tank and a 99 gallon fresh water tank. The keel tankage adds stiffness to the boat and leaves more stowage area in the cabin.
The sealed aluminum rudder is semi-balanced with a partial skeg. The rudder post is 4” diameter solid aluminum post with Vesconite bearings and separate tiller arms for the steering cable connections and the auto pilot hydraulic ram.
Insulation: A properly insulated aluminum hull and deck keeps the boat interior cool in tropical warm waters (no sun canopy is needed), warm in high latitude cold waters, and prevents hull and deck condensation leading to mold and mildew. The deck and hull (including frames and stringers) are fully insulated (above the WL) with Armaflex closed cell foam. This foam does not burn and is easily removed and replaced if modifications or repairs are needed. Commonly used spray-in-foam in metal boats is flammable and is difficult to scrape away for repairs.
Security and Safety: The granny bars port and starboard at the mast feature fore, aft, and inboard legs for support when working the mast in a pitching sea.
A large forward deck hatch over the vee-berth can function as escape hatch if needed.
The toilet in the head is mounted fore and aft and with secure hand holds for easy use in a seaway.
There are only four thru-hull fittings below the waterline. Each is readily accessible and has a “Banjo” brand threaded nylon ball-valve that when out of the water can be easily disassembled if necessary for cleaning.
The two anchor locker hatches at the bow with spare anchors, chain, and rode are isolated from the boat interior. The two cockpit lockers are also isolated from the boat interior. Port cockpit locker can stow a valise life raft.
The cockpit drains overboard rapidly through the transom and over the swim step.
The cockpit bridge deck is level with cockpit seating to create an additional seat and to prevent seawater from coming below.
The interior overhead handrails are aluminum pipe secured with fasteners tapped into the boats aluminum frames. The numerous other interior handrails are also aluminum pipe and are through bolted to bulkheads.
Port and starboard sea berths have lee cloth fittings.
All the cabin sole boards, lockers, and cabinets have robust sea-way locks to retain them in place.
Interior headroom is 6’ 7” at the bottom of the companion way steps and 6’ 2” at the center of the entrance to the head at the forward part of the main cabin.
Anchoring:
Manson (made in NZ) Bruce type 50KG with 300 ft 3/8" G4 chain
Sails and Rigging
Rig:
US Spars anodized aluminum with double spreaders
Deck stepped mast prevents seawater below and prevents corrosion at mast butt. Also, enables mast removal and stepping in remote locations lacking cranes tall enough to clear mast butt from deck. Shrouds and stays 3/8” wire with Hayn reusable cone fittings upper and lower
Navtec integral hydraulic backstay adjuster
Profurl headstay furler
Wire Solent stay
Staysail stay tangs at deck and mast (including halyard with messenger) for adding staysail stay
Vang and preventers controlled from cockpit. Boom reinforced with flat bar internally and externally at vang and preventer fittings
Sails:
Mainsail 420 sq. ft. (4 partial battens), storm trysail (on separate track)
110% jib on Profurl furler
150% genoa (8 oz.), 150 % genoa (3 oz.), #4 jib, and storm jib each hank to solent stay. (Solent stay and staysail stay can be fitted with furlers).
Winches:
Six cockpit coaming mounted Andersen winches (2x58ST, 2x46ST, 2x40ST)
Three mast mounted Andersen winches (46ST Jib halyard, 40ST main halyard, 28ST reefing)
Comments from BAREFOOT’s owner:
ABOUT THE DESIGNER AND THE BUILDER
Angelo Lavranos, Naval Architect-designer of BAREFOOT
Dearden Marine, Gibsons, B.C., Canada
John Dearden, builder of BAREFOOT
The designer determines the sailing qualities of a yacht.
The builder determines the quality of the assembly of the components.
The designer enables the sailor to excel, the builder enables her to keep excelling. The designer brings the math and engineering to the yacht. The builder brings the quality materials, available gear and the assembly experience. The combination offers the sailor a fast, responsive, reliable, enduring yacht.
An expedition yacht is designed to be both strong and sail well. Above all those are the two most important factors contributing to safety and success. Cosmetics of an expedition yacht are important only in their contribution to cleanliness, maintenance and self-satisfaction.
Angelo Lavranos is a Naval Architect and engineer. He is well known in the sailing community as the designer of “Allied Bank”, the BOC Open 60 single handed 1990/91 round the world racer skippered by John Martin that was leading when it struck a growler and sank southeast of Cape Horn. Extraordinarily fast, “Allied Bank” was a radically new design with a super wide elliptically shaped hull with twin rudders. Thereafter the “Allied Bank” design was copied by French single handed race designers.
Angelo worked for Angus Primrose in the UK and Sparkman & Stephens in New York, before setting up his own design office in Capetown, SA. He is an inshore and offshore active sailor and has designed maxis, multihulls, power boats, and commercial craft.
I’m the owner of BAREFOOT. After searching unsuccessfully for a metal cruising boat to replace my 36’ IOR fiberglass boat, I considered building one and contacted several designers including Bob Perry, Graham Shannon, Dudley Dix and Angelo Lavranos. What Angelo said when I mentioned wanting a reasonably fast boat has always stayed with me—“it’s the math in the engineering that makes the boat fast”.
I asked John Dearden and Dearden Marine in Gibsons, British Columbia to build a Lavranos 43 with design drawings and support from Angelo.
John, Dan and Wolf in Gibsons have been building aluminum boats, one at a time, for many years. John and Dan are both experienced sailors and each has built his own boat. Their experience and skill in forming and welding aluminum plate to frames and stringers is clear from an inspection of the hull, deck, cockpit and dodger. It’s art work and there is no filling compound anywhere in the boat.
Wolf is a gifted machinist who created the propeller shaft, rudder shaft, stanchion bases, radar mast and many other essential bits and pieces.
Specifications
Build
Builder
Dearden Marine
Designer
Angelo Lavranos
Condition
Used
Category
Sail
Hull material
Aluminum
Drive type
Direct
Dimensions
Length overall
43'
Beam
13'
Draft
6' 6"
Performance
Total power
75 hp
Tanks
Fuel
100 gal
Water
124 gal
Holding
15 gal
Engines
Yanmar 4JH3TE
75 hp · Diesel · Middle · 3,900 hrs
All Photos
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