Below Deck
The galley is generous in size, with room for two people to move about comfortably. In rough conditions, one person can wedge securely between the sink and refrigerator while another prepares food from the opposite side. Even a gourmet cook will find ample space for supplies and accoutrements.
Opposite the galley is the navigation station, surrounded by lockers and shelves for books and equipment. A large shallow drawer beneath the chart table provides excellent storage, while a hideaway stool tucks beneath the station. Navigators can sit, stand, or wedge-in while working in a seaway. A large canvas bag, located directly in front, houses paper charts.
Centrally located beneath the galley island is the engine room and water tank. This practical and sensible low, mid-ship placement is ideal for carrying 700+ pounds, and it also allows unmatched and highly desirable FULL 360°ENGINE ACCESS.
The main salon features a 10.5’ beam-to-beam cabin with matching settees and a unique revolving dining table with a removable fiddle for easy computer work. The settees were freshly reupholstered in 2023 and are fitted with removable lee cloths for secure sleeping at sea. Generous, compartmentalized storage lies beneath each settee.
Moving forward of the salon on port is another custom bookshelf, followed by the head to port. A hanging locker to starboard houses the watermaker. The head is equipped with a manual toilet and a water-closet style holding tank, discharging efficiently through a gravity-fed hose.
The forward cabin boasts the largest v-berths ever seen on any yacht under 50’. Measuring 8’ wide by 7’ long, it offers exceptional comfort. There are large, custom made canvas clothing bags hanging on port and starboard. Underneath the v-berth there is 8’ x 7’ of additional storage and the diesel tank. Overhead, a large 24” x 24” Lewmar hatch with renewed Lexan lens, funnels fresh breeze through the boat. Just forward is the easily accessible chain locker, with a custom storage shelf added in 2023. Ahead of the locker is a watertight bulkhead.
Aft of the salon, and behind the companionway ladder leads is the 440AH battery bank, with room for two more batteries if desired. Beyond the ladder are two quarter berths separated by a storage area that runs all the way to the transom. A padded center divider creates secure, snug sea berths.
On Deck
As expected of a true bluewater passagemaker, Wild Spirit’s deck and cockpit were refined over 30 years to ensure easy and safe shorthanded sailing. All sheets are led aft, allowing the boat to be sailed securely from behind the dodger. The doger has a zip-on extension to completely enclose the occupants during inclement weather.
The cockpit offers generous storage with two aft lazarettes. Comfortable seating is protected by the dodger. Recessed seating behind the garboard comibngs provides additional shelter. The long bench seats allow crew to stretch out for a nap.
Reefing is led from under the boom to the base of the mast, through clutches to an Anderson self tailing winch. The main sail can be quickly and easily raised by hand at the mast. A winch is only needed to harden the halyard for the last foot of luff tension.
There is a Viking 4 person life raft is mounted in a cradle just forward of the mast.
The large, cutter rigged foredeck is flush from the mast forward. (On a true cutter, the mast is placed farther aft then a sloop. The center of effort is further aft then a sloop and heels less in a blow. Far superior to a sloop with an added Solent Stay) This flush deck cutter offers more real estate for lounging or uncompromised sail handling. The Highfield lever is tucked into a recessed cubby behind the head stay. To deploy the staysail, the staysail stay is attached to the lever and tensioned. Then the staysail can be hanked on and hoisted when needed. The foredeck has a large bow pulpit that carries twin anchor rollers with both a Rocna and a claw anchor. Two oversized cleats, backed by a solid oak plate, flank the windlass. A Schaeffer furler makes jib handling simple, with a geared block led to the cockpit. If additional power is needed, the port self-tailing Harken winch provides mechanical advantage.
An electric anchor windlass, with both chain and rope gypsies, is operated by a convenient foot switch, making anchoring straightforward.
On deck sail storage is supported by a custom Sunbrella and mesh deck bag, just behind the Highfield lever, you can also rig a dedicated storage bag for the hanked-on staysail which allows quick deployment when conditions call for it.
In summary, the deck layout is clean, functional, and proven — making sail handling simple, comfortable, and secure.
