HOMER is a specially hardened BayRaider Expedition for harbour hopping on the open coast around the island of Ireland. On the other side, it is also a conventional cabin sailing dinghy which can be trailered easily to all european in- and offshore destinations, and can be rigged and launched from any slipway, in minutes.
She has been sailed in raids in Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands.
The key HOMER modifications were inspired by original British rowing lifeboats and the subsequent ocean rowing boats, with enough watertight buoyancy on the fore and aft superstructure to automatically destabilise the boat after a potential full inversion at sea. For this, the cabin got a watertight hatch, and a buoyancy dome was built over the stern, which now also houses the main electronics, GPS, Echo and fixed VHF, in easy reach of the helm. Two solar panels on either side of the dome provide ample battery charging. Btw, the buoyancy dome can be removed again.
As there is a risk for the BayRaiders’ and BayRaiders Expedition stability in tough conditions at sea through unvoluntary filling of the standard deep stowage lockers, I had the yard install false floors in the lockers at the level of the cockpit floor. Any water getting in the stowage lockers now drains out automatically into the self.draining cockpit, through new wide diameter one-way valves. The new tank cavity between false floor and main ballast tank can either be filled with sea- or fresh water for additional righting and supply, or can be left dry. There are shut off valves for self draining these tanks through the main ballast tank.
Then, the rudder fittings on the transom were reinforced, a stronger tiller was made, and the rudderhead was made to be serviceable at sea.
There are extra fittings on the cabin and the stern dome roof to lash the masts down firmly in preparation for a severe blow. There are extra handrails in the cockpit and on the buyoancy dome to give the crew better hold.
I made the compression post inside the cabin easily removable for more comfortable overnighting, and added storage bags in the cockpit and inside the cabin. There is a jumbo size waterproof bean bag inside the cabin for comfort and emergency buoyancy.
The centerboard got a proper downhaul. The main ballastwater tank drainholes were made bigger, and two manual bailing pumps were installed.
The structural works were done by a reputed yard in UK which specialises in building ocean rowing boats.
Comes with brandnew (unused) „USA“ carbon main mast and Bermudan mainsail.
Antifouling: International VC Offshore, red.
Engraved curved teak nameplate on transom.
Snap shackles where practical. Jib with stronger luff wire. Pulley system for jib halyard tensioning / main mast stepping. Mizzen: Stronger and stiffer mizzen mast. Reinforced no-twist mast socket. Allen hinge gooseneck for boom. Set of 10" oars. Tiller tamer. Automatic ballast tank airvent. Additional and improved self bailers for sump / ballast tank.
Comes with low-hour Suzuki 2.5 outboard, and braked launching cradle road trailer in perfect condition.
Anchor, and fenders included. Ready to sail. € 22,500.00
(Photos show Homer with Gunter rig.)
