1973 Alden Cutsom 47 Center Cockpit Ketch

VESSEL DETAILS
HULL & DECK: Airex-foam cored sandwich construction fiberglass hull (1 ½” thick hull). 2014 Oyster White Awlgrip hull topsides by Custom Coatings in Thomaston, ME, gold cove strip, red boottop, green bottom. 2000 new laid and glued teak decks and cockpit over fiberglass (decks not screwed and bunged, but glued; decks in excellent condition). New decks done by Wayfarer Marine, Camden, ME. Solid 1 1/4" teak cabin trunk sides and exterior trim are all varnished in excellent condition. 9 opening S/S ports; 2 opening Bomar hatches with screens - 1 in forward cabin, 1 in salon (both restored). 4 Dorade ventilators with safety bars over. 2003 new Edson pedestal binnacle and wheel, with guard and custom varnished cockpit table. Rubrail on hull with stainless striker. Encapsulated lead keel. Fold down helm seat in cockpit. S/S wire double lifelines and double gates and tapered S/S stanchions; S/S bow and stern rails with varnished teak bow seat. Bronze deflector wings protect prop from lobster pots etc. Monel centerboard – S/S lifting arm and centerboard cable have been recently replaced. Elkhide covered Edson S/S wheel. Toast-colored Sunbrella companionway Dodger with aft grabrail and opening windshield. Toast-colored Sunbrella at main companionway and aft companionway with opening windshields. 4 scuppers in cockpit. 2 companionways with slats and screens. Rudder being rebuilt 2019.   Bronze seacocks.   TANKAGE: Fuel: 200 gallons in two fiberglass tanks. Water: 200 gallons in Monel tank. Holding: Two new 2015 poly tanks with macerator pumps and y-valve.   ENGINE & MECHANICAL: 2004 Perkins 4-236 diesel, 85 hp, FWC, with 5,415 hours as seen on the hour meter. 2000 Sidepower Bow thruster. Velvet drive transmission. Waterlift muffler. Luke 3-bladed feathering propeller. 2 Racor fuel/water filters with vacuum gauge and switch over valve. 1 ½” S/S shaft with dripless shaft seal. Engine room has an automatic fire extinguisher.  Engine room is lined with leaded Sounddown insulation. Cruising speed: 7.25 knots @ 1450-1500 RPM. Maximum speed: 9.5 knots @ 2500 RPM.                                     ELECTRICAL: 1997 Most of the vessel's wiring replaced including new circuit breaker panel. 12V DC system & 110V AC shore power. 2023 Two 8D AGM house batteries (banks 1 and 2); 2023 separate Group 31 AGM engine starting battery. 100 amp alternator with spare. Mastervolt charger with battery monitor. 28 watt roll-up solar panel (small, not presently used by owners). 2-12V bilge pumps. Ammeter and voltmeters. Electric power cords, (2) 30-amp and (1) 50/30 reducer. Balmar voltage regulator. 11 gallon S/S hot water heater run off engine or 110V. Spare water pump for engine.   ACCOMMODATIONS: Sleeps nine. Interior joinery is some of the finest old world style varnished teak this office has seen, with varnished teak and holly cabin soles. The teak was hand picked by her builder Poul Molich in Hamburg Germany when the teak arrived via ship from the Far East.   Master Stateroom: The master stateroom is aft with two single sea berths, port and starboard with weather cloths. The master cabin has a built-in bureau, hanging lockers and Espar diesel heat. Adjoining head is equipped with a Raritan W.C., sink and handheld type shower. A private companionway with dodger leads to aft deck. Passageway: A below decks passageway leads from aft cabin to main salon with a full size single berth to starboard presently used as storage. Also, freezer is located here. The well insulated engine compartment is inboard of the passageway, directly under the cockpit. Access to the engine is excellent through two removable insulated panels. Galley: (to port) L-shaped galley is adjacent to the companionway and aft in the salon. Force 10 S/S gas stove with 3 burners, and oven and broiler. 2002 Isotherm cold plate refrigerator and Isotherm freezer run off batteries or shore power; refrigerator has pull-out shelves with teak door. Stainless steel sink with hot and cold pressure water and manual foot pump. Stainless steel counters. Storage cabinets outboard and numerous drawers.  Main Salon: Opposite galley to starboard is the large navigation table with chart desk, and numerous drawers under. The salon has two built-in pilot berths and two extension transom berths with centerline drop-leaf teak table between. Also, book cases, bureau of drawers, and diesel heating. Stereo with Bose speakers. Forward of the main cabin to port is head with telephone-type shower. Hanging locker is opposite head to starboard. Guest Stateroom: The guest stateroom is forward and sleeps two in vee berth. There is a bureau, ample drawers, good storage under berths and hanging locker.   ELECTRONICS: Simrad AP20 autopilot (not presently used by owners). Raymarine Radar-GPS chartplotter at nav station and remote in cockpit. 2014 Raymarine E80 radar/plotter/GPS with AIS at helm. ICOM M506 VHF at nav station and Ram Mic in cockpit. Standard Horizon handheld. Icom IC-M710 SSB transceiver. 2016 Raymarine ST60 wind; Raymarine ST60 depth and speed in cockpit; Autohelm depth & Raymarine ST60 multi at nav table. Auxiliary depth at nav station. Wiring in place via USB cable for a personal computer at salon table and nav station. Danforth Constellation compass in cockpit binnacle. Panasonic Stereo/CD system with 2 Bose speakers.                                                    SAILS & RIGGING: Mainmast stepped on keel. Hood Stoway roller furling main and mizzen. Harken roller furling on 130% genoa. Two aluminum masts, recently refinished in Awlgrip 2014. Stainless steel standing rigging; Dacron running rigging. Anderson self-tailing outhaul winch. Sails include Quantum main, mizzen and, 130% jib (survey of 3 working sails by Jay Maloney shows sails to be in excellent condition); also MPS, lightly used storm trysail, double down wind headsails (jibs), storm jib, and 2004 North mizzen staysail. 2002 Two Harken 56 S.T. electric winches; two Anderson 40 S.T winches; 2 Barient 22 sheet winches; S.T. winch for roller furling main. Hall rigid boom vang. 2014 Rebedded chainplates on deck. At aft end of cockpit is mainsheet traveler.   EQUIPMENT: Mast head LED lights, running, anchor and strobe; additional running lights at pulpit and pushpit. Deck lights on main and mizzen. Ideal Capstan-style Electric Windlass. 60 lb CQR anchor with 200’ 3/8” chain. Large Danforth anchor and 300’ rode. 20 lb Danforth with 100’ nylon rode and chain lead. Luke storm anchor – 3 piece. Salt deck washdown. Life jackets. Switlik MOM. Deck wash-down pump. Shower sump pumps, forward and aft. Lifesling rescue system. 6-man life raft – NOT certified. Toast-colored Dodgers for both companionways by Princess Yacht Canvas. Bimini attached to main dodger running to mizzen and mizzen shrouds. Sun awning cover - main mast to mizzen. Forward hatch rain deflector. Radar reflector mounted on main mast. Bosun's chair.  Air fog horn with compressor. Docklines. Custom folding teak boarding ladder. Two varnished fender boards. Fenders covered in tan fleece covers. Custom extra long spruce boat hook. Mahogany boat hook. Weather cloths. Fore and aft jack lines. Extensive spare parts inventory. Original drawings at Hart Museum, MIT. Custom canvas Fairclough winter cover and tubular frame (can be used with spars in boat or out). Custom cover for mast in salon. Signal flags for dressing ship. Wicker baskets. Brass kerosene lamp. 2-12V bilge pumps. Monel emergency tiller. McMurdo 460 GPS EPIRB. Toast-colored cockpit cushions with white piping. Solar powered ventilators aft. Dorade ventilators. Manual Henderson bilge pump. Stern rail mounted Edson outboard bracket. Two steel LPG bottles in vented locker. Tricolor masthead light. Brass clock and barometer. 12V cabin fan. Custom screens for companionway.   COMMENTS: AURORA (EX: ALESTRA) is a one of a kind Custom-built 47’ John Alden Center Cockpit Ketch with a keel-centerboard underbody. She was built to exceedingly high standards by the renowned Danish Boatyard, Poul Molich & Sons, in Hundested, Denmark in 1973. Molich’s yard built many high quality John Alden designs in the 1960’s and 1970’s, including the Alden Challengers and Caravelles. AURORA’S fiberglass airex-sandwich hull was also built by Molich, unlike the previous Alden designs where the hulls were built in England.             What makes AURORA so special? She is a modern “Classic” which has had only three long term caring owners since new, a tribute to her unique qualities. All three have kept her in “Bristol” condition. Due to her superb construction, she has crossed the Atlantic twice, and has made numerous trips from the Caribbean to Canada. The quality of her teak joinery and skillful workmanship which created AURORA, is exceptional. Her teak is straight, tight grain, old growth wood, free of checks and knots, and matched in grain to a golden teak color. Additionally, due to many modern advances in equipment, such as roller furling main and mizzen, and electric winches, AURORA is easily handled by a couple. She also has a three stateroom, two head layout, which allows for two couples to cruise long distances in comfort and privacy.             Please review the numerous improvements and upgrades the present owners have done. They purchased her in 2006 and have been completely satisfied with all aspects of her sailing and handling characteristics. AURORA is an extraordinary offering. Please call us for an inspection of this Custom Alden Ketch, and thank you for your interest.