Heavenly Twins Catamaran, 8 M Sailing Yacht Project, No Reserve

The pictures tell the story really. This is a Heavenly Twins 26 catamaran, from around 1979. She clearly hasn't been given much love for a while and I bought her in the autumn last year hoping that I would be the one to change that. Unfortunately circumstances mean that I have no time to spend on the project so I am going to have to pass her on to someone who can do her justice and bring her back to life. These boats were soundly built from GRP and the basic hull and deck shells seem to be in pretty good condition aside from a repair to the port bow which can be seen in the first picture.

I haven't had her out of the water (or indeed off the mooring) but the only obvious external damage to the shell is the absence of the teak rub-rail - which was maybe deliberately removed by a previous owner, who forgot to fill the screw holes! I bought her in the condition you see in these pictures (albeit with a lot more rubbish on board). I have cleaned up a bit, bought some second hand gear as it has come up on classifieds board, and made a list of jobs. Items not shown in the pictures but stored in my garage to go with the boat are: Evinrude Yachtwin 9.9hp extra longshaft Model E10SELERB, so around 1995 - runs all right in a wheelie bin! This motor goes in a well in the cockpit and is arranged so that it can be lifted clear of the water for reduced drag when sailing 2x fuel tanks to go with the motor I have bought a remote adaptor kit and remotes to go with this which could be mounted on the steering binnacle Full set of stainless 1x19 rigging with the exception of the forestay - which will have to be made to go inside the roller furling gear on the boat 2 short lengths of wire will also be required to make the forestay bridle - unless you decide to take the tack right down to the deck Old spare set of rigging which should be thrown away as it is corroded Masthead crane is off the boat as I brought it home to free off the halyard sheaves Spinnaker: luff 9.1 m, foot 5.6 m Genoa: luff 8.2m, leach 7.8m, foot 4.2 m with tape and bolt-rope to suit furler Main: 7.98 m, foot 2.94 m plus very old and non-suitable main that came with the boat Reacher: Luff 9 m foot 5 m Hardwood (iroko) to make forward platform slats New doors for main cabin and aft cabins - part made from same hardwood Two anchors, one on the boat with unknown length of warp and chain, spare at home Canvas dodger and stainless frames - there are enough frames to completely enclose the cockpit if required, but only the dodger canvas Mainsail cover to match dodger with lazy-jack attachments Issues that I have noticed that would prevent you from going sailing are: Port rudder horn (the stainless bit that connects the rudder to the internal tiller bar) is broken so steering only works on starboard rudder.

The previous owner had fitted a new morse control from the wheel to the tiller bar but I suspect that the port rudder is jammed and does not want to move with the starboard one so the metal has fatigued and will require straightening and welding. The bottom desperately needs cleaning. There are some big barnacles on it and maybe these have something to do with the steering issue (jamming up the rudder). There is a hole in the bulkhead which separates one of the anchor lockers from the saloon - this was probably caused by someone slinging the anchor into the locker too hard , maybe even more than once. You could go for a sail in Falmouth harbour without fixing it but I would want to have the hole sealed up before going too far afield as water on the foredeck could find its way inside otherwise.

The forward beam needs replacing in my opinion. It is timber and was sitting in stainless steel sockets attached to the inner gunwales at the bow but during the winter storms it has come out. I guess it could be put back in but I think that a more permanent solution is needed sooner rather than later. At least one of the side windows seems to be leaking a little. The perspex looks very new so I think that re-sealing them would do the trick (not essential for sailing though).

The mast needs re-stepping and as I already said this requires a new forestay and bridles. There are no sheets or halyards with the boat so a trip to the rope shop will be required. Of course there are many other jobs that need doing. But at the end of the day you could have a boat like Kittiwake, (google "Kittiwake Heavenly Twins"), and well sorted ones like that go for around £20,000. The boat is on a Falmouth Yacht Haven mooring at the moment which is paid up till 31st March.

You will have to make your own enquiries if you want to keep it there permanently but I have found that the people in the office are very approachable and helpful. Alternatively remember that this is a boat that dries out level so you have lots of other options of where to keep her (shallow draft or tidal moorings). I would like a quick sale before the weather improves and I change my mind. The price reflects this and gives you plenty of room to make your improvements.