After 27 years of wonderful sailing in the Great Lakes, we’ve decided to put Drake III up for sale. [Mar 2026}
There’s nothing wrong with the boat AFAIK; it’s just changing family circumstances.
Here’s a video of the boats unique design and construction features — that have kept her afloat and sailing so well through the decades.
https://youtu.be/XzuFigj5ojs?si=ZZ6jZDzuOTvjW3wg
DETAILS:
- Built 1947, Montreal, by LaFortune
- Design: unconfirmed, but greatly resembles the Modified Sharpies of yacht designer Commodore Ralph Munroe, who specialized in shallow-draft sailing boats.
- Dimensions: 46 ft LOA, 40 ft LOD, 35 ft LWL, 10 ft Beam, Gross Tonnage 9.66, Draft 40 inches board-up, 7 ft 6 in board down. Mast height approx 42 ft from water.
- Construction: cypress planks, white-oak frames, live-oak keelson and structure, cast-iron ballast keel, centerboard of galvanized steel plate, marine plywood decks covered with glass-epoxy, spars of Sitka spruce glued 4-sided Herreshoff-style, masts in welded steel galvanized tabernacles which permit lowering to go under bridges. Topsides re-painted 2024/2025.
- Engine: Farymann 2-cylinder diesel 23 hp. Bronze 3-blade propeller
- Sails and Rig: mainsail new in 2020. Older jib. Various genoas. Storm jib. Small spinnaker. Heavy-grade mizzen. Standing backstays for main and mizzen. Triatic stay. Belaying-pin rail at mainmast. Many spare halyards. Spars coated with Cetol.
- Deck: cockpit bimini cover (removeable, not normally used when under way). Large cockpit with new cushion covers. Swim-stage for reboarding vessel. Lifelines. Pulpit around substantial oak platform-bowsprit for secure sail-handling and anchor-work. Locker space. Removeable varnished snack/drink table.
- Cabin: sleeps four normally — two in the foc’sle bunks and two on the cabin settees; but these settees can be expanded to double-size by pull-out slat frames, expanding sleeping capacity to six overall. Headroom is 6 ft 1 in aft, reducing as you move forward. LED bunk lights and some original brass lamps in gimbals. Small wood-burning stove can be fitted onto centerboard trunk for Fall sailing. Large drop-leaf mahogany table can seat 8. New fire extinguishers (2025). All fabrics on cushions recently replaced. Recent re-painting of cabin and foc’sle walls and overhead.
- Head: pressure-water sink; toilet/holding tank. Overboard discharge disconnected.
- Galley: large icebox with chart-sized top. Pressure water from 50 gal SS tank to SS sink. Stove: original Shipmate gimballing stove-oven converted to Origo alcohol burners. Two large dry food lockers. One large tableware locker, cooking-ware locker, spice racks etc.
- Electronics: older VHF radio, mechanical knotmeter. Shore power cable to GFI receptable. Two marine deep-cycle batteries with new (2025) Selector switch.
- Ground tackle: CQR, Northill, Danforth on chain pennants. Several rope rodes. Lunch/Shore hook. Electric windlass with rope spindle.
- Dinghy: by separate purchase: 8 ft Elegant Punt, and a 10 ft rowing/sailing pram