RATS’ NEST
A 1988 Gulfstar 49’ Mark IV Motor Yacht EAFD (extended aft deck) Semi Displacement Hull GFS49315E788 / Documentation# 926745 / Moored #Slip 61 Marina Beau Chene in Covington, Louisiana.
Finding a vessel of this size that has been brought to today’s décor in materials, carpeting and upgrades that show off her beautiful high teak interior is a true pleasure to the eye. Rats’ Nest has not only been brought to a new standard in cosmetics, she has been maintained like few vessels have. No expense has been sparred in keeping her equipment and systems in top performing condition. She features three cabins to sleep seven and each cabin has a head w/ shower.
She has a custom made hardtop, complete with soft enclosures for her bridge and aft deck. She received a total exterior paint in late 2003 along with replacement of some of her stainless accessories. In short she is beautiful. A friendly broker described her as a “cherry”.
General Specifications:
L.O.A. 48.9’ / L.W.L. 44’4” / Draft 3’10” / Beam 15’1” / Displacement 42,000# / Overhead clearance 17’ Prox. / Power: Twin Detroit 6V92’s Rated 535HP each/ Fuel Capacity 700+ Gallons / AC Power 50 Amp 230 Volt / DC Power 12 Volt / Genset: 20KW Onan Potable Water: 370 US Gallons Prox. / Holding Tank: 30 Gallons Prox. / Hull Material: Balsa FRP.
Forward Topside:
Starting at the bow she carries two anchors, a 60# CQR in the pulpit and a 20KG Bruce fitting into a custom stainless bracket just above the CQR. Her Ideal windlass has both deck and bridge controls. Her eyebrow mounted remote controlled Searchlight and Air horns have been replaced in recent years. She has hinged deck lid storage compartments for dock lines and other needs. There are four fender brackets to house fenders while underway. A Marquip folding boarding ladder with handrail is also featured which stows flat onto bracket mounts and attaches to the handrail.
She also has a Glendinning shore Power Cable retraction system & an upper aft deck Davit to handle dinghy and her dingy chocks are constructed from solid teak.
Bridge:
In the large bridge area you’ll find a late model Standard HORIZON VHF w/ REM remote mike/speaker. She has a Furuno 36 mile Radar, Furuno GP32 GPS, Compucourse 220 Autopilot with remote power steering, a Garmin 2006C color Chart Plotter, along with Datamarine Speed log and Depth Sounder. She has a 5” Richie lighted Compass and a nice comfortable helms chair for her skipper. A cushioned “L” shaped settee is available for several guests.
An electrical panel for all bridge and safety features that has breaker switches to power a multitude of functions and instrument panel switches that are dash mounted. The dual beam spotlight has dash mounted controls to allow the helmsman to sweep the beam from side to side and vertically. The bridge cushions were replaced in May 2007. The bridge is carpeted for a clean, attractive functional area to enjoy ones voyages. The Bridge has an under cushion storage bin for multiple life vests and another storage cabinet to keep flares and other safety equipment. In most seas you will find her a dry ride.
Interior:
One of Gulfstar's trademarks has been their interriors. Her walls are varnished teak paneling. All joinery is bright varnish finish and is in excellent condition. One can easily tell that the vessel is noted for its’ extensive storage areas. The head liners are white patterned vinyl throughout, all in excellent condition. The interior doors are matching teak rounded entryways with the upper panels being solid while the lower panels are louvered affording privacy and ventilation. Her fabric and cushions have a matching theme throughout, all in like new condition. Cabin soles are teak parquet in galley and forward landing while the remainder has high quality renewed carpeting.
All three heads have VacuFlush toilets, with sinks and showers. A switch for the shower light also activates the shower sump pumps. The forward and aft heads have opening ports while the mid ship head has a manually switched ventilator fan. All heads have adequate lighting and mirrors.
Main Salon:
The main salon features two recliners and a sofa/love seat. It has an entertainment system featuring a tuner, compact disc player, and HD/TV. The wet bar and independent Ice Maker is located just under the entertainment system.
The salon has controls for the Moose MPI 775 Security system control panel. Also found in the main salon is the control panel for the SMX Cruisair FL48 (48,000 BTU’s) central reverse cycle air condition/heater. This system also features a dehumidifying cycle to protect the ships interior from mold or mildew.
The Aft Deck:
The aft deck had dual usage as an indoor or outdoor area. It features a hardtop which is part of the original boat structure and soft enclosures with zip up windows. There is an exit door and ladder for access to the swim platform.
The enclosures across the aft can be rolled up for an afternoon of fun watching the kids swim and play. Or if the weather is right it is a great place to watch a beautiful sunset. When the enclosures are down and zipped up the aft deck serves as an extension of the main salon and is cooled and heated by the vessels main reverse cycle air conditioning system.
Galley:
The galley features a large stainless steel sink in middle of Formica countertop. She features a four burner GE counter cook top and a Panasonic Dimension 4 combination microwave/convection oven mounted in the counter cabinetry under stove. The refrigerator is a two door upright Whirlpool model operating off of 110vac and includes a new icemaker in the freezer compartment.
The finely finished teak galley dining table is large enough to seat six. There is a hidden trash refuse cabinet and plenty of drawers and cabinets for cooking utensils, dinnerware and food storage.
The galley is also equipped with a TV, smoke detectors and a CO detector/alarm.
Forward State Room:
This cabin is nice and roomy enough to be considered the master in many vessels. She features a centerline queen sized berth with hanging locker on the port side and a storage cabinet on the starboard. The head that services this cabin also has a second companionway door for day usage of guest. The standup shower is separate of the laboratory and head.
Mid Cabin:
This cabin features a lower double and a single fold out upper sleeper. Everything folds or slides out-of-the-way into a day room with bench style sofa. A hanging locker and cabinet for storage are also featured in this cabin. A conversion to make this cabin an office or chart room was once considered.
Master State Room:
This gorgeous private area is lined with hanging and linen lockers on the port side and dresser height drawer cabinetry on the starboard. There are two drop in bins for laundry or other needs. Above these are full wall mirrors that extend above an “L” shaped settee. The queen center line bed is almost waist high and very comfortable.
Accent lighting is abundant in this cabin including rope lighting above the mirrors.
The head features a large shower with seating if desired.
Electrical Systems:
Five series 8D batteries provide plenty of storage to allow her Freedom 25 Marine Inverter/Charger (equipped with remote control) to function multiple 110v requirements before recharging. The main ships panel is in the galley and is split with two halves for both AC & DC equipment.
The generator is a marine auxiliary built by Onan 20kw model which puts out 220/230VAC. The generator has approximately 1100 hours on the hour meter.
Engine Room:
The engine room is entered via full size forward companionway door and is considered standup capable.
Lighting is offered in four 12v covered ceiling fixtures. An 110v duplex outlet for tools and drop lighting is also available.
The fuel system has Fitch fuel catalyst installed to optimize fuel burn. It is also equipped with three bulk head mounted primary fuel filters with built in water traps. The average fuel burn for the past 10+ years has been less than 26GPH. This calculation was derived from gallons purchased verses hours of engine operation. The vessel cruises easily at 16.5 knots @ about 2050 rpm’s and her semi-displacement hull reaches lift between 13 and 14 knots depending on fuel load and passenger capacity.
There is an oil change pump-in / pump-out system and an electric fuel pump for priming fuel filters during replacement. There is also a platform for a nice sized tool chest.
She also has a Haylon 1301 automatic fire suppression system installed in the engine room. The vessel has four other Kidde 10 hand held portable fire extinguishers.
Both the port and starboard engines have approximately 1100 indicated hours. Both engines have been overhauled within the last 50 hours of running time. The overhauls were not due to engine wear, but needed due to water leaks in the exhaust system causing one bent rod per engine. All new pistons, sleeves, & rings along with re-manned heads, crank shaft bearings and other associated parts were installed.
The engines have Walker Air-Seps installed & wall mounted crankcase ventilators.
The Transom:
The extended aft deck has a pass through door with ladder down to the swim platform. This ladder has a section that lowers into the water for climbing out after swimming. The swim platform is sturdy and will hold several people while loading and unloading.
The Bottom:
Saving one of the best features till last you will find that Rats’ Nest has been equipped with a most unique bottom protection. You may recall learning that the old Spanish Galleons were protected with copper sheeting tacked and tarred into place to keep their bottoms safe from crustaceans and the like. An associate friend came up with a plan that I thought worth the extra expense to provide perhaps a permanent bottom. Briefly described as follows; the bottom was peeled and prepared for a barrier coat. After the barrier coat, an epoxy was rolled onto the bottom one section at a time. While the epoxy was still green (wet) copper powder as fine as rouge was sprayed onto or into the wet epoxy. This process provided a very hard surface that greatly inhibits the growth of barnacles. The running gear still has to be scraped and cleaned, which a diver can do without the expense of haul-outs. It is not perfect as a baby’s bottom, but I sure was tickled with my baby’s bottom.
Owners Notes:
Rats’ Nest has been one of my greatest prides and pleasures since I purchased her in 1996. If you desire to have safe and wonderful times while on the water I believe this might be the boat you are looking for.
She went through Katrina with some damage to her enclosures and furnishings. All have been replaced. Her hull and super structure fared very well due largely to dock side slides that allowed her to reach a vertical rise of over 16 feet.
With her large wheels the response to using her transmissions in positioning the boat for docking is significant. I thought before and when I purchase her early on, that I might like to add a bow or stern thruster, but I haven’t had that desire since after the first few months of ownership as she is extremely easy to handle. You will find her a very stable boat when at sea. When traveling with other boaters, we would often hold back in conditions we felt very safe, because they were reluctant to make way. I feel sure you will love her as much as we have.
Price has been greatly reduced to $227k and she is a better built vessell than many of today’s new boats.
She was recently surveyed by one of the most qualified surveyors I have ever had the pleasure to meet. I don’t have much knowledge of what all this means, however the tags behind his name read AMS, (Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors) ABYC Accredited, SNAME, LAMI, NFPA, and USCG Aux – VE – Instructor. His specialty is Small Craft Marine Surveying, Overhaul Compliance, and Consulting.
Surveyed value $350-360k. Current insured Value $300k.
Of course it is understood that most buyers will want to have their own surveyor.
