1993 Van De Stadt Samoa 47 Boat in Belfast, ME 04915 US

BILLY RUFF'N. a steel Van de Stadt design. is a thoroughbred blue water cruising yacht, built in Australia by an experienced circumnavigator who wanted a larger more comfortable and faster sailing boat for his wife to cruise on with him.

After researching all the design houses, the original owner settled on Van de Stadt Samoa 47, a boat made famous by the voyages of Beth Leonard and Evans Starzinger. He had the boat fabricated to the design specifications by professional shipwrights and skilled tradesmen working under his supervision. The keel was laid in 1993 and the boat was completed in late 1994. She was launched in November 1994 as Belle. With happy wife aboard, Belle made her maiden voyage from Freemantle to Melbourne in January 1995.

It was there in Melbourne in March 1995, where the second owners first sailed on Belle in Tasmania, as guests of the owners. They were smitten! After one and a half circumnavigations the first owners were done with their cruising and in 2000 the second owners bought their dream boat that they had come to know and love.

The second owners continued to cruise the world for the next 15 years, all the while caring for and refitting Billy Ruff'n with all the love and expertise of experienced and passionate sailors.

The boat has enjoyed spectacular maintenance and continuous upgrades throughout her cruising life. The current owners purchased her in 2019 and are very serious and knowledgeable sailors. Because they traveled to remote cruising destinations, they maintained a philosophy to always have the boat in tip top ship shape condition. They replaced or upgraded equipment and refurbished all the systems well before anything could break! Recent improvements include:

• Awlcraft topsides 2024
• Repainted deck with nonskid, Awlcraft 2023
• All thru-hull fittings replaced 2024
• Cabin soles refinished 2021
• Interior of bilge cleaned and prepped
• Bilge cleared of rust and repainted with four coats of lnterlux primer and bilge paint 2023
• The standing rigging replaced in 2025
• Rudder bearings replaced 2017

Billy Ruff'n is currently in the water in Belfast, Maine getting ready for her next adventures. She is easy to see and an extensive recent survey is available upon request, including a laser guided hull thickness report.

HULL and DECK

The Hull and Deck are constructed from steel plates welded to steel frames. The topsides and deck are painted with antifouling on bottom

• Steel spade rudder
• Fin keel with lead ballast
• Rubrail welded to hull and painted to match hull
• Off white hull and deck with painted nonskid on deck
• Dark green boot stripe and black bottom paint
• Watertight forepeak with access though hatch below

Deck Hardware:

• Stainless steel stanchions with uncoated double lifelines and gates port and starboard
• Bulwards integrated into hull with cutouts for chocks
• Integrated stem fitting with single anchor roller
• Stainless steel handrails on dodger and trunk cabin
• Stainless steel guards by mast with netting
• Stainless steel bow, stern and midship cleats
• Stainless steel mooring post forward of windlass
• Six opening overhead hatches on trunk cabin and 10 fixed portlights provide abundant natural light and ventilation below
• Four dorades provide additional ventilation
• Hard dodger with fixed side windows with covers and opening forward window and overhead hatches
• Painted hatched for lazarette with dorades providing ventilation to locker spaces.

Cockpit:

The sea going cockpit is protected by the hard dodger with an additional fabric and isinglass extension providing additional cover when needed.

• Helm pedestal with chain/wire steering and stainless steel destroyer style wheel with elkhide cover
• Single lever engine control on pedestal
• Teak framed companionway with saloon style doors and sliding hatch
• Varnished teak table mounted to helm pedestal guard
• Additional teak table that mounts on wheel hub and runs aft from helm with wheel removed.
• Removable teak grate on cockpit sole

ACCOMMODATIONS

The steel Van de Stadt Samoa 47' Offshore cutter rigged sailboat is designed to be a comfortable world voyager that can be easily sailed by a couple. She has a deep safe aft cockpit with aft deck lazarettes wheel steering and a serious hard-dodger. She has wide side decks along the sweeping trunk cabin to foredeck.

Down below she is traditional and beautifully finished in the Herreshoff tradition with the bulkheads painted white with varnished teak accents. The ambiance is light, warm and inviting. When executed in a metal vessel without the need for internal structure a Herreshoff interior produces a surprisingly open, airy feeling below and with the teak varnished cabin sole, she is stunning. When noted yacht designer and offshore sailor Steve Dashew visited the boat at anchor in Maine in 2012 he commented that this interior was the best he had ever seen on a yacht built for this purpose. She is functional for both short handed offshore passage making and long distance cruising. Dashew was so impressed, he asked to return the next day to take photos of the interior to help him convince future clients that there are attractive alternatives to varnished wood.

As you enter the companionway, there are quarter berth cabins port and starboard which are safe and comfortable at sea. Each cabin has two single berths for a total of four really good sea berths. All berths are equipped with lee clothes and the four inch foam mattresses are covered in Sunbrella fabric.. The top berth of each cabin provides for storage of dry provisions on coastal cruises when not needed for berthing crew.

The engine room is below the cockpit with good access to the main engine, propulsion gear and the genset, which is accessed through panels inside the bulkhead of the aft cabins. Access to the front of the main engine is also available by removing the companionway steps.

The head is to starboard of the companionway right easily accessible from the cockpit. The separate stall shower is great and doubles as a wet locker. The porcelain sink installed in the white laminate vanity counter has lots of storage lockers for supplies and access to plumbing.

The galley to port is U shaped and totally workable at sea with large Sea Frost refrigeration and Corian counters with varnished teak fiddles.

The main salon has a spacious, U-shaped dining area with attractive sea foam upholstered seating for six or even eight around a varnished teak table. There is ample storage under the salon seating and cabinetry with varnished teak accents as well as shelving on the outboard bulkhead. The Alpenglow lighting with red and white is low amp and attractive. There are also LED reading lamps and a lovely requisite oil lamp that uses liquid paraffin. Fitted on the forward starboard side of this cabin, there is a Taylors diesel cabin heater that makes it ever so cozy down below in cold climes.

On starboard, opposite the dining area, is a chart work surface and chart storage cabinet that will hold a hundred or more paper charts. Two deep box drawers are below the chart storage. The large chart table has a huge working surface with shelving for open installation of navigation gear, making this navigation station fully expandable and easily updated. Seating at the nav station is designed for security when offshore.

The owners forward stateroom is comfortable and functional with 78" headroom. Alpenglow cabin lights with varnished teak trim have both red or white lights. There is a full size door in the forward bulkhead for access to a finished forepeak workshop area with watermaker and a watertight hatch to the chain locker.

The double berth mattress is split for easy access to storage below and it has individual lee cloths installed and stowed below the mattresses. To starboard are two hanging lockers, one full length and a larger locker with jacket length hanging. The connections for mast wiring are made in this locker. Between the two hanging lockers there is a counter surface with a mirrored locker above and a deep lockers below. Drawer space in this cabin consists of six large drawers under the berth and two drawers below the large hanging locker. The owner's cabin also houses the stainless steel fuel tank for the cabin heater. Ventilation is provided by two cabin fans and two opening Plexiglas hatches overhead.

Additional deep storage space in the bilges of owner's cabin is accessible by removing the drawers under the berth or removing the cabin sole.

The forepeak area has loads of storage for all your cruising needs with a Spectra water maker and access to the chain locker forward.

• Herreshoff interior with white bulkheads and varnished teak trim
• Classic varnished teak veneered sole
• Three cabin single head layout
• Alpenglow lighting with LED reading lamps in salon and owners cabin
• Red and White LEDs in all cabins
• Ample storage space
• Great headroom in the salon of 74"
• Foam mattresses covered in durable Sunbrella
• Attractive upholstery in sea foam blue green 2015
• Varnished drop leaf table
• Great ventilation with opening ports and hatches
• Hull windows let you see the world

GALLEY & PLUMBING

The U-shaped galley is on the port side of the companionway stairs and aft of and open to the dining area. There is a double stainless steel sink, top loading frig and freezer, and five box drawers for storage of galley items. Storage for pots and pans is provided below the sink and in a locker below the Force Ten 3-burner propane stove/oven. Outboard of the frigid, stove and freezer are lockers for pantry items and dishware. There is a storage locker for liquor/wine bottles and stemmed plasticware, and a spice rack. Work surfaces are covered in a Corian solid surface material. There is a pressurized hot and cold fresh water service to the sink and a backup foot pump. A SeaGull IV water filtration system is fitted at the galley sink for drinking water.

The galley is well thought out and has been designed for off-shore passage making.

• Sea Frost 12v refrigeration with digital controller installed in 2009
• Separate Sea Frost 12 volt freezer system for top opening freezer compartment
• Additional removable Iceco 12v fridge/freezer added in aft cabin 2025
• Three burner Force 10 stove with oven and broiler 2013
• Custom gimbals designed to be secure in a 360 roll
• Stove area is lined with stainless steel
• Deep double stainless steel sinks with a Corian sink cover for more work space
• Under counter storage
• Lots of storage outboard and deep storage for dry goods
• Corian counter tops with ample space and matching backsplash
• Flatware & utensil drawers
• Trash bin
• Spice rack
• Galley ware conveys
• Liquor storage

Propane

Located in the aft port lazarette there is a separate stainless steel box holding two aluminum 20 lb tanks is vented over board through waterline thru-hull on transom. Solenoid valve in gas locker is activated by Xantrex Fireboy gas control / alarm system mounted on the bulkhead in galley. Pressure gauge for the tanks is in the propane locker. System permits hooking both tanks to the pressure valve and changing tanks by moving a lever fore and aft to select the supply tank.

Plumbing

Two 500-liter freshwater tanks located port and starboard under soles of main cabin are constructed integral to the hull. Total storage capacity is 1000 liters / 265 US gallons. Water tanks are accessed through two very large tank tops on each tank. Interior of tanks is painted with high build two-part epoxy paint designed for this purpose. Interior of tanks were last painted in 2025.

• Hot water heater
• One head, standard marine Raritan PHIi manual toilet
• 19 gallon plastic holding tank with a macerator pump
• Holding tank has a deck fitting also to be pumped at a pump out station
• Y Valve for direct overboard offshore
• Walk in separate stall shower with sump pump
• Spectra 12v watermaker (2021)
• Extra sink in workshop (forward)

NAVIGATION & COMMNICATION SYSTEMS

Located starboard side in the main cabin, the nav station faces aft to facilitate communications between the nav station and the helm. The nav station work surface is varnished teak and sized to hold a large paper chart folded in half. Navigation and communications equipment is located at eye level on open shelves to facilitate access to wiring. To the navigators left when seated (outboard) there is a shelf to store logs and cruising guides. The ship's electric distribution panel is behind a locker door at the navigator's left shoulder (when seated). A laptop computer mount is fitted to the navigation table with RAM mounts to provide security for the computer when underway and to permit use of the laptop without cluttering the table below. Varnish teak handholds and fiddles edge the exterior edges of the nav table. Immediately forward of the nav station is a cabinet with work surface with paper chart storage below in six large flat drawers and two box drawers. Two lockers above the chart table are currently used to store hand held navigation and comms gear and supplies and the ship's equipment and manual files.

Electronics:

• Raymarine Axiom Pro 12" multifunction chartplotter display
• Raymarine 4G HD digital radome
• Raymarine AIS 500 interfaced with electronics
• Raymarine ST6001+ autopilot - pump replaced 2013
• Raymarine wireless remote for autopilot
• Raymarine ST60 speed, depth and wind displays
• Raymarine ST60 Graphic multi instrument display
• Icom M506 VHF radio at nav station with Command Mic at helm (2019)
• Icom M802 SSB radio
• Iridium satellite phone with charging cradle at nav station (2013)
• Binnacle mounted compass 6" dia. at helm - professionally swung with compass card

Engine space is located between the two aft cabins and houses the main engine, gear box, Aqua Drive unit and shaft coupling. The genset is aft of main engine. A 16-gal. day tank in the engine space gravity feeds the main engine and genset. Near complete access to the engine space is provided by removing bulkhead panels in the aft cabins and by removing the companionway stairs.

• Yanmar 4JHHTE 4 cylinder, turbo charged diesel 110 hp with Yanmar(new in 2013) KM4A2 transmission with 3,300 hours as of July 2026
• Aqua Drive rebuilt 2025
• Fuel capacity: 1000 liters / 265 USG in three hull tanks, plus 60 liters / 16 USG in day tank located in engine spaces
• Day Tank System The day tank can be filled by either an electric or hand-operated pump. The day tank is equipped with float switches that will activate the electric fuel pump and refill the day tank before shutting off automatically. There is a gauge indicating the fuel level in the day tank and an LED showing when the electric fuel pump is operating. A 30-rnicron Racor fuel-water separator located in the bilge filters fuel drawn from any of the 3 hull tanks as it is pumped to the day tank in the engine space. The engines are gravity fed from the day tank.
• Racor Filters: Downstream of the day tank are two Racor filters (one each for main engine and genset).
• Cruising Speed: 6 - 7kts @ 1800-2200 RPM with prop in overdrive Max Speed: 8.3 +kts @ 3200 RPMs Cruising range is about 750-850 nm (with fuel in internal tanks only)
• Alternators. Main engine has two alternators - the main alternator is a 120 amp Balmar. A secondary 200 amp Balmar is also mounted to the main engine.
• Shaft size is 1 3/8" / 35mm stainless steel
• Cutlass Bearing replaced in 2017
• Dripless stuffing PYI PSS shaft seal new 2024
• Prop is a Gori Prop 19" with overdrive for fuel efficiency
• Line cutter mounted forward of prop
• Engine Mounts new in 2024
• Steering system is quadrant and cables to Wheelock Constellation pedestal.
• Emergency tiller
• Maintenance Log
• Main engine oil filter is externally mounted to simplify oil changes. Filter is easily accessible and mounted vertically.
• Electric fuel pump to fill day tank (see above description of fuel system)
• Lots of spare parts

Electrical

The majority of the electrical systems of the boat were new in 2013. The 240 AC system was completely rewired from the charging sources (genset or AC shore power) to the loads (cabin outlets, battery chargers and desal system high pressure pump drive motor). On the DC side, the 2013 refit resulted in a complete rewiring of the charging circuits from the alternators on main engine and genset to the new distribution panel, including the installation of automatic charging relays used to allocate charging current to the three battery banks.

In 2013 a Superwind 350 wind generator and controller were installed (new blades in 2024)

to augment the charging capacity and reduce reliance on the genset for battery charging while sailing at night. In addition to mechanical sources of power, there are two 50 watt solar panels fix mounted to the hard dodger.

Three battery banks provide almost 1000 amp hours of electrical power to the boat. A Mastervolt isolation transformer (new in 2022) isolates the boat from shore power sources and permits easy shifting from 240 to 120 V shore power supply.

12 Volt System

• 12v Batteries: There are three battery banks on the boat - house, start and dedicated navigation.
• The house bank is Victron AGM batteries (2024).
• The nav bank is ~340 amp hours and are Lifeline AGM's replaced in 2026
• The start bank is a 220 amp hour AGM battery new in 2013. Battery banks may be linked or isolated from one another with switches on the distribution board.
• Battery location and installation: The house bank is installed near the centerline under dining seating in the main cabin. The nav bank is under the seat at the nav station and the start battery is under the nav table.
• Alternators - Two Balmar alternators on the main engine - 120 and 200 amps both with Balmar external regulators. There is a single alternator on the genset - 60 amps with internal regulator
• Battery Monitoring System: All DC charging sources are connected directly to the house battery bank. Automatic charge relays link the house bank to the nav and start batteries. The relays move charging current to nav and start batteries automatically once the amount of current is greater than the house bank will absorb. The result is that the charging process is virtually automatic. Voltage and current flow to/from each battery can be displayed on digital meters on the main distribution panel.
• Port, starboard and stern light at deck level and mast-mounted steaming lights are used when motoring. These lights are "bulb" lit drawing an amp or so each - which is of no concern when the boat is under power. The masthead tri- color lights used when sailing are LED.
• Anchor Light LED
• Mast wiring junction box connections to electrical loads on the mast are made in a locker in owner's cabin. There is also a small junction box at the first spreaders to allow deck lighting to be disconnected when the mast is un-stepped and spreaders removed.
• No. & Location of 12 Volt outlets: 1 in main cabin, 1 at nav station, 1 in owner's cabin, 1 in forepeak
• Cabin Lighting: Alpenglow teak lights retro-fitted with LEDs are located in the head, main and owner's cabins. All are red/white except the reading lights in the main cabin and above the berth in the owner's cabin. Recessed red/white LED fixtures provide lighting in the aft cabins. A small fluorescent tube lights the engine space.
• Deck/anchor wash down pump:. Fresh water wash down is possible using the faucet in the forepeak and a hose leading through the forward hatch.
• Rule electric pump in bilge on float switch. Bilge alarm fitted as well.
• Electrical spares.

Generator: Kohler 4 CCFO, powered by a 23 hp, 3-cylinder Yanmar diesel. Voltage regulator on the generator was replaced in 2014. The engine underwent a valve job in 2016. Generator output is - 230 V.

Solar panels: Two 50 amp panels mounted on hard dodger generate up to 7 amps

Wind generator: A Superwind 350 (max output 350 watts at -25 kts windspeed) is mast-mounted on the centerline at the stern. The unit was designed for commercial use in remote locations where low maintenance and high reliability are critical.

The boat was foreign-built and so came with a 240 VAC electrical system. This means that all AC outlets and major electrical loads in the boat are wired for 240 V. The isolation transformer can be switched from 15 amp, 240 V input to 30 amp, 120 V input, when on shore power, by flipping a switch and changing out a circuit breaker.

Most personal electronics today will accept 240 VAC input, so small device battery chargers can be plugged directly into the boat's outlets. Some of the other gear aboard (e.g. galley balmex mixer, electric drill, hair dryer) was built to accept 240 V. On the relatively rare occasion when 120 V power was needed there is a small transformer in the forward cabin to supply power to small appliances (e.g. the small shop vac). There is also a small inverter located at the nav station.

RIGGING & SAILS

The rig is fractional sloop with staysail. Some would call it a cutter as it can be sailed with jib and staysail. We tend to use the cutter rig only when beating or close reaching in light airs.

• Rolly Tasker aluminum (unpainted) one-piece, tapered, thick-walled mast deck stepped on a thick steel plate. The mast is supported below decks with a 4" square steel box beam running from under the deck to the keel. Hull framing for 360 degrees. around the mast support is of reinforced construction similar to I-beams. Bridge clearance is 75 ft./ 23m air draft.
• Two spreaders and jumper struts at top of mast and check stays
• New standing rigging in 2025
• Mast steps to first spreader
• Selden retractable bowsprit
• Spinnaker pole with storage on mast
• Traditional aluminum boom with rigid vang
• Furlex furlers for genoa and staysail (staysail furler new 2024)
• Sails include:
  1. Hood mainsail (2019)
  2. Hood Jib (2019)
  3. Quantum Staysail (2022)
  4. Quantum Asymmetrical spinnaker (2019)
  5. storm jib, storm trysail and drifter
  6. Stack pack mainsail cover with jack stays contain the large mainsail.
• Winches:
  1. Barient 32 self tailing primary winches in cockpit
  2. Barient 28+ self tailing secondary winches in cockpit
  3. Andersen 50 electric self tailing winch in cockpit under dodger
  4. Barient 22-39 two speed self tailing reefing winch on mast
  5. (2) Barient 24-45 two speed halyard winches on mast
  6. Barient 27-48 two speed self tailing halyard winch on mast

ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT:

• Fenders
• Docklines,
• Boat hook
• Extensive spares
• Datrex 8 person liferaft (inspected through October 2027)
• Nilsson Seawinch electric windlass with Excel anchor
• Fender boards
• Folding stainless steel swim ladder
• Lifesling and horseshoe buoy mounted to starboard stern rail
• Outboard motor mount and crane mounted to port stern rail
• Mast for wind generator and instrument antennas
• (2) ditch bags with extensive equipment