Hello and thank you for looking at my boat- the Ravens Nest located in beautiful Beaufort, NC! Not only would you be getting an amazing boat, but also apart of U.S. Navy history! Up for sale is an amazing opportunity to own a piece of history by purchasing this one-of-a-kind Captains gig. The Ravens Nest as she is called now is a 1985 33-foot Willard U.S. Navy Personnel Boat Mark 5 is its official title. For those of you who do not know, Captains Gigs were specialty designed personal water taxi for high-ranking officials in the United State Navy and United States Marine Corp which were made by companies like Willard. These boats were being advertised as being unsinkable with-its full flotation hull. It powered by the ultra-reliable 6-71N Detroit Diesel aka the Screaming Jimmy that works wonderfully and usually fires right up within ten seconds even on a chill day, (after a puff of typical smoke in which they are know for)! It also has a twin Disc transmission. The length is 33 feet with a beam of approximately 10 feet and 6 inches, a draft of approximately 3 feet and a weight of approximately 9 tons. Has twin fuel tanks which hold approximately 33 gallons each.
She is a beautiful boat and an attention grabber for sure with her unique separated front and aft cabins. When I purchased the Ravens Nest she was completely bare inside with no seats. I designed the rear cabin to seat seven sailors and the front cabin to sleep two on comfortable foam. The steering is hydraulic and the cool part is, in the VERY unlikely situation you loose hydraulic power, you can disconnect it and steer the rudder from inside! The batter system is a 24-volt system, and this boat has two great batteries with one being replaced in December 2022! It comes with a lot of extras such as:
-A portable Toilet
-8x chairs
-2x working fully automatic bilge pumps
- Center table in the aft cabin.
-Working console to include all NAV lights
- Danforth Anchor
-Recently change Zincs
- Onboard AC120 charging systems
- Super Clean title
-Spot Light.
-Operational VHF
And more!!
Bottom line, this boat is TRULLY turnkey ready,
and she is very special to me and I would only sale her to the right person
because as stated before, you are not just buying a boat, but apiece of
American history and as a Veteran this is extremely important to me. Only thing
that you will have to do is paint the hull/bottom and since it was made in the
1980 during this time there appears to be some minor blistering on the bottom
of the hull as this is while I am selling this at a low price. However, I had
sailed her NUMEROUS of miles on the sea with no issues of water intrusion or
for concerns of the hull. Dont believe me? I got numerous videos to prove it
from 2022 pounding waves!!!!! Ask and I ll send em. I have taken her out in the
Atlantic Ocean even during hurricane waves and weather in which we get here in
North Carolina and she has always gotten me home!! Make no mistake, the ONLY
reason I am selling this boat is because I literally moved to the west coast
from the east coast and the price to move this beauty with inflation seems
ridiculous which breaks my heart. In closing, this boat wont last long at this
price and low reserve especially for
military collectors and historians who want a piece of American History that
they can actually ride. Asking $50,000.00 but absolutely NO REASONABLE offer
will be ignore as long as you love her and take care of her and tours can be
available for SERIOUS buyers only. I live in the west coast and the boat is in
the east coast so please allow time for coordination and slip is paid up until
June 2023 so you will only have to pay for electricity. Sold as is and where
is. The Reserve is set at a VERY GOOD PRICEso happy bidding! Happy Sailing and Hooyah!
Questions
I am a USN Vietnam Veteran, with lots of marine experience, Worked for NOAA, on research vessels in Atlantic, Pacific , and Gulf of Mexico, I have sailboat and Commercial marine experience, I am currently on fixed income, and am looking forward to getting an affordable cruising boat for the ICW along the Texas coast and maybe later on a modified Great Loop Tour. I am also an experience mechanic with other mechanical skills to boot. If you are looking for someone that will Honor and Respect the Raven for what she is, then please contact me thru my email address or text me ***. Thank you for your time and consideration. Ron Sandlin
P.S. I live in Brazoria Texas with a home on the San Bernard River, with connection to the ICW, and A dock that used th house a 50 ft Custom Alaskan Trawler Yacht, Fathers before he passed on and sold the boat to someone up on the Chessapeak Bay, several years ago.
Hope the vessel is still available. Ron
I mistakenly referred to your boat as the Raven, I previously viewed a similar Gig for sale with that name, but way too rich for my blood. Thanks
USN Vietnam Veteran here, I want this boat. Thanks
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