46' Kettenburg PCC Sloop (1956) - RICOCHET

Ricochet is a PCC, Pacific Cruising Class, a classic short-keel Bermuda-rigged fractional sloop, built in 1956. The first PCC was designed in 1946 by George Kettenburg Jr. Ricochet is hull number 21 of 24 boats built by Kettenburg Boat Works to the PCC design. As such she has endured for over 65 years. Her present condition is arguably better than when she was first launched.

The PCC is a one-design ocean racing yacht, regarded as one of the most significant offshore racers in the heritage of North American yacht design. The Kettenburg PCC’s were competitive, some say dominant, in west-coast ocean racing following WWII through the early 1960s. The PCC design also features full creature comforts for cruising. They proved to be nearly unbeatable on the race-course, as well as easy for a family to handle for recreation. She is carvel planked, Honduras Mahogany on steam-bent white Oak frames, with a Teak cockpit, Sapele deck furniture, a Douglas Fir keel & centerline and Sitka Spruce mast & spars.

Ricochet won the coveted Spruce Cup at the 2011 Vancouver Wooden Boat Festival, only to be written off by her insurer following a shallow-water sinking a few months later. However, (armed with a generous insurance payout) she bounced back, enjoying a thorough keel-up rebuild and restoration by her long-term owner, to relaunch in January 2023. Ricochet went on to win Best Restored Sailboat at the 44th Annual Victoria Classic Boat Festival in 2023.

The restoration work included the replacement of 52 pairs of oak frames and floors, complete refastening of the original Honduras mahogany hull planking with silicon bronze screws, all new deck furniture including hatches, covering boards, toe rails, etc, new standing and running rigging, a new Beta Marine 25 HP diesel engine, all new mechanical, electrical, propane and communication equipment, a substantially new interior, including all new upholstery. Such gear as wasn’t replaced was restored to original specifications. Throughout the process of restoration she has stayed true to her original design so far as possible.

Ricochet is sold with the option of ongoing moorage at the Vancouver Maritime Museum Heritage Harbour Marina in Vancouver.

Ricochet was the subject of an Off Center Harbor video profile in January 2024.

Length Overall: 46′-4″
Length at Load Waterline: 32′-0″
Beam: 9′-6″
Draft: 6′-5″
Displacement: 20,000 lb
Ballast: 7,000 lb external lead
Sail Area: 800 sq ft
Rudder: Keel-Hung – Tiller steering
Aux Power: 25HP Beta Diesel, 2023
Accommodation: sleeps 4 in 2 cabins
Headroom: 6′-1″
Construction: carvel – mahogany on oak
Tankage: Water – 65 gal stainless, Diesel – 35 gal monel, Propane – 20lb aluminum
Ground Tackle: Rocna 20 (44lb), 150′ 3/8″ galv. chain, 100′ 3/4″ nylon rode
Windlass: electric Maxwell 1200
Bilge pumps: Whale Gusher 30 manual + 2 electric @ Rule 1500 G.P.H. Gold Series
Sheet Winches: 2 @ Lewmar 42 bronze + 2 @ Lewmar 40 al.
Stove: gimballed propane ENO 2-burner c/w oven
Furnace: Dickinson Newport P12000
Radio: ICOM M330G VHF w/GPS
Sail inventory: jib, spinnaker, thunderbird, 120 genoa, 150 genoa, etc.
Electric: Blue Sea Systems Panels – 12volt DC and 110volt AC, LED lighting, USB outlets
Batteries: 2 @ 12v AGM – 116Ahr ea.