32' Gulf 32 Pilothouse Sloop (1990) - KURE

The Gulf 32 is an American yacht designed by the well-known naval architect William Garden (1918-2011) in 1965. Kure, a fine example of the boat, is one of the last of the 400 boats produced by Capital Yachts, California, in 1990, and is moored in Lake Taupo, New Zealand’s largest lake.

In recognition of being an accomplished naval architect and marine engineer, William Garden was made a Member of the Order of Canada in 2006. He died in 2011, at age 92. During his career, Garden contributed designs and articles to maritime publications like Yachting, Rudder, and WoodenBoat, and wrote several books about his designs.

Garden designed beautiful traditional yachts, many with full keels for classic stability in ocean waters.The Gulf 32 was designed as an ocean cruising boat with excellent stability and yet with a flush deck to maximise utility for coastal cruising. The Gulf 32 is a proven offshore cruising design with strong windward sailing characteristics. She has a pilothouse deck, creating a light and airy interior with an inside steering station where the helmsperson has 360-degree visibility and complete control of the vessel under power while remaining protected from the elements.

Kure was built in California in 1990, was used in the Bahamas and California, and then shipped to NZ about 2010. We bought Kure from her Wellington owner and transported her from Wellington Harbour to Lake Taupo five years ago, and we can arrange for transportation back to the ocean very easily anywhere in the North Island. It cost us about $5000 for transport and derigging/rigging. If we get a good price, we are willing to contribute to the cost of taking her off the lake.

Being an older couple, we made some excellent enhancements to Kure to enable her to be sailed single-handedly: new electric winches, new furling headsail and forestay, new mainsail. In addition, we installed an electric anchor winch with 20kg Rocna anchor, new electronic wind instrument, and all ropes now come back to the cockpit.

She comes with 2 x binnacle compasses, VHF R/T, Garmin chart plotter, Raymarine ST 6001 Autopilot. Solar panels, lifebuoy and life jackets, full cockpit bimini. Many extras also -contact us for a full list. Kure is fibreglass hull and decks, with wood trim.

Kure would be suitable as a liveaboard, as she has hot water from shore power and engine, refrigeration, shower, gas burner and oven, toilet with holding tank, approx 160 litres of water, 2 x diesel tanks.

She sleeps six: 2 up the front, the dining area turns into a double bed, the side couch, and the bed up by the companionway steps.

We have loved Kure and chose her for her stability. The man we bought the boat off had crossed the Atlantic twice in another 32 foot boat and bought this boat for its stability while regularly crossing the Cook Strait.

Engine is a 32 hp Universal Westerbecke. Engine hours 2398 (or 2400). We have history of all works and service done from the boat’s beginnings in USA.

We have sailed at 7.2 knots to windward and up to 8.5 knots on a broad lead. She cruises at about 6 knots.

Have a look at http://www.sailboatData.com for more details and compare it to other yachts -the Gulf 32 has outstanding qualities.

Asking Price is NZD 69475