2008 Custom 57 Staysail Schooner "Sara M"

Sara M is a hand-built wooden staysail schooner completed by Alan H. MacDonald in Errington, British Columbia, launched about 2008–2009 on Pete Culler’s Integrity lines. Canadian registry particulars list dimensions of 17.37 meters by 4.57 meters by 2.59 meters—roughly 57 feet overall, 15-foot beam, and 8-foot-6 draft—with wood construction, gross tonnage about 18.92, and sail as primary propulsion. The hull is two-inch fir on double-sawn cypress frames; the owner fell and milled a large share of the timber himself. She completed a six-year circumnavigation ending in 2019 and is offered from the Sea of Cortez / Mulegé, Baja California Sur, area, with the builder willing to discuss Pacific Rim delivery.

There is no auxiliary engine: hotel and maneuvering power come from solar and a generator (make and model still to confirm with the seller). The mainsail is new; other sails vary in condition. Interior finish is intentionally simple and functional, with woodwork that will benefit from refinishing—honest working-schooner character rather than yacht gloss. Notable hardware includes an anchor winch sourced from a retired Vietnam-era U.S. patrol boat and a cabin door with provenance from an 1898 sealing schooner / salmon packer, details that underline the vessel’s one-off story.

As a Culler-inspired integrity schooner, Sara M is aimed at a sailor who values traditional rig, heavy wooden scantlings, and ocean miles already under the keel. Latitude 38 and private FSBO listings have described her as first-time offered after the circumnavigation, with delivery flexibility along the Pacific Rim. Buyers should plan a haulout for updated interior photography and a close look at the generator installation, standing rigging, and hull fasteners—standard diligence on any owner-built wooden schooner—but the combination of Culler DNA, documented ocean miles, and builder-supervised sale is uncommon at this size.

Sara M is not a production catalog boat; every dimension and system should be read from her documentation, survey, and seller walkthrough. What she offers instead is a proven, character-rich wooden schooner ready for a next steward who still navigates by the sun and stars as much as by the plotter.

Wooden schooners reward owners who enjoy maintenance as part of the romance, not as a surprise. Sara M’s circumnavigation record proves the structure and the rig can go to sea; the next chapter is haulout cosmetics, generator documentation, and a clear inventory of sails and ground tackle for a complete listing package. Alan’s willingness to discuss delivery and his frank note that there is no engine set honest expectations for maneuvering and marina work. A buyer who wants a plastic production cruiser should look elsewhere; a buyer who wants a Culler-lined wooden schooner with miles under her keel will understand exactly what is on offer. Independent notices have described her length near fifty-seven feet on Culler Integrity lines, matching the Canadian registry dimensions. Photos presently on file are seller-provided exteriors and older interiors; expect clearer interior photography after the planned Mexico haulout, which is the right moment to refresh the gallery for buyers. Serious inquiries will find a boat that rewards careful inspection and clear documentation.

Disclaimer

The Company offers the details of this vessel in good faith but cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of this information nor warrant the condition of the vessel. A buyer should instruct his agents, or his surveyors, to investigate such details as the buyer desires validated. This vessel is offered subject to prior sale, price change, or withdrawal without notice.

Bluewater Yacht Sales is pleased to assist you in the purchase of this vessel. This boat is centrally listed by Engel & Völkers Yachting. It is offered as a convenience by this broker/dealer to its clients and is not intended to convey direct representation of a particular vessel