1981 J/30 Rhapsody Hull # 348 - Newport, RI

Sold to Kimberly Steele & Ray White - boat is moving to Oswego, NY on Lake Ontario

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Rhapsody has been replaced by our J/109 Vento Solare as we move into the next phase of our lives - retirement!

Rhapsody is meticulously documented on this website and on my blog as a boat that has been well cared for and had many upgrades. The description below contains links to these various posts. You can look at many boats, but won't find a J/30 that has received as much care over the past few years. The typical J/30 problems associated with age have been addressed, and significant upgrades accomplished. Here is a list of items that distinguishes Rhapsody from the other J/30s out there,
  • Wet core has been replaced - wet core on the transom, stbd side below the waterline, cockpit area, around the keel and around the chainplates has been replaced, isolated and properly sealed. Read the Rhapsody blog documenting this.
  • Upgraded Chainplates - The bulkhead has been strengthened under the chainplates and the surface area increased for increased tensile strength. Read about this here in the Rhapsody blog.
  • Engine has been rebuilt - The Yanmar 2GM raw water cooled engine was removed, cooling passages cleaned, flushed and the critical components replaced. Read about this rebuild documented here
  • Transmission rebuilt - the typical problem of a slipping clutch has been fixed. The transmission was disassembled and conical clutch surfaces lapped to eliminate clutch slippage. This is documented on the Rhapsody blog starting here.
  • DC Electrical System has been upgraded - The 12 volt electrical system has been upgraded by replacing the original toggle switch and fuse panel with a modern backlight panel having circuit breakers. Working with Paneltronics, a custom panel was designed for the J/30 as documented in the following forum thread. The panel includes a multimeter to monitor battery and bus voltage, and current draw. It also includes a programmable alarm for low voltage. DC wiring has been extensively upgraded to replace areas where original wiring had degraded/corroded. An electric bilge pump has been installed as a convenience to enhance the manual pump.
  • AC Electrical System Installed - An AC electrical system has been installed that includes a shore power breaker, reverse polarity indicator, two GFCI outlets and a Xantrex TC10TB Dual stage, dual output Microprocessor controlled battery charger. This is documented in this PDF file.
  • Completely Integrated Instrument System - All of the instruments have been upgraded and completely integrated. There is a complete suite of TackTick Wireless instruments that include the T121 Hull Transmitter (depth & speed), T120 Wireless Wind Transmitter, T070 Racemaster Compass with T111 Multifunction Display mast mounted, T111 Multifunction Display and T112 Analog Display on the Aft Cabin surface, T122 NMEA interface for the Lowrance GPS and Raymarine Autopilot, and the T113 Wireless Remote Display. See this schematic of the instruments.
  • DSC Capable VHF Radio with Remote Mic - A Standard Horizon GX1500S VHF radio is installed at the Nav station and integrated with the GPS so that all Digital Selective Calling features are enabled. There is a CMP30 remote wired at the helm that provides full control of this radio. The masthead mounted VHF antenna provides great range with a measured VSWR of 1.2:1 at the radio in the VHF band.
  • Raymarine X5 Autopilot with Wireless Remote - A fully integrated autopilot system is installed with the Raymaine S100 remote. You can steer this from anywhere on the boat - I have frequently singlehanded this boat and flown the spinnaker using the remote while at the mast to gybe the boat. The autopilot may be sailed by compass bearing, apparent wind angle, or driven by the GPS waypoints since it is integrated through the TacTick T122 NMEA interface. This autopiloit is much stronger than the ST1000 or ST2000 models typically used by J/30 owners. The X5 uses a stabilized electronic compass that responds to roll and pitch to keep the boat on course better.
  • Enhanced Running Rigging - Running rigging has New England Ropes Stayset jib sheets, Samson Warpspeed stripped jib halyards, New England Ropes stripped Endurabraid for spin sheets. The backstay adjuster has been run to the port and stbd cockpit for easy access. The twings have padeyes mounted by the shrouds for optimal angle and are lead aft through fairleads to Harken 150 cam cleats near the companionway for optimal crew access. Primary winches are Harken self tailing. The traveller has been raised to deck level and upgraded with a Harken Windward Sheeting car.
  • Stereo System - There is a Kenwood KDC-HD548U AM/FM HD Radio with CD Player and iPod Interface with included IR remote control. On the aft rail is a set of Jensen MS6900S...akers with Pacific Blue Sunbrella covers. In the cabin is a pair of Bose 151 Environmental Speakers.
  • Sails included - 2009 Hood Main on Slugs, two 163% laminate Genoas (one good, one for delivery), Original Doyle Dacron 110% jib, 2007 North 3/4 oz spinnaker
  • Other stuff - Interior has Teak & Holly Cabin sole, teak strips on bulkhead, Boomkicker, Harken Carbofoil, Mast has Spartite poured at the deck interface, Complete set of engine spares including water pump & fuel pump, Yanmar Engine service manual, extra set of hatch boards for winter use, ST1000 Autohelm as backup for the X5, Smoke & Carbon Monoxide alarm per AYBC standards, Head replumbed with Odorsafe Hose and Macerator Pump, All Navigation lights upgraded to LED, LED Windex light on mast, Mast mounted VHF antenna, stanchions upgraded with welded tubes for lifelines and installed with polypropylene bases topside and G10 backing plates below deck, transom mounted swim ladder, Fortress FX-16 aluminum anchor with 6 feet chain and 200ft rode, rope clutches replaced with Spinlock XAS0612/2, standard J/30 One Design aluminum spinnaker pole, Pacific Blue Sunbrella covered lifeline cushions on aft section, Pacific Blue Sunbrella sail cover, tool box with standard tools and socket wrench set for boat maintenance, multiple plastic tubs with spare fuses, fasteners, cotter pins, blocks, plumbing and electrical parts, etc., dehumidifier that plugs into 110VAC outlet.
  • Standard Equipment - two 12V group 24 batteries (new in 2014), Martec 14" folding prop rebuilt in 2009 on 1" diameter shaft with R&D Marine flexible shaft coupling, PYI Inc dripless seal, bulkhead mounted Ritchie compass, all original cushions, main cabin dropleaf table, ice box under chart table, all safety equipment specified in the J/30 Class Rules including Lifesling with custom Pacific Blue Sunbrella cover, 14 gal fuel tank, 18 gal water tank, 14 gal holding tank, class legal gimble mounted single burner butane stove mounted on reversible wooden cutting board (provides flat work surface when not in use), mast has been rebuilt and sheaves replaced in addition to Hall Spars upgrade for spreader bar fix
Virtually every system and every square inch of this boat has been touched for upgrades. The bottom has been faired and keel templated, with bottom barrier coated and painted with VC Offshore paint. The boat has been at a slip during sailing season since 2004 where shore power was available and a dehumidifier was on whenever the boat was at the dock. The boat has been hauled every winter for land storage and is currently on the hard. This boat is dry.

Plans were to complete the final topside cosmetics, then have the deck redone and new non-skid surface applied. These plans were before I purchased the J/109 so that still needs to be done.

Pictures taken after Rhapsody was hauled in October 2014 are at this link.

A number of pictures are posted below. If you are interested in learning more, and want to see the boat, please email me.

Upgraded Electrical Panel
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Upgraded Chainplates
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Faired Bottom and Templated Keel
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Upgraded Travler with Windward Sheeting Car
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New Teak Handrails
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Rebuilt Transmission
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Raymarine X5 Autopilot Computer Install
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Dodger
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Hull Decal
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Survey Report: A survey was conducted on 18 November 2014 and I have a copy of a professional marine surveyors report that will be provided upon receipt of an acceptable offer with a purchase and sales agreement.

Asking $26,500

Contact information: Email Bill Kneller: bill@j30.us or phone 401.225.2271

Last edited by Rhapsody #348; 09/17/21 08:15 AM. Reason: Sold