YCA TOUR: Starbuck1

The Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 54 DS is an offshore thoroughbred. High freeboard and a beam of ~16 feet created the volume necessary for a spacious interior. The result is an elegant cruiser.

The 54 DS design represents a leap into the future. The hull is solid
hand-laid fiberglass; it and the keel structure are supported by fiberglass over wood floors and stringers, which create a internal framework. These individual floors are laminated directly to the hull, as are the primary bulkheads and the furniture facings, producing a rigid structure. This time-consuming stiffening technique is in contrast to those that use molded hull liners.

The cast-iron keel is fastened with stainless-steel keel bolts, well spaced to handle the load imposed on keel sections. The draft is 7 feet 6 inches; an optional 6-foot-6-inch shoal ups the ballast by nearly 1,000 pounds to 11,905 pounds. The fiberglass rudder is supported by a beefy stainless-steel stock. A fiberglass rudder tube houses bearings and is molded directly to the hull. The deck is balsa-cored; teak decks are optional. The hull/deck joint is bonded mechanically and chemically.

The cockpit features double wheels aft. Whitlock cable steering is standard, and each binnacle contains molded consoles for sailing instruments. Engine controls are to starboard only. The primary sheet winches are placed on the coamings just forward of the wheels for easy access, and foot switches between the wheels activate the furling drum. The mainsheet leads aft to the trunk house. All other sail controls also lead aft through the coaming that supports the mainsheet traveler and a series of Spinlock rope clutches. The 54 DS can be handled by an experienced couple. One person aft steers and trims the headsail while the other person tends the mainsheet, traveler, and other sail controls near the companionway.

There is cockpit storage, including a life-raft locker that houses a valise-type raft and a propane locker that holds two bottles. Additional locker space is under each seat, and these lockers also provide access to the steering systems. It's a step into the forward section of the cockpit. The seats are wide, and the seat backs are angled for lower-back support; there's even a small bridgedeck to discourage green water from sloshing below.

A cutout in the cockpit coaming makes it easy to exit the cockpit. The side decks are wide and easily navigated, as the genoa tracks and shrouds are inboard. The stainless-steel stemhead fitting includes double self-launching anchor rollers. The chain locker is deep, but at least the ground tackle is positioned as low as possible, and an electric windlass is standard. Enclosed oval stainless-steel chocks, including midship leads for spring lines.

The standing rigging is discontinuous wire and includes double backstays. Stainless-steel turnbuckle covers are standard. ProFurl roller-furling gear is standard, as is a Marechal roller-furling mast. The nonfurling mast is optional. A quick-release inner forestay is optional. Harken blocks are used throughout, including at the mast collar and for the genoa leads, which are adjustable, even under load.

The main saloon is huge. The designers have maximized the beam by pushing the interior components outboard. The result is a spacious saloon with settees and chairs rimming a teak table to starboard and a minibar to port.  Nice touches including foldaway shades, recessed halogen lights, ventilation with 12 opening hatches, lateral overhead windows, and even a coffee table. The C-shaped galley is to port of the companionway. There's plenty of counter space, and it's encircled by a fiddle. You can access the large 12-volt refrigeration/freezer from the top or through a front-loading door. There's a stainless-steel microwave and a four-burner stove/oven with a crash bar that can also support a harness. Food storage is outboard, in decent-sized lockers, while the cutlery is housed in drawers below the sink.

The nav station is opposite the galley. The seat keeps the navigator on an even keel when heeled. A once-folded chart can be spread on the wraparound nav table that also has a cutout for a laptop. The electrical panel is outboard, and there's room for repeaters. A deep wet locker is located behind the nav seat. Access to the house batteries is beneath the floorboards between the galley and nav station. The electrical system includes both 12- and 24-volt systems (for the bow thruster and if the headsail furling is powered up) and 115-volt shore power as well. Most of the heavy equipment, the watermaker, generator, and tanks, is centered over the keel and positioned as low as possible.

Powered by a 100-horsepower turbocharged Yanmar diesel. Access is from behind the companionway and through removable panels in the aft cabin. A dripless stuffing box is standard, as is a fixed three-bladed prop. One battery is dedicated to starting. Fuel capacity is 191 gallons in two stainless-steel tanks; max range of around 500 miles.

YCA TOUR: (sample)

YCA TOUR:
The Starbuck Family Charter Business is fictional and used to demonstrate
the features of the Yacht Charter Manifest.

Rawley Starbuck (from the fictional First Mate aboard the Pequod) is the old salt of the Starbuck name with sons, daughters, (multiple ex-) wives, brothers, sisters and cousins, twelve 'relative sailors' in all.

They all work and live the charter business at a mythical Charter Base Marina on The Strand in south San Diego Bay, California. Watch for Charter Yachts and Pros bearing the Starbuck name and see the "full ration" of information available when Charter Sailors tell their stories and Charter Pros supply the detail for the best possible background before you book your next charter!

YCA TOUR:
The Starbuck Family Charter Business is fictional and used to demonstrate the features of the Yacht Charter Manifest.

Rawley Starbuck (from the fictional First Mate aboard the Pequod) is the old salt of the Starbuck name with sons, daughters, (multiple ex-) wives, brothers, sisters and cousins, twelve 'relative sailors' in all. They all work and live the charter business at a mythical Charter Base Marina on The Strand in south San Diego Bay, California.

Watch for Charter Yachts and Pros bearing the Starbuck name and see the "full ration" of information available when Charter Sailors tell their stories and Charter Pros supply the detail for the best possible background before you book your next charter!

Salon looking forward:

First Mate:

The Galley:

All Hands On Deck:

At Anchor:

Zoom!

Pilot House:

Mess Decks:

YCA TOUR: Starbuck6
The Starbuck Family Charter Business is fictional and used to demonstrate
the features of the Yacht Charter Manifest.

Rawley Starbuck (from the fictional First Mate aboard the Pequod) is the old salt of the Starbuck name with sons, daughters, (multiple ex-) wives, brothers, sisters and cousins, twelve 'relative sailors' in all. They all work and live the charter business at a mythical Charter Base Marina on The Strand in south San Diego Bay, California.

Watch for Charter Yachts and Pros bearing the Starbuck name and see the "full ration" of information available when Charter Sailors tell their stories and Charter Pros supply the detail for the best possible background before you book your next charter!

YCA TOUR: Starbuck1