Argonaut

Argonaut is currently for sale in Sydney. Please contact:

Norman Ambrose

Ph: +61 (2) 9960 5511

www.catalina.com.au/J40_Argonaut.htm

Boat Specifications

LOA	40'	Draft	6.5'
LWL	34'	Beam	12.1'
I	50'	J	14.7'
P	44.2'	E	18.0'
SA	786	Displ	17,500
PHRF	75	Ballast	6,500
Water	110g	Diesel	35g
Motor	Volvo Penta 2003T (rebuilt '02)	Year Built	1988

Boat Layout

Argonaut is very airy and light, with 10 opening portlights and 4 hatches.

Four dorades provide plenty of ventilation below, even when the portlights &

hatches need to remain closed.

Argonaut is layed out for ocean-going passages:

- full aft cabin with centerline berth

- aft head located directly to port of companion way

- large forward v-berth with separate head

- sit-down nav-station

- full galley with 3-burner propane stove & oven

The engine, which is located below the galley sink, has tremendous access from 3 sides.


V Berth	Saloon	Nav Station	Galley	Aft Head
		The Engine

Gear / Information

For those of you interested in digging into how various parts of the equipment is supposed to work, here are a few pointers:

Electronics

Nexus Instruments (Wind, Speed, Depth, Compass) - new in 2001	Nexus Product Overview (pdf)
Nexus Autopilot w. Alpha 4404 Autopilot Drive Unit	User & Installation Manual (doc)
Standard Horizon GPS Chartplotter	new in 2001
ICOM M-402 VHF	new in 2003
ICOM IC-718 HF radio w. ICOM AH tuner	new in 2002
Raymarine RL-72 radar mounted self-levelling on backstay	new in 2003
Samsung 15'' LCD panel for Laptop/PC	new in 2003
Raytheon Handheld VHF, Standard Horizon Handheld VHF
EPIRB 406MHz	new in 2002

Rigging/Hydraulics

Navtec hydraulic vang & backstay	Navtec System (pdf)
Carbon fiber spinnaker pole	new in 2002
Standing Rigging	new in 2002 by Hansen Rigging
Insulated Backstay for HF Antenna	new in 2003 by Hansen Rigging
Inner forestay for storm jib	new in 2003 by Hansen Rigging
Main halyard, topping lift	new in 2003
All other running rigging	new in 2002

Electrical System

Our main energy source are the solar panels, which are sufficient to run the boat with the electrical autopilot, the nav-lights, and instruments. We have made it across the pacific with less than 2 tanks! of diesel, testimony to both the J's sailing abilities and the well designed electrical system.

House Bank - 4x AGM Lifeline Grp 31 (total 440Ah)	new in 2002
Starting Battery - 1x Grp 27	new in 2002
Link 10 System Monitor	new in 2002
Ample Power High Output Alternator	new in 2002
Ample Power Charge Regulator	new in 2002

Sails

All 2001 sails by Halsey Lidgard, earlier ones by Quantum. So far, the recut #2 and the #4 headsails, as well as the asymmetrical chute have been our workhorses during the cruise. Argonaut is so easily driven, that it's rarely necessarry to put the #1 up.

#1 - pentex triadial	Nov 2001
#2 - pentex triradial	Nov 2001
#3 with battens triradial	Spring 2001
#4 - dacron	Spring 2003
Strom jib - dacron	Spring 2003
Main - Spectra, tri-radial, full batten, full roach	Spring 2001
1.5oz Chute w. sock (asymmetrical shy kite)	Spring 2003 (great for light air reaching & heavy air down wind)
1.5oz Chute	Spring 2001
0.75oz Chute w. sock	??
#1 - Cruising, heavy, bulletproof	recut to a #2 reacher in Feb 2003
Main - Dacron, deep cut	??

Safety Equipment

EPIRB 406MHz	new in 2002
Lifesling	new in 2002
MOM system	new in 2001
various Flares, etc.	various
Jordan Series Drogue	new in 2002
Emergency Water Maker	never used

Plumbing

Argonaut comes with pressurized hot & cold water, as well as a washdown pump forward on the bow. The latter is quite useful when pulling the anchor up, esp. in muddy ground. The hot-water heater is plumbed to either heat from the engine or the AC shore power.

Anchoring

A Lofrans below-the-deck windlass is new in 2002. We have a 20kg Bruce anchor forward on the bow, with 50' of 5/16'' HT chain and 200' of line behind it. We also carry 2x 120' of 5/16'' HT chain sections with us. This permits us to lengthen the chain forward when we anchor in regions with coral (e.g. Tonga). For passages, however, we remove that chain from the bow to improve how Argonaut handles. As a 2nd anchor, we carry a Delta anchor in the lazarette.

Additional J40 Links

http://pws.prserv.net/j40/

Jeff and Raine's J40 around the world cruising adventure

http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/esh/

A page containing J40 reviews, etc.

http://www.jboats.com/

And of course the J-Boats site, although its info on the j40 is scant, to say the least. However, you can have a look at the 42, which is really a 40 with 2' glued onto the transom to make space for a liferaft, as well as some minor interior modifications.