Nautor Swan 44, ARGONAUT

Broker’s Comments

ARGONAUT is a Swan 44 for which time has stood still. Her owner purchased her in 2001, and sailed in summers in 2001, 2002 and 2003. He then moved the boat to his commercial property and built a custom shed alongside his warehouse to store the boat, working on her restoration from 2003-2017. The rig was also inside stored. The shed was heated during the winter months, and topsides covered with soft fabrics. She has been hauled since 2017 under shrinkwrap at Safe Harbor Pilots Point in Westbrook CT. As such, her interior woodwork is well above average in condition, not to mention the teak decks. This owner has meticulously restored her, likely spending a year alone on removing corrosion from the toerails and repainting them! All the non-teak surfaces on deck are in white Awlgrip, the boom is painted, and the owner is still enthusiastic, but age is catching up.

ARGONAUT is located at Brewer’s Pilots Point North Yard in Westbrook, CT. She is under shrinkwrap, and the owner is happy to show it on short notice.

ARGONAUT is as much of an original Swan 44 as is possible, with an interior that is so close to original, there is no ripping out of past owner modifications. She has the unmodified underbody and good teak decks which were replaced just before this ownership. Since she has been undercover when hauled, they are in really good shape. She needs full safety gear and a dinghy/outboard.

Owner’s Comments

Minneford’s Yacht Yard for about five years, and was introduced to several of the early Swans that were arriving in the USA at that time, as well as being invited to sail & race on many boats. The Swan 44 was a boat that left me in awe, and that design stood out for me, and when I saw ARGONAUT on the market, I purchased her. I picked up the boat in Newport and sailed her to Brewer’s and moved her in to my warehouse, where I spent many years just working on her restoration.

Work Completed During Current Ownership

• Paint Cabin Exterior, Dorade Boxes and Cockpit.

1. Deck, cabin exterior, dorade boxes, cockpit all stripped of fittings and equipment for painting (winches, dorade vents, gauges, canvas tracks etc.).
2. Fiberglass gel coating sanded, surfaces faired.
3. Coated (sprayed) with Awlgrip epoxy primer.
4. Surface prepped for final Awlgrip coating.
5. Finished with Awlgrip polyurethane (Color Awlgrip “Snow White”).
6. Reinstall removed components on cabin/dorade boxes and cockpit, seal deck seams with “Teak Decking. Systems” deck caulking.
7. Paint and Restore Toe Rails and Stem and Stern Aluminum Fittings (interior/exterior).
8. Strip old coating.
9. Grind oxidized aluminum to bright material and spot prime.
10. Coat prepared surfaces with Awlgrip epoxy primer.
11. Sand and prep surfaces for final coating.
12. Finish coat with Awlgrip polyurethane (Color Awlgrip “Bright Aluminum” and “High Gloss Clear”).
13. Seal deck seams with “Teak Decking Systems” deck caulking.

• Refinish Teak on Forward Sliding and Hinged Forward Hatches, 2 (remove).

1. Sand and prep teak surfaces.
2. Varnish (10 coats) with Epifanes “Wood finish Gloss” varnish.
3. Install Hinged Forward Hatch.

Rebuild Hatches & Cabin Windows

• Refurbish and Paint Aft Hinged Hatches, 3 (includes cockpit hatch).

1. Remove hatches, strip to bare aluminum, prime with Awlgrip (Color “Bright Aluminum and High Gloss Clear Coat).
2. Clean and install hinge stops, bed new plexi-glass window insert.
3. Install on deck with new Stainless Steel fasteners.

• Refurbish Forward and Main Sliding Hatches.

1. Replace melamine plastic track slides on both hatches.
2. Install new “lock latches” on forward hatch.
3. Install new hatch seals.

• Replace cabin fixed windows (6).

1. Remove trim and window plexi-glass.
2. Clean, prep, prime and paint window trim to match cabin color (Awlgrip primer and paint to match cabin).
3. Make up new plexi-glass windows.
4. Install and bed on cabin side and install and fasten cabin trim (new stainless steel fasteners).