Saoirse (seer-sha) is a traditional Irish feminine name meaning “freedom” or “liberty”.  If I could pick one word to describe what this boat means to me, that’s it.

Saoirse is a 1982 cutter-rigged Pacific Seacraft Orion 27.  She’s a floating one-bedroom apartment, one that I can take anywhere over 70% of the earth’s surface and 220,000 miles of coastline if I desire, and under the power of the wind.  She sleeps five, has a navigation station, two-burner propane stove and oven, shower, double sink, and refrigerator.  There is plenty of room for storage of food, clothes, backpacking gear, and camera gear.  Planned upgrades include tiller conversion, solar panels, and Cape Horn wind vane steering.

S/V Saoirse, Orion Hull #54
Christened: 9 Oct 2011
Length Overall: 27’4″ (30’11″ w/ bowsprit)
Beam: 9’3″
Draft: 4′
Displacement: 10,000 lbs
Sail area: 508 sq ft
Headroom: 6’2″
Mast Clearance: 41′
Engine: Yanmar 2GM 13hp diesel
Water tankage: 20 gal
Fuel tankage: 20 gal
Holding tankage: 10 gal

Progressive Photos

Exterior

Pre-purchase

Lowering her back in the water after inspection

The old rusted lifelines sagging through the stanchions

New shiny & strong lifelines!

Six months in...removed bimini, made new covers for mainsail, staysail, and wheel

 

Interior

Interior at purchase

The icebox lid. Not a lot of insulation there!

 

The icebox lid now with 2" of polyurethane foam added for insulation!

 

The portlight covers. The near portlight cover is open, with the grommet over the opposite hook. The next portlight is covered with the grommets over their respective hooks.

The old dome lights, top, and new teak dome lights, bottom.

Exposure settings were exactly the same for the old lights, top, and with new LEDs installed, bottom.