Description

We purchased Discus Dancer from the previous owner in July 2020. After a few years of enjoyment with our children, we have recently had limited opportunity to use her due to medical issues, and so are now looking to pass her on to a new owner who will take care of her and have as much fun as we have, and more.

Key Details
- Build year: 1981
- LOA: 10.11m
- Beam: 3.35m
- Depth: 1.85m
- VAT status: Assumed VAT exempt 3 UK owners from new
- Mooring: Walk-on mooring, Fareham, Portsmouth Harbour — current fee £220 pcm, and it is likely this berth could be retained subject to discussion with marina office.

Rig and Sails

She is a bilge-keel, sloop-rigged yacht with an aluminium mast, and her standing rigging was replaced by XW Rigging in ~2023. The sail plan comprises a genoa on a Rotostay furling headsail and a tab in-mast furling mainsail; both sails were manufactured in 1981. A second, unused mainsail is also included.

All control lines are led back to the cockpit for ease of handling, allowing for single-handed sailing for those who wish to do so. Sail control is via two Lewmar ST42 genoa winches and two Lewmar 16 coach-roof winches. All rope clutches were replaced during the re-rigging in ~2023.

Accommodation

The internal accommodation consists of three cabins with three double berths and one single berth. The internal upholstery is tired; one cushion has already been re-covered, and the original covering is available should it need to be refitted. The headlining was replaced by the previous owner and refitted using removable panels.

In the forward cabin there is a V-berth with an infill to convert it to a double, under which is a 204-litre (45-gallon) stainless steel drinking water tank. There are two opening portlights and a deck hatch, along with a wardrobe and shelves.

The heads contain a marine WC (without holding tank), a hand basin and a shower, with electrically pressurised hot and cold water.

The saloon contains a further wardrobe, a single berth to starboard and a single berth to port (which extends into the saloon to form a double), and a substantial fixed table with two leaves. Storage cupboards and shelves line the side walls beneath the fixed side windows, and there is a further opening deck hatch above. Carpets are fitted over the original apple and hardwood flooring, which is in excellent condition.

The galley, in the main cabin, has an Eastam BG21 two-burner gas cooker with oven and grill, fed by butane gas, and a stainless steel sink with pressurised hot and cold water, cupboards, shelves, and a deep storage box beneath the worktop. Opposite the galley is the chart table and instrument panel, with a forward-facing seat, electrical panels within easy reach, and instrumentation and battery monitoring.

The saloon also houses three high-capacity marine leisure batteries, none more than two years old, charged and maintained by a Marlec HRDi solar and wind charge controller — one for engine starting and two forming the house bank.

A feature of this Discus variant is that you can walk from the main cabin, past the engine, directly into the rear cabin. This has a double berth to starboard, two hanging lockers with shelves, a pull-down sink with pressurised hot and cold water, and two seats. There is also access to a service area housing the pressurised water tank and immersion heater. Beneath the berth is a stainless steel fuel tank holding approximately 35 gallons (159 litres) of diesel.

Engine and Systems

The original inboard Mercedes OM636 42hp diesel marine engine was last formally serviced in 2015, though the oil, fuel filter and coolant have been changed regularly throughout this ownership. It has operated faultlessly in all weathers, as reported by both us and the previous owners. The engine drives a three-bladed propeller via a shaft drive fitted with a rope cutter; the cutlass bearing was replaced in 2021. An automatic bilge pump is fitted.

Batteries are charged by solar, wind or shore power; the engine battery is charged by the alternator when running. Charging is managed by a Marlec HRDi controller with an external solar panel and a Rutland 914i wind generator (2020).

Pressurised hot water is supplied to all sinks, heated either by shore power or directly from the engine's cooling circuit when running. A Webasto Air Top 3500 diesel-fed air heater, fitted by a previous owner in 2001, still runs well and supplies heating outlets to all cabins.

Navigation Equipment

The navigation equipment is dated and, aside from the ship's radio, could do with updating. This includes an Autohelm chartplotter (monochrome LCD, 1999), an Autohelm 5000 autopilot with wind vane, a Garmin GPS 128 (1999), a Plastimo compass (1981) in the cockpit, and Autohelm ST50 instruments (Navdata, Wind, Compass, Speed and Depth, all 1999), plus a Raytheon Pathfinder RL70 radar (1999).

Deck and Equipment

The sale includes all ground tackle — anchor and chain, plus a spare anchor — and a manual windlass on the foredeck. Treadmaster decking is fitted throughout. Dodgers are fitted to both sides on the guard wires, and a Continental-style boarding ladder and platform at the transom provide excellent access from moorings or for swimming.

All normal equipment — warps and fenders included — comes with the boat, along with a large number of original spares and parts. Extensive records are available, including original manuals for the Mercedes OM636 engine and other equipment.

Discus Dancer has not been lifted from the water for two years, at which time she was cleaned back and given three coats of hard antifoul. Her last survey was undertaken at purchase in 2020.

Known Issues / Points to Note
- Shower drain pump not currently functional (does not affect sink drain or WC)
- Sprayhood removed — windows had degraded and split; an attempted repair was unsuccessful, so a new hood is likely required, though the original hood/fittings are available and may be repairable
- Shore power battery charger currently disconnected but was working when last used
- Navigation electronics (bar the ships radio) are dated; all were functional when last used, but Raytheon radar's current status is unknown
- Lifejackets included but require servicing
- Treadmaster decking heavily worn in places

Survey, and any lift required for survey will be at buyers’ expense but will need to be within Portsmouth Harbour. It will be possible to place on a drying grid for one tide at Hardway Sailing Club, Gosport to facilitate survey / inspection by arrangement at which point basic maintenance such as anode replacement will also be completed.

We are open to sensible offers. We will be sorry to say goodbye to Discus Dancer, but she deserves a better future than we can currently give her.

Specifications

Accommodation

Engine(s)

Location Map