Ted Brewer Aragosa 39 Custom Aluminum Expedition Sloop

Sea Rover is a custom aluminum expedition sailboat designed by the famous Ted Brewer and based on his ARAGOSA family of designs.

It is a radius bilge aluminum-hulled yacht designed for safety, cruising comfort, and performance, including sailing at higher latitudes and even above the Arctic Circle.

The original plan was to document the build and sailing odyssey, from the Great Lakes of North America to Newfoundland, Baffin Island, Greenland, Iceland and Ireland, before heading to Gibraltar and the Mediterranean and, possibly a circumnavigation.

As a filmmaker, the owner documented the build from the beginning, with the goal of creating a TV documentary. Some TV industry people were very interested in the project.

However, after an unexpected delay and COVID, plans have changed for the owner. He is reluctantly selling his dream project in hopes another dreamer and adventurer will complete the project and chart a course for their own sailing odyssey.

This rare opportunity and vessel would be ideal for a person, family, or group interested in adventure, exploration, or research. It is designed to be capable to go almost anywhere the oceans lead, including a circumnavigation.

Sea Rover is approximately 80% complete with the cabin woodwork being the majority of the remaining work to be done. Most components, parts, and materials are already onsite in a Quonset hut on a farm just outside the Greater Toronto area, about 30 minutes from Hamilton, Ontario, on the shores of Lake Ontario.

The boat and systems have been designed and built by professionals. The aluminum hull and spars were manufactured by Klacko Marine, a very experienced marine manufacturer in the Greater Toronto Area. The aluminum deck, upper structure, rudder system, ample hull insulation, and basic wood interior came from Gunter Boatyard. Mars Keels, famous for their designs and builds, including for the America’s Cup and other performance sailboats, designed and manufactured the 6,000 lbs wing keel. And the Vetus diesel engine and drive system, electrical, heating, plumbing, and anchor system were handled by Appleby Marine.

A detailed list of installed and available components is available, as are progress photos from the planning, cutting of the first aluminum, and first welds, to the assembly, deck work, and more.

This custom design and build includes accommodation for 3-5 people, such as a couple and 2-3 children, or maybe two adult couples. The boat has a v-berth, starboard aft cabin, and salon seats that convert to a bed. It includes all the cushion and mattress material to be custom fit and ready for someone to upholster to the buyer’s specifications and design choice. This can be easily modified to the new owner’s needs and specifications.

Below deck is a spacious U-shaped galley featuring a deep sink, refrigerator/freezer, and ample stowage for food and other supplies. A roomy head includes a sink, toilet, and shower. Storage is generous and includes a wet locker and efficient use of interior space. Pressurized hot and cold fresh water includes a Quick water heater and control system with a General Ecology drinking water filtration system. There is also a foot pump for salt water. For cold climate expeditions a Webasto diesel/kerosene heater is installed.

The boat has an offshore navigation area complete with Raymarine electronics and VHF, including a LocoMarine marine computer, Nobeltec navigation software with complete global charts, AIS, Furuno radar, and integrated Mobialarm MOB system with clip-on sensors for up to 6 passengers.

Electrics include Vetus panels, fuses, and switches, plus waterproof remote switches in the cockpit. Lighting is all LED (Vetus, Hella, Imtra).

Sea Rover’s deep T-cockpit gives good protection to the crew in adverse weather and her wide side decks offer a safe working platform for sail changes. A Jeffa wheel steering system includes two self-steering solutions: a Jeffa electric system plus a Hydrovane windvane system. The Jeffa wheel is covered in cork for comfort. An aluminum rudder is mounted behind a fixed aluminum skeg to handle potential strikes, whether ice, containers, or sea life.

The aluminum deck comes complete with Stazo cork for both safety and appearance. Custom-manufactured toe rails, cleats and stanchions are welded to the deck for strength and safety. The Klacko mast is keel-stepped with a height of 53 feet above deck and below the limits of the US Atlantic ICW. Rigging includes a ProFurl system for the genoa and a Karver furler for storm sails.

All portholes and deck hatches are manufactured by Rutgerson as are blocks, rails, slides, the mainsheet traveller system, and other rigging gear. Cockpit includes commercial aluminum hatches to access engine and steering systems. 

The vessel’s tall sloop rig with inside chainplates provides the drive for the long waterline hull. Below water, the custom wing keel with good windward ability, while a generous beam, firm bilges, and a solid ballast ratio supply the necessary stability so she can stand up to a good breeze.

The custom fixed bow sprit for dual anchors provides safe and secure anchoring capabilities as well as a connection point for asymmetrical sails. There is 400 feet of anchor chain included, which is stored in a large anchor locker. A Quick electric windlass is installed to handle anchoring and included remote control.

Sea Rover has been designed for ice. This includes the general hull design and build but also includes additional welded plates at the waterline to handle ice lock-up, ensuring the boat lifts up rather than cracks under the pressure of the ice. An integral “sugar scoop” at the transom provides support for the windvane steering as well as a safe platform to enter a dinghy or the water, or to step off onto ice.

Power for Sea Rover comes from a rugged and reliable 33 HP Vetus marine diesel and drive system powering a 3-blade folding Flex-o-Fold propeller.

Over $150k has been invested so far, not including unpaid labour from the owner, supporters, and sponsors of this project. It is estimated there is $30-50k that needs to be spent to complete Sea Rover to launch.

The current owner will allow any buyer to finish the project onsite near Brantford, Ontario. There is ample space for a recreational vehicle to park beside the storage building during work completion. Launch facilities on Lake Ontario and Lake Erie are only an hour away. The vessel requires only 4-7 days of work to launch without standing rigging.

A detailed list of installed and available components, plus the remaining work and budget, is available on request. Additional photos from the start until now, including virtual views/tours, are also available on request.

Contact the listing broker for the complete story of Sea Rover.