S/V CAMAI is a 35-foot Nauticat, built by Siltala Yachts in Finland in 1987. She is a motorsailer, and travels equally well under either engine power or sail. Her hull speed is about 7.3 knots, though when motoring we usually cruise about 6.7 knots for best economy.She has an inside steering station, so when southeast weather is rainy with little wind we can drive her from the warmth of her pilot house.

After 18 years aboard, we’re still convinced that she is a good choice for our sailing environment.Her sailing performance is good for a cruiser of this size, and a motorsailer with a pilothouse is a good choice for southeast Alaska with its light summer winds and rainy weather.  She’s large enough for two to live in comfort, yet small enough to be easily handled by one. The fin keel and aft rudder make confined space and harbor handling a breeze.

We purchased CAMAI in 1995 and cruised Alaska’s Prince William Sound for three years.  In 1998 we moved her from Valdez, AK to Ketchikan, AK.  Since then, we’ve been exploring the inside passage from Seattle to Skagway–and we’re not done yet.

• For photos and an interactive virtual tour of a Nauticat 35, check out this web link.
• Click here to read a review of the Nauticat 35 design by naval architect Bob Perry.