1958 One-Off van der Torre, EUR 23,900

Classic 9.8m Steel Ketch 2x Transatlantic Blue-Water Cruiser
Price: € 23,900
Location: Preveza, Greece
Length: 9.80 m
Hull Material: Steel
Keel Type: Long Keel
Engine: Vetus M4.17 Marine Diesel (Installed New in 2013)

Overview
Sadly, I have made the difficult decision to sell Vrijstaat. As a professional skipper, I spend most of the year working on charter boats, and since I no longer live in Europe, I simply do not have enough time to sail her as much as I would love to.
Built as a robust steel one-off, Vrijstaat is the ultimate proof of classic maritime craftsmanship. Her exceptional structural integrity, safety, and comfort have been thoroughly demonstrated where it matters most: she has successfully crossed the Atlantic Ocean at least twice.

Continuous Refits & Mechanical Simplicity
While her indestructible long-keel hull dates back to 1958, Vrijstaat is optimized for true self-sufficiency. She has undergone multiple extensive refits over the years with a clear philosophy: keeping systems straightforward, highly accessible, and fundamentally mechanical.
This setup ensures that you, as the owner, can easily maintain, modify, or replace everything yourself while underway or anchored in remote locations without relying on complex electronics.

Engine and Systems: A major milestone in her refit history is the reliable and mechanically injected Vetus diesel engine, which was newly installed in 2013.

The boat features a clean, easy-to-understand electrical layout and has been professionally supported and serviced by a skilled marine mechanic and electrician.

Annual Care: I personally carry out her yearly maintenance with great attention to detail. Every system on board is fully operational, transparent, and ready for new blue-water adventures.
You are buying a turn-key ocean cruiser built for practical, independent long-distance sailing.

Onboard Equipment & Specifications
Navigation and Electronics (Accessible and Independent Setup)
The electronics suite includes an AIS receiver and transmitter, a GPS chart plotter, and a depth sounder. The navigation relies on a mini onboard computer running OpenCPN, which is open-source and easy to modify or update. For steering, the boat is equipped with an autopilot and an Aries windvane self-steering system, providing the ultimate mechanical, non-electric solution for ocean crossings.

Communication and Power (Straightforward and Self-Sufficient)
The vessel is fully optimized for continuous off-grid living, meaning shore power is never required to operate any of the onboard systems. Staying connected is easy with a satellite phone and modem alongside a 4G mobile internet system with external antennas connected to a Wi-Fi router. The independent power system features solar panels managed by a Victron solar charge controller, a Victron 220V to 12V battery charger, and a Victron inverter.
Engine and Propulsion

The reliable Vetus M4.17 marine diesel engine is Mitsubishi-based and was newly installed in 2013. This engine is highly accessible for maintenance and famous for its robust mechanical design and worldwide parts availability.

Rigging and Extensive Sail Inventory
The boat features a robust ketch rig with whisker poles for running sails wing-and-wing. The extensive sail inventory consists of a mainsail, a genoa, a jib, a storm jib, and a mizzen sail. For light-weather performance, it includes a mizzen staysail and a halfwinder, which is a light-weather reaching and running sail hoisted from a bag to maximize sail area.
Ground Tackle, Safety and Comfort

Ground tackle consists of a 20 kg Cobra anchor on the bow and a Fortress lightweight aluminum anchor for the stern.

A small deck-stowed dinghy is included. The vessel offers exceptional independent cruising capacity with an 800-liter freshwater tank. For comfort and safety, it features a diesel heating system, a refrigerator, a brand new cardanic stove, a versatile Cobb grill/multifunctional cooking system, three automatic inflatable life jackets, and an automatic fire-extinguishing system in the engine room.
Important Note on Interior Photos
Please note that I am not fond of taking photos, so the interior pictures are outdated. The inside received a fresh coat of paint last year and includes the brand new kitchen appliances. I will be in Greece soon and make more pictures.

Ready for Departure
I am leaving Vrijstaat incredibly complete because I cannot take my sailing equipment with me to Mexico, where I currently reside. The new owner will receive a fully equipped, ocean-ready yacht including many extras, such as two bicycles with and a large supply of spare parts.
Additionally, the sale includes a €3,500 wind generator provided loose for optional future installation, giving the next owner an excellent opportunity to expand the vessel's green energy capacity even further.
Once launched here in Preveza, Vrijstaat is ready to lift anchor and immediately begin her next voyage. I hope to find a buyer who will appreciate, care for, and love her as much as I have.