Hi, my name is Mike and I am the proud owner of 'Ca Va'

I live aboard and my passion is sailing - During the last 3 years I have extensively re-furbished Ca Va, making many improvements so that she is comfortable and reliable.

Ca Va is a pretty sloop rigged walker H28, she sails beautifully and is particularly comfortable in rough weather.

Her layout is fairly standard with two good size quarter berths and two saloon berths, a neat galley layout to port and a chart table/bench top to starboard with fridge under. Marine toilet, hanging storage and heaps of general storage in the forward cabin.

L. Francis Herreshoff, famous American yacht designer, said: "H28 was designed for the person who has only a limited time to sail, but would like to go somewhere and back in that time. She was designed to be a boat that could be quickly gotten under way for a sail on a summer evening, a boat that could ghost along in light breezes as well as stand up to anything she might get caught in along our Atlantic Coast".

Thousands of these boats have been built and established a reputation for sea kindliness and comfort in many parts of the world. To meet the demand for this famous yacht Walker Boat Company developed a fiberglass version known as the Walker H28. Some changes were made in the light of subsequent developments in yacht technology, but every effort was made to retain the essential characteristics of this famous design. Particular attention being paid to keeping her dry and comfortable in heavy weather. Construction is heavy with 2500 kg ballast, mast and rigging is also heavy and well thought out. Drive is by the famous Bukh 20 hp in a large compartment under the cockpit.The accommodation is excellent with 1.9 metre headroom through nearly the entire main cabin, with excellent storage in large bins in every area. The cockpit 2.3 metre long is large and comfortable with tiller steering. The Walker H28 has built up an enviable reputation throughout Australia as one of the best cruising boats of her size and is keenly sought out by astute yachtsmen.

Thanks to the design improvements made by the Walker Boat Company, Ca Va has heaps of great storage space throughout. I have dispensed with the usual saloon table to have a table swing up from the forward cabin door, this makes the saloon more open.

Ca Va has been my home since November 2000 and I have enjoyed three years of coastal cruising NSW and Moreton Bay. Living on board I have been gradually upgrading her and making her comfortable.

She is now maintained to a high standard and is very comfortable to live aboard and easy to use. The large open cockpit is great.

If you are looking for a boat with all the work done you will not be disappointed. The major work has included:-

Exchange Bukh 20 diesel from Bukh Australia in Sydney fitted

Starter motor and alternator overhauled

Fuel tank (100lt) removed cleaned and replaced

Engine beds removed and epoxy coated and replaced with new engine mounts

New folding propeller from Hydralign Sydney fitted

Shaft bearing replaced and shaft checked and re-fitted

New Raytheon Autohelm 4000 auto pilot installed

New Raytheon Bi-data log and sounder installed

New GME vhf radio and masthead antennae installed

New GME CD player and speakers installed

New 12v isotherm fridge unit installed

All navigation lights replaced

Electronic weather station

Dual marine batteries

Mast was re-rigged and painted in 1999 before my purchase

New Plastimo self furler installed

New Mainsail- Doyle Fraser

New Furling headsail - Doyle Fraser

New Multi Purpose Sail - Doyle Fraser

New Boom bag and lazy jacks - Doyle Fraser

New Spray dodger installed

New Bimini installed

Zip out joiner between Dodger and Bimini giving full cockpit shade

Upholstered high density foam cockpit cushions

New canvas covers to keep sun off of cabin

All staunchions and lifelines replaced

All halyards replaced (main led back to cockpit)

New Gebo forward hatch

New Gebo opening ports to cabin

New dorade vents with teak boxes

Boat now has great cross ventilation for summer in Queensland

Qld maple laid timber floor to cabin sole, looks great and easy to keep clean

Solid mahogany bench top over fridge

Hinge up kauri pine planks to both saloon bunks to make 900 wide bunks fitted

Hinge up mahogany tables 3 places

New internal lining to cabin sides and ceiling

New 180 lt. water tank and lines fitted

2 burner pressure metho stove flush mounted in gimbals

There is a near new Metzler inflatable dinghy.

Ground Tackle consists of two plough and one sand anchor

8mm anchor chain and rode

Detachable swim ladder

Etrex hand held GPS

EPIRB

Fire extinguisher and fire blanket

New Plastimo steering compass

Flares, V sheet, signaling mirror, 4 adult PFD1, 1 child's PFD1

Electric and manual bilge pumps

New TMC marine toilet, valve to holding tank or to sea

New waste holding tank fitted with deck pump out

The view from midships forward shows the door to the heads with folding table hinged to door. The short timber tray ahead of the tap is hinged and swings down out of the way. It's very handy for snacks etc.

The heads are very comfortable to use while sailing, there's plenty of room.

Here's the Starboard side looking forward.

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The local AYF Sailing School here supplies a yacht for sail training so Ca Va is only used for pleasure. However I plan to continue cruising Australia and am now looking for a larger yacht that I can use, during my travels, to teach groups of people all about the joy and art of sailing,