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*UPDATE 5/15/15: We’ve decided to pull Vacilando off the market for a while, as we want to continue to live on her and sail her until we find our perfect boat. We will keep the blog and our Facebook page updated once we decide to relist her.
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Yes, our beloved Cal 35, Vacilando is for sale.
For those of you who have been reading our blog for awhile, or if you’ve read Chris’ book, You Gotta Go To Know, you know that a couple of years ago we decided to sell everything and move onto a boat full time. We love sailing and we love to travel, and it was the perfect way to do both, but we also knew that it would be a BIG lifestyle change, both physically and emotionally, and we said we’d give it at least a year, to determine if we liked it.
We wanted a boat that was big enough to live comfortably on with us and our dog Jet, but one that was small enough for one of us to handle alone on things like night watches, or God forbid should something happen to the other crew member. I wanted a few comforts that we didn’t find in many other boats in our size range, like a separate shower, and lots of ample storage space.

We got a great boat that was in our price range that would suit our needs as we transitioned into this lifestyle of living aboard full time while cruising to different places which, for us so far, has been up and down the East Coast, the Chesapeake Bay, and several areas of Florida. Sadly we never made it to the Bahamas on Vacilando, although we’ve been told she made a few trips there with her previous owners.
And now? Well, our two year “boat” anniversary came and went while we were offshore on our way up to the Chesapeake Bay last month. We talked to each other about future plans, as we often do, and we asked the same question we had asked each other a year prior around this time. “Do you still want to keep going and continue living on a boat?”
The answer was a resounding and unanimous yes.
What can I say? We love it. I’m not gonna lie. It’s not an easy life. You have to work for it, and working means you’re gonna get banged and bruised and there are times it will break your heart and nearly break your spirit. But the trade-off, at least for me, is worth every bit of it. There are things that this lifestyle has shown us that I wouldn’t give up for anything. We were meant to be on the water.
I’m so proud of what we’ve done with her. We took a great boat, and we made her better. We loved her, we kept her clean, we replaced her old, broken parts, and we sailed her. And in return, she took care of us. She gave us refuge. She gave us a home.
Now that we’ve agreed to continue on, we feel that it’s time to start looking for our “forever” boat. And some lucky person, or lovely couple will get Vacilando. She is the perfect liveaboard cruiser and would be right at home on the Chesapeake Bay (where she currently sits) and would be well-suited for someone to take her to the Bahamas.
We will be listing her through this site for $48k. She is by far the best Cal 35 on the market with her extensive upgrades and clean interior and exterior.
Vacilando At A Glance:
A few things to give you an idea of what we’ve done. Photos and video can be seen on our BOAT page, and her full, official listing can be seen HERE.
Upgrades Since 2012
- Checked bonding, electrical, bonded rudder (2012)
- New heat exchanger (2012)
- Bottom job (2012) and (2014)
- New Garmin 441 GPS unit (2012)
- New aft chainplates (2012)
- Rebed stanchion bases (2012)
- New electrical fuel pump (2012)
- Rebuilt injector pump (2012)
- New injector lines plus spares (2012-2013)
- Dismantled and serviced winches (2012)
- New shower head (2013)
- New shower sump pump (Whale Gulper) (2013)
- Rebuilt shower access hatch (2013)
- New Jabsco twist-n-lock toilet (2013)
- New hoses and clamps in head (2013)
- New holding tank (2013)
- New Shurflo fresh water pump
- New custom main sail from Super Sails – 2 deep reefs (2013)
- New Mantus 45lb anchor (2013)
- New 50′ 3/8″ chain and 260′ new rode (2014)
- Installed starboard chafe protection under anchor chain on bow (2013)
- New steering chain, wire and brake assembly (2013)
- New Universal Admiral’s instrument panel (2014)
- New wiring to panel (2014)
- (4) New Odyssey AGM batteries – PC2150 (2013)
- New Xantrax Linkpro Battery Monitor (2013)
- New Mastervolt ProCharger 12V 40amp battery charger (2013)
- New wiring and fuses in battery bank (2013)
- New propane solenoid (2013)
- New Oberdorfer raw water pump (2013)
- New fresh water (coolant) pump (2013)
- All interior cushions professionally cleaned (2014)
- Full rigging inspection (mast and standing rigging) (2014)
- New standing rigging (forestay, backstay, and cap shrouds) (2014)
- New U-Bolts for standing rigging (2014)
- New custom oversized chainplates on starboard side
- New Pro-Furl roller furler (2014)
- New running rigging – Sta-set jib halyard, Endura main halyard (2014)
- New belt and spare for Autohelm
- Retabbed bulkheads (2014)
- Bottom job – new antifouling eco-friendly paint (2014)
- New cutlass bearing (2014)
- Zincs changed regularly
- Diver hired to clean bottom every 3 months
- Oil changed every 75 engine hours since 2012
- Fuel consumption: 0.57 gal/hr
Full Specs
DIMENSIONS
LOA: 35′ LWL: 28′ 9″ Beam: 11’ Draft: 5′ encapsulated fin keel
Displacement: 13,000# Ballast: 5,200# Clearance: 53′
DESCRIPTION
Cal 35
Classic fin keel aft cockpit cruising yacht
Built in Tampa by Cal Jensen, 1984
Designed by the legendary William “Bill” Lapworth
USCG Documented Vessel
ENGINE AND SYSTEMS
Universal Diesel Engine 32 HP Model: 5432
Bronze Shaft and PYI Dripless Shaft Seal
Fixed three-bladed propeller
Spare 2-blade propeller
Heat exchanger
Cruising Speed: 6 knots
ACCOMODATIONS
Sleeps 5 comfortably, 2 in V-Berth , Single salon Port, Double salon Starboard
Full Headroom in all cabins
Generous Storage, Hanging lockers, w/ Drawers throughout
Barometer and Clock
5 opening hatches, 6 opening portlights and 4 non-opening salon windows for lots of light and air!
Separate shower in head!
Large fold-up table in salon
Teak interior with nice, neutral upholstery in great condition and just recently steam cleaned
Forward facing Navigation Station with ample shelving and storage inside for charts, manuals, etc.
2 propane lockers with propane tanks
2 deep lazarettes
Built in Hamper
U-SHAPED GALLEY
Hillerange 3-Burner Propane Stove w/ Oven
Double stainless steel sink w/ H & C Pressure Water, & freshwater foot pump
6 Gallons Hot water tank
Large Top-loading Icebox with Refrigeration and Freezer
Deep Dry Locker
Built-in Wastebasket
ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONICS
12VDC and 110VAC Systems
4 Odyssey AGM Batteries (3 in house bank, 1 separate starting battery)
Mastervolt Battery Charger (2013)
LinkPro Battery Monitor (2013)
VHF Radio at Nav Station with RAM (remote access mic) for use in cockpit
Sony Radio/CD player w/2 speakers in salon and 2 all-weather speakers in cockpit
Datamarine Speed, Depth and Wind Indicator
Autohelm 4000 Autopilot with spare
Universal Admiral’s Engine Panel (new 2014)
Regulator
LED lights throughout salon
Garmin GPS 441 at helm
Garmin GPS 152 at Nav Desk
SAILS AND SYSTEMS
Mainsail – Custom with 2 deep reefing points, new in 2013
ProFurl Roller Furling (new 2014)
110% Genoa on Furler
135% Jib
Whisker Pole
Sail covers / sail bag
TANKAGE
Fuel: 33 Gallons
Water: 90 Gallons
Holding: 24 Gallons
DECK GEAR
Stainless steel standing rigging – new forestay, backstay, cap shrouds in 2014 w/Sta-Lock fittings
Running rigging – Sta-set jib halyard, Endura main halyard (new 2014)
Integrated Bow Roller
Mantus 45lb anchor w/50′ 3/8/chain plus 200′ rope rode
Spare 35’ CQR Anchor
Spare Danforth Anchor
Bow and stern pulpits with Double Lifelines
Edson Pedestal steering
Pedestal mounted Ritchie Compass
(3) Barient 2-speed Self-tailing Winches (serviced 2013)
(3) Barient Winches on Mast (serviced 2013)
2 Dorades for Great Ventilation
Stainless Toe-Rail
Outboard Motor Hoist
Outboard Motor Mount
Boarding Ladder
Fenders
Magma stern-mounted propane grill
Boat hook
Bimini
SAFETY EQUIPMENT
Life Sling
Offshore flare pack
Fire extinguishers
Manual Bilge Pump
2 Electric Bilge Pumps
Please email questions to crew(at)mondovacilando.com.
Comments
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[…] you know, Vacilando is for sale. That was by far the biggest decision we’ve made since deciding to sell the house and live […]
I was curious why you want to rid yourselves of Vacilando. Is it too big, too small? Anyway, just curious.
It’s neither too big, nor too small. In fact, it’s just right. We LOVE the 35′ platform and are not planning to go much bigger (if at all) than that. The reason we are selling Vacilando is that now that we know we want to continue with this lifestyle for the foreseeable future, we’re looking to get a boat that was especially built for crossing oceans, as we would love to do more extensive traveling at this point, or in the near future. :)
Good on you guys!!! I got scared for a minute that you were giving up the boating life, but this is fabulous news!!! We are in a similar stage at the moment, thinking about our next boat purchase and I have to say I’m now aiming for a racing boat! Ha ha! Ryan’s created a monster! Can’t wait to see your next purchase. Xx
Well, you know we had to kind of create a little suspense!! No, I don’t think we could ever totally give up the boating life. It’s funny how I used to think that I couldn’t live on something as small as a boat, and now, I can’t imagine living in something as big as a house. haha And yes, Ryan HAS created a monster, but at least she’s a kick-ass-hard-core-not-afraid-to-try-anything monster! Oh, and yeah – she’s a WINNING monster! :) So proud of you both. Cannot wait to hook up again – hopefully sometime soon! Who knows… maybe on a new boat! :)
We are so glad that we will continue to share anchorages with you two! Vacilando is a beautiful boat and will be a joy to her new owners.
Good Luck Friends.
Thank you, June and Duane! That means a lot – we can’t wait to continue forward and hope to keep accidentally bumping into you guys many times along the way!
What is the meaning/definition of the boats name?
The name comes from the book Travels With Charley, by John Steinbeck. He says the word Vacilando is a Spanish word that essentially means that you have a destination, but you don’t really care if you get there. After all, it’s the journey that’s important, right? :)
Excited, excited, excited! She’s a beautiful boat and a wonderful vessel to sail (I know first hand!). Congrats and good luck! Can’t wait to see which of the next list becomes your new home. xoxo
We are, too! :) Thank you, Cheryl!!! xo
Love your boat! Call me if you have a “Half Off Sale”!
Hahaha
I live in Gulf Shores, Al. and am currently in the market for my first boat. I plan to be at the Annapolis Boat Show Oct. 9-12 and was wondering if you would be available to show Vacilando during that time.
Hi David! Yes, we will be in Solomons and would love to show her to you! You can email us at crew@mondovacilando.com and we will give you the details.
Hi there,
I was wondering if your beautiful boat ‘Vacilando’ was sold yet?
Where is she located a the moment?
Sue Cotton
Hi Sue! She is still for sale. We are currently bringing her down to Florida via the ICW. We should be in Cocoa Village, FL around (or just after) Thanksgiving. You can email us at crew@mondovacilando.com with any questions!
Is the boat still for sale? If so what is the price?
Hi Kevin,
We have decided to pull the boat off the market for just a little while, as we make future plans and search for our perfect boat. In the meantime, we’ll continue to upgrade her, and we’ll keep updates on the blog and our Facebook page should we relist her.