California Gold! A 1961 Bill Tripp Javelin 38 with Serious Modern Upgrades | Classic Sailboat Tour

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CALIFORNIA GOLD!
Welcome back BoatFools Nation! Today on BoatFools Sailing, Captain Kew (Q) and I take a virtual tour a true classic — HARPOEN, a 1961 Bill Tripp–designed Javelin 38, built in Holland by Van Lent & Zonen (now part of Feadship) and sailed on San Francisco Bay for nearly 60 years. She's up in San Rafael, California, in the water, and ready to go!

This is not a forgotten museum piece. HARPOEN is a serious offshore-capable classic yacht with extensive modern upgrades that make her both historically important and genuinely usable today.

Designed by legendary yacht designer Bill Tripp, the Javelin 38 is known for her powerful hull shape, heavy displacement, and offshore pedigree. HARPOEN’s resume includes competitive racing on San Francisco Bay and a 1971 SFYRA PHRF Championship, winning the prestigious YANKEE CUP — the original mirror trophy still lives onboard.

To contact the seller, please email: ron.witzel@gmail.com

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Opener - Sailing in San Francisco Bay!
00:13 Intro with Captain Kew (Q) and The Javelin 38
02:44 Keel, Topsides and Deck
08:18 The Cockpit
11:04 The Rig & Sails
14:33 Below Deck!
17:17 The Galley
18:27 The Head & Upgraded System!
19:34 The Yanmar Diesel
22:37 Videos of Her Sailing
27:08 The Roller Furling Main in Action
28:08 SailboatData Numbers
30:53 Final Thoughts!

⚓ Highlights & Upgrades:

-Solid fiberglass hull with 4,500 lb encapsulated lead keel

-LeisureFurl roller furling boom

-Hood full-batten mainsail

-New Hood 100% jib (2025)

-Standing rigging & lifelines replaced (2022)

-Harken electric halyard winch

-Awlgrip topsides

-Dripless stuffing box

-Lectrosan MSD (no holding tank)

-Refrigeration onboard

-Yanmar 3HMF diesel (~2,800 hours)

Inside, HARPOEN features a thoughtfully modified interior with multiple sea berths, custom cabinetry, and a removable teak table. While some systems reflect her vintage, she has been continuously maintained, surveyed, and upgraded.

This episode is for sailors who appreciate:

-Classic fiberglass yachts

-Proven offshore designs

-Honest ownership insights

-Real-world maintenance realities

-Boats with soul and substance

If you love classic sailboats, racer-cruisers, and the idea of blending old-school design with modern sailing systems, this is one you don’t want to miss.

Captain Kew (Q) and I really loved this boat - wish we could have seen her in person!

Thanks for watching and see you next time!
-BoatFools Sailing