True Love is a performance semi-displacement trawler motor yacht that will appeal to discriminating buyers who may also be considering comparable quality series-built brands such as Fleming, Marlow, Offshore, Hampton, Ocean Alexander, and Outer Reef.
Improvements and upgrades completed in 2023 and 2024 include:
Created out of custom aluminum alloy, she is an outstanding island hopper and coastal cruiser. Offered for sale by her second owners, True Love represents a unique opportunity for an experienced cruiser who can appreciate the outstanding value she represents. It may seem difficult to establish value for a one-of-a-king original, but one factual measure is the price she cost to build new, which was over six million dollars in 2005!
The first owners were an experienced cruising couple who owned several sailboats and purchased two Grand Banks trawlers before deciding to order one final yacht that would satisfy their desires for the ideal cruising boat. It had to be appealing, practical and above all, easy to operate and maintain. They studied the trawler models marketed by the leading yacht builders but could not find anything suitable. They came to the realization that a stock boat would not work. They were in the fortunate position to afford a custom new build which ended up being their best solution. They engaged renowned naval architect, Gregory Marshall, to work out the profile and layout that they wanted. With designs completed, they interviewed several builders in Canada (their home country) before selecting Park Isle Marine in British Columbia for construction.
For the size and performance they were looking for, it was determined that aluminum alloy construction would give them the strength and weight they needed. Their boat savvy and marine trade experienced son was hired as project manager to oversee his parents’ ambitious goal. A very positive collaborative effort was commenced in 2004.
Every aspect of the boat was thoroughly researched with the goal of achieving their “perfect floating home”. The design was enhanced by creating a bill of materials that specified the best available, industry leading equipment. The launch was a huge success, a beautiful build completed with compliments and congratulations all around. Then the vessel was shipped to Florida for test trips and a Bahamas cruise. Unfortunately, one aspect was a huge disappointment. The original concept specified a diesel electric propulsion package which, unfortunately, was never able to meet the performance promises.
The final solution after many trial runs and conferences was to start over. Two Scania engines (branded Yanmar) were installed by Deltaville Boatyard in Virginia. The propulsion change meant a two-year delay in their ability to go out cruising and even though the build year is listed as 2005, the owners were not able to enjoy True Love (originally called Retired Sailor III) until 2010. After several years of very enjoyable cruising, they were satisfied and had accomplished their objectives successfully. With time catching up, they completed their boating adventures and decided to sell their beloved boat. She was listed for sale for three and a half million dollars in 2015.
The owners of Deltaville Boatyard were her custodians and were also granted cruising privileges, a win/win situation for remote ownership and ultimately an arrangement was made to transfer possession to the people who knew this boat the best.
Hours reported in June 2024 are:
Port main = 3,207
Starboard main = 3,206
30 kW Generator = 3,861
12 kW Generator = 6,012
True Love is best summarized in one word “innovative”. She boasts a collection of best-in-class features and equipment. A comprehensive list of these selections is included here to help you understand the thought and attention to detail that went into this project. Reading through this write up will acquaint you with the thinking and detail, along with the time and effort that defined this build. However, nothing will tell her story better than actually getting aboard to see for yourself.
MAIN DECK
The large swim platform aft serves as the most convenient access from floating dock and by tender. You can also board the main deck (double walk around) of True Love using the Marquipt removable stairway through four gates in the side decks.
SWIM PLATFORM
A great first impression! You will appreciate her dock-sized swim platform for easy boarding. You can adjust the safety rail and detachable swim ladder. The large, hinged storage lockers are conveniently installed outboard in the transom where they secure fresh water hoses, shore power and assorted miscellaneous gear. The centerline promenade stairwell is wide with large steps that easily transition to the aft deck cockpit. The stairwell includes a hot and cold freshwater hand shower and has two opening port lights for the aft stateroom.
AFT DECK
True Love’s covered aft deck is ideal for entertaining and provides an incredible view of your surroundings. You are five feet above the waterline which make this a very dry and secure boat. There are portable chairs and tables for relaxing as well as storage locker. There is a sink, ice maker and refrigerator as well as a sidebar beverage dispensing system. A safety gate is located at the top of the stairwell to fence in the cockpit and swings open for access to the swim platform. You can enter the saloon through the double French doors or go forward along either side deck. There are two boarding doors aft and moving along the side you will see engine room ventilation grills and fuel fill gauges.
FOREDECK:
The foredeck was designed to provide a huge open space with high bulwarks and tall aluminum tubular railing for safety. The anchor deck is a raised stage with the windlass and chain lockers. The dual anchor well is angled forward to drain the mess from anchor wash down. There are two anchors ready to deploy with chain stoppers and cleats. The large deep chain lockers have a separate shelf aft for the Glendinning shore power retrievers and fresh water hoses. There are rollers and cleats for dock lines as well. Along the side decks are fender storage racks, cleats and freeing ports. The sole is durable Marine 2000 non-slip. Aft, below the reverse raked windows is a huge, hinged storage container for stowing lines and shore power attachments.
MAIN SALOON:
Entering the saloon from the raised aft deck through the water tight glass French doors you will be impressed with the inviting layout and wide-open vistas outboard providing a great sense of space. There are large opening windows, and the beautiful cherry wood is accented appropriately with warm colored ultra-suede wall covering. The cork flooring adds a practical and decorative touch that also has sound insulation advantages. The saloon was designed for both lounging and dining with a generous gathering area featuring a comfortable upholstered couch and matching arm chairs which are dogged down. There is an innovative high low coffee/dining table which can seat eight. An entertainment center with flat screen television is located in the aft starboard cabinetry with controls for the upper and main deck speakers.
There are two stairwells. The forward (starboard amidships) leads up to the flybridge and below to the owner stateroom, utility and third cabin. The aft stairwell leads down to the full beam guest stateroom and engine room.
DAY HEAD
For convenience, forward on the starboard side of the saloon is a day head opposite the galley, aft of the forward stairs.
GALLEY:
Located forward along the port side deck there are two opposing L shaped Corian counters, with a spill lip all around, making this a marvelous area for preparing meals. The counter surface area is impressive. Four swivel chairs are positioned along the outside counter for dining. There are ample drawers below and lockers above. Below counter appliances include a microwave, sink and trash compactor. The four-burner electric cook top is divided by an electric BBQ with an exhaust hood above. One of the highlights is the custom designed dumbwaiter for easy delivery of food and drinks to the flybridge upper deck.
LOWER HELM STATION AND DESK:
The design of the lower helm station was intended to keep the captain and guests connected during hours of cruising. The forward reverse raked windows provide excellent visibility ahead. This forward helm station includes a folding helm chair to starboard with a navigation console, thrusters and engine controls. Electrical breakers are concealed behind a locker door. An office like desk is to port with drawers and a printer. There is a wraparound counter behind the window for quick storage.
LOWER DECK
The forward lower-level deck begins with the Utility room at the base of the stairs that begin at the saloon / galley intersection. Across to port is the third cabin (office/den) and the owners’ stateroom is located towards the bow.
UTILITY/LAUNDRY ROOM
The forward stairs lead down to a large utility room that connects to the port guest cabin and owner stateroom forward. There is a covered sink, a top loading chest freezer and a Miele clothes washer and dryer. There are sliding locker doors outboard for additional storage. Opening portlights provide additional ventilation. The stairs lift to reveal the central vacuum canister, a safe and extra storage space.
FORWARD PORT STATEROOM
This stateroom has a single bed size settee and a hinged single Murphy bed in the bulkhead with a small desk with drawers below. Primarily used as a den with couch and desk it has the convenience of quickly converting to a comfortable cabin. There are storage lockers on the outboard wall and hidden ones behind the settee cushions. The head and shower are ensuite. This cabin would make an excellent captain’s quarters.
OWNER STATEROOM- FORWARD
The original owners chose the area below the foredeck as their stateroom because of the extra light from the three hatches and the ability to hear the motion of the bow. Closing the door from the Utility landing, this is a spacious private stateroom with ensuite head and shower. For sleeping there are two three quarter size beds outboard. A wide centerline walkway is covered with a rug. The cork flooring has an innovative locking system that covers several large storage compartments in the bilge area, containing plastic bins. The bins hold extensive spare parts and tools with an estimated replacement value of $10,000.00. There is a complete inventory sheet of contents. There is a floor to ceiling shoe locker to starboard as you enter. There are his and hers hanging lockers with a handy lowering bar system for convenient hanging of short items above the bureaus, as well as a full-length hanging locker.
OWNER HEAD:
This is a convenient and private head with shower and sink. It is paneled with cherry wood and wall coverings and includes a mirrored medicine cabinet and lockers.
The aft lower-level deck has a curved stairway from the aft port corner of the saloon. The landing at the base of the stairs allows you to go forward to the engine room or aft to the full beam VIP guest stateroom.
VIP GUEST STATEROOM – AFT:
This is a unique layout that was a special requirement for the original owners who loved family style cruising. Located underneath the aft deck is a true full beam stateroom with large queen-sized beds port and starboard and an ensuite shower and head. Between the beds and aft is the bureau with a large counter top and several drawers underneath. The bureau cabinetry is easily removed to allow access to the watertight “Tiller Flats” area and the steering gear.
TILLER FLATS:
The “flats” are located behind the removable bureau in the guest stateroom. This is where all the rudder steering gear and stern thruster equipment is serviced.
GUEST HEAD
This head is spacious with excellent lighting.
ENGINE ROOM:
This “stand up” engine room is something you would hope to find on a much larger yacht. The importance of installing reliable gear that is easy to access and service has always been the priority. You enter through a Diamond Sea Glaze door with viewing window. The engine room is easy to move around in and has railing inboard of the engines for hand support. The sure-footed flooring locks in place. The centerline walk way enables instant access forward to the stabilizers and watermaker. The two generators are installed aft. There are three fuel tanks, two outboard and one beneath the sole. Aft is an electrical panel with breakers and spare fuses. Each raw water system has a separate through hull for intake. A unique discharge water sea chest returns overboard. The Delta T ventilation system moves a massive amount of air. There is even an emergency escape hatch with built-in steps, and there is also a signal alert red light on flybridge to notify crew if needed.
UPPER DECK
FLYBRIDGE
The flybridge stairs from the main deck level below lead to a sliding door with screen, which secures the interior living areas from the upper deck. This top deck is all on one level with the area forward of the mast enclosed with clear Lexan panels. The side panels are mounted on separate tracks allowing them to be opened independently or they can be removed and stored in vinyl bags. This area has proven to be the most popular area of the boat, whether underway or at anchor and can be temperature controlled. Centered forward is the helm station which has all the necessary nav /com electronics easily reached from the two-seater Stidd helm bench. Below the console is storage space for life jackets etc. and there is a movable chart box on top. The crew enjoys the forward-facing seating port and starboard. For meals there is a U-shaped seating area with a drop-leaf table. The aluminum hardtop has opening hatches giving extra lighting and ventilation. The flybridge and boat deck are divided by the mast which has a clever lowering apparatus for powering under low bridges and easy access to the mast head electronics. One of the highlights is the built-in dumbwaiter from the galley which allows the easy delivery of food and drinks between levels.
The area between the flybridge and boat deck is designed as open space for sunning, exercising or just relaxing. There are legacy bike mounts (no bicycles included). Plasteak flooring provides a finished and practical surface.
The boat deck stores the Apex 15’ RIB mounted athwartships and the Steelhead crane, which can launch off the stern or either side.
BOAT DECK:
The boat deck area is surrounded by safety railings with lots of open deck space for reclining and enjoying the sun and fresh air. There are two large storage lockers, the starboard one contains a wash-down hose and there is a handy low box fridge / freezer alongside. The tender is mounted across the beam and can be launched off the transom or to either side with the Steelhead crane aft.
EXTERIOR
MACHINERY FEATURES AND EQUIPMENT:
HOUSEHOLD CONVENIENCES:
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS:
True Love was built to cruise in US and Bahamian waters and is set up with a very well-engineered electrical system.
ELECTRONICS
The amount of navigation, communication and entertainment electronics supplied throughout True Love is astounding. She is well integrated with excellent electronics for reliable ‘away from land’ travel.
ENTERTAINMENT ELECTRONICS:
PLUMBING SYSTEMS
True Love includes very well thought out fresh water, black water and gray water plumbing. Redundancy is built into all three systems. All dock water is pre-filtered.
MISCELLANEOUS FEATURES AND SAFETY EQUIPMENT:
TANKAGE:
Fuel = 1,710 gallons | 6,473 liters
Fresh water = 212 gallons | 802.5 liters
Black water = 309 gallons | 1,170 liters
Gray water = 251 gallons | 95 liters
Continual maintenance work to care for and refresh True Love has been ongoing at her home base at the Deltaville Boatyard. Every effort has been made to keep her clean, reliable, and ready to continue cruising.
SOME HISTORY:
True Love was delivered to her original owners in May 2006 in British Columbia, Canada. After initial sea trials, shake downs and commissioning in the San Juan Islands she was transported as cargo to Fort Lauderdale, FL for extensive review of the diesel electric propulsion. After trials, it was determined that the diesel electric package was not going to live up to the expectations and it was agreed to move her north to Virginia for an extensive retrofit at one of the best boat yards in the US, Deltaville Boatyard. The owner of the yard, Keith Ruse, took on the project with great care and the owners monitored the progress which ultimately took 2 years to complete. Marine industry expert, Steve D’Antonio, was hired as a consultant for the project and helped oversee the transition.
In April of 2010 the new and improved Retired Sailor III was re-launched and finally began her cruising career. In her early active years, she cruised well over 10,000 miles travelling from Virginia to the Bahamas and Turks. She is an incredible trawler and many enjoyable family cruises have taken place in this veritable “floating home away from home”.
Continual upgrades in systems and equipment on top of the original build selections make True Love an outstanding purchase for anyone looking to own the ultimate coastal cruiser. If it is your desire to see the world and travel along coastal waters in style and comfort please review this very detailed listing to learn more about True Love. She is not only exceptionally outfitted, but she represents an incredible value when you consider that she cost over $6,000,000.00 to build and is now fully functional and truly shows like a lightly used, almost new boat due to her limited use despite the years that have passed since her original launch.
TESTIMONIAL
By Steve D’Antonio, Marine Consultant
“I’ve had the pleasure of being involved with Retired Sailor III for the past seven years, having first gone aboard during her commissioning process in Victoria, BC. Since then, I’ve worked with the owners, Bev and Ann Collombin, consulting on and overseeing a variety of projects, repairs and upgrades, including the repower. Truly no expense has been spared in maintaining Retired Sailor III during my tenure with her. Only the finest, highest quality equipment has been used, all of which has been installed and maintained in keeping with the American Boat and Yacht Council’s, as well as the equipment manufacturers’, rigorous standards. I’m not one to exaggerate, which is why, when I say attention to detail in the initial build, as well as work carried out thereafter, is second to none, it represents the very highest praise. This is a fine vessel and one of my personal favorites.”
HULL CONSTRUCTION:
Most production trawlers marketed to the public take advantage of the simplicity of duplicating sister ships through the use of fiberglass construction. Provided the design is well founded and the tooling is well made, the builder can offer a series of hulls that are uniform in construction and the manufacturing process is more streamlined and faster to crank out boats. There is an argument to be made for building trawlers out of metal – with steel and aluminum being the preferred materials. For a full displacement yacht where weight is less critical, steel is more popular. True Love was constructed using aluminum alloy for better strength to weight ratios and to keep her lighter to gain more speed. The entire design was first computer modeled (at significant expense) and these precise dimensions enabled the aluminum to be cut to exact specifications then welded together. The initial frames were set up to develop a robust hull form.
CONSTRUCTION DETAILS AND FEATURES:
True Love is a three-level flush deck boat
LISTING BROKERS COMMENTS:
True Love is a stellar example of an ideal coastal cruising trawler. This is quite simply an extraordinary yacht. Her two owners have contributed their expertise and care and enjoyed many years of trouble-free cruising. She is a wonderful live aboard for months on end.
Her active use and regular maintenance regimen have kept her in Bristol condition. True Love is truly at home in stormy offshore weather and equally comfortable plying calm coastal waters on shore. Throughout her life, there has never been a limitation due to budget. She has the coastal cruising experience to take you and your family safely to numerous ports of call. If you are a discriminating buyer looking for an innovative yacht that includes the necessities of home and you have longed to own a unique exceptionally designed and outfitted one-of-a-kind motor yacht and, in a position to take off for adventures, you deserve a closer look – let’s get you aboard!
True Love is truly “ready to cruise” and will continue providing her new owners the special luxury of comfortable cruising with safety and redundancy.
Please contact listing agent, Jeff Merrill, to arrange for a viewing. She is available for inspection by appointment only; we will do everything we can to accommodate a last-minute showing. Once aboard you will truly be able to appreciate the thinking that has been incorporated to create this trawler masterpiece.
For additional information please visit True Love’s website: www.Snowbird73.com
Exclusions: Potential purchasers should assume that items on the vessel at the time of viewing, but not specifically listed on this sheet, are not included with the sale of the yacht. These specifications are believed to be true and correct but cannot be guaranteed. Items excluded include, but are not limited to Paintings, tools, handheld nav gear and binoculars. Owner’s personal effects and clothing will be removed prior to closing.
Disclaimer: Jeff Merrill Yacht Sales, Inc. presents the details of this vessel in good faith but cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of this information nor guarantee or warrant the condition of the vessel. Buyers should instruct their agents and their surveyors to investigate all details the buyers desire validated. This vessel is offered subject to prior sale, price change, or withdrawal without notice.
Brokerage: JMYS is a US based (licensed and bonded yacht brokerage in California, Florida and Washington) with an international emphasis specializing in ocean capable trawlers and recreational tugs. Our brokers are experienced boaters, most are trawler owner/operators with thousands of hours and miles at sea. We treat our clients with respect, we are responsive and not pushy. Our focus is to become your loyal advocate, always looking out for your best interests. The team at JMYS has extensive trawler and motor yacht product knowledge and our skills are available for coaching after the sale has concluded. Co-Brokerage: Fellow yacht broker association members: True Love is available for Co-Brokerage.
*Listing broker. Jeff Merrill, CPYB (Certified Professional Yacht Broker) has extensive product knowledge of the trawler market plus direct experience with this custom aluminum trawler. Jeff was her listing broker several years ago and has kept in regular contact with her current owners. He has been aboard and underway several times. Jeff is a familiar face to YouTube viewers and a regular presenter at TrawlerFest. He writes about trawlers for Ocean Navigator and PassageMaker magazines and is one of the online instructors for Boaters University.
This listing specification has been approved by the sellers for accuracy. The photos, images and descriptive content are copyrighted by JMYS and may not be copied or used without specific written permission. All inspections are by appointment only. Please contact listing broker, Jeff Merrill, CPYB by phone- call or text his mobile +1 (949) 355-4950 for email for additional information or to schedule your personal showing. You can send a detailed email to: Jeff@JMYS.com
Please join our email list to receive information on Trawler Listings, New Videos, Trawler News and Up-coming Events
