Thorfinn is a 45-foot steel Adams-designed cutter. She was built in Cairns by Dick and Kay Turpin over a three-year period and launched in 1977. The interior is finished with teak and black bean, and she is nicely set up for cruising. She has six berths, two toilets and a galley with a fridge and freezer. She is divided into a central area consisting of a galley, saloon, and navigation area, as well as two cabins: a forward cabin with two single berths and a toilet, and an aft cabin with a double berth and a toilet/shower.
Aka sitting area – features two settees and a table with a drop-down side, allowing for easier access past it when the table is not in use. We have bookshelves on each side and plenty of cupboard space. Beneath and behind the settees is space for storage. We have a 12-volt TV and media player.
The Aft Cabin
Aka rear bedroom – consists of a small double berth – aka bed, a dressing table, a full length mirror, a three shelf cupboard, a wardrobe and a drawer, as well as lockers under two upholstered seats. The ensuite head – aka bathroom, has a head – aka toilet, shower, a basin, cupboard and a couple of shelves. We have hot and cold pressure water.
The Galley
Aka kitchen – consists of a two-burner stove with grill and oven, a basin with hot and cold pressure water, a small fridge and a large freezer. I also have a small electric oven I can use when I have the generator on, and it is perfect for these hot tropical areas because I can take the oven outside when I use it!
The Navigation Area
The navigation area consists of a navigation desk and chair, as well as a berth, which we refer to as the navigator’s berth (original, I know!). As well as an area to plot our course, many of Thorfinn’s essential systems can be controlled from here. We have AIS and fuel gauges for both our diesel tank and our generator fuel tank. The DC power panel, auto-helm control panel, GPS/multi-display panel, HAM radio and VHF radio. Nearby is our AC panel and engine controls. The photo above is of the area before re-upholstering.
History
Dick and Kay took Dwayne and Felicity cruising the South Pacific when they were teenagers, visiting such places as New Zealand, Fiji & Tonga. Later, Dick and Kay did a five-year circumnavigation on Thorfinn. So she has been around….. I’m talking about Thorfinn, not my mother-in-law!
Thorfinn Renovations
When we got her and set a goal to live aboard and sail for many years, we decided to update her a bit. Things like amenities and electronics, etc. We replaced the pump toilets with electric ones. Install a pressure water system and a hot water system. We installed new navigation equipment, including a Simrad 4G GPS and AIS, and then added a generator to power it all. We also replaced all the windows and hatches and got a new headsail & staysail.
It wasn’t until the end of 2015 that we made any changes for purely aesthetic reasons. When we went up on the slip at Satun in Thailand to anti-foul, we decided it was time for a little spruce up. We painted Thorfinn’s hull, sanded and re-varnished the interior, and re-covered the upholstery. We chose a lighter colour (which we may soon regret) to lighten the interior of the boat. Here are some before photos…
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