1978 Alajuela 33

Palindrome is an Alajuela 33, a cutter rigged, canoe-sterned, cruiser equally at home in coastal waters or on long passages. Designed by Ray Richards, she was built in 1978 by Alajuela Yachts in Huntington Beach, California. Built for efficiency, the A33 design incorporated a cutaway forefoot keel to retain tracking while improving maneuverability and decreasing the wetted area, resulting in exceptional speed for her waterline length. The canoe stern provides benefits in following seas, and the bowsprit extends the possible sail plan to provide more drive. The chainplates are mounted inboard to allow for tighter sheeting angles and better upwind performance.

Palindrome is set up as a well-equipped passage-maker for a cruising couple or a crew of up to four. In addition to the forward v-berth, the port side quarter berth provides a comfortable sleeping location in proximity to the cockpit. The settees in the salon have been equipped with lee cloths for additional sleeping options under sail. The starboard quarter berth, aft of the navigation table, is reserved for gear and sail storage.

She is robustly constructed, with a skeg-hung rudder linked to tiller steering. With the added Monitor wind vane, she can be reliably sailed for long distances without consuming battery power. Palindrome is also equipped with a tiller pilot and autohelm as well as a GPS chart plotter, digital depth sounder and radar.

The current sail plan includes a battened mainsail with 3 reef points, a high cut Yankee headsail on roller furling and a hank on staysail. Also included is a cruising spinnaker with snuffer. Other options for downwind sailing include a whisker pole to allow wing on wing sailing, along with the included preventer.

The galley features a refrigerator, 3 burner stove and oven and a double sink with reliable foot pumps for raw and tank water. A pressure water system with hot and cold water is available for the head sink and shower, as well as an auxiliary shower unit. Plenty of storage behind and below the salon seating, under the quarter berths, and forward under the v-berth. Aft she has a large capacity, two-tank propane locker designed to drain overboard for safety.

Palindrome is a reliable, comfortable, well-built and well-equipped cruiser ready for her next adventure. She can achieve speeds up to 6.5 kts under sail. She was repowered in 2006 with a Yanmar 30hp diesel that can push her at 5 to 5.5 kts while using 0.5-0.6 gallons per hour. 

Included with the purchase are an inflatable dinghy and 3.5HP Mercury 4-stroke outboard engine, all safety gear including self-inflating life vests, safety tethers, jacklines, a sea anchor, strobes, horseshoe buoy, throwline, lifesling, flares, and fire extinguishers. There are also plenty of spare parts, tools and all galley items including pots. pans, dishes, glassware, flatware, knives. Also included are marine binoculars, VHF and handheld VHF radios (with distress signal and GPS), spare life preservers, an assortment of stainless steel hardware, spare bilge pumps, wiring tools and fasteners, and more.