DRIFTER is a 1954 36’ Rybovich sportfish that recently completed an exhaustive and extensive four-year reconstruction. Starting with less than an empty hull, a team of highly skilled and dedicated craftsmen poured years into the well-documented project, culminating with the reincarnation of a truly classic and historic sportfish. Epoxy, foam, and fiberglass strengthened her hull and reduced weight. A single Cummins diesel with propeller pocket is simple and incredibly efficient. All systems are new except for a handful of carefully selected original or vintage components adapted to work in modern ways.
Since her relaunch in the fall of 2019, she has fished and cruised the Chesapeake Bay extensively, purposely built to be equally adept and comfortable at each. A restomod to some and a complete refit to others, timing is right for the next owner to take over the legacy of Hull #12.
Name | DRIFTER |
Price | $450,000 |
Year | 1954 |
Length Overall | 36 ft |
Beam | 12 ft |
Location | Edgewater, MD, US |
Hull Material | Composite |
Location | Center |
Power | 600 HP |
Fuel | diesel |
Hours | 1750 |
Make | Cummins |
Model | QSC 8.3 |
Type | Inboard |
INTRODUCTION
Few names are as synonymous with the early Florida sportfish boatbuilding, innovation, and fishing adventures as Rybovich. They are credited with many of the industries firsts, and DRIFTER, originally built as BUTTERBALL (Hull #12) in 1954, is an excellent example of this style and design. Through her storied and well documented history, she’s changed hands a few times, eventually landing with her current owner in 2015. He wanted a project, a boat that was equally adept at catching fish as relaxing in a cove, and to save a piece of history.
With a capable team in place, work began in tandem along her nearly identical sister TIMID TUNA (Hull #18) under the watchful eyes and capable hands of Reid Bandy of Bandy Boatworks. While the team retained some of her original structure, DRIFTER is now modern epoxy encapsulated construction. Her hull is sheathed in multiple layers of fiberglass, completely sealed on the inside, and her decks and house are light and stiff foam core construction. All electrical, hydraulic, and mechanical systems are completely new. Some original and vintage hardware remains, but only after cleaning, re-working, and adapting to work as new but with a classic and period correct look.
One of her most notable features is the conversion from twin gasoline engines to a single 600hp Cummins diesel with a propeller tunnel. This driveline offers a surprisingly economical cruise- 13 gallons per hour at 22 knots, with her engine turning only 2,400rpm at 40% load.
The scale and comprehensiveness of the restoration process, which some might consider a restomod, caught the attention of many local and national publications including PROFESSIONAL BOATBUILDER magazine who chronicled the project. DRIFTER graces the cover of their No. 170 issue and in the Rybovich Rebuild x2 article of the same edition ( https://www.proboat.com/2017/11/rybovich-rebuild-x-2/ ). Chesapeake Bay Magazine also delved into the project in their article Persistence, Pink Paint, and the Big Tuna ( https://www.chesapeakebaymagazine.com/persistence-pink-paint-the-big-tuna/ ).
For the past four years, she’s cruised the Chesapeake extensively in search of both excellent fishing and quiet coves for rest and relaxation. DRIFTER is recognized everywhere she goes both by locals familiar with her frequent outings and aficionados hoping to get a glimpse of one of the boats that started it all.
As new projects and new adventures are on the horizon, DRIFTER is looking for her next caretaker to take on the next phase of her life and build upon her long and storied past. Revel in her simplicity or take her to the next level and truly make her your own. The future is up to you.
Please contact listing broker Brad Holbrook directly for further information as he was intimately involved in every aspect of the project and fishes the boat extensively.
DRIFTER’s Significant Features include:
VESSEL WALKTHROUGH
DRIFTER is a convertible sportfish with an expansive aft cockpit, open and airy pilothouse, and comfortable accommodations below. The pilothouse is a comfortable step up from the cockpit, and the large overhang helps to keep the weather out. To starboard is a convertible dinette, port is the helm and large galley or countertop workspace. Three steps down is the cabin with two berths in a simple, open-style layout, and a custom curved beadboard bulkhead and door encloses the head. This arrangement lends her to perfectly function as a dayboat for entertaining and cruising. She fishes beautifully with her aft station and large cockpit, plus her interior lends itself to long runs and overnights. Sliding side windows, sliding aft door, and “bus heater” engine heat ensure ventilation and comfort.
HULL and CONSTRUCTION:
DRIFTER is modern epoxy encapsulated construction- cold molded and fiberglass bottom, fully sheathed and encapsulated sides, fiberglass plywood foredeck and washboards, and foam core decks, pilothouse, and furniture. This is a significant departure from her original Rybovich conventional plank on frame method, and represents the most time consuming and labor intensive component of the reconstruction project.
Hull Bottom:
Epoxy construction with three layers 17-ounce biaxial fiberglass cloth over cold-molded plywood set in thickened epoxy. Longitudinal stringers are Douglas fir and sistered to the original stringers. Rybovich replaced most of the oak bottom frames and chine logs prior to the project and cold-molded the bottom. The tunnel design and cold-molded construction is new to the project.
Hull Sides:
Epoxy construction with two layers of 17-ounce fiberglass cloth over Resorcinol-glued mahogany planks fastened with Monel Anchorfast nails to oak frames. The 2019 refit replaced or refastened planks as structurally necessary, prior to encapsulating the exterior with fiberglass and sealing the interior with epoxy.
Foredeck:
Epoxy construction with two layers 17-ounce and one layer 10-ounce fiberglass cloth over ½” plywood and oak frames, both installed by Rybovich and the previous owner prior to the refit. Toe rails are hand-shaped foam with five layers 17-ounce cloth.
Cockpit and pilothouse sole:
Epoxy sandwich construction with two layers 17-ounce cloth on either side of foam core; the top of both decks has a third layer running longitudinally. Deck is cambered to shed water quickly and efficiently through fiberglass-lined scuppers on either side. Splash guards minimize water entering at rest and underway.
Cabin:
Epoxy sandwich construction with three layers 17-ounce fiberglass cloth outside and two layers 17-ounce cloth inside of foam core, with core deleted in way of forward-facing windows. The restoration team digitized the surviving cabin components and created a jig to retain the original characteristics.
AFT COCKPIT:
DECKS and CABIN ROOF:
PILOTHOUSE and MAIN SALON:
One step up from the aft cockpit, and through an easy-to-slide door is the open and airy pilothouse and main salon. Tinted side windows slide open, and are slightly larger than original. The forward facing windows are also larger than the original to improve visibility. Aft, glass panes are set into fiberglass-epoxy structure, and the foam-core door slides on a bronze track. The helm is forward to port, just aft is the galley which functions as a large working surface, and convertible dinette is to starboard. All furniture is fiberglass over hand shaped foam and painted.
Helm Station
CABIN BELOW:
Head
ELECTRONICS and NAVIATION EQUIPMENT:
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:
Every wire and electrical component is newly installed as part of DRIFTER’s refit. Andy Fegley (of Yacht Electronics Systems) designed and supported the installation. Both AC and DC systems benefit from a simple approach with quality components, and include solar panels which eliminate the need to plug in at the dock. A 30a shore power system with Magnum inverter/charger provides flexibility when power is present or necessary. All underwater fittings are bonded together, and there is a traditional copper bonding strip running the length of the boat.
MECHANICAL and ENGINE DETAILS:
One of the most visible and significant improvements is DRIFTER’s single Cummins diesel engine and propeller tunnel. Originally built as a twin gasoline engine boat (with stories of top-end rebuilds overnight between trips and crew sleeping with speed wrenches under their pillows), her single Cummins offers a surprisingly economical cruise, long-term reliability and durability, and elegant simplicity. A trolling valve enables exceptionally smooth and precise maneuverability around the docks, infinitely variable trolling speeds for fishing, and near-zero forward speed when cruising creeks and harbors. Her propeller tunnel reduces shaft angle for more efficiency and a shallower draft. The engine compartment is epoxy coasted (as is all of the interior hull) and painted bright white for excellent visibility. Every mechanical system is new.
Recent engine service-
DRIFTER follows a routine maintenance and service schedule with fluids, filters, anodes and other periodic items addressed per Cummins’ recommendations. Significant and recent items are below:
1,800 Hours – December 2023
1,500 Hours – Winter 2022
1,000 Hours - Winter 2021
Mechanical and vessel systems include:
Items excluded from the sale:
DisclaimerThe Company offers the details of this vessel in good faith but cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of this information nor warrant the condition of the vessel. A buyer should instruct his agents, or his surveyors, to investigate such details as the buyer desires validated. This vessel is offered subject to prior sale, price change, or withdrawal without notice.