Posted: March 13 2007 at 14:01 | IP Logged

I own a 1972 31 ft Uniflite cruiser located on Vancouver Island... the BC Gulf islands are my playground.

Here she is

Original and pristine twin 318's ....nothing moves through water like a Uniflite.

I have been living on mine for about 6-7 months of the year.You cannot buy a stronger built boat in todays market....and you couldn't in 1972 either

Posted: March 13 2007 at 17:03 | IP Logged

Hello captcd,

Yes, there are many of us here.  I have been maintaining a database of members as I see them show up on this forum.  So far I have logged 20 members.

I love your "playground".  I have chartered there twice and my wife and I are planning to move our Uniflite there in about a year.  We are currently in the San Francisco Bay area.

So welcome to the forum and I, for one, hope you have fun contributing your thought and questions.  By the way, what is the name of your 31? (if you don't mind my asking.  I like to include that in my database.)

David

Posted: March 13 2007 at 21:06 | IP Logged

Hey CATCT,

What are all those boats behind you with the big TV antenna masts?

Welcome aboard!  We're usually much more active than lately.  Don't know why it's been a little slow lately.

Nice 31'! New to boating, or is this the next progession?

David - Good to know that you are working on a databse.  Hope you can post so we can all see.  +, Hope to run across you up "here" in the next year or so.  You won't regret it, and you won't want to go back!

Posted: March 13 2007 at 21:14 | IP Logged

Start looking for moorage now if you are looking up here.It has been pretty tight in the southern part of the Gulf.Im not sure about American marinas in the San Juans...but space is at a premium here.6 months to a year wait in places like Maple Bay or Genoa Bay.Moorage becomes easier to obtain the further North up the island you go,and cheaper too.The most expensive is in Victoria/Sydney and gets cheaper as you go north.

The M/V 'Karen Jo' is the name of my boat.She is an all original 1972 31ft cruiser which is essentially the hull of a Vietnam PBR MarkIV mated to a commercial superstructure.A full liveaboard cruiser 31 feet along the waterline but a impressive 35.5 feet overall with a 10. 8 foot beam.

Hot water/shower/head/full galley/stove/oven/frigde/30 amp shore power/12 amp gen/stainless sinks/stainless watertanks/stainless fuel tanks.

smart inverters/battery charger

It has been kept in a boathouse on the hard for 32 years, and treated like a jeweled crown.Nothing has been changed its interior is in original shape.Around 50 hours a year on original engines.Twin 318 small block v8's with carter four barrels mated to Borg Warner direct drive transmissions.16 inch cupped bronze wheels.Gives a top speed of 38knots and a sweet cruise at 25. Very fast.It will plane at 11 knots and it draws 2.8 feet.....2.5 of which is the running gear.The boat itself only drafts 3 inches.Pretty impressive for 7 tons

here is a photo of the two boats side by side taken in 1972

Posted: March 13 2007 at 21:27 | IP Logged

Been in boating for...almost 50 years both for business and pleasure

Ive was looking specifically for a 31 cruiser /pre blister /hetron/ war version for years and years.I found this one last year.There were not many of these built into commercial boats. [around a hundred and fifty 31's were made prior to 73 from what Im told]

The Hetron resin mix by Dupont was changed in 73 from liquid to solid bromine

74 was the beginning of the blister problems caused by that switchover

Posted: March 13 2007 at 21:30 | IP Logged

Starboard engine

Port engine

Even the heat risers are 35 years old...and like brand new

Posted: March 17 2007 at 22:29 | IP Logged

Nice Boat!!  I always like to see pics of other peoples pride and joy.

I travel a lot for work, hopefully with spring around the corner I'll find more time to check in on this forum.

Brooke

Posted: March 30 2007 at 22:44 | IP Logged

nice boat, i am just across the creek from you in Blaine.  hope to do some salmon fishing in the Gulf Islands this summer...any recommendations for a good place to start?

Bernie