1981 Kaufman Skye 51

This 1981 Kaufman Skye 51 is a fiberglass sailing yacht designed by Kaufman and Ladd, built during Taiwan's premier era of yacht construction. A flush-decked ketch with an inner forestay, she features a fine-entry hull form paired with an elongated fin keel and skeg-hung rudder, designed for efficient ocean crossing with minimal pounding upwind. The single 80-horsepower Perkins diesel engine provides auxiliary power, with a cruising speed of approximately 8.8 knots.

The boat underwent extensive recent upgrades including factory rebuilding of the engine, a new transmission, new standing rigging and chainplates, and a rebuilt mast step with rewired mast. The teak deck has been replaced with a glued-down installation that avoids fasteners penetrating the foam-cored deck. Additional systems work includes a rebuilt hydraulic autopilot, new steering cable and sprocket, new seacocks and through-hulls, two new fuel tanks, and new Furuno radar.

The interior accommodates three cabins and two heads. Recent performance testing over approximately 4,000 miles confirms the yacht's seaworthiness, including heavy-weather passage work to Bermuda and extended Caribbean cruising. The boat's robust construction and thorough recommissioning have confirmed her systems and structural integrity.