1986 Custom Gilbert Caroff Bulle de soleil

This 1986 steel-hulled sailing yacht was designed by naval architect Gilbert Caroff as the Bulle de soleil model, built to the same proven design as Balthazar, the renowned circumnavigating sailboat. The steel construction provides robust safety characteristics, while the lifting keel design enables access to shallow anchorages unavailable to fixed-keel vessels. At 36 feet with a 12-foot beam, the yacht combines offshore capability with manageable proportions.

The boat is equipped for extended cruising with a 68 horsepower Perkins diesel engine, an auxiliary 100-amp generator, and three diesel tanks for extended range. Rigging and electronic systems were installed and upgraded between 2007 and 2009. Heavy-duty features include oversized shrouds, a releasable stay, and substantial winches configured for open-ocean sailing.

Below deck, two cabins and one head accommodate the crew. Recent upgrades include new paint and a new wind generator. The yacht represents a serious offshore platform with the engineering and equipment specification needed for blue-water passages.