With the tremendous success of her big sister, the Passport 40, came the demand for bigger & smaller versions. Both the Passport 37 & Passport 47 gave designer Robert Perry the opportunity to tweak & improve on the design of his proven Passport 40. Many cruisers have arrived at the conclusion that a boat just under 40’, in the 36-38’ range is ideal for a couple to handle long-range, with occasional crew on board. The Passport 37 meets this ideal beautifully, with sufficient tankage, storage & accommodation for making long passages & spending extended time aboard. The classic, all-teak interior is typical Passport quality - warm & inviting at every turn. The hull form of the Passport 37 is even more performance-oriented than the earlier Passport 40, but still the long fin, skeg-hung rudder design preferred for long-distance, performance cruising. DISCOVERY has been extensively updated within the last decade, culminating in a recent, very successful “milk run” to French Polynesia & back. She is essentially ready to take off again, according to the wishes & desires of new owners.
Accommodations
Exceptional craftsmanship throughout, w/ solid teak staving on all bulkheads; louvered cabinet doors & frames in solid teak; removable, soft vinyl overhead panels w/ teak battens; teak & holly cabin sole throughout; generous lighting & ventilation all through the boat w/ (5) opening ports, (2) large deadlights in salon area, (5) overhead hatchs (plus (2) in hard dodger), (2) dorade ventilators plus (1) mushroom vent, (3) cabin fans, (9) overhead 12V lights, (4) under-deck 12V lights & (1) brass 12V reading light for the forward stateroom. Teak handles, grab rails along the cabin sides & grab bars are strategically located for safety.
Forward most is a private stateroom w/ full-width berth (split mattress for easier access to storage under), storage lockers & shelves outboard, drawer stack under, small settee, large hanging locker, two large overhead hatches, an opening port, cabin fan & access to the chain locker.
Just aft to port is an additional very large hanging locker, tall mirror on the back of the stateroom door & access to the bathroom opposite to starboard. In addition to a stainless steel vanity sink w/ pressure hot/cold water & manual marine toilet, there is a roomy separate shower stall w/ sit-down bench. Storage outboard & under the sink. (3) opening ports, (2) overhead hatches & the mushroom vent in this area.
Amidships is the main salon w/ nicely boxed-in mast well-forward & out of the way. Straight settee to port with area at the forward bulkhead for teak storage box or diesel-fired cabin heater (currently stored off the boat). Storage above & behind the settee w/ water tank under. To starboard is a U-shaped settee w/ storage above, behind & below, as well as the second water tank below & outboard. Large teak table on an adjustable stainless steel base will drop to make a double berth w/ cushion filler. (2) large deadlights in the cabin sides plus (1) large overhead hatch & (2) cabin fans in this area.
Aftmost to port is a wonderfully large, sea-going galley w/ deep, double, stainless steel sinks, gimbaled stove outboard w/ stainless guard rail, large divided icebox w/ fridge side top & front loading & freezer box top loading only. Lots of counter space w/ large dry storage locker under. Dish storage aft w/ spice rack above. Storage outboard & under. (1) opening port, dorade ventilator & companionway hatch in this area.
Opposite to starboard is the nav station & quarter berth. Just forward of the nav desk is a large wet-hanging locker, w/ additional storage in & under the nav desk. The large desk provides a good surface for chart work or general administration, w/ electronic displays & electric distribution panel outboard. The head of the deep quarter berth serves as a bench settee for the nav desk. There is storage above & under the berth, as well as access panels inboard for the engine compartment.
The companionway is on centerline w/ removable ladder for access to the engine compartment behind. Additional gauges, auxiliary electric panels & control panels located above the engine compartment. (2) opening ports, a dorade ventilator & the companionway hatch in this area.
Electronic & Electrical Systems
- ICOM IC-M402 VHF marine radio at the nav station
- ICOM IC-M802 SSB radio w/ DSP Multimode Pactor Controller at the nav station
- Raytheon R20 raster scan radar w/ display at the nav station & radome mounted on the custom arch at the stern (3kW radome w/ 16-mile range)
- Raymarine ST60+ Depth, Speed & AWI/AWS over the companionway (2009)
- Ritchie SP5 Powerdamp compass at the binnacle w/ stainless steel cover
- Standard Horizon CP300 chart plotter mounts at the binnacle (2009)
- C-MAP electronic charts (3 chips): North America including Hawaii; Central America & the Caribbean; South Pacific
- Navico Wheelpilot WP5000 w/ JB5000 Junction Box & HP5000 Hand Programmer (remote control)
- Kenwood Ez500 AM/FM/CD HD Radio w/ iPod dock & Sirius capability (2005) w/ cabin & cockpit speakers
- SuperSonic flat-screen TV/DVD Player
- Boston clock & barometer set over the nav desk plus Weems & Plath clock
- 12V DC & 110V AC systems on board w/ main AC/DC distribution panel at the nav station including breaker switches w/ indicator lights, volt & amp gauges, battery condition gauge & reverse polarity indicator. Panel is hinged for easy access to all connections, breakers, lights, etc.
- (2) Blue Sea Systems auxiliary 12V distribution panels added
- Marinco 30A shore power connector w/ 50’ 30A shore power cord
- Blue Sea Systems 4-position battery selector switch at the nav station (2013)
- (6) Dyno 6V deep-cycle batteries totaling 600 amp hours for the house bank (2013) plus (1) Dyno 12V dedicated engine cranking battery (2013) – all batteries secured in boxes
- Newmar GI-30 Galvanic Isolator added (2013)
- Heart Interface 12V charger/1000 watt inverter
- Xantrex Link 2000-R charge/invert control panel
- Guest 2608A 3-stage automatic battery charger, isolator & disconnect switch for engine start battery (2013)
- 50A alternator currently installed w/ 90A alternator as a spare
- LED bulbs for all fixtures inside & out (2013)
- (3) solar panels w/ 335 amp capacity mounted on the bimini frame (2006)
- (13) interior dome lights plus (1) reading light
- (2) spreader lights; (1) red & (1) white dome light under the hard dodger; (1) floodlight for the cockpit mounted on the antenna arch; (3) red courtesy lights mounted near the cabin sole
- Entire electrical system professionally assessed w/ numerous upgrades by Mariner Electric & Hatton Marine (2013)
Engine & Mechanical Systems
- Universal M-40B 37HP diesel engine (new in 2005)
- Engine rated at 3,000RPM at max HP
- V-drive transmission recently replaced (August 2014)
- (2) motor mounts replaced on port side (August 2014)
- Fuel system upgraded w/ new lines & RACOR filter (2013)
- Fuel tanks w/ inspection ports cleaned & fuel polished (2013)
- Merrimen Yacht Specialties pedestal steering system w/ wheel brake & stainless steel pedestal guard; chain/wire to quadrant steering
- Morse cable controls for gear shift & throttle
- Stainless steel destroyer-type steering wheel w/ leather wrap on rim
- 3-blade MaxProp feathering propeller (2009) inspected & serviced by PYI (2013); new PSS dripless shaft seal (2013); new cutlass bearing (2013)
- Emergency tiller mounts on top of rudder post
Other On-board Systems & Equipment
- Village Marine Little Wonder LWM200 (200 GPD)12V water maker (2006)
- Dickinson Antarctic diesel-fired cabin heater – currently stored off the boat w/ removable storage bin in its place; all components still available
- Hillerange 3-burner LPG stove/oven; gimbaled outboard; Marinetics remote solenoid switch w/ control panel
- Isotherm freshwater-cooled (heat exchanger in water tank) refrigeration system w/ cold-plates in separate fridge & freezer boxes (new pumps & refrigerant (2014)
- Manual marine toilet w/ Y-valve for direct overboard discharge or to holding tank; deck port for dockside pumpout; 12V macerator for overboard discharge by gravity at sea
- 6-gallon hot water heater w/ AC elements & plumbed to engine heat exchanger
- RULE 12V automatic/manual bilge pump w/ float switch & control panel at the nav station; manual diaphragm-type bilge pump operates from the cockpit; separate 12V pump for shower w/ sump; deck washdown pump
- Hart Systems TankTender gauges for four tanks
- Hot/cold pressure water system w/ accumulator tank; on-demand fixtures at galley & head; fresh & salt water manual foot pumps at the galley
Deck Features & Equipment
Sails & Rigging
- Extruded aluminum, painted, keel-stepped spar system
- Double-spreader, sloop rig design w/ inner stay for storm sails added
- Standing rigging 5/16 stainless steel 1x19 wire w/ upgrades: Upper shrouds, fore & aft stays reported renewed (2007) w/ swaged terminals; lower & mid shrouds reported renewed (1994) w/ mechanical terminals
- Stainless steel chainplates & toggles w/ chromed-bronze turnbuckles
- All running rigging of braided Dacron
- Harken MKIV Unit 2 headsail furling system (2007)
- Harken adjustable mainsheet traveller system; mid-boom mainsheet led aft to housetop winch in the cockpit
- Forespar solid, mechanical vang w/ control line led aft to the cockpit
- Spinnaker pole w/ topping lift stores on mast or at port forward lower shroud
- Heel-lift system on front of the mast; storm trysail track on back of the mast
- Preventer system w/ lines port & starboard led through turning blocks back to the cockpit
- Barient winch package: (2) 28+ CST primaries; (2) 22 CST housetop; (1) 17 CST reefing & (2) 18 C2S for halyards at the mast
- (2) sets of (2) Schaefer rope clutches on the housetop; (2) sets of (2) Spinlok rope clutches on the mast
- Inner “solent” stay to the masthead added w/ removable tensioner to deck fitting; removable reinforcing stay belowdecks; available halyard
- Quantum cruising mainsail (2005) of Challenge cross-cut Dacron sailcloth w/ (3) sets of reef points & Harken Lazy Jacks system; condition reported as excellent
- Quantum 130% furling genoa (2005) inspected & serviced (September 2014); condition reported as excellent
- Storm trysail w/ ready bag; asymmetrical cruising spinnaker w/ snuffer; storm jib w/ ready bag – all reported in very good condition, as typically lightly used
Misc. Notes & Features
- Monitor self-steering wind vane; currently installed & may need servicing
- Viking RescYou 4UKL 4-person emergency liferaft in hard canister stores on the cabintop (2013)
- Other safety gear includes: PSI Survival EPIRB; LifeSling stored on the stern pulpit; MOB pole stores at the backstay; bolt cutters
- Fiorentino SHARK Drogue (para-anchor) w/ 165’ of 1.75” double braid Samson line for towing astern (2013)
- Mast steps (closed type) to masthead
- All USCG-required safety items on board; flares & fire extinguishers may need updating
- Extensive spare parts, filters, maintenance items, etc. will convey w/ the boat
- Exclusions: Artwork & personal decorative items still on board
- Last haulout for routine maintenance & antifouling paint (May 2013)
- Hull #10 of the limited number of Passport 37’s built
Owners’ Comments
We are DISCOVERY’s fourth owners, having come to her with previous offshore cruising experience. We purchased this lovely and capable Passport 37 in 2012 with the express purpose of cruising to the South Pacific and experiencing this beautiful island nation by small boat. We accomplished this amazing adventure over the course of one long year, returning home the summer of 2014. DISCOVERY had been extensively refit for an offshore voyage by the previous owner, with major upgrades from 2005-2010, including engine, electrical system, electronics, rigging, steering vane, safety equipment, etc. They never got to make the trip, but our further improvements put her cruise-ready in a relatively short period of time – and she’s still essentially in ready-to-go condition.
Coming from a long line of proven Perry-designed, bluewater passage makers, the Passport 37 lives up to her reputation of being a performance cruising design – we found she pointed higher than most cruising sailboats, balanced easily and tracked superbly in a following sea. Very solid original construction meant no creaks and no leaks during the course of our voyage, often in very trying conditions. We were always impressed by how well she handled the big waves. Interior accommo-dations, light and ventilation, storage and fit-and-finish are exceptional for a 37’ boat and served us well. Our cruising dreams and aspirations have been fulfilled, and we hope now to find new owners, who can use and enjoy DISCOVERY at least as much as we have.
Andy & Betty B.
