FOR SALE:  Columbia 50, Yellowbird (Hull #32) Hailing Port: Marina del Rey, CA. 90292 

Motivated Seller 

Racing on San Francisco Bay, Yellowbird is featured on the cover page of all original Columbia 50 factory brochures (Sail#8532). Her original hull color was Mustard Yellow. 

Yellowbird was commissioned in 1967 for Frank Druding, Bay Area Aerospace/Electronics/Tech pioneerand berthed at the St. Francis Yacht Club. Naval Architect Bill Tripp, Jr. designed her for heavy-weather Bay Area racing and specified an extra ton of ballast and a shorter mast—which may be unique to all Columbia 50s!  

Second owner, Scott Foster, Electrical Engineer, along with wife Pam and home-schooled daughter Erika, voyaged to key ports of call in the South Pacific / Oceania.  

Current owner, Architect/Developer Gary Neville (Santa Monica/Venice) purchased Yellowbird in 1978, and berthed her at Cabrillo Marina (San Pedro), Ritz Carlton Hotel Charter Dock (MDR), and Dolphin Marina Main Channel (MDR). Early in his ownership, Neville started the replacementredesign of worn or obsolete elements—startingfirstwith a re-shaped 1980s Swan-inspired, solid-stock Teak Cabin Interior (over original FG cabin liner), and, replacement of Instrument Panel and all Electrical Wiring to Code throughout vessel. In 1997, custom-fabricated stainless steelmodifications were provided (Bow Pulpit, Bow Roller, Window Ports, Rod Rigging, cabin-top Grab Rails) plus, new Ground Tackle and Spars (Slotted Boom and Aluminum Spreaders). Lastly, recessed SheerStripe was filledflush and hull painted All-White LP with Red Boot Stripe (2013).  

Notably unique to Yellowbird are two items: 1) an “integrated All-Stainless” H.D. Bow Roller/Mounting Plate/Bow Pulpit assembly; and, 2) an elevated (Dry Locations) Dual Bilge Pump system: Trickle Diaphragm Pump (Normal Leakage—pump mounted below Galley Sole) + Catastrophe H.D. Centrifugal Pump/Float Switch—mounted on retrievable stainless tubing and Platform (7” off-bottom).  

CURRENT STATUS: 

Several years ago, unforeseen circumstances prevented Owner’s completion of the intended Full Redesign. 

An engine rebuild (or replacement Westerbeke or Perkins) is required. Damage resulted from a 2-hr. engine submersion from a broken “below waterline” Stbd. Nylon Sinkdrain fitting and inadequate pickling.   (Note: Engine hours =400 (since 1983 Boatswain's Locker rebuild). Engine is ready for Removal to Repair Shop. All engine bolt-on accessories bagged and tagged for easy re-installation. Exhaust piping (90 deg. Wrinklebelly to Riser) is stored and installation-ready into Stbd. Hanging Locker. 

THE GOOD NEWS: What is most important is that Yellowbird is a sound and strong vessel with no concealment or known structural issues. No structural rebuild is necessary. Only light use over the last 46 years.

Seller will be available for Tech consultation, circumstances permitting. Seller’sNotes and Tech diagrams and schematics will be provided to the Buyer. 

NEW WORK (By Seller): 

1. Custom-designed/reshaped solid-stock All Teak Cabin Interior+1/2” solid Teak-Ash Sole thru-out. 
2. 17’ Split-Level Main Cabin w/ Single Fwd. Stateroom layout (Clng. Ht: Upper=6’-3”/ Lower=6’-7”). 
3. Bomar 8”x14” Hatch (Over Nav. Stn.) .  
4. Full-width Baby Berth (Fwd. Stateroom, includes dry-location Windlass Motor). 
5. Port Entertainment Center (removal of Upper Berth). 
6. Stbd. Head: Jabsco Manual Head in-Shower location (Newly installed, but Out-of-Box Defective).  
7. Port  Head: Working Thru-hull (available for Head and/or Holding Tank and/or use as a Toolshop).
8. Brazilian Granite Stbd. Head Vanity/Sink Countertop w/ Polished Stainless Steel Deep-bowl Sink.
9. Custom SS Bow Pulpit. 
10. Custom SS HD Bow Roller w/ Integrated SS Welded Mounting Plate. 
11. Maxwell 2200 VHS SS Anchor Windlass (Bulkhead-separated=Chain Locker vs. In-Cabin Dry Motor).
12. Anchor Chain (300’ 5/16’ Stainless Hi-Test) V.I.F. Length. 
13. New “Large” Danforth Anchor (Weight =TBV) Note: Bow Roller overhang designed for Plow Anchor. 
14. Custom SS Cabin-top Grab Rails (All Teak eyebrows/grab rails removed). 
15. Custom SS Plate Window Frames (Flush Hi-Polish exterior finish w/Acorn Nut-attached Interior).  
16. Laminated Evergreen Hi-strength Glass (3/8” Side Ports / 1/2” Forward Ports). 
17. Profurl Jib Roller-furler. 
18. Seatek Rod rigging.  
19. Seatek Slotted Boom.   
20. Doyle StackPack Mainsail (Lightly used). 
21. Misc. Sails /Spinnaker (Roller furling Jib sail missing). 
22. Seatek Aluminum spreaders. 
23. Garhauer Rigid Boom Vang.  
24. Garhauer Traveler/Blocks. 
25. ABI Polished SS Round Cowl Vents (2- 8” Dorade-mounted + 2- 6” Lazarette Deck-mounted). 
26. Custom-fabricated Engine Exhaust Riser (Easy-access location via Port Hanging Locker). 
27. Custom 6” Radiused Teak Fold-up Helmsman Seat. 
28. Marinetics Electric Panel (Mod. 650). 
29. Sailor VHF. 
30. 1983 Engine Panel Instrumentation (Condition to be verified). 
31. Stbd. Head Sub-Panel. 

ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT: 

1. Displacement =34,000 lbs. First-generation “over-designed" Fiberglass Hull.   
2. Hourglass Hull, H.D. Fin Keel and Spade Rudder. 
3. Ballast  =16,600lbs. Factory-Encapsulated Cast Lead (Note: Additional 2000 lbs. Ballast).  
4. Factory-shortened Mast (Heavy-air San Francisco Bay racing “short stick"). 
5. Cabin/Deck Fiberglass= 1-1/8” Sandwich Construction w/ 1/2” Balsa Core. (Deck may be 1” /TBV). 
6. SS Barient Winches (35 Primary + 28 Secondary + miscellaneous Barients (Mast + Deck)). 
7. SS Barient Mast Halyard Wire winch. 
8. Spinnaker Poles (2). 
9. Mid-deck Butterfly Hatch (Teak-Acrylic retained for Interior Cathedral Hi-ceiling effect). 
10. Fwd. Deck Hatch (32” x 32”). 
11. Westerbeke 4-107 (Perkins 40 block) w/ Borg Warner Velvet Drive (Left Hand Drive).  
12. Three-blade Prop (Left Hand) (Diam.=TBV).
13. All-Stainless Steel Tankage (Removable:2=100 gal. Fuel) (3=100 gal. Water). 
14. Battery: 2-Banks  (2-90A. Wet Cell ea.) + 1-90A. Auxiliary Wet Cell. 
15. Automatic Battery Charger: Mastervolt Chargemaster 12/50-3. 
16. Refrigeration: 11 cu.ft. w/ 2-SS Cold Plates—(Underseat 110vt. Compressor (Shore Power/Use only). 
17. Mid-deck Butterfly Hatch (retained for Interior-Cathedral ceiling O.H. space). 
18. 17’ Split-Level Main Cabin w/ Single Fwd. Stateroom layout (Liveaboard/Couples layout). 
19. SS Barient 35 Primaries / SS Barient Secondaries + Misc. Barients elsewhere (Original Equipment). 
20. Seaward Three-burner Gimbaled Range + Oven. 

NOTE: Beam Factory Specs =12.03’ =12.36’ =12’-1/3”. Caution for transport purposes, 12’ is allowable width w/o incurring Wide Load costs. (CALDOT Interstate Transport Max. Ht.=14’-6”).

Yellowbird is equally suited to be a Yacht Club Showstopper and/or a Heavy Weather Passage-maker. She has a comfort level, handling characteristics, and detailing normally associated withlarger vessels of that generation. Once Yellowbird is restored and back in form, a new owner will have safe and relatively “smooth sailing”, regardless of sea state or wind--she just starts to find her stride in 20-25 knots.

HAPPY SAILING