About the boat
About Nike
Nike is a Bayfield 36, made in Clinton, Ontario in 1988. This makes her one of the last of the Bayfields, as the yard burned down later that year. She has a full keel and cutter rig. Bayfields are designed for blue-water cruising, and while we may not be the fastest, she's designed to handle the open ocean.
About the name:
I served 24 years in the US Army as an M1 tank crewman. When US tankers name our steeds, our tank's names start with the letter of our company (A co. = tank names start with A, B co. = B) I had a tradition of using figures from Greek and Roman mythology; Ares, Apollyon, Abbadon, Bia, Bellona, Bellerophon... Once I retired, I wanted to continue that. No longer constrained by a company name, I chose Nike, the Greek goddess of Victory.
I found her in Green Cove Springs, as I was preparing to retire. After moving aboard in the workyard, I spent about 4 1/2 months refitting, we launched in October of 2025. Refitting allowed me to improve many systems.
Power: Nike now boasts 300 amp-hours of lithium battery power, recharged by 800 watts of solar power and a D400 wind generator, as well as a new Victron DC-DC charger. From the one solar charger I started with, a Victron 100/50 MPPT controller now handles 600 watts of the solar. This allows us to charge quickly in the sun, even light winds or from the engine (without a smart alternator).
We stay in place in strong winds with a new Mantus M1 55 pound anchor; an anchor that I've become very confident in. This may be a bit much for just a 36' boat, but as I've been told; no one ever comes out of storm wishing they had lighter ground tackle. We carry 200 feet of chain with 150' on the primary rode and 200 feet of 3/4" line, and a 45 lbs Delta anchor and a 150' chain and line rode for the secondary anchor.
Other improvements made to her include new self-tailing winches, greatly easing the task of setting her three sails.
Nike still carries the original Yanmar 4JHE 44-hp diesel engine and KBW marine transmission gear.
Nike is relatively low-frills. We don't have a watermaker, generator, power winches or in-mast furling. Keeping it simple helps to lower the stress of what needs to be fixed next.