The Vessel

A 1980 Kalik 44
called Library.

Gary Mull design, Belgian built, cutter rigged. Found floating in a marina in a state of disrepair, bought on Valentine’s Day 2022, and brought back one system at a time.

/01 - Why “Library”

A vessel
called Library

We don’t go to libraries for the building, and I didn’t get a sailboat because I wanted the hassle of owning a boat. It’s not about the thing - it’s about the access the thing provides.

A library gives you a world of knowledge, wisdom and adventure through books. This sailboat gives it to me directly - exploring people and nature. With that in mind, a Vessel called Library, and a dinghy called Book Shelf were the obvious titles.

I found her floating at her dock at the marina in a state of disrepair, and two years of work later, I sailed 500 nautical miles from Oakland to Long Beach - a beautiful rescue.

  • THIS Library floats
  • THIS Library encourages talking
  • THIS Library goes on adventures
The saloon table aboard Library - a guitar, a book, framed art and an anchor on the teak
The reading room - guitar, a book, and forty years of teak.

/02 - The sail plan

Nine hundred square feet,
drawn in 1980.

Sail plan line drawing of the Kalik 44 - masthead rig, fin keel, skeg-hung rudder
  • Masthead rigForetriangle height 55′ - masthead cutter, staysail flown from an inner stay
  • SparKeel-stepped aluminum mast, four spreader marks up the luff - 1980 rod-to-wire era
  • MainsailLuff 48.7′ · foot 16.6′ - slab reefed
  • HeadsailForetriangle base 18.5′ · total sail area 913 ft²
  • BoomLow-slung 1980 spec - end-boom sheeting
  • HullLOA 44′ · LWL 37.08′ · beam 13.75′ - hand-laid fiberglass, built by Jachtwerf Vennekels, Belgium
  • Fin keelDraft 6.5′ · 10,600 lb lead ballast - 42.4% ballast ratio
  • RudderSkeg-hung - tracks like a freight train, protected in a grounding

/03 - Below decks

The reading room
sleeps seven.

Interior accommodation plan of the Kalik 44 - V-berth forward, U-shaped saloon, galley, nav station, aft cabin
  • ForepeakChain and sail locker at the stem
  • V-berthGuest cabin forward - falls asleep to the anchor chain
  • HeadEnclosed head and shower forward, wet locker adjacent
  • LockersHanging lockers and bureau opposite the head
  • SaloonU-shaped settee around the table - the reading room
  • Settee berthStraight settee converts to bunks to starboard - the honest sea berth
  • GalleyOpen galley for prepping provisions with deep sinks and reefer box
  • Nav stationChart table and ship's panel - paper charts still welcome
  • Engine bayDiesel auxiliary under the companionway steps - 65 HP Volkswagen Pathfinder
  • Aft cabinCaptains Quarters tucked under the cockpit - fast access to the helm
  • LazaretteStern stowage and steering gear beneath the cockpit sole

/04 - Below decks, for real

The plan, lived in.

The saloon looking aft - green settees and a teak table around the mast post
The saloon
The nav station - a paper chart, dividers and parallel rule
Nav station
The galley - a moka pot on the gimballed stove
Galley
The saloon by warm cabin light
Saloon, evening
A berth nook in warm teak
A quiet berth
The cabin under red night lighting on passage
Red watch, offshore
The companionway ladder down into the cabin
Companionway
A sunset framed through a cabin porthole
Sunset, from the bunk

/05 - Full specification

Every number
that matters.

Identity

Name
Library
Design
Kalik 44 - Gary Mull
Builder
Jachtwerf Vennekels, Belgium
Year
1980
Type
Bluewater racer-cruiser
Rig
Masthead cutter
Hailing port
Long Beach, CA

Hull

Length overall
44 ft · 13.41 m
Waterline length
37.08 ft
Beam
13.75 ft
Draft
6.5 ft
Construction
Hand-laid fiberglass
Rudder
Skeg-hung

Weight & sail

Displacement
25,000 lb · 11,340 kg
Ballast
10,600 lb lead
Sail area
913 ft²
Mainsail luff / foot
48.7 ft / 16.6 ft
Foretriangle
55 ft × 18.5 ft
Water / fuel
150 gal / 60 gal

The ratios

Hull speed
8.8 kn
PHRF rating
91
Sail area / displacement
17.08
Ballast / displacement
42.4
Displacement / length
218.91
Comfort ratio
30.08 - bluewater grade
Capsize screening
1.88 - under the 2.0 offshore line