Bisset & Gilstein

It's not often that a boat like Sanmarkay comes along and I am fortunate enough to represent this amazing piece of nautical history. The owners are well known around Australia and internationally for the quality of the yachts they have built and restored. Built by Bisset & Gilstein of Vancouver in 1953 as a cruiser/racer to a design by the naval architect William Garden and featuring in his book, Yacht Designs II.

Sanmarkay is built from white oak frames and keel with red cedar planking. The planks on the topsides have been splined, not caulked, which makes them totally stable. The interior fit out is white oak and mahogany, the cabin top and decks have been fibre glassed over, the cockpit is laid with teak. A new Yanmar 3YM has been fitted with only 180 hours.

The current owners purchased Sanmarkay in 2013 and undertook an extensive restoration process which could only be described as Concourse. Sanmarkay has won numerous awards including Concours d'Elegance for wooden boats and the Royal Geelong Yacht Club William Smith memorial trophy for the boat considered the best prepared, found and maintained.

I can only describe Sanmarkay as the most beautiful, elegant and professionally maintained wooden boat available in Australia today.