Fresh off a andquot;1000andquot; hour service on her Volvo engines this past winter and a flawless run from Norfolk, VA up to Dartmouth, MA- ZIG ZIG (ex MERLIN) is truly ready to go! All exterior brightwork has just been refinished and is gleaming. The interior headliner has just been replaced and looks sharp and a Garmin radar recently added! A very, very special boat, one of only five built!and#160;

This design is the original andquot;Downeast Express Cruiserandquot; and extremely reminiscent and reflective of the old Bunker and Ellis woodies built on Mount Desert Island years ago. The hull shape is a warped andquot;Vandquot; with a very fine forward entry for wave penetration that flattens out to a 7.5 degree deadrise angle at the transom. The result of this design is better performance and fuel economy at lower speeds than a true deep andquot;Vandquot;. A partial skeg provides excellent tracking as well as reasonable protection for the running gear. Biaxial and unidirectional nonwoven fiberglass combines with 100% Vinylester resin throughout the laminate. Baltec end-grain core is included in the topsides and deck, while the bottom is solid fiberglass.and#160;

• Flag Blue Awlgrip topsides with inset gold cove stripe, single white boot stripe and green bottom. Decks are white with contrasting Moondust nonskid
• Mahogany three-panel windshield with center front opening window swoops down to form cockpit coaming boards. Amazing!and#160;
• Mahogany transom with doorand#160;and#160;
• Custom stainless steel bow railand#160;and#160;
• Custom spray railsand#160;
• Custom stainless steel stem head with anchor roller and stainless steel anchorand#160;and#160;
• Lewmar electric anchor windlassand#160;
• Bow chalks inset into toe railand#160;and#160;
• Custom varnished teak boat hookand#160;
• (8) Bronze chromed opening port lights (re-chromed 2022) with screensand#160;
• Dorade vents with stainless cowls; Awlgrip painted white inside. Sliding interior vent closuresand#160;
• (4) Fenders with coversand#160;
• (6) Herreshoff style stainless cleatsand#160;and#160;
• Assorted dock linesand#160;
• Extensive assortment of custom canvas covers for interior and exterior woodand#160;and#160;
• Hull paint Flag Blue (2010)and#160;
• House, decks, and cockpit Awlgrip painted 2011 and largely re-gelcoated, 2022and#160;
• Exterior varnish stripped to bare wood in 2017 and again in 2022 and built back up with ten coatsand#160;
• (2) 10gal aluminum propane tanks stored in separate ventilated lockersand#160;and#160;
• Self-bailing cockpitand#160;
• Hot and cold deck showerand#160;
• Cockpit storage lockers under coamingsand#160;
• Teak bridge deck steps with lift tops and storage beneathand#160;and#160;
• Fresh water washdown on foredeck and in cockpitand#160;
• Teak swim platform with telescoping swim ladder beneath Cockpit tableand#160;
• Teak staff for bow pennant; teak staff for ensign on transomand#160;
• (2) Deck prisms for pilot berths (nice touch!)and#160;

ZIG ZIG is a 110v AC and 12v DC vessel. She has a Mastervolt breaker panel on bulkhead to starboard of companionway in galley with spare breakers as well.and#160;

• 30-amp shore power serviceand#160;
• Heart interface inverter/battery chargerand#160;
• AGM Battery bank for house (new August 2019) AGM battery for engine and genset starand#160;
• Westerbeke 8kW generator @ 1,790 hours, summer 2025 (New sound shield 2013)and#160;

Walk up three wide steps (storage beneath center step) at an easy angle and arrive at the bridge deck with mahogany helm station to starboard and navigator’s seat and desk. To starboard is a custom mahogany helm seat built by Crown Mfg. There are two custom bridge deck settees to port and starboard, large enough for lounging, with storage beneath. Companionway clear Lexan slider with bi-fold companionway doors with louvers for passive ventilation.and#160;

The soft top is a traditional andquot;Toastandquot; Sunbrella color over a permanent stainless steel frame. Side curtains and three-piece aft drop curtains, all canvas new 2022. Stainless handrails the length of the bimini top port and starboard for moving fore and aft on the side decks and strategically placed wood handrails on windshield. The cockpit has an athwartship transom settee with teak accents and teak ladderback with storage beneath and a removable section to access the transom door to starboard for easy access to the teak swim platform.and#160;

Exterior fabric is dark Navy Blue Sunbrella (or equivalent) with white code flags pattern with red piping. Overall, the entire living areas of ZIG ZIG are traditionally elegant and there is more than enough storage for the committed and active cruiser.and#160;

ZIG ZIG is a classic Maine-built boat with lines that every yachtsman admires. She is arguably one of the most stunning lobster-boat inspired express yachts ever built and turns heads everywhere she goes. Crafted by some of the finest boatbuilding talent around, this Able 44 has been extremely well cared for by her owners. Better built, more efficient and individually unique in many ways. We invite your inspection!and#160;

The Able Wolf Class 44, one of the finest designs to spring from the boards of Paine Yacht Design, has redefined the contemporary Maine express cruiser. Not a replica, she has sweeping lines, a distinctive profile, and a smooth-riding hull. This 44-footerand#39;s Downeast origins are evident in the long, graceful profile and prominent, upturned bow. A classic trawler with a sportfishermanand#39;s planing hull, the Able 44 combines technology and tradition. Below decks, wood is the dominant material covering the walls and floors. North Carolina cherry is what Able has been using in its cabins for the past 15 years. Unidirectional, biaxial fiberglass with 100-percent vinylester resin is used in the solid-glass hull, and the topsides are balsa-cored, for lightweight durability.and#160;and#160;and#160;

The interior of ZIG ZIG is sheathed and finished in satin varnished American cherry. Elegant, raised panels are found throughout her interior on bulkheads, doors and cabinets. Like many high-caliber Maine-built boats, her cabin sole is also constructed of solid teak and has a classy satin finish as well. Off white overheads (new Summer 2025) with cherry accents and dome lights. Solid cherry handrails and built-in handles in strategic locations for moving about the boat while underway. Royal Blue Sunbrella with off white piping on all interior cushions (2017) and her (8) opening port lights provide a bright and cheery interior.and#160;

Forward is a generous private stateroom with a 7and#39; long oversized V- berth (with filler cushion), hanging locker and bureau. The mattresses are custom fitted Tempur-Pedic for the utmost comfort. Two opening ports and large opening overhead hatch (all with screens) provide excellent light and ventilation. Shelving is provided along each berth. Hull stathing in cherry. Storage beneath the berths.and#160;

ZIG ZIG is also fully air conditioned. The main salon has very comfortable 7and#39; long settees with andquot;pilot berthsandquot; above and outboard on port and stbd sides. The current owners have removed the cushions from this area (pilot berths) as they use the cherry surface for other purposes. The dining table has a generous leaf that folds down and is built of solid cherry. Overhead is a large hatch and several opening port lights providing additional light and ventilation.and#160;

• (4) Ocean Frigast reading lampsand#160;
• Stereo control with salon stereo speakersand#160;and#160;
• 110v outlets to portand#160;
• (2) Rod racks under port deck in salonand#160;

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Moving aft a large U-shaped galley, to starboard and convenient to the companionway, includes a 4-burner stove with oven and broiler. Dual stainless steel sinks and lots of space outboard of stove behind cherry sliding doors holds all plates, glasses etc. The refrigerator and freezer (Grunert cold plate) are aft of the stove and to starboard of the companionway under the countertop.and#160;

• Sharp microwave ovenand#160;
• Force 10 stainless steel 4-burner propane stove with ovenand#160;
• Grunert cold plate refrigeration box and separate freezer box w/holding plates (new 2013) Double-basin stainless steel sink with single lever control and pull-out sprayerand#160;
• Under counter large storage locker; outboard cabinets, drawers and under sink storageand#160;
• (2) 110v outletsand#160;
• Opening port and dorade ventand#160;

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Headand#160;

The head is located to port of the galley and includes a large and truly functional separate stall shower with teak seat, full vanity/sink and electric toilet. New holding tank system (2022)and#160;

• Overhead prismand#160;
• Opening port and dorade ventand#160;and#160;
• Push button electric toiletand#160;and#160;
• GFCI protected outletsand#160;
• Large cherry framed mirrorand#160;and#160;
• Teak soles, removableand#160;

• (3) Electric bilge pumps Manual bilge pump Electric hornand#160;
• Fireboy engine room automatic fire extinguisherand#160;and#160;
• EPIRB with hydrostatic release, mounted near helm Bimini, windshield, cabin trunk and foredeck handrailsand#160;and#160;
• Propane shutoff solenoid and snifferand#160;

• (2) Volvo 480hp diesel engines, struts, shafts, bearings and running gear installed in 1999. (some analogue engine gauges are not functioning).and#160;
• Electronic throttle and shift controlsand#160;
• Bow and stern thrusters (new 2021) (thruster battery replaced 2022)and#160;and#160;
• Walker air seps andamp; fuel seps installed 2010and#160;
• Engine room blowerand#160;and#160;
• ZF Transmissionsand#160;
• Handamp;S 4-blade props (spare set included)and#160;
• Dual Racor fuel/water separators with vacuum gauges installed at helmand#160;and#160;
• LasDrop dripless shaft sealsand#160;
• Shaft spurs forward of propsand#160;
• Marine Air reverse-cycle air conditioning; new 2013, updated 2022and#160;
• 12-gallon SS hot water heater; summer 2022and#160;
• Plastic holding tank aft under cockpit sole with macerator pump; installed 2022and#160;

• New large Garmin GPS Map 7616 plotter installed at helm, 2021and#160;
• Garmin autopilot, 2021and#160;
• Garmin radar, 2023and#160;
• Bandamp;G HS-2 system displays for depth, temp and nav info Garmin VHF; GHS 10, 2021and#160;
• AIS, 2021and#160;
• Synchronizers Trim tabsand#160;
• Edson andquot;Destroyer-typeandquot; wheel at helm, elkhide coveredand#160;and#160;
• Hydraulic steeringand#160;
• (2) Windshield wipers with freshwater washand#160;and#160;
• 5andquot; Richie compassand#160;
• Sony stereo with speakers in salon and bridge deck, and iPod connection with Sony Marine RM-x60M remote at helmand#160;
• Bronze barometer mounted above companionwayand#160;

Cradled in her custom varnished wooden removable stern davits, ZIG ZIG also offers an excellent rowing/sailing tender custom built by Dyer. Whether itand#39;s exercise or transportation or a fun-filled afternoon of harbor sailing, this gorgeous sailing dinghy is the perfect complement to such a classic Downeast cruising motor yacht.and#160;