37VT56 Melissa Marie - Lord Nelson Victory Tug (LNVT)

37VT56 Melissa Marie

HIN: OEY370560387 more photos
Hull Laid: March 1987
Yard: Ocean Eagle Yachts, Taiwan

Owner	Bought	Sold	Boat's Name	Home Port
Peter and Melissa Neal	September 2023		Melissa Marie	Hudson, WI
Joe and Arvilla Glinski	July 2003	September 2023	Our Villa	Plover, WI
Bill and Meda Lowell	January 1997	July 2003	Gray Ghost	Lake Champlain, VT
Adam and Barbara (Bobbie) Mink¹	1987	January 1997	B.J. Stone	Miami, FL

About the Owners (former and current)

The Glinskis: Joe and Arvilla are long time cruisers. They put 4000 hours on their Nordic 26 before buying Our Villa in Burlington, VT. They wrote the following on 20 September after completing the Great Loop:

We arrived at our marina in Trempealeau,WI on the Upper Mississippi River on our 37 foot Lord Nelson Victory Tug on September 5, 2008 after 11 months of cruising America's Great Loop. We cruised 6,801 miles, locked through 182 locks, used 1,389 gallons of diesel and logged 967 engine hours. We burned 1.44 gallons per hour, which averaged to 4.9 miles per gallon, with nothing subtracted for generator consumption. We had 3 mechanical issues on this trip. Our muffler collapsed on the inside causing the engine to overheat, to remedy the problem we had the muffler cut in two and rebuilt and also replaced the sea water pump. Our alternator failed due to grease on the slip rings. The motor mount bracket broke when a bolt broke that attaches it to the marine gear, which we had welded. We had problems with our motor mounts five years ago when a bolt broke. We severely damaged a 40 pound Danforth style anchor and replaced it with a 65 pound Forfjord anchor. We crossed our wake on June 16, 2008 in Burlington,VT where we purchased Our Villa in July, 2003. The most memorable parts of the trip were the many wonderful people we met and the beautiful scenery in the USA and Canada. — Joe and Arvilla Glinski aboard OUR VILLA, hull #56, 20 Sept. 2008. Read about their experience on their blog at http://ourvilla.blogspot.com/

The Lowells: In the late 90's and early 2000's, I would leave Vermont every fall, with or without crew & head down the ICW to FL & either winter there or cross over. I spent several winters/springs in the Abacos. Much of my traveling was solo (w/ the Boston Terrier), with my wife flying to Marsh Harbour to join me. I towed a 12' Carolina Skiff w/ 15HP Yamaha, which gave me mobility & more chances to enjoy the great exploring and bonefishing.

The Minks: Are the original owners and now (2010) live in Duck Key, FL. They took delivery in Annapolis, MD, came down the ICW and lived aboard for several years cruising the Keys and Bahamas. They have retired from cruising and now own a flats fishing boat and enjoy playing tennis.

Layout

"L" shaped salon settee
Galley to port
Pilot house has single engine-room floor-hatch to port
No engine access through stateroom steps
Stateroom has single seat with vanity to starboard
Custom rear-deck bimini
Custom screens in pilot house and stateroom ceiling hatches

Mechanical and Engine Detail

Cummins 4BT3.9M turbo diesel
Northern Lights 8kW genset
Borg Warner Velvet Drive gear 2:57 to 1 Trasmission
Prop 4-blade, left hand
2" Stainless steel propellor shaft
Racor 500 fuel filter
Tank Tender for fuel level readings in each fuel tank
Tankage
- 240g diesel in 4 original black iron tanks
- 150g water in 2 orginal stainless tanks
- holding tank (a replacement) stainless under bunk
- LP cylinders
16K btu air conditioner under stateroom bunk
16K btu air conditioner in saloon liquor cabinet
manual bilge pump
Groco sea water strainer
Hydraulic steering
Electric head
Pressurized fresh water system
Water heater (from 120 VAC or engine cooling water)
Windshield wipers on front three windows (factory option)
18 Gallon per hour Horizon Reverse Osmosis Water Maker