“The Mussel Ridge is designed to handle longer cruises from Maine to the Bahamas, while also being a great dayboat both north and south.“
Prettirose, Mussel Ridge 54’
Interview with the Captain – Eli Dana
About the Boat
Why did you choose to buy a Mussel Ridge?
We chose the MR 54 because of the wide beam and great reputation as a solid sea boat able to cruise easily at 22-24 kts. And top out near 30kts.
What other kinds of boats did you consider before buying this particular model (and how did they compare)?
I had looked at Calvin Beal hulls primarily and decided that we wanted to go up further in size.
How did you come to find/locate her before purchasing (and what’s the boat’s history if you know it)?
We had the hull built at Hutchinson Composites in Cushing Maine and then trucked the hull and deck to Safe Harbor Newport Shipyard to finish working closely with the team from Newport Yacht Builders based at SH Newport Shipyard.
What features/improvements have you added or do you plan to add?
I worked closely with Ezra Smith and Jim Thompson from Newport Yacht Builders to develop the design of the deck lay out and interior to fit a niche that I didn’t see in any full production boats.
What are the features you like most about your boat?
Ability to be a great dayboat to entertain large groups of friends and family, while also being able to do extended cruising. The large deck space creates great entertaining areas while 17.5ft beam and aft engine location enabled us to get 3 cabins forward
Who first introduced you to boating/sailing?
I went on my first sail at 10 days old, on our family’s 56 ft yawl. Our family cruised between Newfoundland and the Bahamas on both sail and power boats during my childhood.
Do you belong to a yacht club or other boating/sailing organizations?
Yes, we are members of the New York Yacht Club.
What boats have you previously owned?
We previously had a Holland 38, for 6 years.
How do you typically use your boat over the summer, and where do you go?
With our Holland 38. we generally cruised from Martha’s Vineyard to Montauk and all over Narragansett Bay. The Mussel Ridge is designed to handle longer cruises from Maine to the Bahamas, while also being a great dayboat both north and south.
What is the biggest challenge you have in servicing your boat?
I would love to say it’s not a challenge since I work in the industry, but generally my service ends up toward the end of the list.
Do you have any notable boating resources you use?
I work at Safe Harbor Newport Shipyard and therefor am very lucky to have a great team that is very knowledgeable in all aspects of vessel services.
Do you have any advice for those looking to buy a boat like yours?
My advice would be to be honest with yourself on how you plan to use your boat, Look for a boat that does what you want it to do, without having a lot of extra systems and complications that you don’t need. The simpler the better, and access to systems over getting the extra little bit of interior space.
What’s the story behind the boat’s name?
Our family has had a couple boats named Prettirose starting with a Concordia Yawl, which my dad named after my mom. Then my wife and I continued it when we bought the Holland 38 and named it after both my mom and my daughter Rose.
Click the gallery below for more photos and information about Prettirose!
