Our Boat

Nymeria is a Valiant 32’. She was built in 1985 at Lake Texoma and is reportedly hull number 63 of 65 built. She was designed by Robert Perry with the same blueprint and layout as their 40’ model but sized down for a “cruising couple”. This was perfect for us since we wanted a boat that could easily be handled by just the two of us, if needed, and still comfortable for us to live and work aboard. We bought her and moved aboard on November 1, 2017. Though she was well equipped, everything was at least 10 years old and was showing its age. We have been making upgrades and modifications ever since. 

The Name:

She was named Nymeria after our love for A Song of Ice and Fire AKA Game of Thrones on HBO. Justin and I loved the name Nymeria for a few reasons. First, in the story, Arya gave her direwolf the name of Nymeria after “Princess Nymeria of Rhoynar” in Essos. The “Princess Nymeria” and her lands were under attack from Valyria and she led her people in 10,000 ships to safety. She eventually settled and helped found Dorne as one of the Seven Kingdoms. Also, in the story, Nymeria the direwolf is no longer just a pet but a free animal to wander and roam at will. She is not tied down by the typical expectations and is able to have new and unexpected experiences. Lastly, Justin and I both love dogs and had our own pack back when we lived on the land, one looking like another direwolf “Ghost.” In the story, “Ghost” is killed but “Nymeria’s” story is that of legend and continues to live on. Thus the name Nymeria! 

“Thousands of years ago, the warrior queen Nymeria crossed into Dorne from Essos, fleeing the dragonlords of Valyria. After she landed, she burned her ships, all 10,000 of them, so no cowards could slink home. What a woman. Dornish in spirit before she ever was in flesh.“―Oberyn Martell

Specifications:

She is 32’ overall and 25’11” at the waterline. She is beamy with a width 10’5” which allows for more living and storage space in the cabin. Though she is a smaller sailboat, she is also heavy with a water displacement of 11,800lbs and a lead ballast of 4,700lbs. With her 5’2” draft, modified-full keel and skeg rudder, she is quick to heel but is very comfortable and stable under sail. She has high bulwarks/toe-rails (ship’s sides rise above the level of the deck) and a canoe stern which help keep us dry during confused or following seas.

Sails and Rigging:

She has a tall mast and is cutter rigged to allow for more sail area. She came to us with multiple sails though only a few were usable and needed to be replaced. We upgraded the Dutchman System for the Mainsail to a StackPack and LazyJacks with a Strong Track. Our Mainsail is fully battened with 3 reefing points to allow us to also use it as a Stormsail. We have a rolling furler for our Headsail/Jib which we upgraded from a 90% to a 110% to give us more forward sail area to fight weather helm under bigger winds. We also have a Staysail/Foresail that hanks on to our removable cutter rig. The Foresail’s rigging can be removed when it’s not needed allowing the Jib more freedom to come across the bow of the boat. We do also have an Asymmetrical Spinnaker that is currently in storage since we have yet to find a great need for it and it would take up a lot of space on the boat.

Engine:

Nymeria had her original 25hp Westerbeke Engine v-drive, that was possibly rebuilt in 2011. Tt had a history of overheating and replacement parts either had to be special ordered or custom built to get us back up and running. In the Fall of 2022, with it’s increasing unreliability and an inability to easily get parts, we made the decision to Repower her with a Beta 25. We are still a bit underpowered so we try to sail or motor-sail when possible. We are able to keep 46 gallons of diesel in the tank and we’ve added 3 jerry cans to add about 17 gallons of extra fuel. Since we built the fuel rack, we’ve also added jerry cans for our generator and dinghy motors giving us a total of 15 gallons.

Power:

Over the years, Nymeria’s power system has undergone multiple upgrades and changes. The current setup is a 12v DC power system, relying on four 200Ah Victron Smart LifePO4 batteries, providing a total usable storage of 800Ah. These batteries are managed by the Victron 12/200 Smart BMS.

Charging this system can be done in three ways:

• Solar Power: Two 330w solar panels, controlled by two Victron 100/50 MPPT solar chargers, offer a maximum solar charging capacity of 660w.
• Shore Power/Generator: A Magnum Energy MS2012 Inverter/Charger facilitates charging through either a 30 amp shore power connection or a Honda 2000 generator. This inverter also powers the 110v AC system using battery power when shore power isn’t available.
• Following repowering, we added the ability to utilize the new engine. Two Victron Orion DC-DC chargers, linked to the 12v AGM starter battery, work in conjunction with a Balmar 120a alternator and external regulator. This configuration provides multiple layers of protection between the batteries and the alternator.

Electronics:

We have made upgrades from the original basic instruments to a full Garmin system for our navigation with a radar, wind/speed/depth, and AIS. Including a secondary smaller display in the interior Nav station. We also regularly use an iPad running Aqua Maps, especially when we are in the ICW. Aqua Maps allows us to see the latest US Coast Guard surveys for depths in the area and provides Bob423’s tracks to follow through the deepest parts of the waterway. While under sail, we also have a Monitor Windvane and Garmin hydraulic autopilot which allows the boat to continue on it’s course while allowing us to take shifts at the helm. We don’t typically us the Windvane as we love the ease of just hitting a button to engage the Garmin Autopilot.

For internet on the boat, we use Starlink the majority of the time. We’re currently on the Roam Unlimited plan where we can turn on access to the internet while underway. We also have a data only sim form Google Fi that we can switch to if Starlink goes offline. Our phones also run Google Fi so that we have uninterrupted service, whether we’re in the US or the Bahamas.

Interior:

We are able to sleep 6 (5 comfortably) with a queen/double in the V-Berth, a double in the Aft Quarter Berth, a double with the port settee pull out. The starboard settee was shortened and a storage cabinet was added with drawers and shelves by a previous owner. While this gives us more storage for living, it decreases our sleeping arrangements, especially when underway. We have ample storage compartments under and behind each settee and berth which allow for easy storage of all of our personal items, electronics and spare parts needed.

Our galley is equipped with a 2 burner induction stove, and an electric toaster oven. If we don’t want to cook inside, we also have the option of using our Magma grill, which we have fixed off our stern. We also have a small We have also upgraded the small double sink with a single large farmhouse style sink. We have an in-cabinet, top loaded cold plate as our refrigerator. We added an external Dometic 12v Fridge/Freezer which allows us more cold food storage. We are able to dine at our table which folds down in the salon. 

We have a Dometic reverse cycle heating and air conditioner unit for both summer and winter temperatures.

And last, but not least, the Head. We upgraded from a Jabsco Manual Marine Toilet to a new electric marine toilet, upgrades hoses, and a new macerator and valves for the pump out system.

Water/Watermaker:

Nymeria is equipped with an 80 gallon fresh water tank under our V-Berth and a water heater and pump under the Quarter Berth. When we are at a marina, we use a series filters before the tank and another filter after the tank to keep our water potable. When we’re at anchor, we utilize our Rainman Watermaker  to which produces 26-37 gallons per hour. We typically run the watermaker for about an hour each week, when we’re running the generator to charge our batteries, to meet our water demands for hydration, washing dishes and deck showers.

Safety Equipment:

Having completed multiple Harvest Moon Regatta’s, we had to meet the safety requirements for Offshore Racing. For starters, we have floating lines, a LifeSling, and an inflatable Dan Buoy to mark a location and retrieve a man overboard. If we are offshore, we are always wearing our TeamO Lifejackets which allow us to tether to the boat and will auto-inflate if we fall into the water. They are also equipped with a backtow function that allows for a person to be pulled toward the boat on their back. We also use the Garmin inReach Mini to track our location and send/receive messages in an emergency. We also have the Superior Offshore Stream 6 person Liferaft mounted off our stern to use if we have to abandon ship. If we have to use the liferaft, we will also activate our EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon) so that Coast Guard can locate us for rescue.

Dinghy/Bicycles:

Once we get to a location and want to go exploring, we can travel to land by our dinghy, which we’ve affectionately named Lady. She is an Inmar 10′ Aluminum hull inflatable tender perfectly fits on the bow of Nymeria when we’re underway. She is powered by a Tohatsu 15hp outboard which rests on the stern pulpit when not in use. When we’re on land and we want to go further than a 1-2 mile walk, we can hop on our Jupiter Discovery X5 foldable electric bikes. They are the perfect weight to transfer from the boat to the dinghy to the dock and the perfect size to fold up and put stow under our dinghy on longer passages.

Conclusions:

Nymeria is nearly 40 years old and we are her 3rd owners. As with most things that are of that age, they need upgrades and scheduled maintenance to keep going at the pace of those half their age. We have gone through the major systems to make her safe and now we are going through the more minor systems and also making her more comfortable and convenient to live in and sail. We are constantly learning and challenging ourselves to be resilient and self sufficient while we occupy this great boat. We are grateful everyday that we chose Nymeria to be our home and look forward to our next adventures together.