In the summer of 2016, I embarked on a new sailing adventure, setting my sights on Lake Maumelle, just a short drive from Little Rock, Arkansas. My idea was to own a small sailboat with an inboard diesel engine, easily manageable for solo sailing. This vessel would be our ticket to leisurely day trips on the water, shared with my wife and friends. The plan was simple: check the morning weather, head to the lake around noon, motor out of the slip, sail through the afternoon, and return home by dinnertime. To make it all the more convenient, the boat needed to be trailerable, enabling me to haul it out for maintenance at home or the local marina.
My affection for boats with a classic, seaworthy appearance had been a constant in my life, and my prior experience with a Nonsuch had naturally inclined me toward Catboats. After diligent research, I discovered the Mystic 20 Catboat, a charming small yacht with an elegant sheer line, a graceful overhang at the stern, and a captivating wineglass-shaped transom. The boat's thoughtful design featured a well-appointed cockpit, storage lockers, and a cabin with features typically seen on larger custom vessels. These attributes made the Mystic 20 my vessel of choice.
Only around 50 Mystic 20s were crafted between 1974 and the mid-1990s, primarily concentrated in the northeastern United States. In the spring of 2017, my quest took me to the East Coast, where I examined a few Mystic 20s before I came across and acquired #38. This particular vessel had been found in Maryland, near the Chesapeake Bay, where it was initially launched in 1977. I secured a sturdy trailer from Triad in North Carolina to facilitate its journey to Arkansas. Then, I embarked on a 2,200-mile road trip to bring the Mystic 20 to a barn just outside Little Rock, where I dedicated the next two years to its restoration.
The Mystic boats boasted excellent design and professional craftsmanship. I was fortunate that #38 had been reasonably well-maintained by its previous owners, displaying only the expected signs of wear and tear after four decades of use. My restoration efforts primarily focused on cosmetic enhancements.
Here are the major projects:
Paint
- Removed and replaced the bottom paint and gel coat with four coats of West Epoxy and four coats of Interlux InterProtect 2000E. The bottom was last painted with Interlux Micron CSC in 2023.
- Repaired, sanded, and painted the deck and cockpit with Interlux Perfection, adding non-skid to the deck and cockpit floor.
- Repaired, faired, and painted the top sides with Interlux Perfection.
Mechanical
- The Mystic 20 is equipped with a Universal 12-diesel engine.
-Installed a freshwater pump, impeller, and fuel pump.
- A new custom engine control panel was installed.
- Installed a new through-hull for the cockpit drain.
Electrical
- Upgraded the electrical system with two Optima 100 Ah batteries, a new selector switch, a 10 AMP battery charger, a new electrical panel, and new cabin LED lights.
- Replaced the electric bilge pump.
- Installed a Raymarine S1000 Auto Pilot and a through-hull for an optional Raymarine depth and speed transponder.
Spars, Lines, Canvas
- Replaced all sail control lines, including the main, jib, topping lift, and jiffy reefing system.
- Installed a new winch and line stopper.
- Stripped and coated the mast with four coats of West Epoxy and five coats of two-part Perfection Plus Yacht Varnish. The gaff and boom received a varnish application as well.
- Crafted new custom canvas covers for the cabin and cockpit, new sail and mast-up covers and spar covers for storage or trailering.
Other
- Repaired and replaced the cabin windows.
- Fabricated and replaced new teak toe rails and a bow sprit.
- Added a new bow roller, anchor, and anchor line.
- Removed, repaired, faired, and painted the centerboard.
- Rebuilt the manual bilge pump.
The journey of restoring the Mystic 20 has been a labor of love, and the final result is a boat that not only retains its classic charm but is also primed for many more years of sailing adventures.
