Coming aboard Sequoia you notice right away how easy she is to board at either of the side decks from a dock. She has a beautiful shear line and a reasonable amount of freeboard, unlike many modern hulls. Looking forward you see decks easy to work on at sea and there are handlolds where you expect them. The after part of the boat has solid lifelines with solar panels attached. The mast has pulpits to brace against while working there. The rigging is oversized for a big powerful rig. The boat is designed to sail well first and foremost.
The cockpit is generous in size with the primaries where you'd expect and control lines on the cabin top. There is an electric winch here for the main halyard or hoisting crew aloft.The dodger is in an off white color with clear windows. The cockpit is open to the generous swimstep when you want it and closed with the helm seat. The windvane has a very cool swing away bracket is massively built. Under this seat is a built in liferaft storage area. There is a cockpit table for eating at the best place aboard.
The cabin is accessed through opening doors, an Outbound signature feature. There are drop boards for storms, but the doors make living aboard so much more comfortable. There is a cleverly designed stainless bar to lock the companionway for extended times away. Details like this are when you really know a boat has been somewhere.
Coming down the companionway steps you enter the beautiful teak interior. The navigation station is to port, with the chart table visible from above. Going aft from the nav station you have access to the "garage" work area. There is a bench that converts to a berth and also a large hatch in the cockpit seat for access from above. The main head is to starboard and is generous in size and has a separate shower stall. Turning further to starboard you enter the guest cabin with its extra long queen berth. There are several opening ports and plenty of stowage.
The engine is accessed from all sides, as are the filters, belts and shaft log. There is the industrial sized Glacier Bay compressor under the nav station.
The galley is on the port side and comes all the way past mid ship. There is enormous stowage here and generous fridge and freezer compartments. There is a double sink and three burner gimballed stove with oven. Access to the fuel valves and manifolds is under the cabinet in the center of the boat, right where you want them.
Forward of the galley (but open to it) is the main settee and enormous salon table. The table does a transformer type gyration and folds up against the bulkhead into a custom bookshelf. This makes for a very large open floor area where you can have a gathering, do repairs or even play a cello. There is a settee to starboard that makes a great sea berth, or can be used with its fold up mid table for drinks. The bottles have built in storage behind. For large groups the table folds out to seat eight, or more if they are small. This is a very large salon for a boat of this size. There are big windows in the cabin sides and multiple opening hatches. She feels light and airy.
Forward of the salon is the primary cabin with an ensuite head to port that has only been used for storage. The plumbing and seacocks are in place, but the toilet has been removed. There is a walk around queen berth with cabinets everywhere and below. The fold down teak seat here is a work of art and another Outbound signature piece.
Forward of the primary is a deck locker segregated from the rest of the boat by a bulkhead and accessible only from the deck. There is a ladder to get to the bottom and it is a great place for ground tackle, lines/fenders as well as flying sails.
Sequoia is a true "offshore" boat that has the gear and the miles to prove it.Everywhere you look you see details that just make sense. Her designer was very good at drawing boats that performed very well, but also look terrific. The Outbound 44/46 (for the swimstep) is a great example of this. You really have to see her out of the water to feel how powerful her hull is and how much she can carry to far away places.
