"Isobar" is a beautifully restored and maintained custom sloop with a long and storied history.
Built in 1962 at the renowned Cheoy Lee Shipyard in Hong Kong, Isobar is a 45’ LOA full-keel sloop with a 12’ maximum beam and a 28,000 lb. displacement. Her original design was a monocoque wineglass hull of strip-planked Philippine mahogany, spacious teak decks and a counter stern. She sports a low aspect mainsail rig (48’ deck-stepped mast with a 22’ spar) built for the largely downwind run of the TransPac. While she is a custom design lofted by Les (a naval architect by trade), her lines take inspiration from the big Sparkman & Stevens designs -- most noticeably the 52’ yawl Dorade. Asa mechanical engineer, Don designed the fittings and systems.
The story ofIsobarspans over six decades, multiple oceans, and just four dedicated owners. Built in 1962 at the Cheoy Lee Shipyard in Hong Kong, this 45’ full-keel sloop was designed by Les and Don Harlander, who raced her in the 1963 and 1965 TransPac races. She was later sold to Richard Steinke, who lived aboard her for 32 years, sailing across the Atlantic multiple times, cruising through the Mediterranean, Baltic, and Southeast Asia, and encountering everything from Russian gunboats to cigarette smugglers. Richard’s adventurous spirit ledIsobarthrough a rich history of global exploration until his passing in 2003, when ownership transferred to the current owners, his daughter and husband.
Over the years,Isobarendured major refits and renovations, particularly after a hurricane-induced dismasting, a devastating tsunami in Malaysia, and the inevitable wear of time. After being returned to the US in 2006, she underwent an extensive three-year restoration, followed by further structural upgrades in 2020 and 2024. With a new mast, rigging, deck repairs, and navigation upgrades, she remains seaworthy and ready for new adventures. Despite the challenges,Isobar’s legacy continues, embodying resilience, craftsmanship, and the enduring love of sailing.
Listing MLS by Yachtr.com
