MY ALIBI - 1973 56' 1" MATTHEWS Voyager
Fort Lauderdale Florida United States
$289,000 USD

Boarding MY ALIBI is via port or starboard railbreaks and into the Pilothouse via hinged port or starboard wing doors.

The Pilothouse has a five panel windshield, centered helm, a teak and holy sole and highly varnished bulkheads.  A clever helm bench with divided storage cuddies within offer ample storage.

Next aft behind a hinged door is the eat in galley with a U-shaped booth dinette to starboard and a fully updated galley to port.

Going aft through a pocket door is the Salon with an antique desk, three cushion sofa, two occasional chairs and a built-in wall unit forward.  Aft to port are stairs to the Master cabin.

Furthest aft is the aft deck with a three cushion sofa, hi-lo table, two teak chairs and a storage cabinet.  The Aft Deck has a new 3-sided enclosure, port and starboard boarding door and a sliding door to the Salon. 

The Master cabin is huge.  A queen size berth on centerline is aft with built-in chests of drawers and nightstands port and starboard.  A bank of six louvered teak doors is to starboard and forward.

The head with a large shower, raised vanity and VacuFlush toilet is forward to port.

Additional cabins as well as the engine room are reached from stairs in the Pilothouse. 

To port is a twin lower berth cabin, to starboard a head with a stall shower and forward is an upper and lower bunk cabin suitable for crew or guests.

Accessed via port and starboard hinged doors, this area is very well laid out to make the best use of space.

The centerline helm has the following equipment:

• Varnished ship’s wheel
• Garmin 5212 GPS Map touchscreen MFD plotter, AIS, SAT Weather
• Furuno TZT-14” multi-function display
• Autohelm ST-7000 autopilot
• Interphase forward looking sonar
• Full VDO engine instrumentation
• (4) VDO fuel gauge
• VDO holding tank gauge
• Raritan rudder angle indicator
• Morse engine controls
• Glendinning synchronizer
• SidePower bow thruster with joystick control
• Imtra remote windlass control
• Key start switches
• Push button stop switches
• (3) windshield wipers/washer
• Rule high water alarm
• ACR joystick search light control
• Naiad stabilizer control
• 12” camera monitor (4) CCTV cameras
• 8” Ritchie magnetic compass in binnacle
• (2) Icom M424 VHF’s with DSC
• Digital A/C controls
• Trim tab controls
• Heuer stop watch/clock/timer
• Fireboy engine override engine shutdown switch
• Fireboy manual fire system pull handle
• Chart light above chart flat
• Seth Thomas clock
• (2) red/white LED overhead lights
• (2) LED overhead lights
• Pilothouse electrical panel

Next aft is the Galley via a hinged varnished door

A very special feature of MY ALIBI is her updated Galley, not modern but classically updated in 2014.

The highly varnished teak and holly sole continues aft from the Pilothouse.  To port is a U-shaped dinette with a varnished table and house side windows covered with wood blinds. 

The updated galley features full size stainless steel appliances and an attractive blue and gold rope trimmed cabinetry with varnished butcher block countertops.

Features include:

• LG stainless steel refrigerator with water and ice through the door and a lower freezer drawer.
• LG five burner glass top cooktop and full size oven
• LG stainless steel microwave with work light and fan
• Kraus farmhouse style stainless steel sink
• Stainless steel faucet with removable spray handle
• Stainless steel checkerboard style backsplash
• Full size stainless steel LG dishwasher
• (6) Blue and gold trimmed drawers
• (6) Blue and gold trimmed cabinet doors
• 4 additional cabinet doors
• Vinyl overhead with 3 LED light fixtures
• Digital A/C controls

Continuing aft from the Galley is the full beam Salon separated by a pocket door.  This area is carpeted and has large side and aft windows to offer plenty of light.  The side windows are covered with wood blinds.

Immediately upon entering the Salon to starboard is an antique four drawer desk with folding desktop and a chair.  Next aft is an upholstered three cushion sofa with accent pillows and a small coffee table.  Furthest aft is a four drawer antique chest with a table lamp above.

To port starting forward is a built-in open shelf and cabinet unit ideally arranged to the yacht’s design.  Cool air is delivered via vents either side of the 24” Samsung TV.  Open shelves are below the TV with four drawers and four louvered cabinet doors below.  Next aft are two upholstered chairs - the forward one with a matching ottoman.  Outboard of the aft chair are stairs to below.  Aft is a sliding door and screen to the Aft Deck.

Also in the Salon are two LED lights in the vinyl overhead, digital A/C controls and an oriental style plush throw rug centered.

Entered via a sliding door from the aft salon or hinged port and starboard boarding gates, the aft deck is fully enclosed with an extended hardtop and a new 3 sides vinyl enclosure.

Features include: 

• Painted non-skid fiberglass deck
• (3) cushioned upholstered sofa
• Teak hi-lo two-leaf table
• (2) Folding teak chairs with cushions
• (3) U-zips in the three aft vinyl enclosure panels
• (4) LED lights in vinyl overhead
• Wet bar with stainless steel sink under a fiddled hinged top and two storage cabinets below
• (2) 110V GFCI outlets
• Deck drains
• (6) stainless steel support poles
• Varnished boat hook
• 5-step Marquipt tide ride ladder
• 3-step vertical Marquipt ladder
• Varnished flagpole with ensign
• Teak swim platform
• 5-step ladder to swim platform

Down nine carpeted steps from the port aft salon area is a huge private Master suite.  A queen size berth is on centerline aft with storage accessible from the forward end.  Built-in port and starboard nightstands with two drawers each flank the berth.  Above are two open shelves.  Between is an inset upholstered headboard, two swing arm reading lights and an art niche inset.  Flowing both port and starboard from the nightstands are three drawers each side.  Above is a mica shelf and two opening portholes with drapes each side.  The port side also has a 24” Samsung TV.  Going forward to port are four half-height cedar lined auto lit hanging lockers.

The forward bulkhead has two additional teak louvered lockers, the cabin’s A/C system and a heater.

Access to the private head is to port along with a full size dressing mirror.  The overhead is vinyl and has a newly added teak escape hatch, five LED lights and the sole is carpeted.

Forward to port is the Master Head with a raised Corian vanity top and sink, two beveled edge mirrored medicine cabinets and a five light fixture above.  The toilet is a VacuFlush model.  The large shower has a curtain and a wall mounted or handheld fixture.  Also in the head is an opening porthole with drapes, a large storage cabinet, three overhead lights and an A/C vent.

From the starboard side of the Pilothouse are six varnished steps that lead to the forward accommodation area and engine room.

The sole is varnished teak and holly and the bulkheads a tasteful blue tweed wallpaper.  To port is the twin bed cabin.  To starboard is the head with shower.

Forward is another upper/lower guest or crew cabin with a sink.  Aft is the engine room and laundry facilities.

Entered from the forward end are twin berths off the aft bulkhead with a four drawer nightstand between.  Each berth has a reading light above and storage below.  At the foot of the outboard berth is a louvered door locker with house side windows and blinds above.

Forward is a half-height hanging locker, two drawers and a mirror above.  Also in the cabin are two overhead LED lights, digital A/C controls and a varnished teak and holly sole.

To starboard is the forward guest head with a mica vanity, storage below and an undermount china sink above.  House side windows with mini blinds are above.  The toilet is a VacuFlush model set upon a teak and holly sole.  The stall shower has a bi-fold door, a house side window with blinds and a handheld or wall mountable shower fixture.  Overhead are two LED lights and a wall mounted light fixture.

All the way forward down three steps is the forward guest/crew cabin.  Two over/under berths are outboard to port.  Each has a reading light.  There is storage below the lower berth and an opening porthole above the upper.  Forward are two access doors to the rope/chain locker and additional storage.  To starboard is a china undermount sink on a mica countertop with storage below and an opening porthole above.  Aft is small hanging locker.  The sole of this area is varnished teak and holly.  Overhead is a deck hatch and two LED light fixtures.

• Painted non-skid fiberglass deck, Moon Dust Awlgrip
• Painted raised cap rails
• Stainless steel Samson post forward cleat
• 4-5 person bow seat with removable cushions and cover and storage below
• Ideal above deck windlass with chain gypsy and rope capstan
• Up/down windlass foot switches
• 33 KG stainless steel Bruce anchor with stainless steel anchor chute
• 300’ stainless steel chain
• Second rope pipe for spare anchor
• Varnished handrails with safety cable below
• Fresh water washdown
• (4) bow line chocks
• Raised deck hatch to forward cabin with cover
• White vinyl windshield cover
• Black textilene windshield cover

• Port or starboard 50 amp shore cord inlets
• Three pairs of spring line cleats
• Dockside water inlet
• Hull side engine room vents
• Fuel fills
• Waste pump out
• Stern cleat moved to exterior of aft deck for case of use.
• Handrail at catwalk below windows
• Handrail at catwalk above windows
• Marquipt Tide Ride attachment parts at Pilothouse doors
• “Newer” US Marine house side windows

• Painted non-skid FRP
• 4-step folding access ladder
• Furuno 4’ open array radar on pedestal
• Forward looking camera
• Dual chrome Trumpet air horn
• ACR LED search light
• Hailer horn
• Shakespeare over the air TV antennae
• Lit varnished name boards
• International Navigation lights
• Faux FRP funnel
• Folding varnished signal mast
• Garmin GPS sensor
• Forward quartz spreader light
• Aft quartz spreader light
• Nautical structures LMC 1000 davit
• Custom tender chocks
• (3) stainless steel tender tie downs
• Aft facing CCTV camera
• (2) 16’ VHF antennas

• Twin MACK 650 hp 1998 model engines
• Airsep crankcase ventilation system
• (2) Separ 2000 fuel filters
• (1) Separ 2000 fuel transfer filters
• Glendinning engine synchronizer
• 60lb. Fireboy fire suppression system
• Fuel manifold system
• Reverso engine/transmission/generator oil change system
• Hard coat exhaust for engines
• ZF IRM 350A transmissions with 2.077 to 1 ratio
• Kobalt air compressor
• Five drawer Gladiator toolbox
• (2) engine coolant recovery tanks
• (2) engine room cameras
• Wema holding tank gauge
• Naiad 252 stabilizer system with actuators in aft engine room
• Engine room manual engine gauges
• Engine room engine start/stop switches
• (6) AC LED engine room lights
• (4) DC incandescent engine room lights
• Engine room freshwater spigot
• AC freshwater pump
• DC freshwater pump
• Rheem 20 gallon heater
• Bosch Axis clothes washer
• Bosch Axis clothes dryer
• Work bench with vice
• Engine room fans
• Small parts storage drawers
• 110V blower system
• (2) opening portholes
• Spare stub shaft mounted in engine room
• Large storage locker just outside of engine room
• 5-blade main propellers
• 4-blade spare propellers
• Hynautic hydraulic steering
• Aft holding tank approx.: 60 gallons
• Forward holding tank approx.: 80 gallons

(4) Air conditioning compressors as follows:

• Salon 16,000 BTU
• Galley 10,000 BTU
• Master 10,000 BTU
• Forward cabins 12,000 BTU

• 12 volt DC electrical system
• 110/220 volt AC electrical system
• KiloPak 15kW generator in sound shield
• Pronautic 12V 30 amp battery charger
• (2) Battery shut-off switches in engine room
• Battery parallel system in engine room
• (4) 12V 8D batteries

Pilothouse electrical panel with:

• (3) battery shut-off switches
• (3) analog volt meters
• (20) DC 12V breakers
• Digital battery charger volt meter
• 4 positional rotary switch gen/off/shore 1/shore 2
• Port/stbd/forward/aft selector switch for main panel

Engine room breaker panel with:

• (18) 110V breaker protected circuits
• (2) 220V breaker protected circuits

Founded in 1890 in Ohio the Matthews Boat Company built over 1000 boats and yachts.  Many were minesweepers for the US Navy.  In business till 1975, when transitioning from wood to fiberglass, they teamed up with Halmatic LTD from Great Britain to supply their hulls.  Halmatic built patrol boats and commercial craft with their over built hulls reportedly able to withstand machine gun fire.

This 56 Voyager model has a Halmatic solid fiberglass semi-displacement hull with the decks and deckhouse built at Matthews of wood with decks and some components having a fiberglass cloth covering.

Bult as “STROLLER” then renamed “LADY HAWK”, then “JOY SEA”, her current owner named her “MY ALIBI” upon purchase in January of 2017.

Lovingly maintained and updated, “MY ALIBI” represents a modernized classic with updated 4-cycle MACK engines, a newer generator, updated A/C, galley and electronics.

She would make a perfect liveaboard with her huge master cabin and updated galley.

All spec and photos are current and accurate!

Please note current owner prefers a more leisurely cruise speed of 10-12 knots.