Grainger 52 Blue Water Cruiser

Refit and Rebirth: Dreamcatcher's Story:

Dreamcatcher isn't just a boat. She's a story of passion, persistence, and precision -- a labour of love crafted over years by an owner who saw her true potential and brought it to life with dedication and an engineer's eye for detail.

Originally designed by Tony Grainger as a 48ft performance catamaran, Dreamcatcher was professionally extended to 52ft -- not just for size, but to increase her waterline length and stability, improving her motion at sea and overall performance under sail and power. But that was only the beginning.

When her current owner took her on, she was tired. Her structure was strong, but the systems were ageing and her spirit needed reviving. She needed someone to see her true potential. With a background in engineering and an eye for functional beauty, he stripped her down, upgraded her from the keel up, and rebuilt her into a truly self-sufficient, world-ready cruising catamaran. Over the years, he embarked on a comprehensive transformation -- not as a commercial flip, but as a personal mission to build a truly self-sufficient, liveaboard world cruiser. Every decision was guided by a clear vision: modernise her systems, enhance her safety, and make her not just ocean-ready, but ocean-proof.

? A Practical Dream, Engineered for Life at Sea

This was not a cosmetic flip. Dreamcatcher's refit was a personal commitment, crafted over years with real-life sailing in mind:

Structural Enhancements: The cockpit floor was strengthened and reinforced, increasing safety under load and adding long-term durability. A custom seating bench was built where the traveller lines once ran -- not only improving comfort and aesthetics, but creating a smarter, cleaner deck layout.

Sail Handling Redesign: The entire rope and line system for the mainsail and headsails was rearranged and optimised for safer, more ergonomic handling -- a detail that only a hands-on sailor would think to refine. Winch placements and rope runs were tested and adjusted in practice, not theory.
The entire sail plan was revitalised between 2021 and 2023. A fully battened mainsail, new screecher, gennaker, and furling genoa deliver versatile power, while the standing rigging was replaced and reinspected to exceed safety standards.

Power & Energy Systems: She's now powered by 1700W of upgraded solar panels, backed by 1100Ah of Victron lithium batteries, a 12kW Fisher Panda genset, and dual Yanmar 90hp engines (2018). Dreamcatcher can live off-grid comfortably for extended voyages -- no marina, no problem.

Water & Fuel Autonomy: With 1,200L of diesel, 740L of water, and a Stella 240L/hr watermaker (2025), she can sustain a full crew for weeks without resupply. From tropical island hopping to remote bluewater crossings -- she's ready.

Comfort Meets Reliability: Everything was built for long-haul livability. Custom saloon furniture from Italy, air conditioning, deep refrigeration and freezer capacity, LG washer and dryer, and high-quality galley appliances create a space that feels like home -- even when you're halfway to Fiji.

Navigation, Communication & Control: Full Raymarine and B&G navigation systems with radar, autopilot, fishfinder, and dual MFDs were installed to allow confidence in any conditions. Redundant VHF, HF radio, and satellite comms round out the system for serious offshore reliability.

Smart Use of Space: One of the aft cabins was converted into a fully functional workshop, including deep freezer storage and watermaker access -- but it can easily revert to a guest berth if needed. Every inch of space is intentional.

? The Result?

Dreamcatcher is now more than a vessel. She's a floating sanctuary -- strong, safe, and deeply considered. She wasn't built for quick resale. She was rebuilt as a "forever boat" -- with the kind of love and care you can't fake.

Everything has been upgraded not for show, but for purpose. She's been sailed, lived in, refined, and perfected over time. Her owner's touch is in every corner -- from the reinforced cockpit to the rope routing, from the solar wiring to the hand-sanded timber trim.

The work was never rushed. Every wire run, every component chosen, every detail considered -- because this was meant to be the last boat, not just the next one.

She's a rare kind of catamaran: not just self-contained, but truly self-sufficient. That's the kind of confidence and freedom that real sailors dream of -- and Dreamcatcher delivers.