1997 Robert Perry 61 Wild Horses

Her aluminum hull and composite deck offer an ideal combination of strength, stiffness, and ease of maintenance. Designed for long-distance cruising, she’s equally at home on a transoceanic passage or exploring closer-to-home coastlines.

For the past 15 years, she has been sailed by a couple who have thoughtfully refined her systems and setup. All sail controls lead aft to the cockpit, and with five electric winches, she’s easy to handle, even with a small crew. She performs well in light winds yet is built to take on challenging conditions and can even tackle the Northwest Passage. Her striking lines and purposeful design turn heads in any anchorage.

Her interior is spacious and practical, with 6’9” headroom, two staterooms, and an additional bunk room that doubles as a mechanical space. There is copious, conveniently located storage space throughout. The hard dodger, with 6’2” headroom, provides excellent protection and can be enclosed to function as a pilothouse. A well-appointed galley, generous storage, and smartly laid-out systems make extended cruising comfortable and efficient.

Built in the U.S., WILD HORSES would make a strong candidate for expedition sailing, a performance-minded charter, or an owner looking for a yacht that balances capability with ease of handling. She’s ready for her next adventure.

New (2025) Garmin 17” chartplotter with new fantom doppler radar at cockpit – two autopilot systems – new (2024) Evolution Sails membrane mainsail and jib – lithium house batteries – bifacial solar array – arch with dinghy davits – Balmar generator/watermaker - Victron inverter/charger, monitors and solar regulator – Starlink

Interior Accommodations

The interior accommodations aboard WILD HORSES are spacious and feature custom American cherry wood paneling and joinery with teak & holly cabin sole throughout. The interior was refinished in 2024. Upholstery is custom blue leather. Substantial Gebo hatches and ports throughout make the interior light and ventilation exceptional.

Starting forward is the master stateroom with a queen size pullman berth to port and plenty of hanging and shelf lockers to starboard. There is a small seat with storage underneath. Overhead is a large hatch and an opening port.

The forward head is aft and to port of the master cabin. With 400 gallons of water and a watermaker you will not feel guilty using the bathtub or shower. Heads are freshwater Vacuflush. There is a generously sized sink and convenient drawer storage.

Next aft is the salon. To starboard is a large cabinet with space for a TV and entertainment system. There is a large settee with sculpted cushions. Outboard is a pilot berth. To port is the dinette with comfortable seating for six to eight guests. Outboard of the dinette is a second pilot berth. There are large ports in the hull and deck and several overhead hatches offering excellent lighting, visibility, and ventilation in the main salon.

The galley is to port of the companionway and is a gourmet cook's delight. Bright and well-arranged, it features full equipment and good countertop space and cabinet/drawer storage throughout.

The navigation station is opposite the galley to starboard. The custom electrical panel is organized and intuitive. There is a large, forward facing chart table with drawer chart storage. This area is equally suited as a shipboard office.

Just aft of the nav station is the guest cabin and head. The head features a shower, head and sink and is conveniently located at the base of the companionway. The guest cabin has a queen+ size berth, hanging locker and drawer storage. Three opening ports provide ventilation and light.

Aft of the galley is a garage/work room cabin with excellent access to the engine and generator. There is a small work bench and storage lockers for spares, tools etc. This cabin also has two fold up pipe berths that can be used for extra crew or as sea berths. Three opening ports provide ventilation and light to this space.

Sea Frost 24v air cooled refrigerator (11 cubic feet) and freezer, both with water cooling optional units (10 cubit feet) (2014)

Force 10 propane three burner stove/oven (2019)

Panasonic microwave

Hot and colt pressure water

10 gallon water heater (2015)

(2) Vacuflush heads

Washer/dryer - Splendide 7100 XC third generation (2017)

ProHeat 30,000 BTU hydronic diesel fired cabin heater with individual controls at each cabin

Electronics and Navigation

Garmin hydraulic autopilot with wireless remote (2016)

AutoNav/Nexus hydraulic autopilot

(2) wired AutoNav/Nexus remotes

NMEA backbone installed

Raymarine AIS receiver/transceiver (2020)

Garmin fantom doppler radar 2025

Wesmar sonar

TCL TV at salon

Trintec clock and barometer

(2) Tannoy stereo speakers at salon

(2) Bose stereo speakers at cockpit

Starlink system with antenna mounted on arch

At nav station:

Vizio flat screen monitor

Fusion MSAV600 stereo receiver with DVD

Nexus Multi Control display

Icom ICM504 VHF radio

Silva Nexus GPS Nav display

At forward stateroom:

Nexus Multi Control display

At companionway:

Nexus Steer Pilot

(2) Nexus NXR Maxi displays

Nexus analog Depth display

At cockpit:

Nexus Wind, Trim, (2) NXR control Multi displays

Garmin GPSMAP 8617 17” chartplotter on swiveling mount at cockpit table (2025)

At starboard helm station:

Nexus Wind, Multi displays

Ritchie compass

VHF RAM mic

At port helm station:

Nexus Multi, Compass displays

Garmin Multi Display

Ritchie compass

Electrical Systems

24v/12v DC systems and 120v AC systems

(2) 30amp Smartplug shore power inlets

(2) 30amp smartplug cords

50 amp 220 adaptor pigtail to plug in (2) 30 amp cords

50 amp 110v adaptor pigtail to plug in (2) 30 amp cords

Shore power works with both (1) 30 amp cord or (2) 30 amp cords for 50 amp power

Isolation transformer

(2) 12v Group 24 engine start batteries

400amp hour 24v (equivalent to 800 amp hours at 12v) Winston lithium battery bank

(2) Wakespeed WS 500 alternator regulators (2023) for (2) Balmar dual belt large frame 98-Series Alternators, 160amp@24V one on main engine and the other on generator.

Newmar 24-12v converter

(2) solar panels on arch

Balmar 7.5kw generator/40gph watermaker (193 hours)

(2) 200 watt bifacial solar panels on arch with Victron regulator (2023)

Victron GX Touch system monitor (2023)

Victron Cerbo GX systems monitor (2023)

Victron Multiplus II 24 volt 3000va inverter/70 amp battery charger (2023)

Mechanical Systems

WILD HORSES’s systems are configured for reliable, efficient operation. Access to the engine and generator are excellent – with a large panel allowing full side access to the engine compartment via the port quarter cabin. The cockpit sole is removable for access.

Yanmar 4JH2W-UTE 100hp diesel engine (1568 hours)

Hurth HSW 630 V1 transmission (rebuilt 2023)

PYI dripless shaft seal (2023)

Max Prop three blade feathering propeller (rebalanced by PYI with new cone 2023)

Engine throttle/shift controls at each helm station

Racor dual switch fuel filter for fuel from main tanks to day tank

Main engine dual switch-filter-while-running racor fuel filter

Generator fuel filter

Pex plumbing

Paragon water ballast pump

(1) Johnson 4000 GPH High Capacity Bilge Pump at main bilge

(3) Rule bilges pumps, located at engine bilge, garage bilge, sail locker bilge

Emergency bilge pump, belt driven by generator connected to manifold hoses from forward sail lock, main cabin and aft garage locker.

Manual bilge pumps at salon and cockpit

High bilge alarm for main bilge

Tank Tender tank monitor for measuring fuel, water and waste tank levels

Deck and Hull

WILD HORSES’ hull is strong and lightweight welded aluminum. Her deck is foam and carbon fiber/fiberglass, with carbon fiber used in all high load areas for additional strength. She is insulated above the waterline with fiberglass batt insulation that is covered with a white nylon and easily removable and small sections. The water tanks are located far outboard and may be used as ballast when sailing. A high-capacity pump transfers between the tanks. The fuel and water tanks are aluminum, integral to the hull. Her keel is a deep fin with lead bulb. The rudder is carbon fiber.

At the bow, there is a massive sail locker, separated from the main cabin by a watertight bulkhead. A separate hatch on deck allows access to the anchor windlass and chain run. The primary anchor is stored on the fixed bowsprit.

A hard dodger protects the cockpit. The center window of the dodger is a large hatch that allows excellent airflow. A fixed table on centerline provides a great outdoor dining space. The Garmin chartplotter is mounted on a swivel on the table. The forward end of the cockpit may be enclosed by canvas, making it a warm and dry space in inclement weather.

Twin helm stations allow easy passage from the forward end of the cockpit to the swimstep. There are engine controls at both stations.

A custom arch supports solar panels, radar and Starlink antennas and also serves as the dinghy davits. A hinged bar allows a large dinghy to be easily lowered and raised with electric winch from the transom. Three steps lead from the cockpit level to the swimstep. A swim ladder (staircase!) with five rungs allows easy boarding from the water.

Lighthouse 501 horizontal anchor windlass with up and down foot controls and remote at cockpit

Bruce anchor 110 pounds

Fortress secondary anchor

Raw water washdown system

Dyneema lifelines

(8) stainless mooring cleats

Cockpit table

Aluminum tri fold companionway doors plus traditional washboards

Stern shower

Cockpit cushions (2024)

Watch station enclosure

Bimini

Dinghy davits on arch and outboard motor mount.

Sails and Rigging

Forespar aluminum three spreader mast, painted white

Forespar aluminum boom, painted white

Discontinuous rod rigging

Harken headsail furler

Inner forestay with hydraulic tensioner

Carbon fiber spinnaker pole mounted on mast

German mainsheet

Navtec hydraulic boom vang, backstay, outhaul and staysail stay adjusters

Stack Pack mainsail cover with lazy jacks (2024)

Evolution Sails expedition membrane mainsail with three reefs (2024)

Evolution Sails expedition membrane 100% jib (2024)

Profurl Spinex furler for use off bow sprit

UK Asymmetrical spinnaker, is set up to use Profurl Spinex as a top down furler, also has a separate control sock

UK 130 genoa

Ballard Sails, 140 without uv cover, to use on bow sprit with Profurl Spinex furler

Meisner 30ST-53 winch on mast

Meisner 30ST-60 winch on mast

(2) Mesiner 36ST-81 E electric primary winches

(2) Meisner 32ST-60 E electric mainsheet winches aft of twin helm stations, one is set up to furl Harken headsail furler, they also are used to raise and lower dinghy or outboard.

Meisner 32ST 60 E electric halyard winch

Miscellaneous and Safety

Avon R3.41 RIB dinghy

Eclectic outboard - EPropulsion Spirit 1.0 Plus 

Quickline reel for stern tie line

Magma BBQ

Updates and improvements by the present owners:

Adding new Garmin GPSMAP 8617 17” Screen chartplotter with black GMR fantom radar with MotionScope™ technology – 2025

New cockpit cushions - 2024

Refinished wood floors, and interior woodwork 2024

Two new Evolution black Expedition Membranes sails, both offshore sails - main with 3 reefs and 100% jib sails with new battens 2024

Added Starlink gen 3 dish - Wi-Fi running on 24 V system 2024

Replaced bimini 2024

Replaced stack pack sail cover - 2024 

Rebuild transmission, new prop shaft, and other components - 2023

Replaced PYI dripless shaft with new - 2023

Sent Max Prop to PYI for rebalancing and new cone - 2023

Replaced transmission cooler - 2023

Reupholstered side berths - 2023

Replaced most Vac-flush components, both pumps, one vacuum generator and hoses for both heads - 2023 / 24

Replaced plexiglass on hatches 2023/24 - a couple left to do, already have plexiglass cut to size

Added 2 new Wakespeed Wakespeed regulators for lithium batteries - 2023

Replaced headliner added wood trim - 2023

Replaced GPS, new Garmin NMEA 2000 - 2023

Replaced interior lighting to 16 Lunasea LED downlights soft white/night blue combo with 4 zone lighting thought out - 2023

Upgraded battery BMS system - 2023

Added Victron energy Cerbo GX and GX Touch 70 and network - 2023

Replace charger inverter with Victron energy charger inverter - 2023

Installed two new bifacial 200 watt solar panels and new Victron energy solar charger controller - 2023

Replaced with Garmin NMEA 2000 instrument sender units, masthead, depth, speed log - 2023 

Added Yacht Devices NMEA 2000 Wi-Fi Gateway YDWG-02 - 2022

New Raymarine AIS receiver/sender NMEA 2000 - 2020

Repainted Decks and now skid - 2020

Replaced all Hard Dodger windows - 2020

Replaced main engine injectors - 2019

New Force 10 galley stove - 2019

Replaced lifelines to Dyneena - 2018

Second auto pilot added - Garmin below deck hydraulic - 2016

NMEA backbone 2000 - 2016

Replaced with new Splendide 7100 XC third generation Washer/ dryer - 2017

Replace freshwater system / piping to Pex - 2015

Added bigger pump to tank ballast system with directional switch with one direction flow restrictor

Replaced hot water tank - 2015

Raymarine backbone system throughout boat - 2014 

Replaced all PLam counter tops, table to quarter inch solid surface - 2014

Upgraded insulation to refrigerator and freezer - 2014

New refrigerator system to Seafrost - 2014

New freezer to Seafrost system - 2014

New Nexus / Garmin instrument system - 2014

Replaced house bank batteries to Winston 400 amp at 24 V lithium lifepo4 - 2014

Added new custom aluminum cockpit / cabin doors - 2014

Added cockpit Center with folding table 2014 / added mount for chartplotter - 2014

Added bimini framing, and canvas - 2011

Move location of propane tanks - 2011

Sailing Magazine commentary from the designer, Bob Perry

Tullie Gordon began stopping by the office in early summer. We talked boats for the next three months. I finally suggested that he fly to California and arrange to sail on my 55-foot design Stealth Chicken. Tullie arranged to crew on Chicken for the Ensenada race. During this race, he steered Chicken at more than 15 knots. He returned to Seattle primed and ready to begin. "I want one like that, but bigger."

Tullie's new boat is a 60-foot performance cruiser with a racing bent. The hull form features a broad stem and relatively firm bilges. The D/L is 109 on a displacement of 32,000 pounds. The keel is a vertical, constant-chord fin with a 9,500-pound, torpedolike bulb on the bottom at 8.66 feet draft. Tullie and his two sons are tall (6 feet, 7 inches), so I designed in 6 feet, 9 inches of headroom throughout the boat. The rest of the interior is laid out to a scale that will work well for tall people.

The owner's stateroom is forward and includes a large head with a big shower stall/tub. I combined the chart table with the freezer in order to increase the top of the chart table for a spacious nav area. The aft head is tight but it does have direct access from the starboard quarter cabin. Pilot berths were designed for a racing crew or the grandchildren. The port quarter cabin, which features pipe-style upper and lowers berths, will do double duty as a workroom.

The deck features a two-level cockpit. The aft portion is raised for visibility and the forward section drops down a step for protection under the hard dodger. Seat backs are deep in this area with the seatings all on one level. I chose two carbon fiber wheels to open up the cockpit area and provide easy access to the swim step. Side decks are generous.

Jim Betts of Truckee, California, is building the boat. The hull is aluminum and the decks are composite glass and carbon fiber. To achieve an attractive rollededge look to the sheer, we used a split pipe detail to mate the glass deck and the aluminum hull together. We split and rewelded a section of mast extrusion to form the bowsprit which supports the two anchor rollers and the tack for the asymmetrical chute. The bowsprit was masterfully built in aluminum by Bett's crew and ties into a recessed area for the anchors that fairleads to a windlass in the well. The Harken genoa furling drum is also in this well. Lines lead aft from the mast under the hard dodger to the winches, including the electric main halyard winch.

Designing the boat for Puget Sound meant a tall rig. Skip Chetelat of Forespar helped with the rig design. A staysail stay is included for heavy-air sailing. There is no mainsheet travelers You do not need one on a boat like this. There is never a time on this style of boat when you need to pull the boom up to centerline, let alone beyond centerline. If you do, you would be oversheeting the main.

We are using the 100-horsepower Yanmar diesel with a Hurth V-drive with 2.5 to I reduction and RTL's MaxProp.

The launching is set for midwinter. Tullie and I have had a good time putting this design together, while the crew at Bett's yard is doing a great job on the building end.

Optimized cruiser for performance-loving owner.