* * * * FOR SALE * * * *

THE WINNIE ESTELLE Caribbean Charter Business.
WE WILL SELL THE WINNIE FOR $185,000 without the business. She is in perfect condition and is maintained that way. We can bring her to the Chesapeake Bay. See pictures below of the restoration and the shinning pristine Winnie Estelle restored to original specs except for engine and a head. The last of an endangered species.

This Charter business started in the mid 80’s by restoring the Chesapeake Bay Buy Boat Winnie Estelle.  It was a six year project.  The Winnie is now featured in a book called Chesapeake Bay Buy Boats, by Larry Chowning.  ISBN 0-87033-553-7 (Hard Cover)  pages 213 and 214.  There are only about 50 of these Chesapeake Bay Buy Boats remaining in the world today.  They were used in the 1920’s in the Chesapeake Bay areas of Maryland and Virginia. The Winnie Estelle is 66 feet long with a caterpillar engine and sail.  She is rated for 40 passengers and is registered in Belize and documented in the US. Every hurricane season the Winnie goes up the Rio Dulce River ( pronounced Rio Dool See) in Guatemala to a protected boat yard for the regular haul out.  She is in perfect pristine condition now and always. . .

In a letter from Captain Roberto he writes, "one afternoon at the boat yard I was up on the hill looking down on the Winnie hauled up, and started to imagine the Winnie Estelle at the dock in Crisfield Maryland in 1920 taking on cargo for Smith Island or some where , and there are some horses and carts along with a model T truck and maybe a couple of more model T cars, brand new, there on the dock, and the men and women are in old time dress 1920 style taking on cargo.  This boat is a historical vessel, an AMERICAN HERITAGE; an excellent restoration to be protected for now and the future. . . "

The restoration was done in a meticulous manner with Belizean Heart Pine for the hull and Belizean Hardwoods for the framing. 

Perfection Every Bit Of The Way

Built 1920 in Chesapeake Bay Virginia and Rebuilt from Honduras Heart Pine, Belizean Cabbage Bark, and other hardwoods of great strength and durability. The original keel is still sound and intact.
Attention was paid to every detail as this old Chesapeake Bay Buy Boat was restored to pristine condition. To the right is the cargo hold and guest quarters. She also has a custom mahogany pilot house with two bunks, galley and head.
An economical and reliable Straight six caterpillar diesel 3-33B. 2 1/2 to 1 reduction cat gear. Turbo charged with complete engine room top components. A new shaft and prop was installed to match the engine.
"The Winnie Estelle is the finest restoration of a Chesapeake Bay Buy Boat that I have ever seen." As quoted by Malcholm Smith when he visited Belize and sailed aboard the Winnie Estelle. Malcholm Smith overseen the construction of the M.V. California and the M.V. Pride of Baltimore. Malcholm came to Belize seeking material for these ships and the incredible lumber available in Belize is also what the Winnie Estelle is rebuilt with.

The Winnie Estelle is now and has been for the past 15 or 16 years the center piece of the Winnie Estelle Caribbean Charter Business operating in the  Belizean waters of San Pedro.    

WE WILL SELL THE WINNIE FOR $185,000 without the business. She is in perfect condition and is maintained that way. We can bring her to the Chesapeake Bay.

Come Aboard the Winnie Estelle Fun, Adventure, Snorkeling, Diving, Charters Great Snorkeling If you want to get great snorkeling, comfortable, relaxing cruising and the very best in friendly service, join Roberto Smith and his beautiful lady of the seas " "Winnie Estelle" on one of her lazy day trips to Caye Caulker. You get two long snorkel stops in beautiful aquamarine waters; Coral Gardens which is a huge area of beautiful colorful reefs AND the world-famous Shark-Ray Alley, home to friendly nurse sharks and southern sting-rays galore.         Dolphin watching on board the "Winnie Estelle" on every trip! There's a Free Bar on board with local rum and beer, sodas, cordials, ice & water available throughout the day. Snacks are served just after each snorkel stop, and include lots of fruits! There is a bathroom and shower on board.   Lunch isn't included in the cost, but you'll be very pleasantly surprised at the low prices at some of Caye Caulker's great restaurants. During your stay on the island, there's plenty of time for exploring and shopping. After that, it's time to join the Winnie Estelle for the afternoon snorkel stop and the cruise back to San Pedro. It's a FULL DAY of relaxation & fun & freedom ... and  isn't that the reason you came to Belize?   PRICE: Adults $55 U.S., Children $25 U.S. Departures every Tuesday, Thursday & Sunday Other Special Trips with the Winnie Estelle Captain Robert Smith also offers group charters down the barrier reef islands of Belize to the Rio Dulce. This river coming out of Lake Isabel in Guatemala has the only known fjord on the eastern side of the American Continent. Some miles up river is the historical old Spanish fort, complete with cannons. This is a spectacular trip and little known pristine piece of geography. The Winnie Estelle is also ideal for trips to any of the three offshore Atolls outside the main barrier reef of Belize. These are across the open Caribbean Sea and then you enter an oblong reef circle with islands and coral reefs and shallows on the inside. Excellent fishing, scuba and snorkeling. The Atolls are around 50 miles long each and about 10 miles wide with islands on the inside. Tobacco Caye, South Water Caye and some of the other well known islands along the Great Barrier Reef of Belize are also accessible to the Winnie Estelle. The distance from the home base of San Pedro to Tobacco Caye is about 85 miles. Goff's Caye National Park is a 40 mile run along the barrier reef. Any trips to these cayes are on a charter basis. . . . and the charter business contact information continues from here, but there are links in that portion and Ebay doesn't allow links so I have removed them. Just contact me direct with any questions about the business using the contact info that EBAY provides. For more information, please call us at the: Phone: 386-462-1701 Don Appelbaum

Since the Winnie Estelle was restored she no longer carries cargo; only bare foot tourists out to the world famous living reef off of the coast of Belize where the Blue Hole is located. The Blue Hole is a popular world known diving area.

Approximately 60 miles (100 kilometers) from Belize City, the almost perfectly circular Blue Hole is more than 1,000 feet (305 meters) across and some 400 feet (123 meters) deep.

The hole is the opening to what was a dry cave system during the Ice Age. When the ice melted and the sea level rose, the caves were flooded, creating what is now a magnet for intrepid divers. Today the Blue Hole is famed for its sponges, barracuda, corals, angelfish—and a school of sharks often seen patrolling the hole’s edge.

We are now selling the Winnie and the charter business that has been created around this Historical Vessel.  Over the past 16 years the Winnie Estelle Charter business has created a solid footing in this growing Caribbean tourist area.  Since the Cruise ships now dock at Belize City a steady stream of tourist are brought into the area regularly.  

Tourism is most definately on the rise in Belize.

San Pedro, Belize:
San Pedro is where the Winnie docks.  Look at this paridise!

WE WILL SELL THE WINNIE FOR $185,000 without the business. She is in perfect condition and is maintained that way. We can bring her to the Chesapeake Bay.

We are looking for that person or group who can step into this operating Caribbean business,  appreciate this one of a kind boat and enjoy the Caribbean life style.  The Winnie will be 90 years old in a few month, in perfect condition, and a national treasure originating in the waters of the Chesapeake Bay in 1920.  She is museum quality and continues to remain in that condition year after year.

Unlike the Bahamas the Belizean waters offer protection from Hurricane season.  We use the Rio Dulce (river) which goes inland into Guatemala to the protected boat yards. 

Captain Roberto Smith is a good captain and meticulous boat builder.  The Winnie is always in perfect condition. The full potential that the Winnie Estelle has in the tourist business has not been utilized nor explored.  The Winnie could be fitted with dive gear and would be a unique dive boat in the area.  Unlike the conventional steel and glass boats that are in operation today, the Winnie is a shallow draft boat and can navigate close to islands and quays and keys and over shallow reef areas, , ,  perfect for sunset dinner cruises to secluded Caribbean islands.  Plan a trip to visit and  decide what you could do with what we started. 

The Winnie is in operation now.  (acutally she is being hauled out as is usual during hurricane season) You can visit Belize and Captain Roberto will be there to greet you.  (You can still visit and see the Winnie on the Rio Dulce River in Guatemala until hurricane season is over - usual return to Belize waters is December) Check out the business and see what you think.  Imagine what you could do with the business.  This is a unique business opportunity for a person or group to take control of.  Time goes only one way and we won’t always be young so kick of those shoes and suit and let your next venture be an adventure in the Caribbean with the Charter Business and the vessel Winnie Estelle at the asking price of $325,000 for this Caribbean Business . . . for questions and more details contact. We will sell the Winnie without the business for $185,000 . . . . we can bring it to the Chesapeake Bay. Trip expenses negotiable. Don Appelbaum 386-462-1701 email don@farmtofamily.com