1959 Rybovich Express

A true Classic sportfish, hull number 39, was built in 1959 by John Rybovich & Sons Boat Works in West Palm Beach, FL. Her original name was SAPO (it was this owners 3rd Rybovich build). Five loving owners later, the current owner has kept her in excellent condition over the past 13 years and enjoyed his annual Bahamas excursions. In 2008 this boat went through an extensive refit and repower when she got a pair of brand-new Cummins QSB diesels and in 2010 a full tuna tower built by Jack Hopewell. The 2008-refit included all plumbing, full rewiring and electrical panel, tanks, decks, through-hulls, shafts/running gear, exhaust, trim tabs, steering, bilges primed and Awlgrip finished, brightwork replaced or refinished - completed by Michael Rybovich & Sons boatyard for a well-known boat collector. Since that time the boat has enjoyed high level care and shows pride of ownership. More recently in 2019 new Garmin electronics were installed. In 2023 there was a new Northern Lights 6kW generator installed on a sliding stainless-steel mount and complete 1000hr engine service of the Cummins diesels with removal and cleaning of all cooling circuit components and replacement of any needed hoses/ clamps etc. In 2024 a new keel was glassed in place and there was a full paint job, bottom job, and running gear tune/prop-speed. In 2025 the cockpit teak decking was lightly sanded, recaulked, and sealed. The interior teak and holly sole was refinished and clear coated.

This vessel has been thoughtfully cared for and yet is still practical and in regular use.

It can be shown by appointment in South Miami. Most of the photos (except profiles) on this spec were taken March 20, 2024. 

Full paint job completed in March of 2024 (snow white). There was also a new keel laminated into the bottom which is fully fiberglassed to the waterline. A spray/lifting rail runs from the transom along the chine to the bow. A cockpit spray rail runs from the tumblehome transom forward to the about the helm seats. A perfect example of the Rybovich famous broken shear line is accented by the sharply finished brightwork toe rail. The teak cap rail follows the line of the toe rail and melds into the trunk cabin to become the half-round molding. Her iconic windows are lightly tinted green with the curved corners sections which can be unforgettable. There's a handsome crown to the foredeck, another curve which is matched by the coach top bordered by a teak drip-rail and which has the original varnished signal mast mounted in the center. The hull does have some flair at the bow and there are two portlight to either side. A polished stainless steel strike plate rub rail    

An anchor locker is accessed from inside the boat behind a cabinet in the head. An anchor rode of chain lead followed by 5/8th inch nylon passes through a hawser pipe onto the foredeck. An aluminum Fortress FX-16 anchor is stored aft inside the cockpit lazarette. There is a polished aluminum "hoop"-style bow railing with a burgee mast.

The forward trunk cabin has chrome safety railings on the top to either side and when at the dock there is a white canvas mask to cover the helm deck windows. These forward windows can be opened for ventilation and there are deck hatches above the head and above the salon area. The helm deck has the 2 forward windows and the corner curved windows with the coach top extending back to the cockpit. The sides are open although there are white mesh Textilene screens which are track secured at the bottom and snap secured on the top which allow air to flow but minimize any water entry.

Moving aft there is a teak transom. Boat has great dock presence as the varnished mahogany from the cockpit coaming boards run forward to the inside panels of the bridge deck, the helm console, and cabin bulkhead all in beautiful, varnished wood. The underside of the coach top is vinyl headliner material which is neatly trimmed with teak molding and has a 12V light in the center. There are two white painted engine boxes over the Cummins motors with cushioned helm and companion bench seats. The boxes also have cushions for their tops behind the bench seat supports. The helm seat has a fold-down footrest on the bulkhead. The helm console is true artwork with a mahogany helm pod with chrome three spoke custom helm wheel and chrome bezel over glass covered instrument cluster with Steward Warner analog gauges RPM, oil pressure, coolant temperature, and alternator voltage. To either side of the pod are single lever chrome binnacles which are connected to ZF electric controls. Just ahead is the compass mounted on a wood base. Below the helm pod are a row of switches (start/stops) and a few more gauges. Forward of the companion seat is the varnished bulkhead with a window to the cabin. Centerline is the hinged mahogany door with window and lift up top giving easy two step access down to the cabin.

Cabin is white painted with teak trimming, has light teal colored seat cushions with white piping - a settee to port with decor pillows and a raised dinette to starboard. Dinette table has a laminated Caribbean chart top with teak edge and fiddle trim. The dinette table can be lowered and converted to a berth. The settee has a slide out base that can convert it to a double berth. Teak and holly sole throughout with lots of natural light due to her trunk cabin windows which have drapes with gather straps for privacy and wood valances. The cabin is air-conditioned and moving forward down two steps there is a galley area with DC refrigerator, microwave oven, and stainless counters (lip edge and backsplash) with sink. Across to starboard side from the refrigerator is a door with a hanging locker. Above the refrigerator and hanging locker are teak bordered countertops with two hand-painted Marlin table lamps which are secure and hardwired. Galley cabinets with sliding door storage are outboard of the countertops. Furthest forward is a door to the head with an oval sink, opening mirror, and vanity with a Jabsco electric head with Lectra San beneath a hideaway hatch.

Canvas: There are two stainless arms with pulley ends that fit the upper rod holders on the tower legs - these suspend a canvas cockpit shade for use at the dock. Also a full cockpit cover and sides, transom drape, canvas cover for signal mast on coach top, tower helm console cover, deckhouse side panel covers.

Jack Hopewell aluminum tuna tower (new 2010) with laced buggy top, full tower helm with fiberglass control box, padded belly-band, and fold-down seat. Rupp single spreader outriggers with telescoping back bars to lower air draft.

Teak cockpit deck and covering boards with varnish mahogany coaming boards. Four rod teak rocket launcher with polished chrome 4-inch stanchion. One flush rod holder in each coverboard and two rod holders welded to each tower leg. (2) 12V electric reel plugs beneath gunwales. Large transom door. Saltwater and freshwater washdown spigots at forward side of cockpit on back of engine box, port and starboard. Corner drain scuppers with screens in cockpit, direct overboard. The coverboards also have chrome hawsers to guide aft lines to cleats below. Two underwater lights are facing aft at transom.

Fiberglass step box with teak top and a single shank metal dive ladder mounted beneath the gunwale to starboard. A hinged lazarette hatch opens with gas shock ram assist to access the rudder table and bilge. 

• Lower helm has a hinged opening cabinet below the helm console for electronics
• (2) 10-inch Garmin GPS Chartplotter/GPS/depth sounder, networked units also display engine data and have control of stereo 
• Garmin radar with dome antenna on mast mounted below tower helm box
• Furuno autopilot
• ICOM VHF radio - full function command mic
• SmartCraft digital engine display (backup) is mounted in cabinet just inside cabin door next to lower helm
• Danforth 5-inch magnetic compass
• ACR EPIRB
• Stereo, Clarion 12V AM/FM CD player with 4 speakers (2 under gunwale, 2 in cabin), new 2023

Tower helm has:

• (2) 10-inch Garmin Chartplotter/GPS/depth (photos to be updated)
• ICOM VHF radio with external speaker
• (2) antenna masts mounted at tower station floor with Rupp standoff supports
• (2) Garmin GPS antenna are mounted on the aft edge of the tower buggy top 

• Northern Lights 6kW generator (new 2023, approx. 60 hours) mounted on stainless sliding pan and rails. 
• 30amp shore power inlet plug in cockpit beneath starboard gunwale, 50' shore cord
• 30amp Guest galvanic isolator
• 110V AC / 12V DC electrical system with updated main electrical panel with circuit breakers and shore/gen switching, vessel was rewired in 2008. Panel is behind a door inside the cabin just forward of the dinette table.
• Charles Industries automatic battery charger 12V 40amp
• (6) Odyssey batteries with radial shutoff switches
• Bonding system
• Navigation lights
• Spreader / flood lights mounted in tower for cockpit
• 110V outlets port and starboard in the galley, one in the head above the vanity, and one beneath the dinette table

• Cummins QSB 5.9 HO common-rail diesels 380hp each, SmartCraft digital engine displays one for each helm station
• Airsep crankcase ventilation system / air filters
• ZF marine model 220A transmissions, 1.5 : 1 reduction gears
• ZF marine electric controls with electric synchronizer
• 1 1/2" shafts, Tides dripless shaft logs with spare seals in carrier, note that through hull logs were converted to fiberglass during 2008 refit
• Racor 500-MA primary fuel filters on mains, Racor R-205 on generator
• Fuel priming pumps 
• Hard cast exhaust risers connected to fiberglass surge tubes
• Oil change hoses for mains and gears with quick connect fittings in engine room
• Thermal and acoustical insulation in engine compartment
• Engine boxes are hinged and can be opened with helm seats folded up
• Engine room air intake vents are beneath the gunwales at the outboard aft side of the boxes
• LED engine room lights, one on each side, forward bulkhead
• Teleflex SeaStar hydraulic steering
• 110V engine room blowers
• Engine room auto fire suppression bottles (2), one under each box
• (3) fuel tanks with selector switches for each engine in aft lazarette
• Trim tabs
• Fresh water, pressure system with 12V Shurflo pump
• (4) automatic/manual Rule bilge pumps
• High water alarm
• Cruisair reverse-cycle air-conditioning in cabin, 16k BTU
• Tower has a full helm with 3-spoke chrome wheel, short single lever ZF engine control binnacle, and SmartCraft engine display.

The Company offers the details of this vessel in good faith but cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of this information nor warrant the condition of the vessel. A buyer should instruct his agents, or his surveyors, to investigate such details as the buyer desires validated. This vessel is offered subject to prior sale, price change, or withdrawal without notice. Buyer should assume that anything not specifically written on the spec sheet could be excluded, certainly all handheld electronics, tools, fishing tackle, dive gear, weather gear/personal safety gear, and 6-man valise life raft will not convey. The vessel name "CHINO" is reserved and will be removed from the vessel upon sale prior to departure from dock. This includes the CHINO throw rings mounted on deckhouse sides. Upon presentation of a written acceptable offer to purchase, a complete written list of exclusions can be provided by request. A reasonable number of dock lines, fenders, and life jackets will be included in the sale.

Engine hours are as of the date of the original listing and are a representation of what the listing broker is told by the owner and/or actual reading of the engine hour meters. The broker cannot guarantee the true hours. It is the responsibility of the purchaser and/or his agent to verify engine hours, warranties implied or otherwise and major overhauls as well as all other representations noted on the listing brochure.

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