2007 Cooper Maple Leaf 45

1988/2007 Cooper Maple Leaf 45
Extensively Refit Canadian-Built Center-Cockpit Cruising Yacht

”Way She Goes II” is an unusually accomplished example of the Cooper Maple Leaf 45: a substantial Canadian-built cruising yacht distinguished by her center-cockpit configuration, private aft owner’s suite, robust construction and comprehensive recent refit.

Her hull was laid in 1988 as part of a custom private project and professionally completed and commissioned in 2007. The result is a yacht with the structural character and generous proportions of a traditional offshore cruiser, complemented by a substantially newer interior, machinery installation and onboard systems than her original hull date might suggest.

Designed by Stan Huntingford, the Maple Leaf 45 carries approximately 27,700 pounds of displacement, 9,000 pounds of lead ballast and a 14-foot beam. Her balanced spade rudder, fin keel and 862-square-foot sail plan provide a capable passagemaking platform with the volume required for genuine long-term living aboard. A protected center cockpit, recently renewed hardtop and full enclosure create a commanding helm station suited to extended cruising in varied conditions.

Wide deck areas extend fore and aft of the cockpit, offering excellent space for lounging, sail handling and practical onboard living. At the stern, an integrated sugar-scoop transom and swim platform provide convenient access to the water and tender. A Walker Bay 10-foot dinghy with chaps and a Yamaha 15hp outboard is carried on stainless-steel davits.

Below deck, ”Way She Goes II” offers an inviting interior finished in cherry cabinetry and veneers, contrasted by maple soles and a light headliner. The main saloon is spacious and residential in character, with a generous dining arrangement, an opposing settee, extensive cabinetry and overhead handrails for security while underway.

The C-shaped galley is designed for practical use at sea and includes a Force 10 range, built-in refrigerator and freezer, deep double stainless-steel sink and substantial storage. The refrigeration system received a compressor refit in 2026. A dedicated navigation station and adjoining workbench provide a functional technical area for passage planning, communications and onboard projects.

The defining feature of the accommodation is the expansive aft owner’s cabin. Positioned privately behind the center cockpit, it includes a centerline queen berth, more than six feet of standing headroom and a private ensuite bathroom with a separate shower and half tub—an uncommon amenity aboard a sailing yacht of this size. Direct access to the engine room also simplifies inspection and maintenance.

Forward, a separate V-berth cabin and private wet head provide comfortable, self-contained accommodations for guests. In total, the yacht offers two private cabins, two heads and sleeping capacity for up to six.

A comprehensive refit completed in December 2024 addressed the yacht’s primary propulsion, electrical, navigation, rigging, anchoring, mechanical and safety systems. Further work in 2025 and 2026 included topside refinishing, installation of a new stainless-steel diesel day tank, refrigeration upgrades, a new alternator and rebuilding of the bow-thruster motor.

The 71hp Westerbeke diesel has approximately 3,000 hours and drives a three-blade bronze propeller through a direct-drive system. Recent work includes a new PSS dripless shaft seal, manifold gasket, mixing elbow, cooling hoses, anti-siphon system and renewed rudder-post packing. The Side-Power twin-propeller bow thruster received a new leg and propeller in 2024, followed by a motor rebuild in 2026. Cruising speed is approximately six knots, with a maximum speed of approximately eight knots.

The navigation suite was comprehensively renewed in December 2024 and includes:

* Raymarine Axiom+ 9 chartplotter
* Raymarine Quantum 2 radar
* Raymarine EV-400 autopilot
* Raymarine i70S wind instrumentation
* Raymarine depth, speed and GPS systems
* Em-Trak B954 Class B AIS transceiver
* Icom IC-M330 VHF
* Starlink internet
* New NMEA 2000 network

The electrical system was similarly rebuilt around an integrated Victron platform. Three 280Ah lithium batteries provide approximately 840Ah of house capacity, supported by 1,100 watts of solar generation, a Victron MultiPlus 3,000-watt inverter/charger, Victron MPPT regulation, Cerbo GX monitoring, Lynx distribution, galvanic isolation, DC-to-DC charging and extensive new wiring, breakers and fuses. A new 102-amp alternator was installed in 2026, with the original replacement retained as a spare.

This level of electrical autonomy is particularly valuable for an owner intending to cruise remotely, spend extended periods at anchor or operate the yacht independently of marina infrastructure.

The mast underwent a full refit in December 2024, including renewed internal wiring, lighting, antenna systems and in-mast furling components. Both standing and running rigging were replaced at the same time.

The current sail inventory includes a new Precision Sails in-mast furling mainsail and a new Precision Sails 135% genoa, together with a spare sail and whisker pole. Control lines are led aft to the protected cockpit, while four Harken winches and a new Harken 35 two-speed winch support efficient short-handed operation.

Ground tackle includes a 73-pound Rocna primary anchor installed in 2024, paired with Grade 43 high-test chain and a Maxwell 800 windlass. The CruiseRO watermaker has received a rebuilt high-pressure pump and new membrane, while additional recent mechanical work includes a new freshwater pump, hot-water tank, fuel filtration, steering-ram seals, wastewater valves and shower-drain pump.

Safety equipment was substantially renewed in 2024 and includes a new Revere six-person liferaft, EPIRB, Mustang inflatable offshore lifejackets, jacklines, Lifesling, flares and additional emergency equipment.

”Way She Goes II” is not a minimally equipped yacht awaiting a costly recommissioning. The present owners have already completed many of the most significant ownership expenditures: standing and running rigging, sails, lithium batteries, solar generation, navigation electronics, electrical distribution, anchoring equipment, safety gear, propulsion work, bow-thruster rebuilding, cockpit protection and topside refinishing.

With 130 gallons of fuel capacity, 150 gallons of freshwater, a watermaker, extensive solar generation, private owner and guest accommodations, substantial storage and a protected center cockpit, she is particularly well suited to an owner seeking an independent cruising lifestyle without sacrificing privacy or interior comfort.

Currently positioned in San Carlos, this unique sailing yacht offers immediate access to the Sea of Cortez and represents a rare opportunity to acquire a distinctive, comprehensively updated center-cockpit cruising yacht at a fraction of the replacement cost of a similarly equipped modern vessel.