1930 Blanchard Lake Union Dreamboat
MER-NA is a 36-foot, Raised Deck Cruiser, built by the Blanchard Boat Company, Seattle, Washington
For more than six decades beginning in 1907, the N.J. Blanchard Boat Company produced some of the finest motor yachts, sailboats, and small tenders to emerge from the Pacific Northwest….. including two dozen "Lake Union Dreamboats" that became a trademark of the company. MER-NA was launched in 1930 (hull #25) and is the last in the series of the Blanchard "Dreamboats".
Purchased by her current owner and brought to Lake Minnetonka twenty years ago, she has been under our care, including several extensive reconstruction and upgrade rounds of maintenance, further detailed below.
Priced at $129,900.

Specifications, MER-NA
Classification Documented Motor Vessel, #230-292
Year 1930
Builder N.J. Blanchard Boat Works, Seattle
Model Standardized Cruiser (“Lake Union Dreamboat”)
Hull Number 25 in series (last one built)
Length Overall 36’-0” (Waterline length also 36’-0”)
Maximum Beam 9’-6”
Draft 3.5 feet
Height 17’ 2” from waterline to mast light (bridge clearance)
Power Yanmar 4JH2E, 4-cylinder diesel, 51 horsepower, 4267 hours
Cruising Speed 6-8 knots, maximum 9 knots
Cruising RPM 2,100-2,600 (comfortable)Speed / RPM 5.1knots @ 1500, 6.4 @ 2000, 7.7 @ 2500, 8.8 @ 3000
Fuel Consumption 0.5 gallon per hour at slow cruise (2100 rpm/6 knots); maximum 1.5 gph @ 3300rpm
Fuel Tanks New aluminum tank (August, 2001) 45-gallons, new fiber 23-gallon (Jan 2004). Total capacity 68 gal.
Batteries Two 12-volt starting batteries plus three 12-volt “house” batteries rated at 360Ah. Xantrax RV2012 charger / 1500W inverter.
Water Tank Stainless steel, 75 gallons, under forward berth
Pumps Brass water pumps (original) in galley and head
Heat Red Dot R-290, forced-air heater in pilothouse and main cabin (2000 BTU, works off engine heat exchanger).
Stove
Restored (original) Sound-brand cast-iron galley stove, stainless oven, burns kerosene, 1qt./hr., 15 gal. tank in bow.
Hot water 10-gallon stainless tank heated by galley stove
Lighting 12-volt original crystal fixtures; new wiring throughout (2004).
Water closet SeaEra, 12v. macerating with 24 gal. waste water tank.
Fathometer Ross 240’GPS Garmin, 3010C, color, moving-map, chartplotter with GDL 30A, marine (XM WX) weather satellite receiver VHF ICOM, IC-M59 (new 2001)
Stereo XM Satellite AM/FM radio with tape deck and 6-CD changer
Horns Air and electric
Planking Western Red Cedar
Framing White Oak, 1-3/8” x 1-1/4” bent frames
Deck beams 1-1/8” x 2-1/4,” Douglas Fir
Decking Tongue-and-groove cedar, covered with painted canvas
Bilge pumps Rule automatic, 1” discharge; Par automatic, 1” discharge.
Steering Cable
Anchors Bruce anchor, 50’ chain, 250’ line
Storm anchor (larger Danforth type), 50’ chain, 250’ line
Safety Four dry-chemical fire extinguishers, 2-1/2-5 lb.
Dinghy Original, 7’-6” lapstrake, Western Red Cedar with White Oak frames, on pilothouse roof (mast and boom are used to lower and retrieve skiff).
Searchlight Two: one 12-volt, pilothouse roof, and one 12-volt remote control on bow sprint (removable)
Life jackets Eight life jackets, one ring buoy
Clock, Barometer One each, in main cabin
Windshield wipers Two wipers and one windshield fan
Refrigeration Large (10 cu. ft.) stainless-steel icebox w/three access doors in pilothouse. Alder-Barbour compressor/evaporator provides refrigeration drawing only 5 amps.
Miscellaneous Original crystal “Mer-Na” glassware, Burgundy mohair upholstery throughout- All new through-hulls (2004)- Electrical system completely rewired and refused (2004)- galvanic isolator / inverter / charger- Hull completely stripped (2007). The forward keel and garboards were found rotten and were replaced. New ribs were sistered to the forward 4 stations. All other wood was in excellent shape and is documented with photos. The entire hull was refastened with 4000 hot-dipped, galvanized screws and each head sealed with 2-part West epoxy. Wood below the waterline was wadded & caulked. The entire boat was repainted with 2 coats primer and 3 top coats. - Transom completely rebuilt 2015