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The DeFever Cruisers Association DeFever Cruisers - A Club for Yachting Enthusiasts with a Passion for DeFever Vessels and the Cruising Life!/ and forum is a welcoming group of DeFever owners and fans. Many DF owners post boats coming up for sale to this group first.

Although no longer being built, I highly recommend a DeFever, any size and any age, if well-maintained! They were always designed as an "offshore cruiser" and can handle more seas than the crew. They are very livable, comfortably arranged, have good storage, usually stand-up engine rooms, and...

We have our 2nd trawler in LaPaz, have been at 3 marinas, and for a decade, have spent several months each year at our condo on the Mogote. I agree that visiting any town via land is recommended prior to committing, but that is one advantage of having a boat as your home. Regarding LaPaz, I will...

Have you been in/on a GB32? They're smaller than they look in photos. That would be a cozy crowd. On our GB42, 8 for an afternoon in nice weather is doable; 4 overnight is tight and with poles in the cockpit might be a rodeo. Our DF50 tricabin would meet your criteria, but yes, 8 knots max.

Agree that YW has lost its appeal as a boat shopping venue with their non-user-friendly changes in searches. And annoying pop-ups that take over the screen. I'm not shopping as much as researching DeFevers and Grand Banks; I rarely visit YW anymore. And NOAA has closed their public access so I...

Join the DeFever Cruisers Association. "For sale" boats are usually listed there before going public. You can also find fellow owners' locations, contact info, and the model of DeFever (or other) boat they own. Good luck in your search! www DOT defevercruisers DOT com...

Our 1969 wooden DeFever also has both bronze and stainless interior hardware, along with solid brass. When replacing or adding something new, we've chosen bronze or solid brass when we can find it. We often find them in the salvage bin at a chandlery or house parts salvage supplier, and turn to...

According to my records, there were 85 hulls built of the DeFever 41 by Miracle Boat Company, beginning in 1976, as a stretched version of the DF70-38 . I find no other 41s built in that era. There were initially 35/ DF70-38 hulls built in wood at Oriental Boat Company from 1970-1972, and then...

We have had several acoustical tiles tested in older trawlers. We sent samples to labs found online; costs vary widely. Some tiles contained asbestos, some did not. We've never received a follow-up from local authorities. Removal and disposal of non-asbestos waste is much easier than safely...

Yes, DeFever 44s are well-built, very popular boats. And a limited commodity since DeFevers are no longer being built. I suggest you join the DeFevers Cruisers Association; for-sale boats are often posted there, "within the family", first.

DeFever 49-52's Although a limited quantity since no longer made, DeFevers might tick all your boxes, especially the tri-cabins or pilothouse Alaskans. They are offshore-longrange, well-equipped cruisers with spacious, bright saloon, 3 cabins, 2 full heads, lots of storage, comfortable U-shaped...

Composting heads - 5+ years Thank you for this complete and accurate assessment. Our 50yo wood tri-cabin had an old direct-overboard, salt-water head in the aft cabin, and a stinky, finicky old head up front. We had to ban corn on the boat as a kernel was the perfect size to cause the valve to...

GB + DeFevers Also look at the early DeFevers - still many early offshore cruisers afloat, including beautiful woodies and cherished Lindwalls. They're roomier, well-designed, sea-worthy, and built for longevity.

We had a variety of new, rigid plastic, engraved labels made at our local trophy shop. Most are black with white beveled edge and lettering, some are red. Some screw into the wood backing, some attach with adhesive. Font size varies depending on the use. All match our original labels.

Arcturos Arcturos was the covergirl on Passagemaker Magazine (I think) a few years ago as a new build with an in-depth article. We've seen her around Puget Sound a few times over the last several years.

Use caution with the white marine hoses. We had one degrade on the inside and contaminate our water tanks with small bits of white plastic. We stick to the clear silicone ones with brass fitting.

We winter on land in LaPaz and boat in the area. Winter can be "cold", both water and weather, and plenty windy. The real boating season starts in spring - sometimes March, with April and beyond perfect. Summer if you like hot, and then hurricane season is here, too. November again is perfect...

I can't speak to driving and docking but I'm an experienced, minimally competent, lone deck hand on our 1969, wooden 50ft DeFever. Built for "heavy-duty, offshore cruising", she's heavy, single-screw, no thrusters, with a 6ft draft, and carries 1800 gallons of fuel and water. My skipper, whose...

Include DeFevers in your research. Since the 1950s, they've been favorite, comfortable, sea worthy, off-shore cruisers that can cross oceans, run Alaska to Acapulco, or do the Loop. No longer being built, they are all used and usually loved. Good luck!

Oh! What a shame! Hope someone rescues her. I'd love to have those teak refrigerator doors if she does get pieced out; ours were removed for RV Dometics. Just FYI: She's model DF 77-43. Arthur DeFever commissioned 46 hulls to be built at YuChing Taiwan in 1977.

In the 1960s, DeFevers were specifically designed as "Offshore Cruisers", based on commercial tuna boats, to take recreational boaters from Alaska to Acapulco and beyond. They've cruised around the world, and most of the early wooden ones are still in use, with a multitude of newer generations...

An old-school homemaker's trick for removing adhesive (stickers on frigs or car windows, price tags, etc.) is to saturate in oil (WD40, butter, spray Pam, peanut butter, etc.) , then scrape with a credit card, and wash with warm water and detergent. Good luck!

We have an inexpensive chest freezer from Home Depot. Cools down quickly and holds well. We plug it in when on shore power or running the generator, or can use the inverter if needed. Only takes a couple hours a day to keep it below freezing. It's on the bridge in the sun so we do have a cover...

We usually winter in LaPaz which has a very established expat boater community dating back to the 1960s. The advice you've been given above is perfect - especially "be kind and give it your best try". The effort is appreciated. Phone translators are invaluable but when off grid, which includes...

Walk the docks rather than surf the web to find a wider variety of trawlers in assorted conditions. Get onboard whenever you can just for a look-see (and don't trust what you see in the "for sale" photos). Weigh your available time, skills and budget as you assess various yay/nay conditions for...