I see a 50" DeFever Trawler for sale in Mexico. Cat's Meow it's called. It this really a 49" model. Yacht World YW# 2426-2520709. It's a wood boat. Do you believe this was built in the states? The boat has quite a history.
All and any comments are welcome!
Bill
Handsome boat
I've got to same about the eagle 40. I have always loved the stern and the low CG.
Guys, I admit the D-F 49 has great lines and must have great interior volume, and travels very well. My only query, and hopefully you can answer this, that cockpit arrangement, where you have a beautifully covered aft section, but instead of a full rear cockpit, or a full width aft cabin with raised sundeck on top, it has this roof of the aft cabin coming up right into the space which one would normally use as a lovely covered indoor/outdoor living/fishing/lounging space. How does that work..?
I think you mean the DF-48... the DF-49 was a raised pilothouse. By the way the DF-48 was basically the same boat as the DF-50 built by Oriental Boatbuilding Company, and it was also built in steel (one of the guys on here has the steel one). The DF-49 in turn was a very slightly stretched DF-46 Alaskan.
All of these are slight variations on the arrangement used on Island Eagle, which was designed in 1963. Art's other early boats (built by Lindwall) were almost all double-deckers, although Pau Hana was not.
I have a complete database of Art's designs, I will try and get it up on Wikipedia one of these days.
Scott Welch
Island Eagle
Yes, I think he meant the DF-48. That said, the 49 is no great shakes in terms of interior space utilization. In fact, I was shocked and disappointed when I looked at one last Spring. Looks very "shippy" on the outside, though.
Guys, thank you for all the input. This is what a mate of mine down under wrote about the Defevers.
The Defevers didn't have very good fastenings in the bow and they are renowned for opening up in heavy weather. Instead of naval bronze they used silicone bronze fastenings which corroded very quickly with the sappy timber that was used to build them. Many Defevers in Australia of that size opened up on their maiden voyages in temperatures over 28 degrees C. This model is top heavy and not a sea-kindly vessel. This vessel would be OK in the inland waterways and lakes of the States. To summarize, this vessel is best left in Mexico (and it's not cheap!).
My waters are a lot rougher than most of you have. I need a real passagemaker, or a win the Powerball and retire tomorrow. If that happens I'm coming to visit you ALL.
Bill
I've wrestled with myself quite a bit after reading the above.Therefore please check your info before you slam a brand of boats as your post is not based on first hand knowledge or fact.
Ok, so as everyone skirted round it, and no-one actually answered my question, I take it having the roof of the aft cabin intrude into what would otherwise be a nice covered aft cockpit does not work that well, (exact vessel length being irrelevant here), but yez love your boats so much otherwise you put up with that..?
I guess it does shade the aft cabin in summer and keep it cooler, for sure...
How well do these boats handle rough water. Say on a trip from Mexico or the West Coast to Hawaii. Can you Defever owners tell me a little about fuel consumption?
Would you consider 4000 hours on a DD engine a lot or average?
Bill
Thanks. Ok, I think I can see how that could work. Maybe not quite as flexible as if it was all covered open flat cockpit area, but close...I really like the covered aft cabin. Headroom is such that we have deck chairs under it and the overhang means the aft galley window and the master stateroom ports are all covered....The aft cockpit is 4 1/2' deep and the cabin top makes for perfect seating. When you include the top for seating then you don't need chairs so it really translates to a 6 1/2' cockpit which is plenty large for anything you might want to do back there. It really is a blend of a Europa and a trunk cabin.