Elvica and Arthur DeFever
There is a 50', 1968 DeFever named ELVICA being touted as the DeFever trawler prototype, and being DeFever's personal Yacht. Any info on this vessel. It is for sale, and I am interested, but don't know about a 1968 wooden vessel, and if the claims are bona fide.
Arthur DeFever was a naval architect who designed boats that were built by many yards in California, Mexico and Asia of wood, steel, aluminum and fiberglass. He designed fishing boats before WWII and, in 1959, his first "offshore cruiser" based on ocean-going work boats.
ELVICA was hull #1 (after the lofting hull) of DF68-50, Arthur DeFever's 1968 commissioned line of 26 hulls - tri-cabin, trunk deck, "offshore cruisers" built at Oriental Boat Company in Japan. It was one of DeFever's many personal boats over the years. We have a sistership from this production line, as are
Killick and
Emily B; most of them are known to be still afloat on the US/BC/MX west coasts, and mostly in good shape.
ELVICA has received exceptional care, has spent most of her 52 years in Santa Barbara, and is under a full canvas cover.
The early DeFevers were custom designed and built, many at Lindwall Boatworks. In 1966, American Marine (later Grand Banks) began building 26 hulls of the DF66-46, a "Grand Alaskan" raised pilot house model. Meanwhile, in addition to the DF69-50, DeFevers built at Oriental Boat Company were 26 hulls of the DF69-52, an Alaskan raised pilot house, and 26 hulls of DF70-38, a two-cabin, trunk deck offshore cruiser. By 1972, production of almost all DeFevers had transitioned to fiberglass.
DeFevers have stood the test of time and proven that they are well designed, comfortable, and seaworthy.Any boat's condition is dependent upon the care and maintenance it receives year after year.Arthur DeFever's first custom designs and the four wooden production lines could be considered the prototypes of the recreational cruisers that evolved into the trawlers we know today.