DeFever Cruisers DeFever 49 Pilothouse Page

Posted: June 2nd, 2009 under general.
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As usual it all comes down to money. We would prefer a powercat. The shallow draft and lateral stability at anchor make them ideal for our cruising plans (Great Loop, FL Keys, Bahamas, Caribbean). But, the powercat industry is young and the used market leaves much to be desired. So we are now turning back to monohulls. We have  lowered our expectations about the cruising range and abilities of the ship we buy. We have accepted that it will not be the right ship for world travel. By doing this we expand our options into the large used coastal cruiser market. The following are some examples of less expensive used boats we could buy:

58′ Hatteras Yachtfish

58′ Hatteras Yachtfish

53′ Gulfstar Mark II Trawler

Posted: April 26th, 2009 under general.
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Well, the economy got much worse and our retirement plans are FUBAR. But, we aren’t going to let that stop us. We are just going to downgrade our expectations and keep moving forward. We can get a cheaper ship. We can get part time work. The good news is that there are a lot of boats going on the market at a discount. The bad news is first we have to sell out at a discount.

Posted: April 26th, 2009 under general.
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We don’t want to cash out at the bottom but also don’t want to wait around for years. So, we are taking a little time to see which way the economic winds will blow. meanwhile we have been looking at some power catamarans that are sweet:

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Endeavour TrawlerCat 48

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Pacific Expedition Yachts PE-45 Power Catamaran

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TrawlerCat Marine TCM 45′ VOYAGER

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Endeavour TrawlerCat 40

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Here is a brief summary (taken from wikipedia) of the pros and cons of catamarans:

Advantage of multihulls

• Multihulls are inherently substantially faster than monohulls, because the absence of ballast reduces their weight and the amount of drag through the water considerably. The waterline to width ratio is larger, allowing the thinner hulls to be driven through the water at higher speeds, as each works somewhat independently of the other(s).
• Multihulls have a shallower draft which enables shallower waterways to be utilised, along with shallower moorings. It also reduces the risk of underwater collision.
• The stable platform of a multihull makes seasickness less likely, reduces the fatigue of ‘walking on walls’ and increases safety due to stability in a seaway. The stable platform is wide enabling deck area to be effectively utilized for solar panels and fresh water collection. By not heeling, instruments that require a level platform work more effectively (e.g. radar).
• Duplication of systems enables backups should failures occur. In a catamaran (the most popular multihull), most have twin engines and thus usually always a way of getting home. Many essential items are able to be duplicated e.g. water tanks, fuel tanks and toilets.
• Most multihulls are positively buoyant. Should hull penetration occur the vessel is unlikely to sink thus enabling time for rescue or repair. In fact, most modern production multihulls are officially rated as unsinkable, by various regulatory agencies around the world.

Disadvantage of multihulls

• The width of a multihull vessel is often an issue, especially when docking. They are also more expensive to produce than a monohull of the same length.
• If a storm or wave capsizes a small monohull, it may recover when the weight of the ballast in the keel rights the boat, if it does not broach and sink before it recovers. Modern multihulls are not self-righting and can capsize but they don’t sink; instead they float upside-down, providing a raft for the survivors to hang on to, that is much easier to find than a liferaft or single individual in a survival suit. It is difficult to right a multihull and the larger ones could even require the use of a crane.
• The inherent inertia of a monohull dampens a great deal of ocillations and other surface effects. For example, monohulls can power through waves that a multihull would be forced to ride over. This means that multihulls are more prone towards hobby horsing especially when lightly loaded and of short overall length.
• Smaller differences in payload make a larger difference in performance.

Posted: November 17th, 2008 under general.
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These two are on the possible list:

Nordhavn 46: (LOA: 45′ 9″, LWL: 38′ 4″, Beam: 15′ 5″, Draft: 5′-5″, 60,000 lbs., Fuel: 1000 USG, Water: 210 USG, Single 105 HP - 2200 RPM , A/B 2.3, D/L 383, prismatic coefficient 0.63)

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Selene 47: (L.O.A.: 51′-10″, L.W.L.: 45′-9″, Beam: 15′-8″ , Draft: 5′-1″, 62,000 lbs., Fuel: 1000 USG, Water: 280 USG, Holding: 60 USG, Single 330HP - 2800RPM , A/B 2.55, D/L 321, prismatic coefficient 0.63)

Posted: April 6th, 2008 under general.
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Well things aren’t going to work out with the DD462 after all. The broker was not being straight with us and, although I am still impressed with the boat that he builds, the builder’s paper work was way less than professional. There is a fair amount of money involved and we need to be very cautious. Therefore, we have decided to look elsewhere for a ship. The good news is this takes the scheduling pressure off. The new target date will be after fall ‘09. Also, we are reavluating the size. Should we should get a larger ship? How large?

Posted: February 12th, 2008 under general.
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We heard from the builder that hull number ten is available and well on it’s way to completion. She is in the water and ready for customization if we want it. She has the fly-bridge we want and a new feature, an exterior watertight locker on the transom. The good news and bad news is that putting a deposit on this hull would accelerate our schedule. Here are some shots from China:

Posted: February 1st, 2008 under general.
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The “Peking”, a 462 DIESEL DUCK, was honored as People’s Choice Award “BEST IN SHOW” at the 2007 Mystic Trawlerfest. Check it out: Passagemaker Magazine’s Video

Posted: January 11th, 2008 under general.
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Click here for a photo tour.

Posted: January 10th, 2008 under general.
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A friend sent us this. (Thanks Mike!) Check it out: Lyle Lovett - If I Had a Boat

Posted: December 28th, 2007 under general.
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“Adventure means risking something and it is only when we are doing that that we know really what a splendid thing life is and how splendidly it can be lived… It is far better to venture and fail than to lie on the hearthrug like a sleepily purring cat. Only fools laugh at failure; wise men laugh at the lazy and the too-contented and at those who are so timid that they dare undertake nothing.” - Alain Gerbault

Posted: November 10th, 2007 under general.
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Posted: November 10th, 2007 under general.
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The ship we are buying is called a DIESEL DUCK 462 made by Seahorse Marine and designed by George Buehler. The Diesel Duck is called a ‘Troller’, she is a sail assisted motor vessel. (George Buehler’s book The Troller Yacht Book explains the philosophy and details the design.) Her main form of propulsion is a single 130 hp diesel engine. The sail is used to steady the boat, improve fuel efficiency, and as emergency propulsion. The ship has a displacement hull and is designed to run at six to nine knots. Running at that speed she will use very little fuel. Her range will exceed 5000 miles (~2.5 mpg). This is way more efficient than the normal power boat, which is really a giant speed boat dependent on huge engines to get up onto a plane. It is also way faster than the typical sail boat’s average speed. We will also be far more comfortable than in a sail boat and will carry more electronics (both marine and entertainment).

Posted: November 10th, 2007 under general.
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Although our ship has not yet been purchased, we are getting very close. We have been having discussions with the dealer and have agreed on a deposit, a base price, and a target delivery date. We are working out the details of the ship’s options and expect to sign a purchase order soon. Our target delivery date is Feb. ‘09.

Posted: November 10th, 2007 under general.
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