DeFever 49 Pilothouse for Sale, a Classic Long-Range Trawler Explained

Why a DeFever 49 for sale still draws serious cruisers

Arthur DeFever was a San Diego naval architect who spent the early part of his career designing commercial fishing boats, including tuna clippers and seiners for the Pacific fleet. When he turned to yachts, he brought the same priorities: a hull that handles a seaway, large tanks for long passages, a protected helm, and engineering that a crew can maintain far from a yard. His designs became some of the best known long-range recreational trawlers in America, and the DeFever Cruisers owners' association remains one of the most active in the trawler world.

The DeFever 49 Pilothouse is a typical example of that philosophy. It is a raised pilothouse trawler with a flybridge, twin diesels, two staterooms and a large aft deck. The first 49s were built by the Sen Koh yard in Taiwan in 1977, and it was aimed at couples who wanted to live aboard and travel long distances, with room for family and friends.

Today a DeFever 49 for sale is one of the most affordable ways into a genuinely long-range 50-foot trawler. The catch is age. Every boat is decades old, and condition varies enormously.

The raised pilothouse and how the boat lives

The raised pilothouse is the heart of the boat. Positioned a few steps above the saloon, it gives the helmsman a commanding view, a chart table and often a settee or bunk for passage watches. Doors on each side open to the side decks, making docking and line handling practical for a couple.

Aft of the pilothouse, the saloon and galley share the main deck, with large windows and access to the aft deck. Below, the traditional floorplan puts the master stateroom directly beneath the raised pilothouse with the guest stateroom forward. Boats were often built to owner preferences and later yards changed details, so check the plan of the specific boat. Interiors are generally traditional teak, often beautifully finished in the original Taiwan joinery style.

The flybridge provides a second helm, seating and space for a dinghy and crane. It is the place to be on calm days and in protected waters.

• Raised pilothouse with side doors for docking
• Saloon and galley on the main deck
• Master stateroom below the pilothouse, guest stateroom forward
• Flybridge with second helm and tender storage
• Large aft deck for outdoor living

Twin diesels, displacement speed and range

DeFever 49s left the yards with twin diesels, most often a pair of 135 hp Ford Lehmans, with Perkins 135s on other boats and at least one fitted with twin Caterpillar 3208s. Over the decades many have been repowered, so engines vary from boat to boat. The original Lehmans are simple to maintain and very durable if cared for. Repowered boats may have modern electronic diesels with better economy and less smoke.

This is not a fast boat. Most owners cruise around 8 knots, where the hull is efficient and quiet. PowerBoat Guide puts consumption at about 3 gallons per hour at an 8-knot cruise with the twin Lehmans, and one owner quoted by PassageMaker sees about 4 gallons per hour at 8 knots and 1,750 rpm. PowerBoat Guide lists 800 gallons of fuel and 400 gallons of water for the original hard-chine boats; tanks on later or refitted boats may differ, so the range field is blank, but owners routinely plan legs of several hundred to over a thousand nautical miles.

Running on one engine to save fuel is common practice on twin-engine trawlers. It can extend range considerably in calm conditions, though you should check with a mechanic about the transmission's ability to freewheel and lock the idle shaft if needed.

The Great Loop on a DeFever 49

Several DeFever 49s have completed the Great Loop, but each needs careful measurement. The fixed railroad bridge near Lemont, Illinois limits the Chicago route to about 19 feet 1 inch, and the western Erie Canal is lower at about 15 feet 6 inches. A raised pilothouse trawler with a flybridge, mast and radar arch often needs the mast lowered, antennas removed and sometimes the flybridge hardtop or arch modified. Measure the actual boat before committing.

Draft and size are manageable on the rivers and the ICW, and twin engines help in locks. The 49's real strengths are on the open legs, including Lake Michigan, the Gulf crossing and the Atlantic coast, where its seakeeping is far better than most smaller Loop boats.

The realities of buying a decades-old Taiwan trawler

Decades-old Taiwan trawlers share a well known list of problems. Teak decks laid over cored fiberglass can leak through fastener holes and rot the core underneath, which is expensive to repair. Black iron or steel fuel tanks eventually corrode and must be replaced, sometimes requiring cutting through the cabin. Wooden window frames and hatch surrounds leak. Wiring may have been modified by multiple owners over many years.

None of these issues should scare off a buyer, but they should be priced in. A boat with documented tank replacement, a rebuilt or removed teak deck, repowered engines and updated wiring is worth significantly more than one that needs all of it, and the difference is often more than the purchase price gap suggests.

Owners' associations are a huge resource. Join before you buy; members often know the history of specific hulls.

Running costs for a 49-foot classic

Plan on $25,000 to $55,000 a year excluding depreciation and major refit work, covering insurance, a 50-foot slip, twin engine service, generator service, bottom paint and varnish. Insurance companies often require a recent survey and may limit coverage for older boats.

The bigger variable is the refit budget. Set aside 10 to 20 percent of the purchase price for the first year, and be ready for more if the survey uncovers tanks or deck issues.

Who should buy a DeFever 49

The DeFever 49 is best for experienced, handy owners who want a long-range liveaboard trawler without spending seven figures, and who enjoy maintaining a classic boat. It is less suited to buyers who want modern systems and low maintenance. Those buyers should consider newer boats such as a Kadey-Krogen or a Fleming, at far higher prices.