Defever Trawlers Pack Alot of Value These Days

If you want a pleasure boat designed for comfort and long-range cruising you want a trawler. Known as cruising trawlers, trawler yachts, recreational trawlers, and slow trawlers, these powerboats travel at low speeds—7 to 10 knots—but are highly efficient. Trawlers have a long fuel range of 1,500 to 3,000 miles.

Defever builds some of the most eminent trawler yachts in the United States. They were brought to life by Arthur Defever who began his career designing commercial tuna clippers for the San Diego fleet. Defever’s vessels were made to be highly reliable and seaworthy. They had to be; they traveled long distances and stayed away from port for weeks at a time. Defever began designing seaworthy powerboats in the early 1960s, duplicating design features from his tuna clippers include the high bow, raised pilothouse, Portuguese bridge, long keels, and weight and stability. Defever made his trawlers for cruising the West Coast from Mexico to California and up to Alaska.

Defever designs are still admired today for their sturdy construction, sea-keeping abilities, practical layouts, and pleasing traditional lines. Hundreds of Defever trawlers continue to grace the world’s waterways and they never look old or outdated. That celebrated design philosophy can be seen today on Harbor Island in San Diego Bay which is showing a 1971 wood-construction 38’0” Defever Trawler. Built of mahogany in Japan this trawler features a huge interior and bridge deck.

With fuel-efficient diesel engines and two 240-gallon fuel tanks the Defever can go anywhere. Built with a beautiful master stateroom, lots of storage, and a head with separate shower, it is perfect for avid cruisers and liveaboards. Priced affordably the Defever is versatile enough for weekend getaways or a long, slow voyage up to Bristol Bay. If this model is sold already, check our used listings then give us a ring and we'll start a search for you.