Next message: Tom Little: "T&T: Defever 49 RPH"
I heard recently that fiberglass boats increase in value and woodies
decrease. I have read one of Krogen's ads where they claim the 42 (for instance) has
been an investment. Are there informed opinions out there?
Specifically I'm thinking about a DeFever 49.
Dan and Kandy Hall
When I went on the hunt for a trawler a few years ago I didn't really know
what I wanted after looking at several boats in the 50' range I came across a
49 DEFEVER RPH. When I pulled into the parking lot and saw the boat I knew
immediately that's what I wanted the salty no nonsense look really appealed to
me. Now that particular boat was not in very good condition and I thought over
priced after looking at several other 49s I realized that those boats cost a
lot more than other Taiwan built trawlers. I don't think its the name
because other styles of Defevers seem to be pretty much in line with other Taiwan
boats it must be because there just aren't a lot of choices with that kind of
design.
I was only able to find one 49 in top condition the asking price was high
and my lower offer was refused the boat sold for near ask about a month later.
So now I decided the heck with used I'm going to buy a new boat I found a
dealer that had one and got on a plane to go buy a boat. When I arrived and began
inspecting the boat I was completely disappointed with the quality
Deferrer had stopped building these boats in Taiwan and was now building in China
and in my opinion the quality went down the drain.
So I don't know if years from now that a new 49 will bring any more than
some other boat on the used market if the quality doesn't improve I wouldn't
think so. And as far as the used market it seems they will bring more but you
have to pay more on purchase. In my opinion possible resale value should take a
back seat to finding a boat that you like in good condition at a fair price.
When you look at Taiwan built trawlers you will find boats with the same
brand name built in the same year with construction methods and quality that go
from very good to very bad. It appears that the importers of these boats used
different yards to build them and the yards used different subcontractors to
work on them so they really need to be evaluated on an individual basis.
I ended up finding a boat a little bigger than a 49 with a very similar
design and a much less popular name when I inspected it I was surprised to find
so many things identical to the 49 I later learned that they were built in
the same yard. Passagermaker magazine has printed some good articles on Taiwan
trawlers and Defever I don't know which issues but I'm sure you could look it
up both are well worth reading. Your considering a beautiful boat and I wish
you the best of luck finding one.
Brian
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