Photo of DeFever 34 prop??

Hi,
Can anyone post a photo (or email it to me) of a 34' single screw DeFever prop and rudder on a trawler that's hauled out? I'm considering buying one and I'd like to see how well the prop is protected.
Thanks, Sue

Sue Freeman said:

Hi,
Can anyone post a photo (or email it to me) of a 34' single screw DeFever prop and rudder on a trawler that's hauled out? I'm considering buying one and I'd like to see how well the prop is protected.
Thanks, Sue

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I havent seen a 34 but the 40 i like has a single and its pretty well protected with a large rudder.

I own a 34' DeFever, hull #6 and although I do not have a photo of "Honey" on the hard, I will tell you that the Prop is well protected and the rudder is unsupported as in no skag.
The first time I saw 34' DeFever out of the water I was impressed with the hull shape, which is a soft chime aft, moving to a deep bow forward.I idle at 2.8 kts. and cruise at 1650 RPM at 7.7 kts. She will roll in a quartering sea enough to make you appreciate a harder chimed boat but it is a long roll, not a snap roll.Fuel is at 1.5 GPH at 1650 rpm.

rogerl said:

I own a 34' DeFever, hull #6 and although I do not have a photo of "Honey" on the hard, I will tell you that the Prop is well protected and the rudder is unsupported as in no skag.
The first time I saw 34' DeFever out of the water I was impressed with the hull shape, which is a soft chime aft, moving to a deep bow forward.I idle at 2.8 kts. and cruise at 1650 RPM at 7.7 kts. She will roll in a quartering sea enough to make you appreciate a harder chimed boat but it is a long roll, not a snap roll.Fuel is at 1.5 GPH at 1650 rpm.

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sounds sweet do you know where she was made?

What I understand is that Jensen Marine in Costa Mesa, Ca. built the 1974-1975 34' in their yard and I have only seen one that was called a 1975 model.Mine did come with the factory get home system, hydraulic off the Perkins 4-107 15KW Genny and a Dickson stern thruster, again hydraulic, after market piece.I did take both off as rebuild costs were 2/3 of a new thruster.The get home system works well but in my quest for a simple boat,it had a gaggle of hoses and 10 gallons of fluid that made me blink and had a take off system that took 15-20 minutes to attach or disconnect.If you've ever seen a hydraulic hose break, it is a thing to behold.
thanks for asking

rogerl said:

What I understand is that Jensen Marine in Costa Mesa, Ca. built the 1974-1975 34' in their yard and I have only seen one that was called a 1975 model.Mine did come with the factory get home system, hydraulic off the Perkins 4-107 15KW Genny and a Dickson stern thruster, again hydraulic, after market piece.I did take both off as rebuild costs were 2/3 of a new thruster.The get home system works well but in my quest for a simple boat,it had a gaggle of hoses and 10 gallons of fluid that made me blink and had a take off system that took 15-20 minutes to attach or disconnect.If you've ever seen a hydraulic hose break, it is a thing to behold.
thanks for asking

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oh yeah, we have talked before. I am going to look at asanta ana built deferer 40 tomorrow with the get home system but its electric not hydralic. Did you add a new stern thruster or bow thruster?

rogerl said:

I own a 34' DeFever, hull #6 and although I do not have a photo of "Honey" on the hard, I will tell you that the Prop is well protected and the rudder is unsupported as in no skag.

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Probably like this ?

bfloyd4445 said:

oh yeah, we have talked before. I am going to look at asanta ana built deferer 40 tomorrow with the get home system but its electric not hydralic. Did you add a new stern thruster or bow thruster?

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I have kept it old school for now.Santa Cruz harbor is easy docking and the boat has very good rudder power.That may change when we truck "Honey" up to the San Juan's this summer.

Hey Walt,

Honey's wheel is set closer to the keel, almost no shaft exposed with a cone zinc capping the prop.Her rudder is what I call a barn door, as in larger than most single engine Trawlers.Also her chime is softer aft, more like a Krogen 44' if you seen one on the hard.

rogerl said:

Honey's wheel is set closer to the keel, almost no shaft exposed with a cone zinc capping the prop.

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I'd like to see that. I'm envious of you taking your boat to the San Juans as I have been contemplating that for years.

rogerl said:

I have kept it old school for now.Santa Cruz harbor is easy docking and the boat has very good rudder power.That may change when we truck "Honey" up to the San Juan's this summer.

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why not sail her up there? I'm thinking if i buy a boat in so cal about saling to oregon, or haveing her trucked to the delta then sailed from there on up to Winchester Bay

Good question, without sounding like a know it all, it penciled out to be an acceptable cost to truck it to the PNW, what with decommission and commission.Finding a crew capable enough to satisfy me is not on my screen.I am a retired Merchant Marine with too many heavy weather experiences.I am a tad superstitious, survived Viet Nam, 26 plus years as a blue water sailor and 28 years married to the same women.I have seen myself back down from some things that 10-20 years ago I would have jumped on.Kind a like the adage,"I get enough exercise pushing my luck".
Thanks for asking!

rogerl said:

Good question, without sounding like a know it all, it penciled out to be an acceptable cost to truck it to the PNW, what with decommission and commission.Finding a crew capable enough to satisfy me is not on my screen.I am a retired Merchant Marine with too many heavy weather experiences.I am a tad superstitious, survived Viet Nam, 26 plus years as a blue water sailor and 28 years married to the same women.I have seen myself back down from some things that 10-20 years ago I would have jumped on.Kind a like the adage,"I get enough exercise pushing my luck".
Thanks for asking!

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For you a trip like that would be like going back to work i would imagine?
you know, the ocean scares the beejeebies outa me but i love her all the same. I'm not sure i have the guts to do it either but i do know i am gonna give it a try and wait for a perfect weather window before makeing each leg. I'll stop in Humbolt bay for a while and visit my daughter. I am in no hurry i am retired from most 9-5's. I've talked to a guy that has taken his GB 32 all the way to mexico and back from the bellingham Washington area
anyway i think going the hard route is cheaper but less of an adventure.

bfloyd4445 said:

For you a trip like that would be like going back to work i would imagine?
you know, the ocean scares the beejeebies outa me but i love her all the same. I'm not sure i have the guts to do it either but i do know i am gonna give it a try and wait for a perfect weather window before makeing each leg. I'll stop in Humbolt bay for a while and visit my daughter. I am in no hurry i am retired from most 9-5's. I've talked to a guy that has taken his GB 32 all the way to mexico and back from the bellingham Washington area
anyway i think going the hard route is cheaper but less of an adventure.

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....and that likeness of being back to sea is my problem.Growing up around boats was fun as a kid but the family men all were mariners and guess what I did?
I am teaching/learning to enjoy owning/using my boat but it has been hard to shake off the old me and just have a good time.The term "Prudent Mariner" is still part of my lexicon I guess.

rogerl said:

....and that likeness of being back to sea is my problem.Growing up around boats was fun as a kid but the family men all were mariners and guess what I did?
I am teaching/learning to enjoy owning/using my boat but it has been hard to shake off the old me and just have a good time.The term "Prudent Mariner" is still part of my lexicon I guess.

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you live in Aptos right? and the delta is just around the corner. Lots of easy laid back boating in the delta. Have you considered spending a little time exploring the delta to get used to recreational boating. Maybe it would help you make the transition?

Here's the real deal - a DF34 prop

the rudder looks kinda delicate?

bfloyd4445 said:

the rudder looks kinda delicate?

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Not really. It's at least 1/4" thick with a reasonably sized shaft. I suspect it's stronger than fiberglass-encased designs. It's obviously not as well protected as a skeg hung rudder would be.

I wonder what trailing edge type on the keel has less drag.

The rear ends of cars are frequently cut off sharp and they say rounded rear ends like the cars of the 40s have more drag. Think I recall that that was proven on the race track. Air, however is a compressible fluid and may be different than water. The TE of OB props used to be tear drop shaped and now their cut-off blunt. With hulls themselves it depends on speed. When you reach planing speeds cut-off is best.

But there seems to be lots of keels terminated round and squared off like mine in the picture.

Opinions ?

Greetings,
Mr. Eric. I think you have your own answer unless I misinterpret your question. What has less drag? Your boat shape or one with a squared off transom?

That photo and question reminds me of an episode of Mythbusters. The myth they where challenging was if a pickup truck got better gas mileage with the tailgate down rather than up. The results came as a surprise to everyone.

Yes Indeed but actually a more important question may be what configuration generates the most turbulence for the propeller? Propeller thrust may be decreased more than basic hull drag is increased.

I think perhaps the shape of keels like mine is descendant stuff from wood boats.

CP I saw that tailgate thing. I like mythbusting like my neighbor like "kill'in trees".

Cars and trucks operate at a completely different speed from displacement boats, in hydro and aerodynamics tiny changes make a huge difference in drag.

But the trailing edge of the keel on a power boat is not tapered to reduce drag (though that is a minor benefit), it's to increase thrust. Getting clean undisturbed water to the prop is an important issue, a big fat keel in front of the prop blocks the flow, reducing thrust for the HP expended. The keel should be thick enough to house the shaft but tapered to 1" or less above and below the shaft line and the taper should extend forward a decent distance. Water doesn't like sharp corners, gentle bends are better......

manyboats said:

CP I saw that tailgate thing. I like mythbusting like my neighbor like "kill'in trees".

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WHEW! Went right over my head but then I'm only 5'2".

Sorry Walt.

Wer'e talk'in about the trailing edge of the keel right in front of the prop. The Mythbusting thing was/is a TV show about myths and old wives tales on TV.

TAD Thanks. One Willard owner reshaped his keel TE but he hasn't claimed his engine is now too big. Have you ever seen the keel TE of an early 60s Sumnercraft? Built in Amytiville NY.

Tad, Eric the reference to the TV show was at one point they hydro tested the myth in a fish aquarium with a very gentle current induced. The way the fluid reacted to the obstructions in the water was quite fascinating and telling.

I did not mean to infer that boats and pick ups where analogous items. Only that the video segment showing the hydro test may help shed light on Eric's question of how the water reacts going around sharp edged surface.

As I can not find the video clip online it is a moot point now.