The DeFever 48 is a bit different design of boat from Art's hand. The design is a trunk cabin, like Last Dance, with an aft deck roof. There are three staterooms, a big plus for those traveling with kids. Those who own a DF48 praise her design, comfort, and seaworthiness. But, there are few DF48s and the Last Dance crew have seen very few in the 1000s of marinas passed in their journeys.
As Last Dance approached the docks at Shady Harbor Marina, on the Hudson River just south of Albany, there were two DF48s docked stern-to-stern. Quite a sight for fans of Arthur DeFever designed boats. C U Later is the boat on the left and Inshallah is on the right.
The two DeFevers had not met before the docking at Shady Harbor. Both are recently purchased boats and both are cruising the Great Loop this year. It was sheer happenstance that the two boats arrived at Shady Harbor the same day, then were assigned the same dock by the dockmaster.
Inshallah is the younger and stronger of the two 48s, built in 2002 with 220 hp Cummings for power. Mike Bell and Marilou Zachary purchased her in May 2017. Mike took a couple of years to do a lot of projects and upgrades while getting to know all the systems. Being an electrical engineer with mechanical talent provided him the skills to get everything in great shape. In 2019, both retired, beginning their cruising adventures by taking off on the Great Loop, leaving from Jacksonville in April.
Both couples had done much research on boats before beginning their search for the "perfect boat." Both had decided that the DeFever design was their first choice and looked a DF44s and DF49s. Again, both couples stumbled upon a DF48 and instantly fell in love with the design. It is a very comfortable and stable boat. A great cruising home.
Why did 3 DeFevers, all who began their journeys from Florida, wind up at the same marina in New York at the same time? Pig Roast!
And how did a reggae smiley face and a palm tree become the logo of a marina in New York where the water freezes in the winter? We don't have an answer for that one. So, back to the pig.
Brian and Kathy Donovan are the owners of Shady Harbor and are the ultimate of hosts. For the third year, they have offered a pig roast for those headed up the Hudson River on the Great Loop and for their local customers. The Pig Roast was not just a meal enjoyed with new and old friends on a Sunday afternoon; it was a weekend of activities. Beginning Friday, there were two docktails, a clam boil, coffee and bagels, bonfires, raising of the flag and a blessing of the fleet by a Bishop, and a Sunday morning event for the women with bottomless mimosas and bloody marys. When not at an official eating event, time was spent in the Boathouse, the restaurant at the marina. The Boathouse is not the typical marina restaurant with sandwiches and frozen stuff thrown into the fryer. Kathy Donovan has put together a high-quality restaurant with an interesting menu. Saturday night is Prime Rib night. Glen chose the smaller cut with crab legs, enjoying the meal to the fullest and having enough left over for another meal – melt-in-your-mouth beef.
The Loopers did show up. The image to the left is a screenshot of Brians phone with the Nebo App. Nebo will record a boats daily journey and email a map the next day. If the user chooses, the location of the boat can be made visible to others - a few friends you choose or to everyone with the app. The American Great Loop Cruising Association worked ou a partnership with Nebo so AGLCA members are indicated on the map by an AGLCA logo rather than a dot. As you can see, there are a lot of logos on the map of the marina. And, not all Loopers are using this app, or have the app activated on their phone, or have chosen to make their location public. So, there were many more Looper boats at Shady Harbor than shown.
Oh, the pig. We said we would get to the pig. Here it is. The Pig Roast capped all the weekend of events on Sunday afternoon. Closely watched by the chef from the Boathouse, the pig slowly cooked for the entire day to golden perfection. Everyone brought a favorite side dish, a long table of food was set up in the garage, and the fellowship over food began. Good food does make for successful social gatherings.
The third DeFever? Last Dance, of course, seen here on one of the fingers of docks at Shady Harbor.
The Pig Roast provided the
opportunity for the crews of three DeFevers to become acquainted, spend time together, share
stories, and develop a bond. Many thanks
to the Donovans for a great cruising social event.
