We're not so much about cruisers here at SA, but we are about guys who are into their craft and present it in a way that tends to separate them from the pack. Some of you old timers like me remember the Stevens 47 from a few years back, a popular cruiser. Bill Stevens, the guy behind the 47 is back and this time with new Perry designed 53. Here he shares his story. Enjoy.

The most important thing I learned as a youngster, from my father, was if you’re going to do something do it well. Those who know me will say I do it to a fault.

Grew up in Southern Calif. Father was an engineer with Fluor Construction so I grew up around all kinds of construction projects. It was in my blood.

Moved to the Caribbean at the age of 15 with my parents and began sailing there. Returned to Calif. Finished high school and 2 years of college before enlisting in the navy. Spent 6 years in submarines, discharged, went back to the Caribbean and began cruising and diving. I was team captain for the U.S. Virgin Islands in the World Spearfishing Championships 1961/62.

Set sail from St. Thomas to California to go to work for U.S. Diver Corp. in Santa Ana, California. Sailed into Grenada, W.I. fell in love with it, bought a building, set up a marine supply/fishing tackle store in St. Georges and became “Land Bound” after 4 years of cruising on our 40 ft. double ended center cockpit sloop. One thing led to another and first thing you knew we were in the charter business with our yacht.

Our marine store was very successful and we were known as the “Emporium Of The Caribbean”. Our old 300 watt AM Pearce Simpson radio was so powerful yachts crossing the Atlantic would pick us up 3,000 miles out! We used that to our advantage and would transmit “Blind” daily with messages to crew at sea. Suddenly all the yachts made Grenada their first “port of call”. Our yacht management business flourished and before long we were managing some of the largest and most prestigious yachts in the world.

In 1963 we built Lanse Aux Epines boatyard in Prickly Bay and had the only haul out facilities in the Windward Islands where one could haul and do their own work. This was very popular especially to the single handers and couples sailing on a budget. Eric Hiscock, Hump Barton, Frank Casper, Anne and Bachie Carr, to name a few.

Clients began asking for advice when they wanted to purchase a yacht and keep it in the Caribbean. I began traveling to the States and Europe with prospective buyers, looking for yachts to purchase for them. My knowledge back in the 60’s was world wide because of all the different types of yachts manufactured all over the world that would come to the Caribbean and we looked after them. During this period I made it a point of charging the client and not working on a commission basis. If I did not like the boat I told my client, and I told him why. Made a few enemies back then. Still do today.

In 1967 I had 3 sailboats built in England. They were 51ft., fiberglass, center cockpit and ketch rigged. Learned a lesson the hard way. First yacht left much to be desired so I immediately dispatched 2 of my best skippers to England to supervise construction. This taught me early on just how much we knew because of being out in the field and on the “Receiving End Of The Stick”.

I was to make the same mistake again in 1970 with a major builder in Florida. I flew to the factory, drew a rough sketch of a 41 ft. center cockpit yacht that became the Out Island 41. To date there have been over 2,000 built. We had a lot of “bugs” in the early models but that is the boat that revolutionized the concept of center cockpit to the American market.

In 1975 developed the Stevens Custom 50 with a major builder in Florida. We introduced the first Hood Stoway Masts into the charter service in 1976. At the time I told Ted Hood the opening in the mast was too small and the sail would jam. He assured me I was wrong. 6 months later Ted and 3 of his men flew to our base in St. Lucia, pulled 10 spars out, and enlarged the opening and “Wallah”, Hood Stoway Mk11. 1977 I flew to Taiwan to look at a 44 ft. center cockpit. Design was good, quality very poor. Total lack of supervision. I agreed to purchase15 of them on the condition I brought my own team to Taiwan and ran the factory. We were so successful we actually built 32 of them in 18 months!!

I then collaborated with Sparkman and Stephens and we produced the Stevens Custom 47. We built and delivered 57 of them in the late 70’s early 80’s. Today they are regarded as a true blue water cruiser. If properly cared for they are as strong and seaworthy today as when they were built. On a recent trip to England to meet with one of the major charter companies I was informed they knew my yachts well because they still had a Stevens Custom 47 in their charter fleet, since 1982! Very few yachts built in the world today can stand the rigors of charter work for 21 years.

During the 70’s and 80’s we built sailboats from 40 to 56 feet, power from 40 to 75 feet, and I have to admit, my true love was always the sailboat.

As a result of our experience and knowledge in the “Yacht Management” field we have learned from a “Hands On” basis what makes sense and what doesn’t. We will never let a piece of gear onboard our yachts unless we have tested and used it ourselves.

A funny story. In the early 80’s I was at the Genoa Boat Show in Italy. I found the greatest triple stainless sink for the galley I’d ever come across. Right from the show I called the factory in Taiwan, stopped the production and redesigned the galley! Those of you who own a Stevens Custom 51 Pilothouse now know “the rest of the story”.

We have always been “innovators”. You can’t spend 6yrs. In submarines, 4 years cruising on your own 40 footer and 30 years in the yacht management/charter, building business, catering to every cruising yacht that crosses the Atlantic without storing up a world of knowledge. That knowledge is today in every yacht we build.

The new Stevens Custom 53 is the Next Generation of the 47 and 50. I drew a rough sketch and faxed it to Bob Perry with a caution about making fun of my “handiwork”. Bob’s remark was “I know exactly what you want, you gave me a picture”. Bob will attest hardly a day goes by that I am not on the phone with them about some miniscule detail. Position of primary winches to helmsman, access to all important equipment without having to move hatches, tables, etc.

With my eyes closed I position everything onboard the yacht as if I am at sea again by myself and must know, and, be able to get at every system, be is fuel filters, manifolds, pumps, whatever.

When we bring a yacht to market we fully equip her “Ready for Sea”. Bring your tooth brush and foul weather gear.

Yachts Built To Date:

1967/68 Stevens Custom 51 ft. center cockpit ketch rigged (3) 1968 Stevens Custom 38 ft aft cockpit sloop (10) 1970/73 Morgan Out Island 41 ft center cockpit sloop (40) 1974/76 Stevens Custom 50 ft center cockpit ketch/sloop (25) 1974/76 Stevens Custom 43 ft center cockpit sloop (10) 1976 Stevens Custom 39 ft center cockpit sloop (10) 1977/79 Stevens Custom 44 ft center cockpit cutter (32) 1977/79 Stevens Custom 56 ft center cockpit ketch (10) 1978/84 Stevens Custom 47 ft center cockpit cutter (57) Stevens Custom 40 ft center cockpit cutter (10) 1985/90 Stevens Custom 42 ft aft cockpit sloop (10) Stevens Custom 50 ft aft cockpit sloop (5) Stevens Custom 51 ft aft cockpit pilot house cutter (10) When you have built over 225 sailboats over a 35 year period in Europe, Canada, United States and Asia, you can now claim “Been there, done that” This figure does not take into account over 100 power boats ranging from 40ft to 75ft that I have built and carry my name today..

In 2002 I began looking for a good modern cruising sailboat to spend more time onboard and use as a 2nd home. I wanted to be able to spend time in the Caribbean, sea of Cortez and the San Juan Islands. I was looking for a modern rig that could be handled by me. I wanted a shallow enough draft so that cruising in the Bahamas would not be a problem. I wanted a large enough auxiliary engine that I could do 10 kts. Under power without pushing the engine. I wanted enough battery power to run everything essential onboard and a gen set to handle everything at anchor. My galley had to be a kitchen (I am a good cook). I wanted a large salon that could seat 8 to 10 people comfortably. In a nut shell I wanted everything that a 2nd home offers including the ability to move it wherever I chose and last and most important a rig that could be handled by myself when needed.

Guess what! Couldn’t Find It!

Simply Stated: The Stevens Custom 53 Is A True Single Handed Blue Water Cruiser to Live Aboard in the 21st Century!!

Nuff Said.

William H. Stevens Stevens Design Team, LLC CORONADO, CA

Coronado Yacht Sales

Glorietta Bay Marina 1715 Strand Way Coronado, CA 92118, USA

Toll-free (866) 344-4232 Tel 619-254-4844 Fax 619-423-9222 Email Us

http://coronadoboats.com

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