californian motor yacht review

Californian Yachts’ History

Californian Yachts, an American company well regarded by yachting enthusiasts who appreciate luxurious, moderately priced vessels, was founded by a designing duo that revolutionized the trawler yachts industry with their innovative creations. Californian Yachts’ history begins in the 1970s, when partners Jule Marshall and Myrna Elliott came together with a single goal: to create fast, luxurious, top quality trawler yachts at a moderate price. Californian Yachts has undergone several ownership changes since, but Marshall’s unwavering dedication to creating semi-custom pilothouse yachts that are fast, maneuverable, and affordable has remained the cornerstone of Californian Yachts to this very day. Now joined with Navigator Yachts, Californian Yachts remains a true American treasure.

At the time of Californian Yachts inception, trawler yachts had an uneven reputation: they were comfortable and fuel efficient, but also expensive, frustratingly slow, and unable to keep up with the faster sport fishers and powerboats on the market. Marshall redesigned the hull and superstructures, using a semi-displacement hull and ramping up the horsepower. Elliott designed the interiors, creating luxurious, comfortable surroundings with a roomy feel. In 1976, one of the company’s first commercially successfully models, the 42 LRC trawler, was launched, introducing the trawlers to a wider audience who appreciated the yacht’s exceptional handling, impressive fuel economy, and affordable pricing.

Through the years, Californian Yachts has undergone a number of ownership changes. Marshall sold the company to Wellcraft Marine in 1980, but continued to build some vessels for Wellcraft before reacquiring the brand in 1984. Marshall sold the company again in 1986, this time to the Carver Corporation, and concentrated his energies on starting a new company, Navigator Yachts, with his two sons. In 1991, Marshall once again purchased Californian Yachts. He now designs for both lines, continuing to create vessels that offer maximum speed and maneuverability, superior fuel economy, and a lavish feel at an affordable price.

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mark290 New Member

I am considering purchasing a 44 - 50ft aft cabin to live aboard for a year. My questions are not so much about the suitability of these models for that but of resale and quality. The largest boat I have owned was a 33' Sea Ray. These are all aft cabin motoryachts without a cockpit. They are all model years 1989 - 1991. I prefer the three staterooms of the Californian 48 and Ocean 48. The Cal 45s on the market are more updated and have more availability without the Detroit Deisel 671TIB's but only have two staterooms. The Viking 44s I have only found with Detroits, I like the style and the name but also only two staterooms. The boat would be docked in a marina in Southeast North Carolina and most likely just cruised short distances. In regards to resale. I expect to take a loss in a year but I am trying to minimize the loss amount and be very pleasantly surprised if I break even on the resale. I would like opinions on which boat you think would be easier to sell. I realize the market is awful right now and in all probability will remain so next year. I have serious concerns about the Detroit Deisel 671TIBs. Mostly from a resale concern but also from a reliability standpoint. Whether these are bad engines or not the market appears to have a serious issue with these. I am seeking opinions on if you think this is true and if so how much of a dog does the market consider these. I am also concerned about whether these actually are bad engines to have and why you think so. A lot of these have 1500 - 2000 hours on them and I would think they are due for a major overhaul. Is that true and is there any ballpark figure you can throw out for the cost of a major overhaul ? I can find the Cal 48 & 45 without the Detroits but the listing price is much higher. There are not that many out there so I don't know if the price is a reflection of the engines or not. Listing prices are all over the place right now. The Viking 44 and the Ocean 48 I can only find with the Detroits. If I wasn't concerned with resale or quality I would pick the Ocean 48. I really like the layout and all the features this model comes with. About quality and the way the names are perceived. Which of the three makes do you think has a better name for quality and resale ? With my very limited knowledge I believe the Viking has the best name for quality and is above average in quality. The Californians are about middle of the road, much like a Carver is today and the Ocean is a little lower on the scale. I am seeking opinions on: - How is the resale on the boats I have listed relative to each other and not to this crap market we have now - How would you rate the quality of these makes - The effect the Detroits 671TIBs have on resale - How are the Detroits actually to own Any input or knowledge on these specific models would also be greatly appreciated. If you read all of this thanks for sticking with it.

Pascal Senior Member

well, these Vikings, Oceans and Californians are decent boats, dont' forget that generally speaking on 20 year old boats tyhe maintenance and upgrades are as important if not more as initial quality. as to the DD, i'm not sure i see what the problem is. like most DD the 671 is a good egine, parts are cheap and easy to get, and they wil usually get you home... The problem, and probably what caused you concern, is that some have been pushed a little too far up the HP/CID scale drastically reducing their TBO. without knowing the HP rating, it's hard to say... with diesel, once you start flirting with the 1/1 CID-HP ratio, you're reducing life expectancy. how they were used is also important. typically sportfish are harder on engines since they are often pushed harder by the owners. watching how they behave on a cold start (how much smoke, how long, how much hunting, how much cranking) will give you a reasonable idea of their conditions and decide if worth surveying. The surveyor will be able to borescope the cyl. and get a good idea of wear. one critical thing on initial sea trial (before survey) is to see if they turn rated RPM at WOT. IF they dont, it means the boat is likley to be overpropped and that will drastically reduce life expectancy. the other thing about DD is that they're not as efficient as 4 cycles, but to many their ruggedness makes up for a few GPH. on a DD for instance, you dont' have an injection pump.. the injectors are creating the high pressure, so you'll never get stuck due to an (expensive) injection pump.

Mark I Member

I'm sure you will get alot of responses here. I have a pair of 671TIs. The Detroits are 2 strokes compared to modern 4 strokes and are no longer in production. They are less fuel efficient (by how much is debatable) and IMO that puts them out of favor. They are lower tech than modern diesels and depending on your perspective, IMO more reliable. They are basically bullet-proof. They really only need air and fuel to run and they are relatively easy to rebuild. Since there were quite alot made, there is no problem obtaining parts. They are heavy and therefore those boats tend to be somewhat slower than similar models powered differently. Living with them is easy if you accept a few things. First, they are messy. I am always chasing little oil weeps. Second, they don't like to start when they are very cold so if the temps drop to the 40s or less, block heaters are a must. Some say they smoke alot, but I think mine don't smoke any more than other, newer engines. They smoke when they start (from cold) and don't when they are warm. I used to berth between a big SeaRay with Cummins and a Riviera with Volvos. All I can say is that they smoked the same if not more than mine and they were occaisionally down with computer/electronic issues that older technology does not have. The only other thing I would add is that you are right, the market is in the tank and is likely to get worse. I think there are tremendous values out there right now, but I wouldn't rule out even lower prices next year. Good Luck.

K1W1 Senior Member

Pascal said: The surveyor will be able to borescope the cyl. and get a good idea of wear. Click to expand...

SeaEric YF Historian

You've had some good responses on the engines. I will give you one on the market. The boat that will re-sell the best in one year is the one that you can offer and price the lowest. Buyers are attracted these days by a low asking price. So if you get a wonderful buy on the purchase side, you will be in a better position to price attractively on the selling side. In past years I have always been amazed by "price shoppers" that buy the low price "deal" without much regard to the actual boat they're buying. We have now reached a boat buying climate where "the deal" is paramount. There are plenty of nice boats, owned by caring owners that have maintained them well and for whatever reason are now motivated to sell. Shop around and buy a nice boat that will fit your needs at the best price point you can find. That will be your best bet for a one year turnaround. Oh, one more suggestion: Try to avoid repo boats. They are in most cases distressed in one way or another and will not be your best value. Good luck in your search.

K1W1, on survey the borescope is done thru the air box and indeed the surveyor will take a look at the ring as well.

Hi, A thorough Bore Scope should also be done with the Injectors removed so the exhaust valves and cylinder head surface can be seen at close range- this is if the quick cheap way I suggested earlier does not look very good. I will echo Capt J's comments about the 6.71's below. They are a great engine at the low to moderate power settings.

Capt J Senior Member

The 6-71's are considered the best engine that DD made. They are going to smoke a little at start up and such, but once warm aren't usually any smokier then anything else. And much less smokier then the 2004 1050 MAN's I just ran today under 1000 rpms. They also have a tendancy to have oil leaks. BUT, they should go 5,000 hrs + if taken care of, some even go 10,000hrs between rebuilds. But like any engine overheat them once or run out of oil (oil line blowing) it's all over. Parts are abundant and relatively cheap. Maintanence is relatively easy and not too difficult or time consuming either in relation to a MAN or Volvo or. They'll pretty much get you home even with a rod through the side of the block. They're reliable also. BE CAREFUL rolling the motor over by hand and looking at the cylinders via the airbox access ports. If it is done in the wrong direction it will snap the seawater pump shaft. Fuel Efficiency, you won't get a more fuel efficient motor under 1,000 rpm's for that size vessel with anything else. If you're doing a lot of slow speeds in the ICW or not in a rush, the DD's are very very fuel efficient under 1050rpms. At cruise they may burn a little more then comparable engines from the day, but I would say maybe 10% if that. The 92 series are a lot less efficient at cruise speeds then the 71 series. I wouldn't be afraid of them by any means. They're just considered dinosaur technology in today's era, but their simpleness makes them very reliable also. Not to mention, you can find a diesel mechanic that can work on Detroits ANYWHERE as well as parts. The Viking would be my choice, but the other's aren't a bad choice either........

K1W1 said: Hi, A thorough Bore Scope should also be done with the Injectors removed so the exhaust valves and cylinder head surface can be seen at close range- this is if the quick cheap way I suggested earlier does not look very good. Click to expand...

Pascal said: not very practical with a DD since if you pull the injectors, you have to do a tuneup and reset the rack. This may raise some issues with the seller and add a few extra hours. Click to expand...

Thanks to all of you who took the time to post so far. What I am getting in regards to the Detroit's is that they are fine to own, might hurt me a little on resale but should not be a deal breaker in either me buying or selling. Does that seem accurate ? I have ruled out the California 45 and Viking 44 because I decided I want three staterooms. I did not want to go over 50' but I am now looking at the Hatteras 53 Classic also. I have found many posts on the Hatteras Classic and welcome more opinions but I have found nothing on the California 48 and the Ocean 48. If anyone has insight or information on these boats I would love to hear it. I still hope to hear opinions on the best make in terms of resale and quality. I am guessing the Hatteras would be at the top for both categories. If that is not correct I would like to know. If it is correct I would like to know which between the Californian and Ocean you would consider but quality and better for resale. Thank agains to everyone for taking the time to read this and respond.

unless you have a hard limit due to a specific slip and can't go over by a couple of feet, a few extra feet makes no difference from a cost or even handling perspective. I've lived aboard my 1970 53 for 5 1/2 years and love it. I use the boat quite a bit too and it's very easy to single hand. Built like a tank... on the down size, it's a little slow; I have 8V71 Naturals so forget even gtrying to get on plane. Those with Turbos will get on plane (just...) so if you want speed, these are not ideal boats. At 9kts, I burn about 9 to 10 GPH though, making it very economical consideing the space. The large aft deck on teh same level as the saloon is probably the best thing about these boats. Great ventilation too, lots of room at the bow and on the flybridge. Some dont' like the galley down layout, I do... i looked at various boats before getting a Hatt., but it didn't take me long to make up my mind.

Loren Schweizer YF Associate Writer

More important than even educated opinions regarding which boat is "better" than the next is the General Market Perception of these vessels wherein the Hat 53 is generally perceived to be better than the Californian 48, leaving the Ocean 48 as a distant...fourth. Better buy that 53 with stabs, though, because even though you might not need them for your usage, the market perceives that they are very necessary and, come resale time, the stabilized Hats command a higher price and sell more quickly. On the subject of 6-71s, I concur with the thoughts of others here regarding reliability, cheap parts, etc. A 1980 Ocean 42 was sold to a gentleman some years ago in Clearwater with Six Thousand Hours (some thought it to be a typo) on her Jimmys. The boat started with a lot of smoke, cleared it's throat, and ran twenty knots on her trial runs. The survey mechanic reported a severe lack of crosshatching in the cylinder bores ("like a baby's butt", he said) but assured the buyer that they wouldn't just 'blow up'. That guy ran the boat home to Miami and ran it years afterward back & forth to the Islands.

Loren Schweizer said: More important than even educated opinions regarding which boat is "better" than the next is the General Market Perception of these vessels wherein the Hat 53 is generally perceived to be better than the Californian 48, leaving the Ocean 48 as a distant...fourth. Better buy that 53 with stabs, though, because even though you might not need them for your usage, the market perceives that they are very necessary and, come resale time, the stabilized Hats command a higher price and sell more quickly. On the subject of 6-71s, I concur with the thoughts of others here regarding reliability, cheap parts, etc. A 1980 Ocean 42 was sold to a gentleman some years ago in Clearwater with Six Thousand Hours (some thought it to be a typo) on her Jimmys. The boat started with a lot of smoke, cleared it's throat, and ran twenty knots on her trial runs. The survey mechanic reported a severe lack of crosshatching in the cylinder bores ("like a baby's butt", he said) but assured the buyer that they wouldn't just 'blow up'. That guy ran the boat home to Miami and ran it years afterward back & forth to the Islands. Click to expand...

Pascal said: unless you have a hard limit due to a specific slip and can't go over by a couple of feet, a few extra feet makes no difference from a cost or even handling perspective. I've lived aboard my 1970 53 for 5 1/2 years and love it. I use the boat quite a bit too and it's very easy to single hand. Built like a tank... on the down size, it's a little slow; I have 8V71 Naturals so forget even gtrying to get on plane. Those with Turbos will get on plane (just...) so if you want speed, these are not ideal boats. At 9kts, I burn about 9 to 10 GPH though, making it very economical consideing the space. The large aft deck on teh same level as the saloon is probably the best thing about these boats. Great ventilation too, lots of room at the bow and on the flybridge. Some dont' like the galley down layout, I do... i looked at various boats before getting a Hatt., but it didn't take me long to make up my mind. Click to expand...

mark290 said: Thanks Loren. That is exactly the type of opinion I am looking for in regards to resale. What is the general market perception of these boats. I am still concerned with how these boats actually are in terms of quality because I will be the owner of one. It sounds like the Ocean would be something to stay away from if I want as much in my favor as possible for resale. The Californian is not up there with the Hatteras but is still considered a decent boat and should remain on my list, in your opinion. Is that accurate ? Thanks again. Click to expand...

mark290 said: Thanks Loren. That is exactly the type of opinion I am looking for in regards to resale. What is the general market perception of these boats. I am still concerned with how these boats actually are in terms of quality because I will be the owner of one. The Californian is... up there with the Hatteras....l considered a decent boat and should remain on my list, in your opinion. Is that accurate ? Click to expand...

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48 Californian Cockpit Motor Yacht

Description

Specifications, standard features.

Californian’s high quality construction and  spacious interior layouts keep these flush deck motoryachts very popular. They are considered excellent (and economical) coastal cruisers, fabulous for weekends and great for a live-aboard.

Hart’s Desire II has been highly improved and will satisfy the needs of the most discerning of buyers.  Built by Californian Yachts in Santa Ana, she is one of the last local built hulls before production was moved to Carver’s facility in North Carolina.  

  Recent Improvements Include:

• Freshly waxed and detailed in prep for sale. 
• Freshly varnished cockpit cap rail.
• Bridge Bimini and aftdeck enclosure replaced (4-2017)
• Intellian i2 SAT Dome (4-2017)
• (5) 8D AGM Batteries (3-2017)
• Aftercoolers pulled, cleaned and serviced (3-2017)
• Transcoolers pulled, cleaned and serviced (3-2017)
• Heat exchangers pulled, cleaned and serviced (3-2017)
• Turbos pulled and serviced (3-2017)
• Fire Suppression System serviced (4-2017)
• Starboard Oil Cooler (8-2019)
• Props balanced (3-2018)
• Bottom Paint (3-2018)
• Mains and Gen Serviced (8-2019)

Low hours on her well cared-for Cat 3208TA engines will make this motor yacht an outstanding boat in every way!

Maintained and beautifully appointed, this Californian is ready for a thorough survey. She is priced to sell quickly and is sure to impress.

West Coast Yachts offers the details of this vessel in good faith but cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of this information nor warrant the condition of the vessel. A buyer should instruct his agents, or his surveyors, to investigate such details as the buyer desires validated. This vessel is offered subject to prior sale, price change, or withdrawal without notice.

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