1929 Custom 80' HOFFAR-BEECHING Fantail Yacht DEERLEAP

HEALTH FORECES SALE
PRICE JUST REDUCED ANOTHER $100,000 (total 35% now)
BRING ALL OFFERS
IRREPLACEABLE BOATHOUSE AVAILABLE ($800 moorage)
LIVE ABOARD POTENTIAL
CHARTER POTENTIAL
NEW SURVEY MAY, 2024 
NEW BATTERY BANK ADDED 6/23- 14 L-16s

 DEERLEAP was Poster Girl for the VICTORIA CLASSIC BOAT FESTIVAL -SEPT 1,2,3, 2023!! The show was a great success and DEERLEAP was THE popular yacht to visit.

 DEERLEAP IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR SHOWINGS BY APPOINTMENT AT HER MOORAGE IN PORT ORCHARD, WA. Maintenance haul out completed in May, fasteners pulled and she surveyed well. DEERLEAP will depart for the Broughton Islands, Northern BC in June.  Showings can be arranged and by appointment while cruising during the summer.  She will return to her moorings in early September after the Victoria Classic Yacht Show.

PHOTOS SIMPLY DON’T DO JUSTICE TO THIS SPECTACULAR YACHT. THE SCANTLINGS ARE LIKE A TUG, THE FINISH IS LIKE A MIRROR!! YOU MUST SCHEDULE A VISIT ON DEERLEAP TO OBTAIN THE FULL IMPACT AND APPRECIATION FOR THIS VESSEL!! YOU WON’T BE DISAPPOINTED!!

BOAT HOUSE IS AVAILABLE WITH PURCHASE OF VESSEL, WITH TRANSFERRABLE MOORAGE IN PUBLIC MARINA. 7.2 miles to Bremerton National Airport, jet capable. Not included in price of vessel. Note, Live Aboard is possible!! Present Moorage $800/mo!!

DEERLEAP  was built in Vancouver, BC, by Hoffar-Beeching boatyard, later Boeing Canada, for Colonel McLimont, the President of Winnipeg Power and Light. She was originally powered by Hall-Scott gasoline engines. She was designed with exceptional viewing capabilities aboard a comfortable and elegant cruiser, built specifically for excursions to Alaska. She has cruised extensively from Mexico to Alaska by the present owners.

Her original design, which remains mostly intact today, specifically on the main deck, included a large combination observation saloon and formal dining room, galley forward, and up 2 steps to the spacious Pilothouse. A day-head has been added just aft of the Pilothouse.  Aft of main deck living area are French Doors opening to a spacious covered aft deck with a central teak dining table and luxuriously, newly Sunbrella covered, circular seating area surrounding the broad fantail. 
DEERLEAP passed through several owners, including being conscripted during World War II, wearing Navy Gray paint, and designated as B154 during her service and having huge, heavy-duty VIVIAN 120HP slow turning diesels installed.  After the War, she was purchased by well-known mining engineer Campbell Church, where she joined his charter fleet of famous yachts, and frequently hosted luminaries including Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, and John Wayne, financier Andrew Mellon Jr., and in the 60s, hosted the Kennedy Family and various movie stars in Southern California. By the 80s DEERLEAP had fallen into disrepair and faced the auction block, a US Federal Marshall’s Sale, where the present owner acquired her… and was actually owned by the US Government, who controlled the boat, she sat 4 years unattended, until all of the legal matters were resolved!! … some 40 years ago. (Civil foreclosures settled by US Marshall’s sale do NOT clear Jones Act issues.)

Since acquiring DEERLEAP in the 80s, she has been the major focus of the owners to restore her and significantly improve her throughout. The lower deck stateroom accommodations have been very professionally reconfigured, and the twin GARDNER 6LX engines later replaced the “screamin Jimmies” to make her a very quiet and efficient cruising yacht.
The owner comments on the prime aspect of the yacht he enjoys and respects, more than any other, is her seaworthiness.  ” I’ve had the boat lying completely on her sides along the coast of Oregon and I never doubted her for a moment!! She was built to go anywhere in any conditions.”
“Her Roaring Twenties charm has always attracted me” said the owners late wife. “It’s that, more than anything else, that I think is missing in boats today.” 

Note, much of the fine collectibles, sterling ware and serving sets, China dishes, art and scrapbooks of history on the yacht will accompany her sale.

DEERLEAP has been maintained to Bristol Condition-yacht standards by her present owner, with a bottomless checkbook budget to continuously improve and tweak her presence. She is such a regular winner at the Classic Yacht Association Annual Wooden Boat Festivals, the owner does not campaign her any longer, to give others a chance at winning!!  She is also no “Boathouse Queen” either, DEERLEAP has been cruised every year for 16 to 20 weeks up to the Broughton Islands of Northern BC, and occasionally Alaska. She is ready to go TODAY!!
The owners age and health, and his recent acquisition of 2 float homes in the Broughton’s, where they enjoy spending the summers, brings her to the market for her next Stewards to enjoy and cruise into the future.

This is a rare OPPORTUNITY, the first time in 40 years, DEERLEAP has come to the market.

You won’t be disappointed in this SPECTACULAR yacht offering.

THERE ARE SOME SPECIAL SURPRISES ONBOARD, NOT INCLUDED IN THIS LISTING THAT MAY BE INCLUDED IN HER SALE.  COME ABOARD TO SEE THESE SPECIAL AMENITIES!!

DEERLEAP was hauled in the Spring of 2023, and again May 2024 to prepare for summer cruising. A full Marine Survey with haul out was accomplished May 2024, fasteners pulled as required by Insurance Company, no issues surfaced on that survey.  Owner advises “DEERLEAP was “wooded”, ie the hull sanded to bare wood, and completely refastened from the waterline up, with galvanized steel fasteners, about 10 years ago.” She has a stunning and flawless white hull finish now. The foredeck is presently being refastened and recalked-2024/5.

This yacht can easily be handled and moored by a competent skipper and a line handler. With her twin-screws, hydraulic bow-thruster, port and starboard doors from the Pilothouse, and adjustable Boarding Ladders (Passerelles) both Port and Starboard, with lines prepared prior to landing, a line handler can be landed onto the dock and the skipper can then maneuver the vessel alongside and drop bow, stern and spring lines to secure the yacht.

DEERLEAP is in her boathouse moorings in Port Orchard, Washington near Bremerton and is ready for appointments for showings.

PLEASE CALL- BRING OFFERS- HEALTH NOW FORCES IMMEDIATE SALE