1939 Stephens Brothers Bridgedeck Cruiser
$120,000
Boat in Alameda, CA 94501 US
Built in 1939
Bridgedeck Cruiser
2 Engines (2x Chevrolet)
42 feet
Gas
Wooden
Sea Breeze is unquestionably one of the finest examples of a 1920-30s bridgedeck cruiser extant and must be seen to be appreciated.
Stephens Bros. was one of the premier American boat builders for almost a century and SEA BREEZE was launched during their heyday. Commissioned by a prominent San Francisco physician, she spent the early years of WW II as an admiral's tender, was conscripted in 1941 by the US Navy, converted to "Hospital Boat YH-4"(ambulance) for duty in San Francisco Bay, then was shipped to the western Pacific in 1945 where she served as an ambulance boat during the battle of Okinawa and was subsequently awarded a combat ribbon and bronze star star for her efforts.
After being shipped back to California and mustered out of the Navy, she was Theo Stephens personal yacht for many years--and being the personal boat of the boatyard owner meant that whenever there was a lull in production the crew worked on her. As well as benefiting from knowledgeable owners since new, she's also been kept either in a covered berth (at Willow Berm for decades) or under a full boat cover her entire life (currently under an $18,000 marvel built by Sausalito Canvas Works).
She has had extensive hull work and deck work. The topsides were painted in 2018, new shafts and struts, two new props, both exhaust manifolds replaced and new chartplotter installed. And had the custom foredeck butterfly hatch beautifully crafted out of teak--it's a work of art that took about 300 hours to build.
A partial list of relatively recent other work includes being repowered in 2000 (with just over 600 total hours on the Chevy 350 CID engines--note she's a rare twin engine model, most boats of this era were single screw), was totally rewired (110V and 12V,) with a new charging system and gel batteries (2021), refastened and painted top to bottom (she looks like she was launched yesterday), modern genset with barely 100 total hours clocked, replaced water tanks, renewed soft goods (carpets, cushions curtains and canvas), updated electronics, cute little Trinka 12' sailing dingy (this Bruce Kirby design looks period but is much more functional) on the bridgedeck with custom davits, brightwork wooded in 2021 and shows flawlessly with most of the metal either polished or rechromed, just hauled and bottom painted in February 2023.
Stateroom forward, up to salon with built in seating and steering station, down aft to galley port side, further aft to stateroom with head, far aft up from aft stateroom to cockpit with hardtop. Note interior has been refurbished and show very VERY nicely.
Stainless steel sink, cold plate refrigeration, two burner LPG stove. Manual pump toilet with Lectrosan system
110V AC / 12V DC. Thirty amp shorepower service, 3.5kW Westerbeke genset with barely 100 hours clocked. Four Group 27 gel cel batteries in two banks with parallel switch, single Group 24 battery, Protech battery charger, batteries and charger replaced in 2021.
January 2024 7 KW Mastervolt Isolation Transformer installed, along with required circuit protection.
Furuno GPS, Icom VHF radio, 5" Danforth magnetic compass.
Carvel planked cedar hull with bronze screws on steam bent oak frames, refastened in 1999 with teak over plywood decks. Full storm-proof cover In four sections (2021, plus separate transom and dinghy covers) so all that beautiful brightwork is protected! Note this is an amazing piece of work by The Canvas Works in Sausalito--it remained in place and undamaged during last winter’s 50 knot storms-- and cost $18,800 to build.
Vessel last hauled in February 2023 for fresh bottom paint and Propspeed coatings of props and shafts.
Be sure to note the bridgedeck-mounted and easily launched 12’ “Trinka” dinghy; it was designed by Bruce Kirby, the well-known designer of the Laser, who wanted to create the “perfect” tender. He succeeded! Note the Trinka is also a sailing cat, rows beautifully, and comes with a nice little 2-stroke (!) outboard. She's launched by twin swing out davits that were repositioned in 2021 to facilitate easy launching; two people can get the little boat into the water in about three minutes.
Electric windlass with chain and line rode.
Twin Chevy 350 CID 8 cylinder 280 hp fresh water cooled gas engines, installed 2000 with only about 600 hours clocked since. Velvet Drive tranny to 1 3/8" bronze shafts with four bronze struts, bronze rudders and props.
The Company 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. Buyer should assume that items on the vessel at the time of viewing, but not specifically listed on this specification sheet, are not included with the sale of the yacht, and should instruct his agents, or his surveyors to investigate such details as the buyer desires validated. Buyer assumes responsibility to verify all speeds, consumptions, capacities and other measurements contained herein and otherwise provided, and agrees to instruct his surveyor to confirm such details prior to purchase. This vessel is subject to sale, price and inventory changes, and withdrawal from market without notice.
Price History
| Date | Event | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 1/30/26 | Initial price | $120,000 |
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3300 Powell Street, Suite 105, Emeryville, CA, 94608
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