NEARLY A DOZEN classic hand-crafted yachts lined the docks at Village West Marina and Resort this month, to honor the more than a century-old legacy of Stephens Brothers Boat Builders and Designers during a biennial gathering.
The Stephens Yacht Rendezvous showcased vessels crafted in Stockton from as early as 1926, in an effort to bring attention to the company’s craftsmanship. Organizers hoped the event would show the need for preserving the history of the wooden yachts.
Founded in 1902 by brothers Thod Stephens and Roy Stephens along the San Joaquin River, the company became a leading boat builder on the West Coast, producing over 1,200 vessels ranging from sailboats and cruisers to military craft that supported efforts in four wars.
Operations continued under Thod’s sons — Theodore, Richard (Dick) — until economic shifts led to closure in 1987.
Patricia DeWeese, daughter of Richard Stephens, explained the family tree while displaying the yacht, Folly II. She shared how her father had an encyclopedic knowledge of the company’s yachts and an appreciation for the classic style of boatbuilding.
“(Stephens Brothers) built boats here since 1902,” said DeWeese. “When my dad was alive, he came down and talked to the owner of Triple Crown, but he said, ‘That’s not Triple Crown, that’s Love Affair.’ He remembered the original name of the boat and we would never call it Triple Crown. He always lived by the original.”
The Sept. 13 event was held to celebrate her late father’s birthday.
Family lore and craftsmanship endure
Rusty Areias, owner of the 1956 Miss 102, helped organize the event. He bought the 60-foot cruiser after seeing an image of a Stephens Bros. yacht and becoming engrossed with the company.
“As I learned more about the boats, I was just more and more fascinated by their history, their quality, and how they were the best wood-made boat makers in America,” said Areias. “I saw a picture of a boat called Westlake, which was an 85-foot boat, and I loved the style of it; it was long and low and just a beautiful style. So I started looking for it.”
However, he found through extensive research that the Westlake was destroyed in a fire. Still amazed by the Stephens Bros. craftsmanship, he did not pass up an opportunity to buy a different cruiser.
“A friend of mine, he told me about this boat, and he said, ‘it’s not as big as Westlake, but it’s got very similar lines,’” said Areias. “So we went and looked at it, and we fell in love with it. It was 60 feet instead of 85 feet but we bought it. And then the fun began.”
Areias was able to give extensive details about the history of nearly every vessel at the event, studying and sharing the history of the Stephens Bros. along the West Coast. He was excited by the plans to help preserve the boats in Stockton.
Preservation push gains steam
Wayne Ettel, president of the Maritime Preservation Trust, is moving his operations to the historic Stephens Yard at Five Star Marina near downtown Stockton.
Displaced from the Port of Los Angeles last year for industrial development, Ettel aims to rebuild the facility for repairs, maintenance and custom one-off builds.
“I’ve restored many Stephens boats, like the 1929 Athena here,” said Ettel. “These were the Rolls-Royce of motor yachts.”
The vessel, he said, is roughly 80% original and valued at about $3 million today despite its $16,000 cost in 1929.
He emphasized training youth in skills like varnishing and engine maintenance to introduce the craft to a new generation.
“I’ve restored many Stephens boats, like the 1929 Athena here. These were the Rolls-Royce of motor yachts.” Wayne Ettel, Maritime Preservation Trust
“We have a huge derelict boat problem now,” said Ettel. “Some need to be replaced, and we can bring boatbuilding back here affordably without going overseas.”
Richard Dunn, who purchased the company in the late 1970s and delivered its final boat in 1987, joined the event. Now operating Riverpoint Landing Marina off March Lane, Dunn reflected on the industry’s evolution.
“Boating has gone through a lot in the last 50 years, and it’ll see as many in the next,” said Dunn. “It’s satisfying that the name has carried forward after the Stephens have passed.
The event ended with a Sunday morning boat parade from the resort into downtown Stockton and past the Five Star Marina.
This story originally appeared in Stocktonia.
