60' Ditmar & Donaldson 1957 Streamliner

 "Streamliner" is a great vintage wooden power boat, perfect for use as a commercial or pleasure boat.  She was a successful charter dive boat in the Los Angeles / Long Beach area for many years, and was featured in a story on the Jimmy Kimmel Show.  Streamliner was built by Dittmar & Donaldson, who were know for high quality commercial vessels and pleasure yachts in Costa Mesa, in 1957.  According to the surveyor she is "built like and Icebreaker". 

John Deere diesel engines were installed brand new in 2007 and have about 1700 hours on them.  They are rated at 375hp each. It's MER generator was installed new with rudders were reworked.  The boat has new AD/DC breaker panels and wiring, new lights, new glass, new water heater, new toilets, sinks and showers, new polished aluminum dash and steering wheel, and a Fleetwood sliding glass door.

The current owner purchased her because he is a big fan of industrial design, and had seen nothing else like it.  It has a very powerful, streamlined look because of its wide bean (18 feet) and its pilothouse structure, which has 12 foot ceilings inside.  We suspect that its naval architect was the famous William Garden, but have not been able to document that.  It has a look reminiscent of the great American streamlined trains, the G.M. Futurliner bus, and some of the nautical design work done by designers like Henry Dreyfuss, Walter Dorwin Teague, Brooks Stevens and others.  As its restoration is finished up over the next few months it will remain open inside and thus be easily able to be configured by its next owner as a commercial fishing, dive, or charter boat or pleasure yacht. She would also be good as a film or television prop boat and or a platform for filming or set work.

"Streamliner" was built in Costa Mesa by Ditmar & Donaldson, which was one of the highest quality boat builders in the U.S.of both commercial and pleasure vessels. It's unique shape was possibly designed by William Garden, the renowned naval architect who often worked with Ditmar & Donaldson.  A few years ago, it was an active professional dive / scuba boat which was big enough to make overnight stays at Catalina Island, and was called the "Aquatica".  All of the basics have been replaced or restored, and it is ready to configure internally as a dive boat, personal or charter fishing boat, or a fantastic private pleasure craft.  It could also be a great film prop, since it has 12 foot high ceilings in the upper cabin, and has so much uncluttered space inside and outside. The USCG gave a very small list of things that need to be done to get the COI renewed.

It has almost new (about 1700 hours) 375 HP John Deere twin turbo diesel engines, serviced recently by the local JD dealer. The MER generating system is also low hours, and is huge --35KW generator. 

New steering system, electrical wiring and panels, bilge pumps, battery charger, paint, hot water heater, navigation lights, internal wall paneling and flooring, toilets, sinks and showers, polished aluminum dash and pilot house area, ladders, and much more.....all NEW. Hydraulic system installed for windlass with 300' of chain and custom mfg. stainless mount for windlass.  Hydraulics can be used for other area's of boat, i.e lift cover to engine room, A-frame, etc.

New electronics,fish finder, radar, VHF installed in 2016.

The twin diesels, each 375HP, move the boat along at 5-6 knots at lowest (700 rpm) idle speed, which gives incredible fuel economy and is perfect for putting around the harbor.  The wooden construction (built "like an icebreaker" according to the surveyor) and wide beam give a great ride which feels more like a smooth glide.

Previous owner initially bought this boat was a big fan of industrial and streamlined design and had never seen another water craft like it.  It is perfect for anyone who like mid-century modern architecture, automotive design, interiors and houses by Eames, Henry Dreyfuss, George Nelson, Richard Neutra, Donald Deskey, Pininfarina, Harley Earl, and others, as well as cars like the Chrysler Thunderbolt, GM Futurliner, Stolt Scarab, Ferrari, Cord,and boats like the vintage Riva and Chris-craft.

Asking price of $99,000 is not much more than the value of the almost new mechanical systems alone.  The inspector told me that if one were to have a new wooden hull of this quality and size built today, it would cost over 1 million dollars -- for the empty hull alone.

Streamliner just came out of a haul out April 2011, where it received new Pro-line bottom paint,  new rudder bearings, new stainless steel rudder shaft bearing housings, a truing and polishing of it's 28 inch props, a new transducer, and engine turbocharger rebuilds, among other work. All decks have been refurbished and painted. July/August 2011. 

Streamliner has been owned and operated for the last 8 years by a (503)C foundation that runs marine oriented science classes for inner city students at no cost to the schools or students. They are selling Streamliner because they have acquired two smaller fiberglass sportfishers that better serves their normal class sizes and budget. 

Eric Gustafson Cell: 562-716-0447 Office: 562-594-9716

egustafson@denisonyachtsales.com

Denison Yacht Sales offers the details of this yacht in good faith but cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of this information nor warrant the condition of this boat for sale. A yacht buyer should instruct his yacht broker, or his boat surveyors, to investigate such details as the buyer desires validated. This yacht for sale is offered subject to prior sale, price change, or withdrawal without notice.