Sanderling is a DeFever 41 motor vessel, built in 1987 in Taiwan by BLUEWATER YACHT BUILDERS LTD, and formerly named China Pearl and Walkabout.

Sanderling measures 40.6 feet in overall length (34.6 feet waterline), with a beam of 14.5 feet, a draft of 4.0 feet, and displaces about 19 tons when fully loaded. Approximate air-draft measurements are as follows: 21'3" to the top of the radar mast and anchor light; 15'3" with the radar mast laid down; 10.0 feet with the bimini totally down (radar mast laid down).

Sanderling is powered by a Ford-Lehman 135 horse power, naturally aspirated diesel engine, connected to a Borg-Warner Velvet Drive transmission with a 2.47:1 ratio. Burning 1.75 gallons of diesel fuel per hour at 1600 RPM (6.4 knots or 7.3 MPH) she has a cruising range, without a safety factor, of around 1200 nautical miles.

Sanderling has three main compartments inside: the main saloon amidship; a forward V-berth with separate head/shower (for guests); and an aft cabin with separate head/shower/tub and walk-in cedar hanging locker. Outside she has walk-around decks, an aft deck above the aft cabin, and an enclosed upper deck and topside steering station above the saloon.

Sanderling is equipped with Furuno radar, VesperMarine XB-8000 AIS, GPS, a depth sounder and fish finder for navigation, with a Dell laptop running Polar Navy navigation software displaying both real time ship's position on electronic charts and AIS data; two heat pumps for heat and air conditioning for climate control; a 5 gallon water heater which operates on 120 volts and is also heated by the engine cooling system when underway; an Onan 8KW diesel generator for 120 volt electricity; a 110 volt refrigerator with separate freezer; and a Force 10 three-burner propane stove with oven and broiler. She's also equipped with two VHF radios, plus a hand held VHF radio, a four person Achilles SPD 10'4" dinghy (with oars and a Tahatsu 6PH outboard), a Magnum 2512 combination 125 amp 3-stage charger/2500 watt inverter (plus a Xantrex 100 amp charger), AM/FM/CD stereo, 12 volt lighting, pressurized water, a combination washer/dryer, and a West Marine party sized propane grill. She has two separate battery banks: 10 T-105 (golf cart) batteries are combined into a house-bank for 12 volt needs producing 550 usable amps (1100 amps total); and one group 27 battery for starting the generator, if needed. While underway, the main battery bank is charged by a Balmar 110 amp alternator. Battery status is monitored by a Magnum ME-BMK monitor. Fresh water capacity is 140 gallons; fuel capacity is 500 gallons divided between four tanks (two on each side). Fuel is filtered through one 30 micron Racor 500 filter, one 2 micron Racor 500 filter (set in a lever selected two-filter manifold), and two on-engine 10 micron filters. Primary ground tackle consists of 260 feet of 5/16" HT" chain attached to a 55 pound SuperMax adjustable anchor, and 300 feet of 5/8 inch three strand nylon line with 10 feet of chain attached to a CQR anchor as secondary ground tackle. The anchor windlass is a Lofrans Tigress 12 volt model, which can raise as well as lower the anchor and chain from controls at both the topside steering station and a tethered remote at the windlass itself. Each head is equiped with a holding tank and a separate electrically operated Lectrasan unit for processing waste.