1987 DeFever
“Sunset Fever”
01Overview
DeFever 44 A proven long-range cruiser with extensive cruising history, meaningful upgrades, and equipment suited to extended cruising.
02Highlights
- Naiad Stabilizers
- HiField Aluminum R.I.B - With 9.9hp Yamaha
- This Vessel has a Center Line Tender crane
- Solar Panels
- Makes a Great Live Onboard
03Specifications
04Description
1987 DeFever 44 Offshore Cruiser – Proven, Practical, and Ready for the Next Chapter, Cruise or Live Onboard.
This 1987 DeFever 44 Offshore Cruiser is a classic long-range trawler designed by the legendary Arthur DeFever—renowned for building safe, seaworthy vessels that continue to attract knowledgeable cruisers worldwide. She's now offered for sale by her current owners that just completed the great loop with her.
Built on a solid fiberglass hull with a deep full-length keel and protected running gear, this DeFever 44 is exceptionally capable in open water. Her displacement hull, paired with Naiad stabilizers, ensures a stable and comfortable ride, as well as impressive fuel economy on extended cruises.
Key Features:
The galley-up layout keeps the cook part of the conversation in the spacious salon.
Full-beam aft master stateroom with island queen berth, ensuite head, and abundant storage
Forward guest stateroom with V-berth and adjacent head
Walk-in engine room with nearly stand-up headroom—rare for boats this size
Expansive flybridge with excellent visibility and generous seating
Large covered aft deck, ideal for relaxing, entertaining, or carrying gear
Expansive, secure walk-around decks—a hallmark of DeFever design
Stabilized with Naiad fins for offshore comfort
Whether you're planning to live aboard, cruise the Great Loop, or head off to explore the islands, this DeFever 44 delivers the kind of comfort, durability, and pedigree few boats in this size range can match.
DeFever owners form a tight-knit, active online community, and with good reason—these boats are built to be used and appreciated. This is an excellent opportunity to own one of Arthur DeFever's most beloved designs at a very reasonable price.
S&J Yachts is pleased to assist you in the purchase of this vessel. This boat is centrally listed by Curtis Stokes & Associates. It is offered as a convenience by this broker/dealer to its clients and is not intended to convey direct representation of a particular vessel
A DeFever 44 With a Proven Cruising History
The current owners purchased this 1987 DeFever 44 with the intention of cruising—and they followed through.
From the Bahamas to the Chesapeake, Great Lakes and Canada, and ultimately around the Great Loop, the boat has accumulated approximately 10,000 nautical miles during 30 months of active ownership.
Along the way, they invested in maintenance, mechanical work, comfort upgrades and cruising equipment, including Naiad stabilizers, an 800Ah battery bank and 900 watts of solar capacity.
Now that their Great Loop adventure is complete, they are ready to turn the boat over to owners who can take advantage of the cruising platform they have developed.
For someone looking for a classic DeFever 44 with substantial recent cruising history, extensive equipment and a documented record of maintenance and upgrades, this vessel offers an opportunity to begin the next adventure with considerably more than a boat that has simply been sitting at the dock waiting for one.
Cruising History & Major Equipment
Cruising History
Purchased April 2024
Bahamas shortly thereafter
30 months of cruising
Approximately 10,000 nautical miles
Great Loop completed September 2026
Winters in Marathon
East Coast / Chesapeake / Great Lakes / Canada
Major Equipment
Naiad stabilizers
800Ah battery bank
900W solar
Generator
Dinghy with 8hp upgraded to 9.9 HP Yamaha
Maintenance List
Recent Mechanical / Systems Maintenance
Both alternators replaced — June 2025
Port propeller repaired — February 2026
Starboard starter replaced; original starter rebuilt — March 2026
Starboard injector pump rebuilt — March 2026
Naiad stabilizers serviced — May 2026
Fuel tanks professionally polished — June 2024
Recent Improvements & Upgrades
Flybridge Isinglass
Phifer Tex 90
refrigerators
mattress
dinghy cover
Sunbrella panels
teak treatment
The Solar and Battery information
With an 800Ah battery bank and 900 watts of solar, the owners have routinely enjoyed multiple days at anchor without shore power, depending on weather, solar production and onboard electrical consumption.
The owners report that, under their typical usage, approximately four hours or less of engine run time has generally been sufficient to restore the battery bank. Actual charging requirements will vary with electrical consumption, solar production and operating conditions.
The Spaciuos Aft Deck
"The spacious aft deck and flybridge have been extensively used for entertaining, including hosting multiple couples and larger gatherings during the owners' travels."
Listing MLS by Yachtr.com
Engines
Generators
Ask about the 1987 DeFever .
S&J Yachts will reply within a business day.