Overview


$172,900

Price

Iuka, Mississippi

Location

Sunset Fever

Name

1987 DeFever

Vessel

Dimensions

  • Length Overall

    43' 8"

  • Beam

    14' 9"

  • Maximum Draft

    4' 9"

  • Dry Weight

    44,000 lbs

  • Hull Material

    Fiberglass

Tank Capacities

  • Fuel

    650 gal

  • Water

    400 gal

  • Holding

    60 gal

Engines

  • Engine 1 — Ford Lehman SP135

    135hp (7,500hrs)

  • Engine 2 — Ford Lehman SP135

    135hp (7,500hrs)

DETAILS

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.

Bluewater Yacht Sales 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

MORE INFO
  • 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."

  • Specifications

    Listing MLS by Yachtr.com

  • Disclaimer

    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. A buyer should instruct his agents, or his surveyors, to investigate such details as the buyer desires validated. This vessel is offered subject to prior sale, price change, or withdrawal without notice.
Inquire About This Listing
1987 DeFever

1987 DeFever


$172,900

PRICE

Iuka, Mississippi

LOCATION

SUNSET FEVER

NAME

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