1979 DeFever 43/44 Sundeck Trawler
The DeFever 43 was in production from 1978-1981 while the DeFever 44 was in production from 1981-2004. The difference is one foot of interior salon space while the layout is essentially the same.
If you are looking for an exceptional updated trawler look no further than this one! The fastidious owner has cared for upgraded the boat as needed. There is absolutely nothing to do except bring your personal belongings and go cruising. There will be no disappointments.
The interior is beautiful, laminate wood flooring on top of the original parquet flooring, teak wood panels and trim, matching fabrics and valances.
The 43/44 trawler remains one of Arthur DeFever’s most popular designs. DeFever began his career designing tuna trawlers for the San Diego fleet. In the early 1960s he was encouraged to come up with a cruising trawler with seakeeping capabilities and range that were similar to his fishing designs. The 38 to 54-footers he produced were hardy boats designed to handle the Pacific from Mexico to Alaska. Early wooden boats were built in Santa Barbara, California. Fiberglass models were built in Mexico, Taiwan and China. The 43’s production run was from 1978-1981. Arthur DeFever, recognized as a pioneer in recreational trawler design, died in 2013.
A classic DeFever design, heavily constructed on a displacement hull, the DeFever 43 is a rare flush deck design with the aft deck and side decks on the same level. The result is a boat with slightly higher freeboard, but with an enormous aft deck area perfect for entertaining. The DeFever 43s roomy two-stateroom, two head interior is arranged with the galley aft in the salon where it’s easily reached from the aft deck and flybridge. Large windows provide panoramic views of the water. There is a pass-thru window from the galley to the aft deck. The full-beam master stateroom is huge with tons of storage. A great feature is the walk-in engine room with workbench and near standing headroom. Twin 120-hp Lehman diesels cruise at 7–8 knots with a range of 1,200 nautical miles.
The DeFever 43 is a no-nonsense twin-cabin, twin-engine trawler capable of long-distance cruising. The heavily built displacement hull has a tall, flared bow and plenty of freeboard all around. The superstructure features a large foredeck, an amidships pilothouse/salon and an open lounge deck aft. The flybridge has a semi-hardtop with a complete helm station on the center line and passenger seating. Full-length handrails and wide side decks make for safe passage between the fore and aft decks while underway. The 40,000-pound boat is powered by twin 120-hp diesels, placed amidships with tankage and generators in a dedicated engine room. The spacious aft “lounge deck” is covered with a semi-hardtop for sun and weather protection. Inside, the main cabin features a galley-up layout. The U-shaped galley has a stove top, microwave oven, refrigerator and freezer, and an additional chest freezer in a cabinet next to the main refrigeration. There’s an L-shaped dinette with a table for dining. The lower helm is to starboard and has a full array of electronics. The master stateroom is aft and has an island berth and a fully equipped en-suite head compartment. There’s another cabin forward with a V-berth and adjacent head.
Not Listed
Cruise Speed
Not Listed
Max Speed
Not Listed
Range NMI
14' 0"
Beam
Lehman
Engine Info
2014 500 HRS 120 HP
Details
2
Num of Engines
Inboard Diesel
Fuel Type
700 Gal
Fuel Capacity
120 Gal
Water Capacity
$122,500
Price
New Bern, North Carolina
Location
Introduced in the late 1970s, when trawlers were extremely popular, the DeFever 43 didn’t follow the styling trends of the time. Instead of having a conventional double-cabin trawler design with side decks around the aft cabin, the DeFever 43 features a flush deck design. The DeFever 43 may possess one of the largest aft deck in its class. Many 43 owners find that their DeFever’s aft deck soon becomes THE gathering place for all their fellow boaters at the end of the day. With a semi-hardtop to protect boaters from excess sun or rain, the aft deck is an integral part of this boat’s charm as an entertainer. The full-width aft deck design also allows for a larger aft cabin with more headroom. The design’s pleasing shearline provides a proportional-looking profile, and the boat’s higher freeboard can keep green water off the windshield in heavier seas. Above the hardtop-protected aft deck is a flybridge that offers good visibility all around the boat, a centerline helm and plenty of seating for guests. Lockers to either side of the helm provide room for electronics to be mounted out of the weather. The hardtop is semi-hardtop. The aft deck entry to the main cabin is through a large door with a lift-up hatch on the starboard side. Four steps down, the spacious salon is finished with warm teak paneling and brightened by natural lighting through large windows all around. The salon is made even larger by moving the galley out. While most trawlers have the galley tucked into one corner of the salon, the 43 is instead designed with an efficient U-shaped galley to port, astern of the salon. While it is open to the salon, the galley is still visually a separate area — and it doesn’t detract from the salon’s full-width dimensions. Seating arrangements in the salon has an L-shaped settee to port (forward of the galley), and a single Stressless like chair to port. With the large salon area and the flat deck, furnishings can be tailored to the owner’s preference. The galley features abundant counter and cabinet space, a large deep Corian sink, microwave oven, separate refrigerator/freezers and a large window on the aft bulkhead for natural light. Double-door refrigerator and freezer are located to starboard and in a beautiful cabinet is a chest freezer. A real inside helm and in the forward starboard corner of the salon features a fully instrumented lower helm and excellent visibility. A door to the side deck is located here, as well, for boarding or line handling. A similar door is to port. Overhead, cabinets make room for radios and electronics. The portside dash area has room for charts. Forward and down is the guest stateroom and head. This stateroom features a large V-berth and side shelving, and overhead hatch and storage. The forward head is large and has a vanity with molded sink, a not-uncommon compromise on boats this size. Abaft the salon is the master stateroom — and it is spacious in comparison to other boats this size. Curtained portlights around the cabin allow natural light to enter. A centerline queen-size berth is surrounded by more teak paneling. There’s cabinetry on both sides, including a vanity to port. The spacious master head does have a stall shower — and it is quite large, with more storage. A huge hanging locker is located to starboard. Entry to the engine room centered at the base of the stairs leading to the V-berth. The engine room features stand-up (5-foot, 6 inch) headroom, with plenty of space around the machinery. Toolboxes and other storage cabinetry are mounted here, and the mechanic will have no problem reaching the access points of the engines or genset. Twin Lehman 120 hp diesel engines power the 43 gracefully through the water. They are economical yet provide enough power to get this heavy boat up to a 7 to 8 knot cruise speed, allowing about 1,200 miles of cruising on 700 gallons of fuel. The hull features a deep draft design and a full keel that carries aft for directional stability and protection of the running gear. A deep forefoot combines with the 43s bow flare to provide a comfortable ride, as well as helping keep the boat dry. DeFever 43s can handle heavy seas, and these boats can take more punishment than most owners are willing to subject themselves to. The hull is constructed of hand-laid fiberglass, and the boat’s 40,000-pound dry weight gives some indication as to its heavy-duty construction. For a cruising couple looking for something a little different — a trawler with an uncommon nature, designed with a workboat heritage but not a workboat look — the DeFever 43 offers a unique combination of roominess, style and construction that’s hard to beat.
Located aft and top port in the cabin the galley offers excellent food preparation and storage capabilities that will please even the most discriminating onboard chef. There are opening side and aft windows allowing for exceptional natural light and ventilation.
Lower Helm:
Bridge Helm:
The engine room is a stand-up engine room with entry through a door in the guest stateroom area. Plenty of space from routine maintenance and repairs around the engines, transmissions and generator.
When searching for a boat you want to look for one that has been exceptionally maintained with an open checkbook. Make no mistake this DeFever has been maintained, updated and cared for by a fastidious owner. You will not be disappointed in her appearance or accommodations.
Easy to see in New Bern, NC.
Engine and generator hours are as of the date of the original listing and are a representation of what the listing broker is told by the owner and/or actual reading of the engine hour meters. The broker cannot guarantee the true hours. It is the responsibility of the purchaser and/or his agent to verify engine hours, warranties implied or otherwise and major overhauls as well as all other representations noted on the listing brochure.
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.
Chuck Newman
1-904-607-7286
