Defever 44' single hand?

[bshillam]

Anyone have a Defever 44' and single handle the boat? I'd considered adding bow and stern thrusters to handle that boat by myself but it's a long way from the steering station to the swim platform.

 

[Moonfish]

Especially with thrusters, you should be able to do just fine. On a calm day!

I can solo our boat in and out of the slip with no problem. However, as soon as the wind exceeds 10 kts I hope for help on the dock if I'm being blown off (we have no thrusters). But our Cheoy Lee 46 has quite a bit more windage than your DF44. So as they say... Your experience may vary!

 

[bshillam]

Defever

Don't have a DF44 yet. Just one of the boats on my radar as we are shopping for a new family get away.

 

[AlaskaProf]

...but it's a long way from the steering station to the swim platform.

.
I routinely dock my 41' trawler solo. For me the trick is to put a long line on the stern cleat and bring the end forward so I can step from the cabin door down to the dock with bow (actually, just forward of midships) and stern lines in hand. Drop a quick knot forward and tend to the stern.

If wind or current present complications....well, that's why we have anchors.

 

[O C Diver]

I almost always am single handing when docking. While I can dock my single engine boat without the bow thruster, it does make it much easier, especially in high winds or significant current.

Ted

 

[angus99]

Not sure I’d attempt to single-hand ours unless I had thrusters. However, there’s a gentleman tied up across the dock from us who is single-handing his second or third loop on a 53-foot sundeck. It has a cockpit but I haven’t seen him use it. We went through Pickwick lock with him yesterday and he makes locking and docking look effortless. He has thrusters and a remote and says he can thread a needle with his vessel. Oh, and he’s in his 70s.

 

[ddare0351]

I single hand my DeFever 41' almost exclusively. It's all I've ever done. It can be tricky as my slip is perpendicular to the way the wind predominantly blows so I typically start turning early and let the wind push me until I'm almost in line, and then bump the engines into forward a few times until I'm in my slip. I get a few scuff marks from time to time but those come off with a Mr Clean magic eraser or rubbing compound. FYI, I am 36 years old and have been boating for 2.5 years, and this is my 1st/only boat. No thrusters, just twin engines.

 

[Fletcher500]

I dock our 45 myself. Having bow and stern thrusters definitely helps. I use a method similar to Post 4. Remotes for the thrusters is on the list to help on the windy days.

 

[Ben]

I could routinely dock my single screw, no thruster 36 Marine Trader solo. HOWEVER, the wind and tides can conspire against you. If too rough for the slip, I would load up the proper side of the boat with fenders and tie to the face dock and await better conditions. Good luck.

 

[Flatswing]

The 53 referred to earlier is probably Phantom - a Tarquin Trader, run by Herb Seaton looping for the 2nd time out of Tarpon Springs. He installed Side Power bow & stern thrusters and uses the lanyard remote that he keeps hung around his neck. We were so impressed watching him lock through the Trent Severn solo last year that we now have the same system on our DeFever 49 RPH (waiting to install the remote). They're magic, BUT- they only just held against and could not overcome a 4-5 knot side current at Charleston City Boatyard up the Wando River. A little planning for current & wind + common sense, you would easily be able to single hand a 44.

 

[OldDan1943]

Once you get the hang of spring lines and leaning against a piling, having thrusters are the icing on the cake.

 

[nwboater]

I single hand our Selene 47, and before this boat, for many years our Willard 40 sedan. Both the Willard and now the Selene are equipped with Side-Power lanyard type remote controllers. Super easy to install, just plug and play! It can be scary to step off the boat when soloing, but with a midship line in one hand and lanyard bow thruster remote in the other, I have as much control as I need. If a strong breeze is pushing me off the dock, I never fight it -- just exit and look for a "friendlier" landing or a nearby anchorage to drop the hook.

 

[fuelishdecision]

We have only had our DeFever 44 for a couple months. While I haven't had to single hand it, I could do it, the control of twins and a bow thruster have already proven that I can easily put in the slip without issue.

-Eric

 

[oscar]

Used to single hand my single screw no bow thruster 42' sailboat all the time.... Matter of practice and planning.

 

[McGillicuddy]

I delivered a DF 44 last year. Twin Lehman’s. No bow or stern thruster. One of the nicest handling boats I have ever handled. Although I was not solo on the trip, I felt I would have been able to handle a solo trip easily. For the record, I single hand my own Cheoy Lee 52’ for the majority of my trips although sometimes have an inexperienced guest as a deckhand. The DF was SO much easier to handle I considered getting one for myself. For about a minute. (Love my CL).

 

[Sailor of Fortune]

Check out Slow hands setup. Ted usually single hands. A cockpit control station is the key. No drama, no blind spots , just back it in. Handle your own lines without worrying about clueless marina kids.
His setup is very common in the commercial work boat world. I don't understand why its not more common on rec boats.

 

[OldDan1943]

It is, in my opinion, not CAN you single-hand the boat but WHY would you single-hand the boat? Boating is supposed to be fun, a shared experience.
I could have single-hand my 46ft Nordhavn with an upgraded bow thruster, and I know I can single-hand my 34ft American Tug with bow and stern thruster but, I have no where to do and cant find a cruise buddy. Tell a woman it's a single stateroom boat and run like a scalded dog. Tell a guy it is a single stateroom boat and they might look at me in a "new light" which I am not seeking.
I guess I will have to do something soon. I am running out of project to do.

 

[Codger2]

I used to single hand my old 54 sport fisher and later, my 32 Halvorsen Gourmet cruiser. My present boat is a 42 Ocean Alexander that has no down helm. The starboard door, however, makes single handing a piece of cake. When the boat's in the slip, I scramble down the fly bridge ladder, step through the stbd door and secure the stern line to a cleat.

 

[bshillam]

Thanks

All very good suggestions. To the earlier post, I'd like to bring friends and family while cruising however this one is being purchased to take clients out. I'd like to head into bringing clients along and not plan on them helping me. Some of them don't have boating experience and in that case I'd rather do it and let them enjoy the wine and experience.
I'll keep looking and select the appropriate boat for the experience I am trying to achieve. Lots of social space, covered, warm and good viewing from the interior. As a floating home specialist I envision taking my clients to a marina to view/tour homes for sale. It's really about them experiencing or envisioning the life style. What better way to see their new home/marina via the water!

 

[bshillam]

My current project. It's not a boat but it does float!

 

[Sailor of Fortune]

very cool!

 

[Steppe]

We owned a DeFever 44 from 2000 to 2002. Ours had twin Lehman 120hp engines and no thrusters. Some specific comments about the DeFever 44:

1. It is a large, comfortable boat. Great live aboard. Big salon, big full width master stateroom and the "ballroom" sundeck, above the master is ideal for lounging and entertaining.

2. There is no cockpit on the 44. The only way to get to the swimstep is to climb down a vertical ladder from the sundeck, almost 4 feet down. Some boats have had stairs added to the stern to facilitate getting down to the swimstep.

3. There is no comfortable way to get from the lower helm station to the dock from the side decks. They too are about 4 feet from the deck to where the dock is and you either jump or climb down the side using the splash rails or install some type of step to aid in getting down.

4. The 44 is very capable and easily handled. Twin engines and the addition of thrusters make it easy to maneuver into a slip. The problem, and one of the reasons we sold ours, was getting off the boat once you are next to a dock. Getting from the upper helm to the swimstep meant three sets of ladders or steps. Getting from the lower helm to the dock meant either going up to the sundeck then down to the swimstep or jumping off amidship. I can't imagine doing it single handled except on a day with no current, no wind and maybe someone on the shore receiving lines.

4. The 44 has a lot of windage. Many of them, ours included, had canvas oxygen tents around the flybridge and the sundeck which just made it more difficult to exit the boat and added even more windage. Photo below isn't the boat we owned. Ours wasn't anywhere as nice as this one.

 

[ghost]

I don’t like that boat for single handing. Just my opinion, but here is why. I would not be able to easily get a line on without leaving the boat. My failsafe is easy access to the swim step where I can be at dock level without having to dangerously lean over or out, it’s just right there. I won’t leave the boat until I have a solid line already attached to the boat and often choose to go back to the helm after that first line and use engine power to bring the bow back in. I just find it’s safer, than trying to outrun the wind and all the while trusting that single line or cleat to hold as a single point of risk.

It’s not the only way, but principle here is to not have to jump off the boat to secure a line. With a decent walk around I can usually finesse a mid spring line onto a cleat, but with bullrails that are common here in the PNW, that’s almost always a stern line from the swimstep as the only safe option with any wind. Just my $.02, but I’m single handing my 48 with twins, no thrusters, pretty much constantly.

 

[mickand]

Anyone have a Defever 44' and single handle the boat? I'd considered adding bow and stern thrusters to handle that boat by myself but it's a long way from the steering station to the swim platform.

I have a 41 ft sedan trawler with bow and stern thrusters - do 6000 miles yearly solo - no problems

 

[angus99]

Hmmm, I understand that this wasn’t the boat for you, but I can’t can’t agree with some of your points.

We owned a DeFever 44 from 2000 to 2002. Ours had twin Lehman 120hp engines and no thrusters. Some specific comments about the DeFever 44:

1. It is a large, comfortable boat. Great live aboard. Big salon, big full width master stateroom and the "ballroom" sundeck, above the master is ideal for lounging and entertaining.

2. There is no cockpit on the 44. The only way to get to the swimstep is to climb down a vertical ladder from the sundeck, almost 4 feet down. Some boats have had stairs added to the stern to facilitate getting down to the swimstep. (Some also use removable swim ladders at the boarding stations on the sides that make getting on and off easy. After seeing them used on other 44s, I plan to install them on ours.)

3. There is no comfortable way to get from the lower helm station to the dock from the side decks. They too are about 4 feet from the deck to where the dock is and you either jump or climb down the side using the splash rails or install some type of step to aid in getting down. (Well, this depends on the height of the dock and the side ladders (above) make it pretty easy to disembark.)

4. The 44 is very capable and easily handled. Twin engines and the addition of thrusters make it easy to maneuver into a slip. The problem, and one of the reasons we sold ours, was getting off the boat once you are next to a dock. Getting from the upper helm to the swimstep meant three sets of ladders or steps. (Not sure where you get three sets. Ours has one set of comfortable stairs from the fly bridge—MUCH easier to use than the ladder many boats have descending from the fly bridge—and a tall ladder from the sundeck to the swim platform. We almost never use that ladder, opting for a light step ladder or set of Marquipt stairs on the side.) Getting from the lower helm to the dock meant either going up to the sundeck then down to the swimstep or jumping off amidship. (We never “jump” off our boat. I can set a light step ladder on the dock in 15 seconds and descend safely, but after seeing the swim ladder modification on other Defevers, I will install them.) I can't imagine doing it single handled except on a day with no current, no wind and maybe someone on the shore receiving lines.

4. The 44 has a lot of windage. Many of them, ours included, had canvas oxygen tents around the flybridge and the sundeck which just made it more difficult to exit the boat and added even more windage. (Actually, without the oxygen tent, it has less windage than many boats in its size range. Much of the boat is below the waterline and the saloon sits well below deck level so that you’re only a couple feet above the waterline when you’re inside. In addition, the sundeck and flybridge—sans oxygen tent—offer little wind resistance. Finally, the boat is so heavy that it takes significant wind to alter its handling characteristics). Photo below isn't the boat we owned. Ours wasn't anywhere as nice as this one.

 

[catalinajack]

Hmmm, I understand that this wasn’t the boat for you, but I can’t can’t agree with some of your points.

As another DF44 owner, Ian's observations are spot-on. We have had no problems egressing our boat at docks or walls in 2000 miles (so far) doing the Great Loop. Certainly, single-handing a DF44 has some challenges but no more so than any other larger boat and perhaps even less so. I dock the boat while my wife handles the lines but I could see myself bringing the boat close - bow thruster - and very quickly being off the side rail from the flying bridge to begin tying off. It does require a nimble and fit captain and mate. A captain with back problems, bad knees, etc would be very much challenged.

 

[foreverunderway]

If she's a twin screw vessel, you really shouldn't need any bow or stern thruster, but given you apparently want one, go for a more expensive bow thruster and don't waste your money on a stern thruster. Controlling the stern is what twin screws are all about!
However, the whole secret to operating any vessel short-handed is knowing how to use spring lines. It isn't at all far from your wheelhouse to a midship cleat on the dock, once you are alongside, close enough to drop a line over the cleat. Then it's a simple matter of putting the inboard engine in gear and powering ahead with enough force that the spring holds the boat alongside until you have all the other lines out. This arrangement should hold the boat fast to the dock in almost any wind or current, from any direction.
We do this all the time under the most adverse conditions, with a single screw vessel and no thrusters at all.
A word of warning, though. Thrusters will fail you and they normally do so when you think you need them the most. Learn how to operate your vessel without the thruster and once you are 100% competent, use the thruster when you wish, not because you need it.

 

[mainer]

It can be done, I dock mine and pick up moorings singlehanded (no thrusters). However if the wind is blowing over 10 or the current running very fast, It's nice to have help.

 

[greysailor]

I've not had to singlehand our D44 so far....have always had wife or a buddy aboard even for short maintenance/exercise runs. However, with twin screws and bow/stern thrusters, I'm confident it wouldn't be a problem. I used to singlehand our Beneteau 411 with no thruster, and always had to springline out of the slip due to narrow fairway in that marina.
The key to minimizing death/boat damage is taking the time to assess wind, current, lay of the dock BEFORE committing to your approach.

Specific to the D44's deck height to lower floating docks, we have one of those extendable "grabber sticks"

 

[greysailor]

I've not had to singlehand our D44 so far....have always had wife or a buddy aboard even for short maintenance/exercise runs. However, with twin screws and bow/stern thrusters, I'm confident it wouldn't be a problem. I used to singlehand our Beneteau 411 with no thruster, and always had to springline out of the slip due to narrow fairway in that marina.
The key to minimizing death/boat damage is taking the time to assess wind, current, lay of the dock BEFORE committing to your approach.

Specific to the D44's deck height to lower floating docks, we have one of those extendable "grabber sticks"

(Sorry.....big thumb hit send button by mistake!) "Grabber sticks" for my very petite wife to pick up the spring line when we arrive at our home dock. We never jump off the boat until the boat is secured.

You won't be disappointed in your choice of a D44....but, I'm a little prejudice! [emoji3]