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.