Live the Resort Lifestyle Immediately: 1983 52' DeFever Performance Offshore Cruiser – “TRY” with Rare Paradise Village Marina Slip.
DeFevers are one of the most sought after liveaboard trawlers ever built. Hauled out for fresh bottom pain and maintenance 6/29/2026.
Imagine owning a well maintained, long-range DeFever Performance Offshore Cruiser and docking her in one of the most sought-after slips on the West coast of Mexico and Banderas Bay.
This boat is under a LLC making the transaction easy.
A Mexican licensed car could be included in the deal.
TRY is the term for a score in the game of RUGBY. It is the equivalent of a touch down in the game of gridiron american football. Also a metaphor for life.
This 1983 52' DeFever Performance Offshore Cruiser has only 500 hours on her main engines — barely broken. Her dedicated owner has poured over $250,000 into critical upgrades and maintenance, focusing on the systems that matter most for reliable offshore cruising and liveaboard comfort:
- Expert engine room refresh (including the twin low-hour Caterpillar 3208 mains, serial numbers 01232413 and 01232416) for trouble-free performance on thousands of future miles
- Haul out New Bottom Paint and June 2026
- Fully modernized sanitation system — New lines and worry-free
- On-demand hot water, instant hot water in heads and galley
- Exterior paint upgrades that make her look sharp and turn heads at the dock
- All-new galley with modern sink, stove, 5 in 1 range, dishwasher and refrigerator plus icemaker and beer fridge— a complete kitchen refresh for entertaining and daily living.
- Bidets in the heads
- 12.5 KW and 8 KW Generators
- Watermaker
- Starlink WIFI
- Can Sleep 7 in three staterooms and wheel house
- 2 heads with 2 showers
- TIP good through 2034
- Full size washer and dryer in mechanical space
- All 4 Fuel tanks totally cleaned and inspected from the inside after fuel polish. Perfect condition with photos, they will hold 1500 gallons
- Air Compressor
- Laminating machine
- Go Pro and many other accessories
Built on Arthur DeFever’s legendary full-displacement design, TRY offers proven seaworthiness, a solid fiberglass hull with new hydraulic hoses and pump for the Naiad stabilizers, a generous 16'+ beam, and nearly 1,500 gallons of fuel capacity. Powered by her reliable Caterpillar 3208 mains, she cruises efficiently at 8 knots with the potential for 1,200+ nautical miles of range — perfect for coastal hops, the Sea of Cortez, or longer Pacific passages. TRY has been the committee boat for many of the Vallarta Yacht Club regattas, rallies and races. To include the Music boat for the Barra de Navidad Cruise in week. A small band on the aft deck and boats all anchored behind, dancing to the music.
But here’s what truly sets this offering apart: TRY can include a highly desirable, hard-to-get slip at the prestigious Paradise Village Marina in Nuevo Nayarit on beautiful Banderas Bay, Mexico. A three bedroom, two bath condo in this area can easily be close to a million dollars.
In a popular cruising hub where prime slips are notoriously difficult (often impossible) to secure, this slip is a game-changer. The buyer can get this perfect slip if wanted.
You’ll enjoy full access to all the world-class amenities of the Paradise Village Resort and Spa — right at your dock:
- Multiple swimming pools and Jacuzzis
- Tennis courts, fitness center, and world-famous spa
- Gourmet restaurants, shopping center, and sky bar
- Soft-sand beach just steps away
- Full grocery just outside the gate
- 24-hour security, concierge service, and more
- The world renowned Vallarta Yacht Club is just a few blocks down the dock
- Youth Sailing programs just down the dock.
Inside, TRY features a practical, spacious layout ideal for extended cruising or entertaining guests, now with a fully refreshed galley ready for meals at anchor or underway:
- Full-beam master stateroom with abundant storage
- Additional guest staterooms
- Wide, protected side decks for easy line handling
- Expansive flybridge and boat deck perfect for a tender
She is turn-key — extremely low hours on her Caterpillar mains, massive recent investment in reliability, comfort, and modern conveniences, proven DeFever Performance Offshore Cruiser pedigree, and that rare slip that makes her an instant lifestyle upgrade.
Low engine hours on Caterpillar mains. $250,000+ in upgrades over the past 4 years. Legendary seaworthiness. Prime Paradise Village slip included.
Recent Upgrades
New sharks teeth, on-shaft line cutters
Shafts and wheels turned
Sea chest removed, painted and rebeded.
Exhausts removed, repainted and rebedded
All portals removed, cleaned, polished and rebedded
New stabilizer hydraulic lines and rebuilt pump
New fuel manifold system
New raw water pumps on mains and gensets
New on-demand hot water system
New stainless steel fridge, sink and 5 in 1 microwave, convection, broiler etc
New Dishwasher
All new B&G electronics, new VHF
New solenoid and batteries for bow thruster
New starter batteries
New charger inverter system 2x
New large staples on swim platform
Underwater lights
New radar arch
New sanitary pipes and macerator
New Air Compressor
New bilge pumps and float switches
New A/C Pump
Back up pumps, switches and filters on board.
Full array of tools and power tools
TRY isn’t just a boat for sale — she’s your immediate ticket to the relaxed, Liveaboard cruising life in Banderas Bay that most people only dream about, complete with a brand-new galley, reliable Cat power, and resort amenities at your dock. Just underwent haul-out, full bottom paint, shaft and prop check and bow thruster paint and check the first week on July 12026. Like new!
Serious inquiries only. Contact me today to arrange a private viewing and learn how you can take ownership of both this exceptional 1983 DeFever Performance Offshore Cruiser and her enviable slip in paradise.
