BoatsDufour Yachts Classic 43

Dufour Yachts Classic 43

Masthead Sloop · Fin keel, spade rudder · 1997–2005

A Mortain & Mavrikios cruiser featuring a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio and a 1.9m fin keel for balanced speed

Designed by Mortain & Mavrikios.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Fin w/spade Rudder

See her sail

The Dufour Yachts Classic 43, on the water

The fleet's own footage — the truest look at how she really moves.

Footage from SmoCo Sailing

Is it for you?

Character

Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.

LivelySea-kindly

Her light displacement on a moderate beam gives 20 — a moderate, middle-of-the-road motion.

Comfort ratio 20
CoastalBluewater

2.12 — right around the 2.0 line, the edge between coastal and offshore.

Capsize screening 2.12
LightHeavy

112 — light for her waterline, so she is easily driven and quick to accelerate.

Displacement / length 112
EasygoingPowered-up

22.5 — a lot of sail for her weight; powered-up and eager, a real performer.

Sail area / displacement 22.5
TenderStiff

28% of her weight is ballast — on the tender side; she'll heel readily and want a reef sooner.

Ballast 28%

Light and lively — happiest day-sailing and coastal-hopping in settled weather.

  • Beamier than ~87% of boats her size on file

Compared with 2574 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

What the fleet has seen

The Dufour Yachts Classic 43, as the fleet has seen it

Derived from the videos the fleet has analysed of this model. ▶ marks open the moment aboard.

The Dufour Yachts CLASSIC 43 is a masthead sloop designed by Mortain, Mavrikios and built by Dufour Yachts from 1997 to 2005. It measures 13.1 meters LOA, with a 4.3-meter beam, 1.9-meter draft, and 8499 kg displacement. Aboard *SmoCo Sailing*, the crew sailed their CLASSIC 43 on a 29-hour coastal passage from Monterey to Avila Beach, California.0:36 They anchored in Avila Beach using a Mantis anchor, navigating dense morning fog and kelp forests.16:45 The crew used a local trolley to access town due to restricted areas near a power plant.12:06 Dinghy landings at the pier required careful timing to avoid surf.15:37 After four days, they departed for Santa Barbara, planning to round Point Conception.17:39

The living fleet

Sailed by the fleet

Where the fleet has filmed this boat.

Seen once across one channel of the fleet.

Basemap © Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

The record

Full specifications

The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
28.2%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
22.5
Displacement / length
112.3
Comfort ratio
20.2
Capsize screening
2.12
Hull speed
8.7 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
2117
Hull
Hull type
Fin w/spade rudder
Construction
Fiberglass
Production
Years built
1997–2005
Designer
Mortain, Mavrikios
Builder
Dufour Yachts S.A

Boats like this, on the water

More boats like her, on the water

Comparable boats the fleet has on camera: same type, within a quarter of her length. Open the boat, or watch the video — a timestamp means she only appears in passing.

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 44013.00 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 13-meter cruiser featuring a fin keel with bulb and dual rudders, optimized for a high 19.07 sail area-to-displacement ratio
Boat Basics | Safety & Boat Design | Ep. 1386:37from LifeFourPointZero
Beneteau 42313.15 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA masthead sloop featuring a fin keel with bulb and spade rudder, offered with both shallow and deep draft options
Don McIntyre & Jane - "2000 miles under Bimini" - Papeete to FIJI! on a 2003 Beneteau Oceanis 42320:23from Golden Globe Race Official
Grand Soleil 4413.10 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA deep-draft fractional sloop with a 2.65-meter keel, engineered for stability and speed in a 13-meter hull
Discover the Grand Soleil 44 Performance Yacht in Detailfrom 45 Degrees Sailing
Beneteau 4313.11 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Berret-Racoupeau fractional sloop designed for comfortable cruising with a shallow draft and balanced performance
CONVERTING a 43´Beneteau INTO a 46´BENETEAU Oceanis SAILBOAT | Sailing Zephyr - Ep.176from Sailing Zephyr
Hunter Marine 42013.23 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 42-foot cruiser with a performance-oriented fin keel and spade rudder, built for efficient coastal and offshore travel
We Got our Eyes on a SAILING CATAMARAN in the BOATYARD - Plus DIY Vietnamese PHO Boat Recipe - Ep 47from Sailing Jibsea
J J/4013.21 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 2024 Alan Johnstone fractional sloop featuring a high-performance fin keel and spade rudder configuration
J40: Sailing joy beats living space0:22from SEILmagasinet

The family

Related models

The designs closest to hers — usually the rest of the builder's range, sometimes the same hull sold under another name.

Dufour Yachts Classic 45A masthead sloop from J&J Yacht Design featuring a deep bulb keel and spade rudder for balanced performanceDufour Yachts Classic 41A J&J-designed masthead sloop with a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio for spirited cruising performanceDufour Yachts Classic 36A Mortain & Mavrikios masthead sloop designed for cruising comfort with a moderate 1.78m draft and fin keelDufour Yachts Classic 38A high-performance masthead sloop with a generous sail area-to-displacement ratio, designed for spirited cruisingDufour Yachts Classic 30A shallow-draft masthead sloop with a 1.14m keel, designed for coastal cruising and ease of handling

Keep asking

The fleet has more to say

Search what's been said about the Dufour Yachts Classic 43, or ask a specific question — the answer comes back written out, with links to the moments it draws on.

Search the fleet for boats like thisAsk the fleet about the Dufour Yachts Classic 43

The newsletter

New boats, new stories, from everywhere.

One email from the fleet — boats newly added, videos newly analyzed. No noise.

Report an issue