Saga Yachts 43
Masthead Sloop · Fin w/bulb & Spade Rudder · First built 1996
A 1996 performance cruiser with a high 19.2 SA/displacement ratio and a spade rudder for responsive handling
Designed by Robert H. Perry.
- LOA
- Beam
- Draft (max)
- Displacement
- Ballast
- Hull type
- Fin w/bulb & Spade Rudder
See her sail
The Saga Yachts 43, on the water
The fleet's own footage — the truest look at how she really moves.
Footage from 59° North Sailing
Is it for you?
Character
Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.
LivelyComfort 28Sea-kindly
CoastalCapsize 1.78Bluewater
LightD/L 150Heavy
EasygoingSA/D 19.2Powered-up
TenderBallast 39%Stiff
Light and lively — happiest day-sailing and coastal-hopping in settled weather.
The living fleet
Sailed by the fleet
Where the fleet has filmed this boat.
On the water
The Saga Yachts 43 on video
Also on YouTube
What they go for
Market signal
Where the fleet has seen this model come up for sale.
1seen for sale
A 1998 Saga 43 listed for sale in the US Virgin Islands
from 59° North Sailingseen June 2026watch
From the fleet's own footage — our observed signal, not broker listings.
The record
Full specifications
The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.
Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
39.3%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
19.2
Displacement / length
150.3
Comfort ratio
27.9
Capsize screening
1.78
Hull speed
8.4 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
1669
Hull
Hull type
Fin w/bulb & spade rudder
Construction
FG balsa core hull & deck
Ballast type
Lead
Production
Years built
First built 1996
Units built
55
Designer
Robert H. Perry
Builder
Saga Yachts
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 42 DS12.93 mSame hull family0.3 m shorterA 12.9-meter deck saloon cruiser featuring a high-volume hull and a deep, bulb-weighted fin keel for stability
Salona 4413.50 mSame hull family0.3 m longerA 2.55-metre deep-draft performance cruiser with a high 21.12 sail area-to-displacement ratio for spirited sailing
Ct-44 (Pilot House)13.16 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Tanton-designed pilot house cutter featuring a fin keel and skeg-mounted rudder for offshore stability
Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 43913.34 mSame hull family0.2 m longerA Philippe Briand-designed fractional sloop balancing a high SA/D ratio with a stable, modern cruising hull
Grand Soleil 40 (Polli)12.90 mSame hull family0.3 m shorterA Matteo Polli-designed fractional sloop optimized for ORC competition with a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio
Beneteau 42 CC13.23 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA cutter-rigged cruiser produced from 2003 to 2007, widely utilized in the charter trade for its accessible layout
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.
Saga Marine 48A Robert Perry-designed masthead sloop built for performance cruising with a stiff 33% ballast ratioSaga Marine 35A Robert H. Perry-designed masthead sloop built for performance and comfort with a balanced fin-and-bulb hullSaga Yachts 409A Tony Castro-designed masthead sloop balancing cruising comfort with a moderate displacement for offshore capabilityPearson Yachts 43A masthead sloop featuring a skeg-mounted rudder and a tall rig option introduced in 1971 for added performanceMalo Yachts 43A 13.4-metre masthead sloop featuring a 38% ballast ratio and a skeg-mounted rudder for predictable offshore handlingSabre Yachts 42A short-run production cruiser from the late eighties, featuring a 41% ballast ratio for stability in a 12.7-metre hull
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