BoatsShannon Yachts 43

Shannon Yachts 43

Staysail Ketch · Keel/centreboard · First built 1986

A staysail ketch with a keel-centerboard hull, offering extensive interior layout customization since 1986

Designed by Walter Shultz.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Keel/Cbrd.

See her sail

The Shannon Yachts 43, on the water

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

Footage from Lady K 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 moderate displacement on a narrow beam gives 35 — a sea-kindly motion in a seaway.

Comfort ratio 35
CoastalBluewater

1.74 — just under the 2.0 offshore line; her beam is modest for her weight.

Capsize screening 1.74
LightHeavy

246 — moderately heavy for her waterline, a balanced cruising weight.

Displacement / length 246
EasygoingPowered-up

16.4 — moderate power for her weight; steady, all-round performance.

Sail area / displacement 16.4
TenderStiff

37% of her weight is ballast — moderately stiff, a middle-of-the-road stability.

Ballast 37%

A capable offshore cruiser with an easy motion when the sea gets up.

What the fleet has seen

The Shannon Yachts 43, as the fleet has seen it

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

The Shannon Yachts 43 is a 13.4-meter staysail ketch designed by Walter Shultz and built by Shannon Yachts since 1986.5:29 This keel/centerboard sailboat displaces 12,247 kg and has a 2.6-meter draft.1:58 Shannon Yachts, founded in 1975, focuses on durable, high-quality offshore cruising vessels, a philosophy evident in the 43.1:03 The company's construction techniques include internally flanged, through-bolted hull-to-deck joints and extensive tabbing where bulkheads meet the hull.4:17 The 43, like other Shannon models, prioritizes heavy-displacement offshore capability over modern features such as twin helms or fold-down transoms.6:40 A fixed keel version of the 43 has a draft of 6.5 feet.1:48

The living fleet

Sailed by the fleet

Where the fleet has filmed this boat.

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
37.0%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Staysail Ketch
Ratios
SA / displacement
16.4
Displacement / length
246.3
Comfort ratio
35.4
Capsize screening
1.74
Hull speed
8.1 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
1699
Hull
Hull type
Keel/Cbrd.
Construction
Fiberglass
Ballast type
Lead
Production
Years built
First built 1986
Designer
Walter Shultz
Builder
Shannon Yachts

Boats like this, on the water

More boats like her, on the water

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Southerly 42012.86 mSame hull family0.5 m shorterA Rob Humphreys-designed fractional sloop featuring a versatile swing keel that later evolved into the Southerly 430
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Ovni 43512.90 mSame hull family0.5 m shorterA 12.9-metre aluminum cutter with a lifting keel, optimized for offshore stability and shoal-water exploration
Sailing Insights: How Jon Amtrup sails all year round! ⛵️❄️7:31from SEILmagasinet
Allures 39.912.65 mSame hull family0.7 m shorterA masthead sloop with a swing keel and 2.75-metre draft, built by Allures since 2013 for offshore versatility
⚓ Annapolis Sailboat Show 2025 Full Tour, Boats, Gear & Sailing Inspiration! ⚓ Ep 343 Lady K Sailing3:01from Lady K Sailing
Bristol Yachts 41.112.54 mSame hull family0.8 m shorterA masthead sloop with a deep 3.05-metre keel-centerboard draft, bridging the gap between the 411 and 43.3 models
Ep 34 Interview with Brent0:49from Sailing Into Oblivion
Brewer 4413.41 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA stretched evolution of the 12.8 featuring a reverse transom and a versatile keel-centerboard configuration
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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.

Shannon Yachts Pilot 43A high-performance cutter with a 20.3 SA/displacement ratio and a deep 2.62m draft for offshore speed and stabilityShannon Yachts 28A fin-keeled cutter with a transom-hung rudder, built for coastal cruising with a stiff 38% ballast ratioShannon Yachts 38 PHA long-keeled cutter designed by Stadel for offshore stability, offering a comfortable motion and steady passage-makingShannon Yachts 37A masthead ketch featuring a keel-centerboard hull, refined from the Shannon 38 for offshore versatilityShannon Yachts 50A keel-centerboard staysail ketch with a 1.68 capsize screening value, built for offshore stability and shoal-water accessShannon Yachts 39A versatile Walter Schulz design offering multiple rig configurations including the unique Scutter and Sketch options

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