BoatsSpindrift 43

Spindrift 43

Cutter · Long Keel · First built 1982

A Ron Amy-designed cutter with a long keel that evolved through three different model names and a pilot house variant

Designed by Ron Amy, built by Ka Shing (Taiwan).

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Long Keel

Is it for you?

Character

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

LivelySea-kindly

Her heavy displacement on a moderate beam gives 47 — a heavy, notably soft motion offshore.

Comfort ratio 47
CoastalBluewater

At 1.59 she sits well under the 2.0 line — a solidly ocean-capable hull for her size.

Capsize screening 1.59
LightHeavy

345 — heavy for her waterline, built to carry stores and ride steadily.

Displacement / length 345
EasygoingPowered-up

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

Sail area / displacement 17.2
TenderStiff

29% of her weight is ballast — on the tender side; she'll heel readily and want a reef sooner.

Ballast 29%

Built heavy and sea-kindly — a boat made to cross oceans and forgive a rough night.

  • Heavier than ~91% of boats her size on file
  • Draws more than ~94% of boats her size on file
  • Beamier than ~78% of boats her size on file

Compared with 330 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

The record

Full specifications

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

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
28.9%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Cutter
Ratios
SA / displacement
17.2
Displacement / length
345.0
Comfort ratio
47.1
Capsize screening
1.59
Hull speed
8.0 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
1648
Hull
Hull type
Long Keel
Construction
Fiberglass
Production
Years built
First built 1982
Designer
Ron Amy
Builder
Ka Shing (TAIWAN), Formosa Boat Building Co. Ltd

Boats like this, on the water

Nobody has filmed this one — but these are close.

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.

Dolphin 47 (Alden)14.30 mSame hull family1.4 m longerA heavy-displacement staysail ketch from the board of John G. Alden, built for comfortable, stable blue-water cruising
Explorer 45 (Huntingford)13.79 mSame hull family0.8 m longerA long-keeled staysail ketch designed by Stan Huntingford for stable, comfortable blue-water passage making
Westsail 4213.08 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA William Crealock-designed long-keel cutter sharing its hull mold with the aft-cockpit 43 for heavy-weather stability
Cape George 3811.58 mSame hull family1.4 m shorterA 1985 cutter with a 1.58-meter draft and high comfort ratio, designed by Atkin and Lange for steady offshore work
Vagabond 4714.20 mSame hull family1.3 m longerA William Garden-designed staysail ketch with a long keel, built for heavy-displacement offshore comfort since 1972
Baba 4012.14 mSame hull family0.8 m shorterA 13-ton cutter with a 41.5 comfort ratio, built between 1980 and 1982 for steady, long-distance passage making

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.

Keep looking

Nothing filmed of this one yet

Two ways to keep looking — both search what the fleet has actually recorded.

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