BoatsPearson Yachts 43

Pearson Yachts 43

Masthead Sloop · Fin With Rudder On Skeg · 1969–1972

A masthead sloop featuring a skeg-mounted rudder and a tall rig option introduced in 1971 for added performance

Designed by William H. Shaw.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Fin With Rudder On Skeg

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 narrow beam gives 36 — a sea-kindly motion in a seaway.

Comfort ratio 36
CoastalBluewater

At 1.69 she sits well under the 2.0 line — a solidly ocean-capable hull for her size.

Capsize screening 1.69
LightHeavy

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

Displacement / length 319
EasygoingPowered-up

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

Sail area / displacement 16.4
TenderStiff

42% of her weight is ballast — moderately stiff, a middle-of-the-road stability.

Ballast 42%

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

The record

Full specifications

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

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
42.0%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
16.4
Displacement / length
318.8
Comfort ratio
36.5
Capsize screening
1.69
Hull speed
7.5 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
1312
Hull
Hull type
Fin with rudder on skeg
Construction
Fiberglass
Ballast type
Lead
Production
Years built
1969–1972
Designer
William H. Shaw
Builder
Pearson Yachts

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.

Swan 43 (S&S)13.04 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthDrawn for the RORC rule, this masthead sloop features a high ballast-to-displacement ratio for a stiff, stable ride
Henri Wauquiez Amphitrite 4313.03 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA masthead ketch also marketed as the Palmer Johnson 43CR, offering a stable fin keel and skeg-hung rudder configuration
Sirius 40 DS12.90 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 12.9-metre fractional sloop built since 2015, offering a deep 2.3-metre draft for performance and stability
Hunter Marine 42 Passage CC12.95 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 12.95-metre centre-cockpit cruiser with a wing keel and a 1.5-metre draft, built for stable, easy-handling cruising
Hallberg-Rassy 40013.06 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA German Frers-designed aft cockpit cruiser featuring a modern fin keel with dual rudders for balanced performance
Hallberg-Rassy 40C13.06 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA German Frers-designed center cockpit cruiser featuring a modern fractional rig and dual rudders for stable performance

The family

Boats like this

Nearby designs by size, type, and era — worth a look alongside her.

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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