Serendipity 43
Masthead Sloop · Fin keel, spade rudder · 1979–1982
A Doug Peterson-designed IOR racer with a high sail area-to-displacement ratio, built from a mold taken off the original.
Designed by Doug Peterson, built by New Orleans Marine.
- LOA
- Beam
- Draft (max)
- Displacement
- Ballast
- Hull type
- Fin w/spade Rudder
See her sail
The Serendipity 43, on the water
The fleet's own footage — the truest look at how she really moves.
Footage from Quantum Sails
Is it for you?
Character
Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.
LivelyComfort 25Sea-kindly
CoastalCapsize 1.99Bluewater
LightD/L 195Heavy
EasygoingSA/D 19.8Powered-up
TenderBallast 52%Stiff
Powered-up and quick to accelerate — this one likes to sail.
- Draws more than ~86% of boats her size on file
Compared with 2629 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
52.3%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
19.8
Displacement / length
194.9
Comfort ratio
24.6
Capsize screening
1.99
Hull speed
7.9 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
1594
Hull
Hull type
Fin w/spade rudder
Construction
Fiberglass
Ballast type
Lead
Production
Years built
1979–1982
Units built
26
Designer
Doug Peterson
Builder
New Orleans Marine
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.
Baltic Yachts 42 DP12.78 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterA Doug Peterson design with a 2.41-metre draft, available in tall mast and keel-centerboard configurations.
Grand Soleil 40 (Polli)12.90 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Matteo Polli-designed fractional sloop optimized for ORC competition with a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio
Catalina Yachts 4212.76 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterA high-volume cruiser built on a performance-oriented Nelson/Marek racing hull with a spacious interior and rig
Beneteau 42 CC13.23 mSame hull family0.3 m longerA cutter-rigged cruiser produced from 2003 to 2007, widely utilised in the charter trade for its accessible layout
Ct-44 (Pilot House)13.16 mSame hull family0.2 m longerA Tanton-designed pilot house cutter featuring a fin keel and skeg-mounted rudder for offshore stability
Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 42 DS12.93 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 12.9-metre deck saloon cruiser featuring a high-volume hull and a deep, bulb-weighted fin keel for stability
The family
Boats like this
Nearby designs by size, type, and era — worth a look alongside her.
Serendipity 43 R/CA 1980 masthead sloop featuring a deep 2.23-metre draft and a light 8.6-tonne displacement for responsive handlingNy 40 (Peterson)A specialized offshore one-design racer featuring a fin keel and spade rudder, commissioned specifically for New York Yacht ClubPeterson 34A Doug Peterson-designed IOR racer built to bridge the gap below the One Ton class with a stiff, performance-oriented hullPeterson 38A performance-oriented masthead sloop with a 48% ballast ratio and a deep fin keel for competitive upwind tracking
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