PassageBoats
offshorelarge-cruiser

Mason 43

Ta Shing Yacht Building Co., Taiwan · 1978–1985 · Cutter rig

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Mason 43 profile drawing
LOA43.83'
Beam12.25'
Draft6.25'
Displ.12.5t
Rigcutter
HullFiberglass

Bluewater Evidence · Ocean Proven

95% confidence
Doc.CapableProven

Two named Mason 43s have finished the 645-mile Marion to Bermuda Race in the official results: Shearwater (Daniel Biemesderfer) in 2005, 2007, 2011 and 2013, and Kuan Yin (George Hay Kain III) in 2005. Shearwater also placed 5th in Class 12 of the Cruiser Division in the 2008 Newport Bermuda Race. Keel Index lists further Pacific Puddle Jump and Bermuda race entries for the model without boat names. Counterweight kept in the body: John Neal's Boats to Consider for Ocean Cruising rates the Mason 43 1 of 5: 'Traditional designs, short waterlines, deck leaks and high maintenance.' 2 named boats of this design have finished the 645-mile Marion-Bermuda Race in the official results: Shearwater (2005), Kuan Yin (2005).

Overview

The Mason 43 is an Al Mason design built by Ta Shing in Taiwan from 1978 to 1985, about 180 hulls, most of them cutters with a staysail ketch offered as an option. It has a long keel with a cutaway forefoot and the rudder hung on the keel’s trailing edge, a heavy, traditional underbody that sailboat-cruising.com credits with 6 to 7 knot passage averages and little else in the way of speed.

Ocean Racing Record

Shearwater finished the Marion-Bermuda Race in 2005. Kuan Yin finished the Marion-Bermuda Race in 2005.

Buyers Notes

Opinion on the type is split. A Sailing Zingaro host who sailed a larger Mason across the Pacific calls the 43 one of the best boats in the world; John Neal’s Boats to Consider list rates it 1 of 5 for its short waterline, deck leaks and maintenance load. Survey for deck leaks and the exterior teak, and check the hull for blisters: the solid laminate makes a peel and epoxy repair practical.

Passage records

Shearwater· Daniel R. Biemesderfer2008

2008 Newport Bermuda Race

5th in Class 12, Cruiser Division.

Source: 2008 Newport-Bermuda Race final results (ORR)

Shearwater· Daniel Biemesderfer2013

Marion to Bermuda Race (2005, 2007, 2011, 2013)

Finished four times: 2005, 2007, 2011, and 2013 (3rd in Founders Class C). Retired in 2009.

Source: Marion Bermuda Race official results, 2005-2013

Kuan Yin· George Hay Kain III2005

2005 Marion to Bermuda Race

Finished in 5 days 21 hours.

Source: 2005 Marion Bermuda Race class results

Shearwater2005

Marion-Bermuda Race 2005

Finished 1 time in the official results.

Source: Marion-Bermuda Race 2005 official results

Kuan Yin2005

Marion-Bermuda Race 2005

Finished 1 time in the official results.

Source: Marion-Bermuda Race 2005 official results

Latitude· Brian Gillen2022

Newport Bermuda Race (2018, 2022)

Finished 2 times in the official results.

Source: 2022 Newport Bermuda Race results

Kuan Yin· III, George Hay Kain2004

Annapolis to Bermuda Ocean Race (2004)

Finished.

Source: Annapolis to Bermuda Ocean Race 2004 results

Cygnus· Michael Curran2001

Marion-Bermuda Race (2001)

Finished.

Source: Marion-Bermuda Race 2001 results

Shearwater· Daniel Biemesderfer2005

Marion-Bermuda Race (2003, 2005)

Finished 2 times in the official results.

Source: Marion-Bermuda Race 2005 results

Windraker· John Decker2001

Baja Ha-Ha (2001)

Finished.

Source: Baja Ha-Ha 2001 results

Avalon· Jim Jennett2007

Baja Ha-Ha (2007)

Finished.

Source: Baja Ha-Ha 2007 results

Shearwater· Daniel Biemesderfer2015

Atlantic Odyssey (2015)

Finished.

Source: Cornell Sailing Atlantic Odyssey 2015 results

What sailing channels say about the Mason 43, quoted from video transcripts with a link to the exact moment. Opinions belong to the speakers; the written review above stays independent of them.

discusses

The yacht sales consultant lists the Mason 43 "Moxy" with varnish being redone, the cabin top painted in 2022, the hull painted in 2021, the bottom repainted in 2021 and three new AGM batteries installed in 2021. He says the standing rigging was fully replaced between 2005 and 2010 and, "most importantly," the decks are glued down, not mechanically fastened. These are the broker's claims for one boat.

  1. [1]SpecificationsMASON 43 - sailboatdata.com- Read in the browser. Dimensions, displacement, ballast, sail area, cutter rig (ketch also offered, 916 sq ft), 1978 to 1985, 180 built, builder Ta Shing, designer Al Mason, Mason design S-105. Lists the hull type as fin keel; see draft_notes.
  2. [2]EditorialMason 43 - sailboat-cruising.com- Directly fetched. Long full keel with cutaway forefoot and the rudder on the keel's trailing edge; solid hand-laid GRP; mostly cutters with a staysail ketch option; 6 to 7 knot passage averages; blistering and exterior teak upkeep as the main age-related concerns.
  3. [3]EditorialMason 43 - Documented Passages - Keel Index- Directly fetched. 13 rally and race entries 2007 to 2018 (Baja Ha-Ha, Pacific Puddle Jump, Newport Bermuda, Marion to Bermuda); boat names are not published.
  4. [4]EditorialBoats to Consider for Ocean Cruising, v4.26 - Mahina Offshore Services- John Neal's list rates the Mason 43 1 of 5: traditional design, short waterline, deck leaks and high maintenance.
  5. [5]EditorialMarion Bermuda Race official results, 2005-2013- Official results; finish and class place for a named boat of this model.
  6. [6]Editorial2005 Marion Bermuda Race class results- Official results; finish and class place for a named boat of this model.
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