Columbia 43
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About the Columbia 43
Designed by William Tripp Jr. and built by Columbia Sailing Yachts from 1969 to 1974, this 43-foot masthead sloop represents a transitional period in sailboat design when builders were moving toward more modern fin keel configurations. With 153 hulls produced during its five-year production run, the Columbia 43 gained recognition as a capable blue water cruiser that balanced performance with comfort. The boat's substantial displacement of 18,900 pounds and generous ballast ratio provide excellent stability for offshore passages, while the fin keel with spade rudder configuration offers respectable sailing performance. Her comfort ratio of 29.1 indicates a motion that's relatively easy on the crew during extended voyages, making her well-suited for serious coastal and offshore cruising rather than racing. Tripp's design emphasizes seaworthiness over speed, with a moderate sail area that's manageable for a small crew. The fiberglass construction was robust for its era, and many examples remain actively sailing today. While not the fastest boat in light air, the Columbia 43 shines in moderate to heavy conditions where her substantial build and well-balanced sail plan inspire confidence in challenging weather.
Market Price Estimate
Beta
Small sample size. This estimate is based on fewer than 5 listings and may not be representative of the true market. Use with caution.
$12,500 – $12,500
typical asking price
Rate a listing price
$
About this estimate
- Prices are based on recent asking prices from public listings — not actual sale prices, which are typically lower.
- Condition is not factored in. A well-maintained boat with new sails and engine can be worth significantly more than a project boat of the same model.
- Location affects price. Boats in landlocked states or areas with fewer buyers often sell for less than those on the coast.
- Year of manufacture is not filtered. Older examples of this model will generally be priced lower than newer ones.
- Included equipment varies widely. A boat with a full suite of electronics, dodger, and new standing rigging may command a large premium.
- Outliers are automatically excluded using statistical filtering to improve accuracy, but some bad data may remain.
Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall)
43.25 ft / 13.18 m
LWL (Waterline Length)
32.00 ft / 9.75 m
Beam
12.33 ft / 3.76 m
Max Draft
6.92 ft / 2.11 m
Displacement
18,900.00 lb / 8,573 kg
Ballast
9,500.00 lb / 4,309 kg
Ballast Type
Lead
Sail Area (Reported)
806.00 ft² / 74.88 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type
Fin w/spade rudder
Rigging Type
Masthead Sloop
Construction
FG
Designer
William Tripp Jr.
Builder
Columbia Sailing Yachts (USA)
First Built
1969
Last Built
1974
Number Built
153
Related Sailboats
["Columbia 43 Cb" · "Tartan 44" · "Cc 43 1" · "Gulfstar 43" · "Nicholson 43"]
Owner Reviews
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Known Issues & What to Watch For
The deck-to-hull joint on Columbia 43s uses an outward-turning flange bonded and through-bolted, but the bedding compound used in this era dries out and cracks, allowing chronic water intrusion into the joint and the balsa-cored deck sections adjacent to it.
Balsa core was used extensively in the deck construction. Around deck hardware, chainplates, and stanchion bases, water intrusion over 50+ years has commonly resulted in soft, saturated, or fully rotted core sections that require significant re-coring work.
The fin keel attachment uses a series of keel bolts that are prone to weeping and corrosion at the keel-to-hull interface. Boats of this era frequently show staining in the bilge sump and soft or cracked tabbing around the keel stub, which should be probed carefully during survey.
The spade rudder on this design is supported by a single rudder stock without a lower bearing, and the stock-to-blade connection can develop play or delamination of the rudder blade from the internal armature after decades of use. Significant slop in the helm or a loose rudder blade is a known failure mode.
Columbia's laminate schedule from this period was relatively thin and variable in quality control. Survey should look for stress cracking around the chainplate knees, mast partner, and companionway opening corners, which are common high-stress concentration points on this hull.
Chainplates on the Columbia 43 are inboard and run through the deck with limited access below. The backing plates and chainplate logs are frequently found corroded or with degraded bedding, and the deck around each chainplate penetration is a common water intrusion and delamination point.
Teak interior joinery and sole boards from this era are prone to checking and fastener loosening, but more critically, the structural plywood used in bulkhead construction is often uncoated and shows delamination and rot where it has been exposed to recurring bilge moisture or leaks.
Original wiring from the early 1970s production is typically undersized by modern standards, uses older insulation that has become brittle and cracked, and is not ABYC compliant. Full rewiring is commonly required on surviving examples of this vintage.
Many Columbia 43s were originally fitted with the Westerbeke or Universal diesel auxiliary of the period, but surviving boats have often had multiple engine replacements or crude repowers. Verify that the engine stringers and mounts are solid and that any repowered installation has proper alignment and exhaust routing.
Own or have surveyed a Columbia 43? Submit a known issue
Performance Ratios
PHRF Rating
PHRF (Performance Handicap Racing Fleet) is a national racing handicap measured in seconds per nautical mile. Lower values indicate faster boats. Ratings are sourced from US Sailing's national database (median across 60+ regional fleets).
Under 0 — Ultralight racer0–90 — Performance racer90–150 — Cruiser/racer150–210 — Typical cruiserOver 210 — Heavy/slow cruiser
111
SA/Displacement
Sail Area to Displacement ratio measures how much sail power a boat has relative to its weight. Higher values mean more performance and speed.
Under 14 — Heavy cruiser, slow14–18 — Cruising sailboat18–22 — Cruiser/racerOver 22 — Performance racer
18.24
Ballast/Displacement
Ballast to Displacement ratio shows what percentage of the boat's total weight is ballast. Higher values generally mean better initial stability and stiffer sail carrying.
30–35% — Typical cruiser35–45% — Stiff performance boatOver 45% — Racing oriented
50.26
Displacement/Length
Displacement to Length ratio measures how heavy a boat is relative to its waterline length. Lower values mean a lighter, faster boat.
Under 100 — Ultralight racer100–200 — Light cruiser/racer200–300 — Moderate cruiser300–400 — Heavy cruiserOver 400 — Very heavy
257.49
Comfort Ratio
Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio predicts how comfortable a boat will feel in offshore conditions. Higher values mean a steadier, more comfortable motion in a seaway.
Under 20 — Uncomfortably rough20–30 — Acceptable coastal30–40 — Good offshore comfortOver 40 — Very comfortable offshore
29.1
Capsize Screening Formula
The USHS Capsize Screening Formula estimates offshore capsize risk. Lower is safer — values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing.
Under 2.0 — Safe for offshore2.0–2.2 — Borderline offshoreOver 2.2 — Coastal use recommended
1.86
Hull Speed
Hull Speed is the theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull, calculated from waterline length. Most cruising sailboats reach this speed in moderate conditions.
7.58 kn
S# (Speed Number)
The Speed Number (S#) is a quick performance index. Higher values indicate a faster, more powerful design relative to its size.
Under 3.0 — Slow cruiser3.0–5.0 — Average cruiser5.0–7.0 — Performance cruiserOver 7.0 — Racer
2.22
Pounds/Inch Immersion
Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline.
1,409.81 pounds/inch
SA/Displacement (Calc)
Calculated Sail Area to Displacement ratio using actual measured sail dimensions rather than reported values. More precise than the reported SA/Disp figure.
18.24
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height)
53.00 ft / 16.15 m
J (Foretriangle Base)
17.67 ft / 5.39 m
P (Mainsail Luff)
45.00 ft / 13.72 m
E (Mainsail Foot)
15.00 ft / 4.57 m
SA Fore
468.26 ft² / 43.50 m²
SA Main
337.50 ft² / 31.35 m²
SA Total (100%)
805.76 ft² / 74.86 m²
Est. Forestay Length
55.87 ft / 17.03 m
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make
Universal
Engine Model
Atomic 4
Engine Type
Gas
Fuel Capacity
45 gals / 170 L
Water Capacity
35 gals / 132 L
How It Compares
vs. Cc 43 1, Gulfstar 43, Tartan 44
This boat
Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Columbia 43 ★
Cc 43 1
Gulfstar 43
Tartan 44
LWL
Columbia 43 ★
Cc 43 1
Gulfstar 43
Tartan 44
Beam
Columbia 43 ★
Cc 43 1
Gulfstar 43
Tartan 44
Displacement
Columbia 43 ★
Cc 43 1
Gulfstar 43
Tartan 44
Ballast
Columbia 43 ★
Cc 43 1
Gulfstar 43
Tartan 44
Sail Area
Columbia 43 ★
Cc 43 1
Gulfstar 43
Tartan 44
Performance
PHRF Rating
(lower = faster)
Columbia 43 ★
Cc 43 1
Gulfstar 43
Tartan 44
SA / Displacement
(higher = more powerful)
Columbia 43 ★
Cc 43 1
Gulfstar 43
Tartan 44
Ballast / Disp
(higher = stiffer)
Columbia 43 ★
Cc 43 1
Gulfstar 43
Tartan 44
Comfort Ratio
(higher = more comfortable offshore)
Columbia 43 ★
Cc 43 1
Gulfstar 43
Tartan 44
Capsize Screening
(lower = safer)
Columbia 43 ★
Cc 43 1
Gulfstar 43
Tartan 44
Displacement / Length
(lower = lighter)
Columbia 43 ★
Cc 43 1
Gulfstar 43
Tartan 44
Hull Speed
Columbia 43 ★
Cc 43 1
Gulfstar 43
Tartan 44
Speed Number
(higher = faster)
Columbia 43 ★
Cc 43 1
Gulfstar 43
Tartan 44
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