Back to Search

Gulfstar 43 Ms

Designer: Lazarra  ·  Builder: Gulfstar Yachts (Usa)  ·  First built: 1971
+ Add to Compare
About the Gulfstar 43 Ms

Built during the early 1970s boom in American fiberglass yacht production, this Lazarra-designed motorsailer represents Gulfstar's attempt to bridge the gap between pure sailing performance and motor-powered practicality. With only ten hulls completed between 1971 and 1973, the 43 Ms remains a rare find in today's used boat market. The design features a traditional long keel configuration that provides excellent tracking and seaworthiness, making this vessel well-suited for coastal cruising and short offshore passages. Her substantial 21,000-pound displacement and conservative sail plan create a stable, comfortable platform that prioritizes safety over speed. The masthead sloop rig delivers manageable sail handling for cruising couples, while the generous beam of nearly 14 feet provides spacious accommodations below. With a comfort ratio of 24.08, this boat falls squarely into the comfortable cruising category, though her moderate draft of 3.5 feet allows access to shallower anchorages than many deeper-keeled contemporaries. The motorsailer configuration means she likely features a substantial engine installation, making her particularly appealing to cruisers who value reliable auxiliary power for calm conditions or tight maneuvering situations.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 43.33 ft / 13.21 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 39.17 ft / 11.94 m
Beam 13.92 ft / 4.24 m
Max Draft 3.50 ft / 1.07 m
Displacement 21,000.00 lb / 9,525 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 660.00 ft² / 61.32 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Long Keel
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Lazarra
Builder Gulfstar Yachts (USA)
First Built 1971
Last Built 1973
Number Built 10
Related Sailboats Gulfstar 43 · Columbia 43 · Irwin 43 1971 · Tartan 44 · Nicholson 43
Owner Reviews

No owner reviews yet — be the first to share your experience with this boat.

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
 153
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
 13.93
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
 155.99
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
 24.08
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
 2.02
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. 8.39 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
 2.81
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. 1,948.23 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. 13.92
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 44.87 ft / 13.68 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 15.34 ft / 4.68 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 38.25 ft / 11.66 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 16.50 ft / 5.03 m
SA Fore 344.15 ft² / 31.97 m²
SA Main 315.56 ft² / 29.32 m²
SA Total (100%) 659.71 ft² / 61.29 m²
Est. Forestay Length 47.42 ft / 14.45 m
How It Compares

vs. Columbia 43, Gulfstar 43, Irwin 43 1971, Nicholson 43, Tartan 44

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Gulfstar 43 Ms ★
43.3 ft
Columbia 43
43.3 ft
Gulfstar 43
43.3 ft
Irwin 43 1971
43.5 ft
Nicholson 43
43.3 ft
Tartan 44
43.1 ft
LWL
Gulfstar 43 Ms ★
39.2 ft
Columbia 43
32.0 ft
Gulfstar 43
39.2 ft
Irwin 43 1971
32.0 ft
Nicholson 43
30.0 ft
Tartan 44
32.7 ft
Beam
Gulfstar 43 Ms ★
13.9 ft
Columbia 43
12.3 ft
Gulfstar 43
11.9 ft
Irwin 43 1971
11.5 ft
Nicholson 43
11.5 ft
Tartan 44
12.3 ft
Displacement
Gulfstar 43 Ms ★
21 lbs
Columbia 43
18 lbs
Gulfstar 43
21 lbs
Irwin 43 1971
23 lbs
Nicholson 43
19 lbs
Tartan 44
18 lbs
Ballast
Gulfstar 43 Ms ★
—
Columbia 43
9 lbs
Gulfstar 43
5 lbs
Irwin 43 1971
10 lbs
Nicholson 43
9 lbs
Tartan 44
—
Sail Area
Gulfstar 43 Ms ★
660 sq ft
Columbia 43
806 sq ft
Gulfstar 43
—
Irwin 43 1971
872 sq ft
Nicholson 43
867 sq ft
Tartan 44
—
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Gulfstar 43 Ms ★
153 s/nm
Columbia 43
111 s/nm
Gulfstar 43
126 s/nm
Irwin 43 1971
177 s/nm
Nicholson 43
114 s/nm
Tartan 44
98 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Gulfstar 43 Ms ★
13.9
Columbia 43
18.2
Gulfstar 43
—
Irwin 43 1971
17.3
Nicholson 43
19.0
Tartan 44
—
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Gulfstar 43 Ms ★
—
Columbia 43
50.3 %
Gulfstar 43
23.8 %
Irwin 43 1971
—
Nicholson 43
49.9 %
Tartan 44
—
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Gulfstar 43 Ms ★
24.1
Columbia 43
29.1
Gulfstar 43
—
Irwin 43 1971
38.8
Nicholson 43
34.9
Tartan 44
—
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Gulfstar 43 Ms ★
2.02
Columbia 43
1.86
Gulfstar 43
—
Irwin 43 1971
1.62
Nicholson 43
1.70
Tartan 44
—
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Gulfstar 43 Ms ★
155
Columbia 43
257
Gulfstar 43
156
Irwin 43 1971
—
Nicholson 43
328
Tartan 44
240
Hull Speed
Gulfstar 43 Ms ★
8.4 kts
Columbia 43
7.6 kts
Gulfstar 43
—
Irwin 43 1971
7.6 kts
Nicholson 43
7.3 kts
Tartan 44
—
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Gulfstar 43 Ms ★
2.8
Columbia 43
2.2
Gulfstar 43
—
Irwin 43 1971
1.7
Nicholson 43
—
Tartan 44
—
Find a Gulfstar 43 Ms For Sale
Y YachtWorld Brokerage listings S Sailboat Listings Sailboats only C Craigslist National search F Facebook Marketplace Local listings B boats.com Global marketplace