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Kettenburg 43
Designer: Paul Kettenburg  ·  Builder: Kettenburg Marine  ·  First built: 1963
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About the Kettenburg 43

Built by the renowned Kettenburg Marine of San Diego, this 43-footer represents the craftsmanship and sailing pedigree that made the yard famous along the California coast. Kettenburg's reputation for producing elegant, seaworthy yachts with impeccable construction quality carries forward in this design, which embodies the classic Southern California sailing aesthetic. While detailed specifications remain limited, the Kettenburg 43 likely follows the yard's traditional approach of combining graceful lines with solid offshore capability. Kettenburg boats were known for their moderate displacement hulls that balanced comfort with performance, making them equally suited for coastal cruising and longer passages. The yard's attention to joinery and finish work typically resulted in boats that aged beautifully and maintained strong resale values. Given Kettenburg's heritage of building boats for serious sailors who demanded both elegance and seaworthiness, the 43 would appeal to cruising sailors seeking a vessel with proven lineage. These boats typically featured thoughtful deck layouts and well-appointed interiors that reflected the yard's yacht-building expertise. For sailors drawn to classic design and traditional construction methods, a Kettenburg 43 represents an opportunity to own a piece of West Coast sailing history.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 43.00 ft / 13.11 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 29.50 ft / 8.99 m
Beam 11.50 ft / 3.51 m
Max Draft 6.17 ft / 1.88 m
Displacement 20,000.00 lb / 9,072 kg
Ballast 7,750.00 lb / 3,515 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 699.00 ft² / 64.94 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin Keel
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction Wood
Designer Paul Kettenburg
Builder Kettenburg Marine
First Built 1963
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Performance Ratios
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
15.24
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
35.62
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
1.7
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. 7.28
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
1.3
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. 1.0
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 49.0
J (Foretriangle Base) 16.25
P (Mainsail Luff) 43.0
E (Mainsail Foot) 14.0
SA Fore 398.13
SA Main 301.0
How It Compares

vs. Cc 43 2, Swan 43 Holland, Tartan 43

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Kettenburg 43 ★
43.0 ft
Cc 43 2
43.0 ft
Swan 43 Holland
42.8 ft
Tartan 43
43.0 ft
LWL
Kettenburg 43 ★
29.5 ft
Cc 43 2
34.7 ft
Swan 43 Holland
34.1 ft
Tartan 43
32.4 ft
Beam
Kettenburg 43 ★
11.5 ft
Cc 43 2
13.8 ft
Swan 43 Holland
13.1 ft
Tartan 43
12.3 ft
Displacement
Kettenburg 43 ★
20 lbs
Cc 43 2
18 lbs
Swan 43 Holland
24 lbs
Tartan 43
17 lbs
Ballast
Kettenburg 43 ★
7 lbs
Cc 43 2
Swan 43 Holland
9 lbs
Tartan 43
9 lbs
Sail Area
Kettenburg 43 ★
699 sq ft
Cc 43 2
847 sq ft
Swan 43 Holland
880 sq ft
Tartan 43
Performance
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Kettenburg 43 ★
15.2
Cc 43 2
19.2
Swan 43 Holland
16.8
Tartan 43
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Kettenburg 43 ★
35.6
Cc 43 2
23.8
Swan 43 Holland
33.4
Tartan 43
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Kettenburg 43 ★
1.70
Cc 43 2
2.08
Swan 43 Holland
1.81
Tartan 43
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Kettenburg 43 ★
Cc 43 2
202
Swan 43 Holland
Tartan 43
233
Hull Speed
Kettenburg 43 ★
7.3 kts
Cc 43 2
7.9 kts
Swan 43 Holland
7.8 kts
Tartan 43
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Kettenburg 43 ★
1.3
Cc 43 2
2.9
Swan 43 Holland
1.9
Tartan 43
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