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Nautor 43
Designer: Sparkman & Stephens  ·  Builder: Nautor (Fin)  ·  First built: 1976
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About the Nautor 43

Built by Finland's prestigious Nautor yard from 1976 to 1979, this Sparkman & Stephens design represents a relatively rare find with only 24 hulls produced during its short production run. The masthead ketch rig and moderate displacement of 31,967 pounds create a well-balanced platform equally suited for serious coastal cruising and offshore passages. Sparkman & Stephens crafted this design with their characteristic attention to seaworthiness, evidenced by the conservative capsize screening formula of 1.74 and substantial comfort ratio of 43.13. The fin keel with rudder on skeg configuration provides reliable tracking and manageable handling characteristics, while the 75-horsepower engine offers adequate auxiliary power for challenging conditions or tight marina work. At 42.75 feet overall with a 13.78-foot beam, this yacht strikes an appealing balance between interior volume and sailing performance. The ketch rig distributes sail area effectively across 832 square feet, making sail handling more manageable for short-handed crews while maintaining good light-air performance with a hull speed of 7.51 knots. Nautor's Finnish craftsmanship combined with the proven Sparkman & Stephens pedigree makes this a compelling choice for experienced sailors seeking a capable, well-built vessel for extended cruising adventures.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 42.75 ft / 13.03 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 31.42 ft / 9.58 m
Beam 13.78 ft / 4.20 m
Max Draft 5.00 ft / 1.52 m
Displacement 31,967.00 lb / 14,500 kg
Ballast 9,040.00 lb / 4,100 kg
Ballast Type Lead
Sail Area (Reported) 832.00 ft² / 77.30 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin with rudder on skeg
Rigging Type Masthead Ketch
Construction FG
Designer Sparkman & Stephens
Builder Nautor (FIN)
First Built 1976
Last Built 1979
Number Built 24
Owner Reviews

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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
 13.27
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
 28.28
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
 460.08
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
 43.13
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
 1.74
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. 7.51 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
 0.61
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. 1,547.04 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. 11.13
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 51.00 ft / 15.54 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 15.80 ft / 4.82 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 44.70 ft / 13.62 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 13.20 ft / 4.02 m
SA Fore 402.90 ft² / 37.43 m²
SA Main 295.02 ft² / 27.41 m²
SA Total (100%) 697.92 ft² / 64.84 m²
Est. Forestay Length 53.39 ft / 16.27 m
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make Perkins
Engine Model 4-236
Engine Type Diesel
Horsepower 75
Fuel Capacity 290 gals / 1,098 L
Water Capacity 264 gals / 999 L
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