Back to Search
Serendipity 43
Designer: Doug Peterson  ·  Builder: New Orleans Marine (Usa)  ·  First built: 1979
+ Add to Compare
About the Serendipity 43

Built between 1979 and 1982 by New Orleans Marine, this Doug Peterson-designed sailboat represents a compelling blend of performance and cruising capability from the late 1970s design era. With only 26 hulls produced during its brief production run, the Serendipity 43 has become a relatively rare find in today's used boat market. Peterson's design philosophy shines through in the boat's moderate displacement characteristics and well-balanced proportions. The fin keel and spade rudder configuration delivers responsive handling, while the masthead sloop rig provides straightforward sail management for both coastal cruising and longer passages. At 42.52 feet overall with a waterline length of 34.42 feet, the design offers a comfortable interior volume without sacrificing sailing performance. The substantial ballast-to-displacement ratio of over 52% contributes to excellent stability and seaworthiness, making this boat well-suited for serious coastal cruising and offshore passages. The moderate comfort ratio of 24.62 suggests a design that favors performance over ultra-heavy construction, while still maintaining the structural integrity needed for extended voyaging. Sailors seeking a capable bluewater cruiser with good sailing characteristics will find the Serendipity 43 offers an appealing combination of Peterson's racing pedigree adapted for comfortable cruising applications.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 42.52 ft / 12.96 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 34.42 ft / 10.49 m
Beam 12.96 ft / 3.95 m
Max Draft 7.33 ft / 2.23 m
Displacement 17,800.00 lb / 8,074 kg
Ballast 9,300.00 lb / 4,218 kg
Ballast Type Lead
Sail Area (Reported) 843.00 ft² / 78.32 m²
Headroom 6.50 ft / 1.98 m
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/spade rudder
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Doug Peterson
Builder New Orleans Marine (USA)
First Built 1979
Last Built 1982
Number Built 26
Associations Serendipity 43 Owners
Related Sailboats ["J/42" · "Cc 42 Custom" · "Baltic 42" · "Sabre 425" · "Centurion 42"]
Owner Reviews

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

Known Issues & What to Watch For

No known issues documented for this model yet.

Own or have surveyed a Serendipity 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
 63
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
 19.86
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
 52.25
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
 194.87
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
 24.62
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
 1.99
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. 7.86 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
 3.09
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. 1,593.90 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. 19.84
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 56.00 ft / 17.07 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 17.68 ft / 5.39 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 50.00 ft / 15.24 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 13.89 ft / 4.23 m
SA Fore 495.04 ft² / 45.99 m²
SA Main 347.25 ft² / 32.26 m²
SA Total (100%) 842.29 ft² / 78.25 m²
Est. Forestay Length 58.72 ft / 17.90 m
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make Pathfinder
Engine Type Diesel
Fuel Capacity 30 gals / 114 L
How It Compares

vs. Baltic 42, Cc 42 Custom, Sabre 425

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Serendipity 43 ★
42.5 ft
Baltic 42
42.4 ft
Cc 42 Custom
42.5 ft
Sabre 425
42.4 ft
LWL
Serendipity 43 ★
34.4 ft
Baltic 42
34.1 ft
Cc 42 Custom
34.3 ft
Sabre 425
34.7 ft
Beam
Serendipity 43 ★
13.0 ft
Baltic 42
12.5 ft
Cc 42 Custom
12.9 ft
Sabre 425
12.8 ft
Displacement
Serendipity 43 ★
17 lbs
Baltic 42
19 lbs
Cc 42 Custom
20 lbs
Sabre 425
19 lbs
Ballast
Serendipity 43 ★
9 lbs
Baltic 42
9 lbs
Cc 42 Custom
—
Sabre 425
8 lbs
Sail Area
Serendipity 43 ★
843 sq ft
Baltic 42
836 sq ft
Cc 42 Custom
835 sq ft
Sabre 425
766 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Serendipity 43 ★
63 s/nm
Baltic 42
—
Cc 42 Custom
—
Sabre 425
96 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Serendipity 43 ★
19.9
Baltic 42
18.4
Cc 42 Custom
18.2
Sabre 425
17.2
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Serendipity 43 ★
52.3 %
Baltic 42
—
Cc 42 Custom
—
Sabre 425
42.7 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Serendipity 43 ★
24.6
Baltic 42
28.8
Cc 42 Custom
27.9
Sabre 425
26.8
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Serendipity 43 ★
1.99
Baltic 42
1.85
Cc 42 Custom
1.91
Sabre 425
1.92
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Serendipity 43 ★
194
Baltic 42
—
Cc 42 Custom
222
Sabre 425
205
Hull Speed
Serendipity 43 ★
7.9 kts
Baltic 42
7.8 kts
Cc 42 Custom
7.8 kts
Sabre 425
7.9 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Serendipity 43 ★
3.1
Baltic 42
2.6
Cc 42 Custom
—
Sabre 425
2.7
Find a Serendipity 43 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