Back to Search
Slocum 43
Designer: Stan Hundtingford  ·  Builder: Cruising Yachts Int./Formosa  ·  First built: 1981
+ Add to Compare
About the Slocum 43

Built during the 1980s by Cruising Yachts International and Formosa, this Stan Hundtingford-designed cruiser represents solid bluewater sailing capabilities wrapped in traditional aesthetics. With only 60 hulls produced between 1981 and 1990, the Slocum 43 has earned a reputation as a capable offshore passage-maker among serious cruising sailors. The cutter rig configuration provides excellent sail handling options and heavy weather versatility, while the fin keel with rudder on skeg offers a good balance of performance and directional stability. At 28,104 pounds displacement with 9,000 pounds of ballast, she carries the weight and stability needed for extended ocean passages. The comfort ratio of 38.02 indicates a motion that favors seaworthiness over speed, making her well-suited for long-distance cruising rather than racing. Her fiberglass construction and robust scantlings reflect the era's emphasis on strength and durability. The relatively low sail area to displacement ratio suggests conservative sail power, prioritizing safety and ease of handling over pure performance. This makes the Slocum 43 an attractive choice for couples or small crews planning serious cruising adventures, particularly those venturing offshore where reliability trumps speed.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 42.50 ft / 12.95 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 35.83 ft / 10.92 m
Beam 12.92 ft / 3.94 m
Max Draft 6.30 ft / 1.92 m
Displacement 28,104.00 lb / 12,748 kg
Ballast 9,000.00 lb / 4,082 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 810.00 ft² / 75.25 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin with rudder on skeg
Rigging Type Cutter
Construction FG
Designer Stan Hundtingford
Builder Cruising Yachts Int./Formosa
First Built 1981
Last Built 1990
Number Built 60
Related Sailboats Spindrift 43 · Ct 43 · Hallberg Rassy 42 Enderlein · Hans Christian 43 · Contest 43
Owner Reviews

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

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
 14.08
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
 32.02
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
 272.76
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
 38.02
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. 8.02 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
 1.7
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. 1,654.08 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. 14.06
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 51.00 ft / 15.54 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 18.50 ft / 5.64 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 45.00 ft / 13.72 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 15.00 ft / 4.57 m
SA Fore 471.75 ft² / 43.83 m²
SA Main 337.50 ft² / 31.35 m²
SA Total (100%) 809.25 ft² / 75.18 m²
Est. Forestay Length 54.25 ft / 16.54 m
Mast Height (DWL) 59.00 ft / 17.98 m
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make Ford Lehman
Engine Model 4D61
Engine Type Diesel
Fuel Capacity 120 gals / 454 L
Water Capacity 150 gals / 568 L
How It Compares

vs. Contest 43, Ct 43, Hallberg Rassy 42 Enderlein, Hans Christian 43, Spindrift 43

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Slocum 43 ★
42.5 ft
Contest 43
42.7 ft
Ct 43
42.7 ft
Hallberg Rassy 42 Enderlein
42.4 ft
Hans Christian 43
42.6 ft
Spindrift 43
42.5 ft
LWL
Slocum 43 ★
35.8 ft
Contest 43
36.3 ft
Ct 43
33.9 ft
Hallberg Rassy 42 Enderlein
34.5 ft
Hans Christian 43
36.8 ft
Spindrift 43
35.6 ft
Beam
Slocum 43 ★
12.9 ft
Contest 43
13.1 ft
Ct 43
13.0 ft
Hallberg Rassy 42 Enderlein
12.4 ft
Hans Christian 43
13.8 ft
Spindrift 43
13.0 ft
Displacement
Slocum 43 ★
28 lbs
Contest 43
26 lbs
Ct 43
23 lbs
Hallberg Rassy 42 Enderlein
25 lbs
Hans Christian 43
31 lbs
Spindrift 43
34 lbs
Ballast
Slocum 43 ★
9 lbs
Contest 43
10 lbs
Ct 43
9 lbs
Hallberg Rassy 42 Enderlein
9 lbs
Hans Christian 43
12 lbs
Spindrift 43
10 lbs
Sail Area
Slocum 43 ★
810 sq ft
Contest 43
880 sq ft
Ct 43
820 sq ft
Hallberg Rassy 42 Enderlein
—
Hans Christian 43
894 sq ft
Spindrift 43
1 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Slocum 43 ★
—
Contest 43
—
Ct 43
—
Hallberg Rassy 42 Enderlein
162 s/nm
Hans Christian 43
150 s/nm
Spindrift 43
—
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Slocum 43 ★
14.1
Contest 43
16.1
Ct 43
15.9
Hallberg Rassy 42 Enderlein
—
Hans Christian 43
14.4
Spindrift 43
17.2
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Slocum 43 ★
32.0 %
Contest 43
40.0 %
Ct 43
39.5 %
Hallberg Rassy 42 Enderlein
39.1 %
Hans Christian 43
—
Spindrift 43
28.9 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Slocum 43 ★
38.0
Contest 43
34.2
Ct 43
33.1
Hallberg Rassy 42 Enderlein
—
Hans Christian 43
38.2
Spindrift 43
47.1
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Slocum 43 ★
1.70
Contest 43
1.78
Ct 43
1.81
Hallberg Rassy 42 Enderlein
—
Hans Christian 43
1.76
Spindrift 43
1.59
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Slocum 43 ★
272
Contest 43
243
Ct 43
273
Hallberg Rassy 42 Enderlein
276
Hans Christian 43
—
Spindrift 43
345
Hull Speed
Slocum 43 ★
8.0 kts
Contest 43
8.1 kts
Ct 43
7.8 kts
Hallberg Rassy 42 Enderlein
—
Hans Christian 43
8.1 kts
Spindrift 43
8.0 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Slocum 43 ★
1.7
Contest 43
—
Ct 43
1.9
Hallberg Rassy 42 Enderlein
—
Hans Christian 43
1.7
Spindrift 43
—
Find a Slocum 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