Mason 43

About the Mason 43

Researched from public sources for this model. Any individual boat may have been modified or repowered — confirm before relying on any figure.

Built

1978–1985

Builder

Ta Shing Yacht Building (Taiwan) for Pacific Asian Enterprises

Designer

Al Mason

Waterline

31.25 ft

Draft

6.25 ft

Hull

fiberglass

Hull / keel

full keel

Rig

cutter

Propulsion

inboard

Stern thruster

none

Sources disagree on displacement, ballast, length, beam, engines, deck construction, number built — left blank rather than guessed.

Solid hull; cored deck. Cutter or ketch. The engine sits under the saloon sole. Designed as an evolution of a wooden CCA-era full-keel yacht with attached rudder. Fuel and water figures in the sources are for the Mason 44.

Known problems for this model

• Teak deck leaks (standard on the 43) deck
  Teak decks were standard on the 43; screws through the teak can let water into the deck core (described as balsa by Practical Sailor, plywood by Blue Water Sailing).
  mason-sailboats.org · mason-sailboats.org
• Heavy brightwork and plywood trim rot other
  Owners describe varnish upkeep as a burden, and one reported plywood dorade-box blocks delaminating and rotting within a few years.
  mason-sailboats.org
• Engine under the sole - poor access and bilge flooding risk engine
  The engine sits low under the cabin sole, so a flooded bilge can submerge it and the front belts are hard to reach; a bilge float switch and alarm are recommended.
  mason-sailboats.org
• Painted steel fuel tanks, hard to access fuel
  Fuel tanks are painted steel (water tanks stainless) and owners note difficulty accessing tanks for cleaning; unequal port/starboard tanks can cause a list.
  mason-sailboats.org
• Leaky teak hatches; suspect Taiwan stainless fabrications deck
  Owners report leaking teak hatches (Lewmar replacements recommended) and questionable custom welded stainless fittings on earlier boats.
  mason-sailboats.org

Other Mason models

• Mason 33 1984–1989
• Mason 44 1985–?