moorings 43 sailboat specs

MOORINGS 43.3

MOORINGS 43.3 Specifications

Hull Type: Fin w/bulb & spade rudder Rigging Type: Fractional Sloop LOA: 43.50 ft / 13.26 m LWL: 40.65 ft / 12.39 m S.A. (reported): 816.00 ft² / 75.81 m² Beam: 14.53 ft / 4.43 m Displacement: 19,797.00 lb / 8,980 kg Ballast: 6,393.00 lb / 2,900 kg Max Draft: 6.23 ft / 1.90 m Construction: FG First Built: 2007 Builder: Beneteau Designer: Berret-Racoupeau.

Type Engine: Diesel HP: 56 Fuel: 53 gals / 201 L Water: 148 gals / 560 L Hull Speed: 8.54 kn

Related posts:

• CYCLADES 43.3 (BENETEAU)
• BENETEAU 40
• CYCLADES 39.3 (BENETEAU)
• FIRST 40 (BENETEAU)

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Leopard 43 moorings 4300

The leopard 43 moorings 4300 is a 42.49ft fractional sloop designed by simonis & voogd and built in fiberglass by robertson & caine between 2004 and 2007., 74 units have been built..

The Leopard 43 moorings 4300 is a light sailboat which is a very high performer. The fuel capacity is average. There is an excellent water supply range.

Leopard 43 moorings 4300 for sale elsewhere on the web:

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Quick Look: Moorings 43.4

• By Jeremy McGeary
• Updated: August 27, 2008

Bareboat charter places a different emphasis on a boat’s accommodation needs than does cruising, most heavily in the number of people that have to be accommodated, which is why the interior layout of the Moorings 43.4 differs from that of the Beneteau 43 into which it’s built. On deck, the boats are functionally the same, and the large twin-helm cockpit easily absorbs crew at all levels of participation.

The .4 indicates four cabins (the boat is also available with three), of which three, two aft and one in the Vee, are doubles. The fourth, tucked aft of the forward cabin (where a third head would be in the .3 layout), has upper and lower single berths. This arrangement has two heads, one each side of the companionway, and the saloon follows The Moorings’ pattern with a straight-line galley opposite the dining area.

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Beneteau cyclades 43 review: moorings charter boat.

When I hear of Beneteau, I think of their Oceanis and First series as well as Lagooon catamarans. But the Cyclades series is a bit of a mystery. It is named after a set of Greek Islands and the correct pronunciation is “Kee-klar-dees” if you want to sound like a know it all. Beneteau introduced the series to compete directly with Bavaria. They do not have the racing focus of the First or the offshore focus of Oceanis. Instead, the focus is simply on mass production. She takes everything we like and dislike about Beneteaus to the extreme.

The Cyclades 43 is a Berret and Racoupeau design. Beneteau Yachts built them in Vendee, France unlike the Oceanis series built in North Carolina, USA. The 43 is also known as the Mooring 44.3 and one of the finest charter boats around. Moorings operates on a purchase and charter basis with 5 year term lease agreements. According to brokerage records, Beneteau started production of the Cyclades 43 in 2005 and produced them until 2007. A mass of Cyclades are flooding the brokerage market as they get out of charter in 2010. Moorings has no less than 13 at the moment for sale. There are 39, 43, 50 foot sisterships.

First Impressions The Cyclades 43 has the classic French style sloping coachroof paired with a horizontal stripe along the sides. The bow is nearly plum for a 38′ waterline length. The sheer is straight from stem to the sugar scoop stern. There are 6 portholes along the trunk somewhat boringly identical. The freeboard is above average and decorated with a thin cove stripe. She is a plump mid-size cruiser with a 2.9 length to beam ratio which allows for voluminous accommodations. This beam is carried far aft for a very wide stern. Underneath, the 5′ 9″ bulb keel and spade rudder combination makes her easily Bahamable. The forefoot is deep and sharp with a good knuckle giving her a tremendous traction underway. The prop is mounted off a small skeg. The rig has 61′ clearance which is a pretty tall rig for excellent sail power. The mainsail is large and combines with a small fractionally rigged headsail on this true sloop. A whisker pole is a great upgrade for downwind sailing.

Construction The hull construction is hand laid fiberglass with glass roving and polyester resin. To stiffen the outer hull, Beneteau inserts a molded liner with a built-in grid network. The hull is balsa cored. The deck is balsa cored and bonded to the hull with an elastomer sealant. The joint is an interesting take on the bulwark style. It consists of a U-shaped aluminum caprail fitted over the upward turned edges of the hull and deck. This type of joint is super efficient to build and one of the ways Beneteau has kept down the price. As the edge turns toward the fully integrated sugar scoop stern aft, a rubber U-shaped slip on takes the place of the aluminum caprail. The keel is cast iron, and the mast is deck stepped with a large compression post below.

She was produced at the French yard of Beneteau in Vendee which is thought of as higher quality, but I do not think so with these Cyclades. When people disparage Beneteau, this is exactly the type of boat they are referring calling them “bleach bottles” or “disposable boats.” The construction is as inexpensive as possible in every facet from stem to stern, masthead to ballast tip, from gudgeon to gunwale to gooseneck. And while that may sound harsh, there is an important trade-off at play here. Her value as a liveaboard, coastal cruiser, and island hopper is exceptional. For a first time liveaboard for trips to the Bahamas and Caribbean, I would recommend without question a Cyclades 43. The Cyclades fits an important market, and my comments are meant to further define that market not to disparage it.

What To Look For Marketed as the Mooring 44.3, the Cyclades 43 is a popular charterboat both in Tortola and St. Vincent. She is specially designed with the durability, reliability, and swiftness that characterizes charterboats. Moorings maintains the yachts in their fleet, and it is important to ask how closely and forcefully the owner has oversaw and held them accountable. Yachts can leave the charter trade pristine or loosely held together with duct tape and dental floss. It depends on the teamwork of the owner and charter organization. Specifically, look for broken tabbing and shifting bulkheads.

A saving grace is that the deep recession has hurt the charter businesses. Fewer people are running charters, especially fewer of the riff raff, party charters that can really damage a yacht. Cyclades are coming out of Sunsail and Moorings with 2,500 engine hours instead of the 5,000 you usually see after a 5-year charter contract. They are surprisingly fresh and well maintained though poorly equipped. All of them are virtually identical in equipment. They do not come with whisker poles. If you want to install air conditioning, Beneteau does have diagrams to show how the factory would do it. There is not enough room for a generator.

On Deck The deck is easy to walk around with outboard mounted chainplates and minimal hardware and a nice non skid. The Profurl roller furling is all the way forward and the chainplate of the forestay ties outboard into the blunt bow. The bow is equipped with a dual roller chock. Directly behind is an electric vertical Quick windlass mounted at deck level in front of the chainlocker. This allows easy access to the hatch without messing around with the chain or windlass. The railings slip over the stanchions and give way a bit when you lean against them. The cabin trunk quickly slopes up with room for the dinghy. Four stainless steel handrails decorate the cabintrunk along with two Lewmar hatches. There are no dorades which is becoming another French style statement. Six boring, identical portholes line each trunk cabin side. Both the upper and lower shrouds tie outboard which combines with the short, side deck mounted genoa tracks, swept spreaders, and a very small J dimension. More on the sailing implications of this orientation later. The main is the standard rig with internal halyards and all lines running to the cockpit. There is no traveler standard though one could easily be installed in front of the dodger and would be a nice upgrade. There is not a cover either for the cockpit leading lines. She is equipped with a topping lift and no boom vang.

Moorings outfits the aft cockpit with a nice wide awning for shade. It is loosing bound and not a secure handhold. The cockpit has long benches and a large companionway sill forward. The ergonomics are perfect, and this cockpit is really what the design is all about. You spend most of your time here, and this is especially important to charter guests. Under the benches are deep lockers port and starboard. The molded cockpit table is not a work of art but functional and durable. It is the same as you will see on Jeanneaus. The 43 has twin helms of course sharing the same steering. This trait opens up access to the swim platform. The emergency steering is in the centerline here between the helms. The master helm is starboard side with the ignition controls. The swim platform has one step with storage port and starboard for diving gear. A swim ladder is starboard side as well as a cockpit shower locker.

Down Below The interior is roomy and takes full advantage of her beam. Not only is she beamy but has a wide stern which allows for two large cabins aft. There are actually two variations of the layout. The 43.3 has a three cabin and head layout while the 43.4 lacks the starboardside head aft. It shuffles around the accommodations to make way for a bunk berth portside forward. The 43.4 has a 4 cabin and 2 head layout. The floor is a composite wood mixture while the upholstry is white faux leather fabric also on Jeanneaus. The V-berth forward on both has a small settee and locker space. The head forward and all the heads do not have separate showers. The shower space shares the toilet area. The portside galley is not that seaworthy or comfortable for entertainment. It has a white Formica counter top. Across is the dinette arrangement that converts to a berth. The headroom is 6’6″ throughout the cabins and saloon. Only aftmost where the cockpit lockers dig in does the headroom shrink. The molded headliner is white with molded inward stripes which give it a distinct flair. This touch is one of the few in the interior.

Down below, the Cyclades has all the touches of a lower cost production boat. Most of the fixtures inside like the doors and storage openings are rectangular wood pieces. There is a lack of attention to detail and a disregard for the usual aesthetics. It does not look as sophisticated, but the cookie cutter joinery is functional and one the best places for saving cost. The lack of interior workmanship does not make her less safe or less functional, just less commercially attractive. But even the generic interior is much better than the dark, walnut Formica seen on so called quality designs such as old CSYs or early Gulfstars. It is a nice modern interior with warm teak veneers that balances cost and comfort in equal measure and takes full advantage of the design.

Engine The engine is a Yanmar 56 HP with excellent access via both the aft cabins and the companionway. This is the classical Beneteau way as seen on their 50 Oceanises. The companionway access while excellent is kind of clumsy. The ladder swings upward and has no obvious way to secure it unlike the clever fixture on a Passport 40. I would of preferred that they had the ladder hinge downward for safety and easiness. The upward swing is limited in clearance to about horizontal which forces you to crawl under the ladder for access. The standard prop is a fixed three bladed one off the small skeg.

Underway The helms are comfortable and the benches ergonomic. Beneteau really has perfected cockpit design. Upwind with her large main and small jib, she races 7 knots while exceeds 8 knots downwind. Both the upper and lower shrouds tie outboard which combined with the short, side deck mounted genea tracks, swept spreaders, and fractional rig leads to a very small J dimension. The headsail on this sloop sheets inside the shrouds and is limited downwind. This makes little difference for shorthanding as the large main is easier to control and you just forget about much of a headsail. But there is a way around the restricted sail area forward. If you install a track on the mast and get a whisker pole, you can sheet the headsail and avoid the shrouds. If you are going to do any downwind sailing which is a must in the Caribbean, you will need to upgrade the Cyclades 43 with a whisker pole arrangement.

The Cyclades 43 is absolutely not a bluewater boat. Other Beneteaus such as the Oceanis series are rated for offshore work. The Cyclades series is not. It is a great coastline sailor. She would be perfect to hop back and forth from the Bahamas and sail around the Caribbean.

Conclusion The Cyclades 43 is a nice design that was perfected for the charter trade but is an excellent inexpensive option for any type of Caribbean cruising. It is meant as competition for recent Bavaria offering. The prices are reasonable with many available. Current Yachtworld listings range from $170,000 to $120,000 with 32 on the market. Cyclades 43’s are tremendous values considering the condition and equipment.

9 Replies to “Beneteau Cyclades 43 Review: Moorings Charter Boat”

Is it reasonable to say it would be an ok boat for SAn Francisco Bay…staying inside the Bay 🙂

Vaughn, She would be a great choice for the bay and outside too, especially if you want to do any racing. You’ll have tremendous fun. RJ Sent from my iPad

Thanks Richard, I’ll go look at one, but I still like the 41s5…I love that white Stark interior, while not practical. 

For a starting live aboard (on a retred veteran’s budget) spending most of it’s time south of Jacksonville in the St John’s River with the hopeful cruise to Bimini and such would you prefer the 43′ Cyclades or the Gib’Sea?  Thank you for the excellent report!

Thanks for the comment. I don’t have personal experience with the Gib’Sea. I really like the Cyclades. RJ

Jordan Yacht and Ship Company Royale Palm Yacht Basin 629 Northeast Third Street, Dania Beach, Florida 33004 Tel: 954.522.8650 • Fax: 954.736.1648 Cell: +1.954.296.2687 • Email: [email protected]

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Is the Cyclades 50 a blue water boat ?. Any strength comparison between 42 and 50?

sailing la vagabonde youtube just crossed the atlantic with 43 foot cyclade

why do you think the Cyclades 43.3 is not suitable for long ocean passages ie US to NZ

It’s been a long time since I wrote this and have been on a Cyclades. But I think the article is still accurate and describes the limits of the build.

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• Beneteau Oceanis 43

The Beneteau Oceanis 43 Sailboat Specs & Key Performance Indicators

The Beneteau Oceanis 43 sailboat, a light-displacement fractionally-rigged sloop, was designed by French naval architects Jean Berret and Olivier Racoupeau and built by Beneteau in France.

Buyers could choose from four layout versions:

• two large cabins with two heads, 
• three cabins with three heads, and 
• four cabins with two heads.

The Beneteau Oceanis 43 was also available as the Moorings 43.4 for the yacht charter market.

Published Specification for the Beneteau Oceanis 43

Keel & Rudder Configuration: Fin keel with spade rudder Hull Material: Fiberglass Length Overall: 13.13m (43 ft) Waterline Length: 11.58m (38 ft) Beam: 4.12m (13 ft 6 in) Draft (standard keel): 1.65m (5'5") Draft (deep keel): 2.00m (6 ft 7 in) Rig Type: Fractional sloop Displacement: 8,875 kg (19,561 lbs) Ballast: 2,830 kg (6,239 lbs) Designer: Jean Berret & Olivier Racoupeau Builder: Beneteau Year First Built: 2006 Year Last Built: 2014 Number Built: Approximately 500 units

Published Design Ratios for the Beneteau Oceanis 43 The Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Based on the published design ratios, the theoretical sailing characteristics of the Beneteau Oceanis 43 are:

• Sail Area/Displacement Ratio: 20.7 - This ratio indicates a relatively high performance capability. With a Sail Area/Displacement Ratio above 20, the Beneteau Oceanis 43 is expected to be quite powerful and capable of good speed, especially in lighter winds. This makes it suitable for sailors looking for a responsive and lively sailing experience.
• Ballast/Displacement Ratio: 31.9 - A Ballast/Displacement Ratio of 31.9 suggests moderate stiffness. While not as stiff as boats with a ratio of 40 or more, it should still provide reasonable stability and the ability to stand up to the wind. However, this ratio does not account for the location of the ballast. If the ballast is concentrated lower in the keel, the boat will be stiffer compared to a boat with a higher ballast location.
• Displacement/Length Ratio: 158 - With a Displacement/Length Ratio of 158, the Beneteau Oceanis 43 falls into the light displacement category (100-200). This means it will require less sail area to reach its hull speed, making it easier to handle and more efficient in lighter winds. Light displacement boats are generally more agile and quicker to accelerate.
• Comfort Ratio: 23.9 - The Comfort Ratio of 23.9 indicates a motion associated with a coastal cruiser with moderate stability. This suggests that the Beneteau Oceanis 43 should provide a reasonably comfortable ride in typical coastal cruising conditions, though it may not be as comfortable in rougher, ocean-going conditions compared to heavier bluewater cruisers.
• Capsize Screening Formula: 2.0 - A Capsize Screening Formula of 2.0 indicates that the Beneteau Oceanis 43 is on the threshold for bluewater capability. It suggests that the boat is reasonably safe for ocean passages, though it is better suited for coastal cruising. The lower the number, the better the boat's resistance to capsizing.

Theoretical Nature and Limitations of the Design Ratios

While these ratios provide useful insights into the theoretical performance and characteristics of the Beneteau Oceanis 43, they have limitations:

• Ballast/Displacement Ratio: This ratio does not consider the distribution of ballast. A boat with a deep keel and low center of gravity will be stiffer and more stable than one with a shallow keel, even if they have the same Ballast/Displacement Ratio.
• Comfort Ratio: Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio favors heavy displacement, narrow-beamed vessels with long overhangs. Modern light-displacement, beamy cruisers with plumb bows may not score well on this ratio, even though they can offer good comfort and bluewater capability.

Overall, while these ratios provide a good starting point for understanding the Beneteau Oceanis 43's sailing characteristics, they should be considered alongside other factors such as hull design, keel type, and overall build quality for a comprehensive assessment.

Here's how to calculate the KPIs yourself -  without having to wrestle with the mathematics...

What the Yachting Press have to say about the  Beneteau Oceanis 43...

Yachting Monthly published a detailed review of the Beneteau Oceanis 43, highlighting its performance, comfort, and design. The review mentions that the boat is designed to offer a personal experience with more style and attention to detail.

Read the full Yachting Monthly  review...

Sail Magazine published a review which discusses the Beneteau 43’s suitability for the charter market, emphasizing its comfort and reliability. It also notes the boat’s satisfying sailing performance.

Read the full Sail Magazine review...

Other sailboats in the Beneteau 'Oceanis' product range include:

The above text was drafted by sailboat-cruising.com using GPT-4 (OpenAI’s large-scale language-generation model) as a research assistant to develop source material; we believe it to be accurate to the best of our knowledge.

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• Sailboat Guide

Leopard 43 is a 42 ′ 5 ″ / 13 m catamaran sailboat designed by Simonis Voogd Design and built by Robertson & Caine between 2004 and 2007.

Rig and Sails

Auxilary power, accomodations, calculations.

The theoretical maximum speed that a displacement hull can move efficiently through the water is determined by it's waterline length and displacement. It may be unable to reach this speed if the boat is underpowered or heavily loaded, though it may exceed this speed given enough power. Read more.

Classic hull speed formula:

Hull Speed = 1.34 x √LWL

Max Speed/Length ratio = 8.26 ÷ Displacement/Length ratio .311 Hull Speed = Max Speed/Length ratio x √LWL

Sail Area / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the power of the sails relative to the weight of the boat. The higher the number, the higher the performance, but the harder the boat will be to handle. This ratio is a "non-dimensional" value that facilitates comparisons between boats of different types and sizes. Read more.

SA/D = SA ÷ (D ÷ 64) 2/3

• SA : Sail area in square feet, derived by adding the mainsail area to 100% of the foretriangle area (the lateral area above the deck between the mast and the forestay).
• D : Displacement in pounds.

Ballast / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the stability of a boat's hull that suggests how well a monohull will stand up to its sails. The ballast displacement ratio indicates how much of the weight of a boat is placed for maximum stability against capsizing and is an indicator of stiffness and resistance to capsize.

Ballast / Displacement * 100

Displacement / Length Ratio

A measure of the weight of the boat relative to it's length at the waterline. The higher a boat’s D/L ratio, the more easily it will carry a load and the more comfortable its motion will be. The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more.

D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds.
• LWL: Waterline length in feet

Comfort Ratio

This ratio assess how quickly and abruptly a boat’s hull reacts to waves in a significant seaway, these being the elements of a boat’s motion most likely to cause seasickness. Read more.

Comfort ratio = D ÷ (.65 x (.7 LWL + .3 LOA) x Beam 1.33 )

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds
• LOA: Length overall in feet
• Beam: Width of boat at the widest point in feet

Capsize Screening Formula

This formula attempts to indicate whether a given boat might be too wide and light to readily right itself after being overturned in extreme conditions. Read more.

CSV = Beam ÷ ³√(D / 64)

Mainsail area: 76 m². Genoa area: 44 m². Engines: 2 x 29 hp diesels Most built for the charter trade. Owners version available (13) with different layout.

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Moorings 4500

Sailboat specifications.

• Last update: 24th February 2020

Moorings 4500's main features

Moorings 4500's main dimensions, moorings 4500's rig and sails, moorings 4500's performances, moorings 4500's auxiliary engine, moorings 4500's accommodations and layout, moorings 4500's saloon, moorings 4500's fore cabin, moorings 4500's aft cabin.

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