Overview

Endeavour 43 Sail Plan The Endeavour 43 comes from the first generation of sailboats from Endeavour Yachts, a yard that built its early reputation around simple, straight forward shoal draft designs with big volume accommodation and mediocre sailing performance. True to that formula, the Endeavour 43 was penned by Robert Johnson as a heavy displacement center-cockpit cruiser with large comfortable living quarters and a shoal draft optimized for Florida sailing. The boat was first introduced in 1978, offered in both ketch and cutter rig options, and had a production run that lasted to 1984.

Owners tend to rave about their comfortable well styled accommodations with healthy 6′ 7″ of headroom. The boat can accommodate at least 6 between its forward and aft staterooms and settee berths in the generously sized saloon. The aft stateroom is a particular favorite. Saying the boat has ample stowage is probably an understatement.

With a 33,000 pound displacement, comfortable motion is a given and the ride is very dry. Unfortunately the rest of her on-the-water capabilities do not match her dockside competencies. Windward performance is poor due to a shoal draft keel, she has enough weather helm to make self-steering a problem, and off the wind in following seas her large stern tends to get pushed around a bit.

Specifications

LOA: 43′ 0″
LWL: 35′ 0″
Beam: 14′ 0″
Draft: 5′ 6″
Disp. 33,000 lbs.
Ballast: 12,000 lbs.
Sail Area: 900 sq.ft.

Water: 200 US Gal.
Fuel: 175 US Gal
Engine: Perkins 4-154 Diesel

Designer: Robert Johnson
Builder: Endeavour Yacht Corp. (USA)

Year Introduced: 1978
Year Ended: 1984

Similar Boats

Endeavour 42
Hardin 45
Hylas 44
Bristol 41.1
Kelly Peterson 44
Brewer 44
Gulfstar 44

Links, References and Further Reading

» Endeavour Sailboat Owners Forum

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  • Guest

    My wife and I have cruised our endeavour 43 for the lat 17 years from the Atlantic, Sth America to Australia where she now is. The boat does not get pushed about (as in your article) as she lifts to all seas and flows off the wind with a pleasant motion. and I recall easily winning in 20 miles bash to windward against 4 other cruising boats of similar size.(to their amazement)  Ours is 41,000 lb due to 17 years of junk. In appalling weather we have never had worries and the boat heaved to pleasantly for a few days. We have a hard top and live in our dry ‘sunroom’ in all weather.See my book ‘Around the next bend’ to see some of the strengths of the ’43. At over 70 yrs we have little strength so one electric winch with 17 lines going to it is fitted and we have no need to exit the cockpit except for spinnaker work which I have simplified by putting the pole in place before we leave port.  Even when floating on her beam ends with the mast in the water she waited patiently for the electric winch to roll the genoa and main and continued on the small staysail ’till conditions improved. If we lost her we would be back in the USA to get another even at our age.