mason 43 sailboat review

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The Mason 43 Sailboat Specs & Key Performance Indicators

The Mason 43, a heavy displacement long keeled cruiser, was designed by Al Mason and built in Taiwan by Ta Shing Yacht Building.

The Mason 43 is a sailboat that has captivated many sailing enthusiasts with its exceptional features and performance. Built by Ta Shing Yacht Building in Taiwan, the boat represents a blend of traditional craftsmanship with modern design, resulting in a vessel that's not only aesthetically pleasing but also highly functional.

Published Specification for the Mason 43

Underwater Profile:  Long keel

Hull Material:  GRP

Length Overall:  43'10" (13.40 m)

Waterline Length:  31' 3" (9.53 m)

Beam:  12'3" (3.73 m)

Draft:  6' 3" (1.91 m)

Rig Type:  Cutter, but also available as a staysail ketch

Displacement:  25,000 lb (11,340 kg)

Designer:  Al Mason

Builder:  Ta Shing Yacht Building (Taiwan)

Year First Built:  1978

Year Last Built:  1985

Number Built:  180

Design Ratios: The Key Performance Indicators

Let's take a look at the design ratios of the Mason 43 sailboat:

• The Sail Area/Displacement Ratio is a measure of the sailboat's speed potential. For the Mason 43, this ratio is roughly 15.5, indicating that it performs well in light to moderate winds.
• The Ballast/Displacement Ratio is around 40%, highlighting its stability and stiffness. This ratio indicates that the Mason 43 has a good amount of ballast relative to its weight, which helps it stay upright in strong winds.
• The Displacement/Length Ratio is approximately 327, which is relatively high. This suggests that the Mason 43 is a heavy cruiser, designed for long-distance sailing and able to handle rough sea conditions well.
• The Comfort Ratio of the Mason 43 is around 38.2. This ratio is a gauge of the vessel's motion comfort, suggesting that the Mason 43 provides a very comfortable ride, especially in rough waters.
• The Capsize Screening Formula for the Mason 43 is about 1.65, which is below the commonly accepted safe limit of 2.0. This indicates that the Mason 43 is considered a safer boat in terms of stability and resistance to capsize.

Based on these design ratios, it can be predicted that the Mason 43 will perform admirably in a range of conditions. It is a vessel designed for long-distance cruising, offering a good balance of speed and stability, with a comfortable ride in challenging seas.

But just how reliable are these Design Ratios?

Interior Layout

The interior of the Mason 43 sailboat is designed for comfortable long-distance cruising. It typically features two staterooms, providing ample accommodation for a family or several guests.

The forward stateroom usually includes a v-berth, while the aft master stateroom often features a double berth. Both staterooms generally have adequate storage space, with lockers and drawers for personal belongings.

The vessel usually has one or two heads (bathrooms), often with a shower. The heads are typically equipped with a manual or electric marine toilet, a sink, and storage space.

The galley (kitchen) on a Mason 43 is designed for functionality at sea. It typically includes a stove, an oven, a refrigerator, and a double sink. There's usually ample counter space for food preparation and plenty of storage for cookware and provisions.

The main salon is spacious and comfortable, often featuring a dining area with a large table and seating. The salon is typically lined with quality woodwork, adding to the overall charm and warmth of the interior.

While the standard interior layout is the most popular choice, there are also alternatives available. Some Mason 43 models feature a two-cabin layout, with a larger master cabin and a smaller guest cabin.

Exterior Features

The exterior features of the Mason 43 include a full keel design with cutaway forefoot, a spacious cockpit, and a traditional cutter rig. The deck is wide and uncluttered, providing ample space for crew movement.

The rigging of the Mason 43 is sturdy and designed for easy handling. It features a roller furling jib, a staysail, and a full-batten mainsail. The rigging system is designed to handle a variety of wind conditions, making the Mason 43 a versatile sailing vessel.

The Mason 43's hull design is one of its standout features. Its solid fiberglass construction and full keel design provide excellent stability and seakeeping abilities. The hull shape also contributes to the boat's comfortable motion at sea.

The Rig & Sailplan

The Mason 43 typically sports a cutter rig, which is a versatile and efficient sail plan favored by many long-distance cruisers. This sail plan includes a mainsail, a staysail (a smaller sail set between the mast and the bow), and a headsail (jib). The arrangement of these sails provides a good balance of power and flexibility, allowing the Mason 43 to perform well under various wind conditions.

The cutter rig's versatility comes from the ability to use different combinations of sails. For example, in lighter winds, all three sails can be used for maximum power. In stronger winds, the headsail can be furled, and the boat can be sailed on the staysail and mainsail, which is a more balanced and manageable setup.

Some Mason 43s were also produced as staysail ketches like the one in the pic at the top of this page, which reduces the area of individual sails and provides even more flexibility.

In a Nutshell

The Mason 43 is a cruising sailboat known for its solid construction, exceptional design, and excellent handling at sea. It's a full-keel, cutter-rigged vessel that was first introduced in the late 1970s.

Designed by naval architect Al Mason, the Mason 43 is built for long-distance cruising and offers a combination of comfort and performance. It's often recognized for its seaworthiness and ability to handle a variety of weather conditions, making it a popular choice among serious sailors and cruisers.

The interior of the Mason 43 typically features two staterooms, a full galley, and a spacious main salon, providing comfortable living quarters for extended voyages. The woodwork inside is often praised for its quality and craftsmanship.

Under sail, the Mason 43 is known for its stability and smooth motion. The full keel design contributes to its tracking ability and overall performance under various sailing conditions.

Overall, the Mason 43 is a classic, well-respected cruising sailboat that offers a blend of comfort, performance, and seaworthiness.

I wrote this article using GPT-4, OpenAI’s large-scale language-generation model, as a research assistant to develop source material. I wrote the final draft in its entirety and believe it to be accurate to the best of my knowledge.

Dick McClary, creator and owner of sailboat-cruising.com

Other sailboats in the Mason range include:

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Mason 43 is a 43 ′ 9 ″ / 13.4 m monohull sailboat designed by Alvin Mason and built by Ta Shing Yacht Building Ltd. between 1978 and 1985.

• 2 / 16 San Carlos Nuevo Guaymas, Son., MX 1979 Mason 43 $80,000 USD View
• 3 / 16 San Carlos Nuevo Guaymas, Son., MX 1979 Mason 43 $80,000 USD View
• 4 / 16 San Carlos Nuevo Guaymas, Son., MX 1979 Mason 43 $80,000 USD View
• 5 / 16 San Carlos Nuevo Guaymas, Son., MX 1979 Mason 43 $80,000 USD View
• 6 / 16 San Carlos Nuevo Guaymas, Son., MX 1979 Mason 43 $80,000 USD View
• 7 / 16 San Carlos Nuevo Guaymas, Son., MX 1979 Mason 43 $80,000 USD View
• 8 / 16 San Carlos Nuevo Guaymas, Son., MX 1979 Mason 43 $80,000 USD View
• 9 / 16 San Carlos Nuevo Guaymas, Son., MX 1979 Mason 43 $80,000 USD View
• 10 / 16 San Carlos Nuevo Guaymas, Son., MX 1979 Mason 43 $80,000 USD View
• 11 / 16 San Carlos Nuevo Guaymas, Son., MX 1979 Mason 43 $80,000 USD View
• 12 / 16 San Carlos Nuevo Guaymas, Son., MX 1979 Mason 43 $80,000 USD View
• 13 / 16 San Carlos Nuevo Guaymas, Son., MX 1979 Mason 43 $80,000 USD View
• 14 / 16 San Carlos Nuevo Guaymas, Son., MX 1979 Mason 43 $80,000 USD View
• 15 / 16 San Carlos Nuevo Guaymas, Son., MX 1979 Mason 43 $80,000 USD View
• 16 / 16 San Carlos Nuevo Guaymas, Son., MX 1979 Mason 43 $80,000 USD View

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)

Mason design S-105. Also available as a ketch. SA ketch rig: 916 sq.ft./85.1 m2.

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Mason 43 for under $40,000!

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I've been shopping around for a good blue-water sailboat for about a year now and this Mason 43 just popped onto my radar for around $30-40k. My buddy was talking with his neighbor at the docks who said the owner is done with the boat and just wants to get rid of it. It has sat at the slip for 4 years straight without a single person setting foot on it. He's sick and doesn't want to show the boat, he doesn't want to deal with it, and just wants it gone. It sounds like it could be an amazing deal, but I'm currently deployed and have to trust my friend (owner and sailor of his Catalina 40) to be my eyes and ears for me. 4 years ago, the boat showed up in the slip next to my friend's in perfect condition. Shiny teak, new rigging, freshly painted hull, and new engine. Then it was never touched since. In fact, the new engine hasn't even been hooked up yet. My friend just did a walk-through and he says it is now covered in dirt, one of the interior ports was open, some water got in, and the engine is half sitting in water. I'm not sure if the water is fresh or salt, but he's going to look at it again tomorrow. This boat will probably sell very quickly, being such an amazing deal. So, any recommendations? It almost seems a no-brainer. Even if I find some horrible problems, I could still put another $60,000 into it and be sailing my $150,000 dream boat around the world. I guess my question is, what could possibly be the worst case scenario if I buy this boat? What could make me regret buying it? Thanks all!  

Could be a great deal but the survey will tell you what is left after 4 years of neglect. Depending on where you are, frost damage may have taken out the engine. If the engine is damaged, electric is damaged, plumbing was never dealt with, cushions need replacing, sails rat eaten, running rigging gone the asking price may be just about right. It is real simple. Start going through the boat system by system and count up what is wrong and put a price on it. Double that number and it will probably only cost you twice that to put it in good condition.  

Mason 43/ 44 is the top boat I am looking for as my last boat. Not looking for a fixer upper though. They are very well made. dave  

If your buddy has a decent "eye" and says do it, put in an offer subject to survey and get a pro to look at it. A lot can go wrong in 4 years but it could also be a once in a lifetime deal.  

Now there are exceptions, but the old adage if it is too good to be true, it likely is. I doubt it will sell that fast. The thing is most people will not spend 30 to 40 thousand on a project boat, they will risk a few thousand, but not 40,000 for a project boat. Granted the payoff in the end could be high. They look to be asking around $100,000 on yachtworld (asking not selling) so figure you can get 70-75 for it after your done if up to good standards. I could see a 43 foot abandoned boat needing well over 40,000 in work, especially if it has taken on water over the engine. That is a lot of teak that would need to be replaced not to mention the engine. Upholstery could be several thousand in materials alone. I have heard of folks spending 4,000 or more on cushions for a 30 foot boat. The motor for that boat will be at least $10,000 just for the motor, not including install. So be careful, it could be a bottomless pit and if your not going to do your own work, run! If you do your own work you might get lucky and break even. Of course boats are not a good investment anyway. Look at this one for $100,000 looks good and he says he will take offers Mason 43 For Sale - Simplicity I have not seen it, but makes you pause before getting involved in a project.  

miatapaul said: if your not going to do your own work, run! If you do your own work you might get lucky and break even. Click to expand...

Tell us where the boat is located. Some of us will take a look at her and render an opinion or two about the condition.  

Been there, done that - My boat (1975 Dufour 34) sat on the hard for 7 years waiting for a buyer. When I first saw her, there was water to the level of the floorboards and it had clearly, at some point, been higher. Fortunately, the floorboards and upholstery had been removed, so they were fine. The sails were in good shape with a new main, all stored off the boat. The engine was toast though, since it had been at least a quarter immersed in water. Since it was a donation boat, I paid very (VERY!) little for it, and even now, do not have $25k into it - that's with a very lightly used new engine, hull repaint, bimini/dodger, new electronics, new stove (original was removed)...so on and on....all the work done by myself, quality secondhand equipment purchased when/where feasible. Since then, this boat has done three trips to the Great Lakes, three to the Bahamas, two to Cuba, and 20 up and down the US east coast, for over 30k miles. It's been a good deal in other words. The key here when buying a boat that has suffered neglect is that the boat is a quality boat. That means its components will hold up better and not so much need replacement as refurbishing. If you do the work yourself (I did), it can save you a fortune (which I didn't/don't have) and you'll know your boat intimately, for those times in harbours where you're a long way from the nearest marine tradesman. The owner of this Mason is asking $40k, which seems like a good price, but it's asking so you could do better. If you're going to do the work yourself, it's worth it. If not - I'd take a look at Simplicity, posted above.  

Simplicity hasn't sold for two years because of the life expectancy of her equipment. She has over 5000 hours on her engine and the balance of her is nearing the end of service. While the woodwork on a Mason is mind boggling, so is ripping it out to get to chain plates and such. Masons have issues with the shower leaking and doing tons of damage. Iron fuel tanks are not easily removed and replaced. There are a host of issues with older Masons similar to the other Asian cruisers. Go to the Mason owner's site and check out the posts. Many have dropped $50,000 fixing the tired systems. What you don't spend up front you will spend later. Overhauling a 43 foot boat is a mind numbing job. I've overhauled two boats and I'm about out of patience with the work. I've lost 5 years of sailing doing maintenance and in the final analysis, I would have done better not to have spent the time. I can make money. I cannot make time.  

I see a lot of boats that sit not selling for years and years. Then others sell quickly. It seems to make no sense at all in some cases, in others the reason is obvious. (both in the selling and in the not selling) I like that "I can make money. I cannot make time." Very valid, unless you are a tinkerer by nature. Then the project is the fun, look at the people who spend years restoring a boat and once done sell it.  

No question that's a valid response regarding the work involved in renewing a boat. In my case, I've never brought the boat back to 'new' - instead, I brought it back to serviceable, and have worked on it while underway. This of course leads to new adventures and friends when things break down or need replacing, usually in awkward and hard to work from locations - but I don't consider the time spent, for example, replacing my engine in Belhaven NC, to have been lost time. I've made great friends and discovered some wonderful places. You just have to have a Gold Boat US package and be able to handle the shame of being towed in occasionally.  

Thinking about it, the Masons have teak decks. They fail at around 30 years. There's $10,000 right there. That's if there is not major core damage. Core replacement will about double that figure. Figure a year of your time to repair just that, if you DIY. A beta marine diesel is $14800 for the 60 HP. model and you're just starting. Woodwork, fuel tanks, standing and running rigging, and the other items mentioned by the other posters. Under 40 might be no bargain.  

I actually have been up to Newberryport Mass to look at this boat Simplicity, The issues with this boat were the deck, the engine and the overall condtion of the boat. Replacing or taking out a teak deck and not replacing it with more teak would not deter me from buying a well made boat like this. I do know what that costs so do not rail on and on about that. Replacing the engine would also not deter me from buying this boat. Replacing its engine is actually easy and straightforward as its under the sole. I also know what a replacement engine costs, so no need to rail onabout that either. The fuel tanks are not hard to replace either. If this boat was priced correctly comenserate with the work that needed to be done I would have boaught it. In fact I had put an offer on it, but the owner and I could not agree on a price. This boat is far from a project boat, but you would want to spend about $40,000 in upgrades to engi8ne, deck and electronics. I would actually rather do that to this excelaantly made boat with another 40 years left in her than suffer with a plastic modern boat which is newer. Isnt that always the tradeoff for those of us who see the beauty in the older designed boats anyway. This in no way is meant to disparage someone who would choose the opposite. Its different strokes for different folks. To me the beauty and integrity of these Mason under sail is what floats my boat. ( But at the correct price) Dave  

If you're going to seriously cruise a boat, you're going to have to fix it at some point - and that means having those skills, since there are many locations where those skills simply are not available. Sure you can make money, but money doesn't count when there's no one to spend it with. In Cuba, for example, I couldn't pay a local to fix my outboard, at least not with cash. I ended up giving him 10 pounds of dog kibble for his wife's dog (dog food is not available in Cuba) and a bunch of old parts laying around the boat that had value to him. A good argument can be made that the serious cruiser should purchase an older boat and fix it him/herself and learn how it's done, in a place where supplies (and help!) are available. And if you're going to do that, then purchasing a well built boat rather than a plastic clorox bottle is the way to go.  

If you do your own work you might get lucky and break even. Click to expand...

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Review of Mason 43

Basic specs..

The boat is typically equipped with an inboard diesel engine at 38.0 kW (50 hp).

The transmission is a saildrive.

Sailing characteristics

This section covers widely used rules of thumb to describe the sailing characteristics. Please note that even though the calculations are correct, the interpretation of the results might not be valid for extreme boats.

What is Capsize Screening Formula (CSF)?

The capsize screening value for Mason 43 is 1.58, indicating that this boat could - if evaluated by this formula alone - be accepted to participate in ocean races.

The immersion rate is defined as the weight required to sink the boat a certain level. The immersion rate for Mason 43 is about 329 kg/cm, alternatively 1847 lbs/inch. Meaning: if you load 329 kg cargo on the boat then it will sink 1 cm. Alternatively, if you load 1847 lbs cargo on the boat it will sink 1 inch.

Sailing statistics

This section is statistical comparison with similar boats of the same category. The basis of the following statistical computations is our unique database with more than 26,000 different boat types and 350,000 data points.

What is L/B (Length Beam Ratio)?

What is SA/D (Sail Area Displacement ratio)?

Maintenance

Are your sails worn out? You might find your next sail here: Sails for Sale

If you need to renew parts of your running rig and is not quite sure of the dimensions, you may find the estimates computed below useful.

This section shown boat owner's changes, improvements, etc. Here you might find inspiration for your boat.

Do you have changes/improvements you would like to share? Upload a photo and describe what to look for.

We are always looking for new photos. If you can contribute with photos for Mason 43 it would be a great help.

If you have any comments to the review, improvement suggestions, or the like, feel free to contact us . Criticism helps us to improve.

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The Best Sailboats for the High Seas?

At the St. Petersburg Boat Show month last month, I had the pleasure of seeing delivery skipper and author John Kretschmers presentation on what he called sailboats for a serious ocean. I have reservations about any ideal boat list, but Kretschmer, who reviews boats for Sail Magazine and whose most recent book Sailing a Serious Ocean is available in our online bookstore , has the ideal background for this sort of work, and a list like this is undeniably helpful for wannabe cruisers who need a place to start their search.

I certainly wouldnt limit my search to boats on such a list, but by paying careful attention to the pros and cons of each, you can find something that suits your own aspirations.

Here are the boats Kretschmer suggests: Contessa 32, Pacific Seacraft 34, Pretorien 35, Cape Dory/Robinhood 36, Valiant/Esprit 37, Prout Snowgoose 37, Alajuela 38, Privelege 39, Freya 39, Passport 40, Caliber 40, Baba 40, Hallberg Rassy 42, Taswell 43, Hylas 44, Norseman 447, Beneteau 456, Outbound 44, Hylas 46, Kaufman 47, Tayana 48, Hylas 49, Amel Maramu 53, and the Sundeer 60/64. For a brief capsule summary of each, be sure to check out his website.

The list is hardly definitive. There are plenty of good boats that arent featured, and some of these would be ill-matched for the wrong sailor-Kretschmer clearly pointed this out during his talk. I like how the list presents a good cross-section of the various shapes and sizes for a boat in this category. For example, Kretschmer includes the Prout Snowgoose and Steve Dashews Sundeer 60, boats that, notwithstanding their successful record at sea, fill an outlying niche.

If I were going to expand the list, one of the heavier-displacement microcruisers like those I blogged about would be a nice addition. Although I would be wary of promoting even the most formidable of this breed as well-suited for a serious ocean, John Neale of Mahina Tiare Expeditions includes one of them, the Dana 24, on his own list of recommend cruising boats . Neales much broader list of boats is accompanied by a very helpful discussion of design elements to consider.

What got me thinking about formidable cruising boats was our series of reports o n sailboat construction , focusing specifically on structural details. Although there are plenty of excellent coastal cruisers on the market, once you start talking about offshore duty, scan’tlings (the dimensions for structural components) take on far more importance.

A few years ago we touched on this subject in our Mailport section, encouraging readers to suggest their own nominees for a list of what we called at the time, tough boats, vessels that were built to take a beating, requiring minimal care and upkeep.

Here are some of the boats that were suggested from our readers: Mariner 36, Cal 34, Morgan 43, Swan 43, Bermuda 40, Island Packet 26, Mariner 47, LeComte Northeast 38, Westsail 32, Dana 24, J/35, and the CSY 44.

Id be interested in hearing of other nominees for this list, or other good resources for sailors looking for a short list of good offshore boats.

For those who are frustrated to find that their own ideal boat isn’t on anybodys list, I wouldnt be too miffed. The best line Ive heard in a while on this topic came from Steve Callahan, the author of the survival classic Adrift , who gave a presentation at the Port Townsend Wooden Boat Show . When I asked Steve, who has sailed extensively on both multihulls and monohulls, what type of boat he preferred, he said, quite seriously. Well, at the end of the day, the best cruising boat is the one that you are on.

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Interesting list. I am fond of Hylas of which you chose three models. However, I am suspect of their yard and construction techniques and do not have confidence that they are as strong as they are beautiful. Only one Hallberg-Rassy was selected, which is a far more robust and dry sailing boat than the Hylas. Passports make a good boat as does Cape Dory and several others on your list. Didn’t four sailors die on a Beneteau in 2018? Over all it is a decent list.

https://metro.co.uk/2018/04/25/last-pictures-doomed-yacht-cheeki-rafiki-sank-killing-four-british-sailors-7497805/

I believe this is the accident you’re talking about in which a Beneteau and it’s bolted on keel parted company.

Almost all of the sailing clubs in San Diego rent Beneteaus out. They are a decent coastal sailboat. I have a couple friends who have even made the crossing to Maui in them..not me, not ever. I consider them a living room boat. Having said that, I am certainly no expert so its just my opinion. If I am crossing an ocean I want a capable kindly strong boat with redundancy built into critical systems.

Curious to think what people think about the early 70s Swan 43 as a cruising boat for a couple with occasional guests for a round the world trip? I have an S&S 30 which is too small but I do have some bias towards their designs. Add a watermaker and some power generation and off you go… Any thoughts?

Are Motor Sailors like the Nauticats or Fishers ocean worthy ( if their pilot house windows and sliding doors are lifeboatified ? )

Walt Schulz’s Shannon 43 is a beautiful, sea kindly, comfortable and sturdy bluewater boat. Walt had not only the ICW and Bahamas in mind when he designed and built 52 of them. He designed for ocean cruising. He believes his boats should outlive him and still sailing for generations. We sailed the Chesapeake, Bahamas, Caribbean and Pacific to Australia on a Shannon 43 ketch. She took great care of us and is still turning heads.

Great article! John Kretchmer is one of my fave modern day sailors. While there is only one Crealock design on John’s list, and the Dana is added on John Neale’s list, I was surprised not to see a Crealock/ Pacific Seacraft 37 mentioned. But there are so many great serious off shore boats, it’s hard to narrow it down to 10. Here’s a few to think about. Cape George Cutter 36. Biscay 36, tradewind 35, Rustler 36, Nicholson 31 (never talked about) and 32. Seldom seen on top 10 lists, but great boats. Thanks for the article.

Great comment and interesting to note that the first four of your additions are those currently entered in the 2022 Golden Globe Race – kind of the definition of a blue water boat.

Hey! I know this is somewhat off-topic however I needed to ask. Does operating a well-established blog like yours take a massive amount work? I am completely new to writing a blog but I do write in my journal everyday. I’d like to start a blog so I will be able to share my experience and feelings online. Please let me know if you have any kind of recommendations or tips for new aspiring blog owners. Thankyou!|

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PAE/MASON SAILBOATS

Beautiful Blue Water Sailing Yachts

The Journey Continues…

Designer Al Mason was chosen as the naval architect of PAE’s first project. Al was the natural choice for several reasons. His designs were famously beautiful, rugged and seaworthy and several boats of his design had been sold by PAE through their brokerage. Furthermore, because Al Mason had worked for John Alden in his earlier years, there was a DNA connection in design, style and beauty to the lovely Malabar VII. The first PAE/Mason design was a 43-foot sailboat. With completed design in hand, the search began for the right Taiwan builder. Through introductions, serendipity and hard work, the young men at PAE learned of Ta Shing Yacht Building. Ta Shing (which means Big New in Chinese) was founded in 1976 and the company was just completing their state of the art factory when the Mason 43 project was introduced to them. The founder, visionary and first president of Ta Shing, Mr. CM Juan, had a simple mission statement: to be the best. No expense was spared on the facility, equipment or staff. But two things were missing; a good design and an American partner. PAE and their Mason 43 project came along at the perfect time. The Mason 43 was an immediate success and was followed by the M63, M53, M53cc and M33. There were 132 “3” series PAE/Mason sailboats produced between 1978 and 1985. Nearly all of these boats are still in service today and have become beloved and respected icons. Between 1984 and 1988, PAE redesigned each of the “3” series Mason designs into the PAE/Mason 34, 44, 54 and 64. These handsome designs used the same hull but had new deck designs and interior layouts. Eighty of these “4” series PAE/Masons were produced. PAE’s last sailboat order, a Mason 44, was taken in 1997 and a few years later, all the Mason sailboat molds were destroyed. But the classic breed lives on. Of the hundreds of Masons sold, most of those are still being used by their faithful owners today. These Mason sailboats are still cruising in all parts of the world, further illustrating the timeless, ocean-crossing durability and class of yachts manufactured by PAE. Mason owners are a tight-knit group and have established their own online community. If you are a Mason owner, or just a fan of Mason sailboats, and would like to join the PAE/Mason Sailboat Owners Group, please visit us by clinking on the link at the bottom of this page. PAE-Mason-Sailboats Owners Group

MASON 44 Detailed Review

If you are a boat enthusiast looking to get more information on specs, built, make, etc. of different boats, then here is a complete review of MASON 44. Built by Ta Shing Yacht Building Ltd. and designed by Alvin Mason, the boat was first built in 1985. It has a hull type of Long Keel and LOA is 13.39. Its sail area/displacement ratio 16.28. Its auxiliary power tank, manufactured by Perkins, runs on Diesel.

MASON 44 has retained its value as a result of superior building, a solid reputation, and a devoted owner base. Read on to find out more about MASON 44 and decide if it is a fit for your boating needs.

Boat Information

Boat specifications, sail boat calculation, rig and sail specs, auxillary power tank, contributions, who designed the mason 44.

MASON 44 was designed by Alvin Mason.

Who builds MASON 44?

MASON 44 is built by Ta Shing Yacht Building Ltd..

When was MASON 44 first built?

MASON 44 was first built in 1985.

How long is MASON 44?

MASON 44 is 9.68 m in length.

What is mast height on MASON 44?

MASON 44 has a mast height of 13.35 m.

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