HANS CHRISTIAN 43
Specifications
Hull
| LOA | 42.62 ft |
| LWL | 36.83 ft |
| Beam | 13.83 ft |
| Draft | 6 ft |
| Displacement | 31,500 lb |
| Ballast | 12,300.7 lb |
| Hull speed1.34·√LWL | 8.1 kn |
Rig & Sails
| Iforetriangle height | 50.5 ft |
| Jforetriangle base | 21.8 ft |
| Pmainsail luff | 46.7 ft |
| Emainsail foot | 14.7 ft |
| PYmizzen luff | 28 ft |
| EYmizzen foot | 11 ft |
| FLforestay | 21.8 ft |
| Mainsail | 921.2 sq ft |
| Jib (100%) | 550.5 sq ft |
| Spinnaker | 935.8 sq ft |
About the HANS CHRISTIAN 43
Available as cutter or staysail ketch. SA for Cutter (100% tri) 652 sqft. Bridge clearance for the Std. Cutter = 58.5 ft Available with 55 hp engine.
Designed by Harwood Ives and built by Hans Christian (Ta Shing Ltd.) from 1974–1992, the Hans Christian 43 is a robust staysail ketch with 130 hulls produced. Its heavy displacement of 31500.0 lb and full keel design prioritize stability and seakeeping over speed, making it a classic bluewater cruiser.
- Best for:
- This boat suits experienced coastal and offshore cruisers who value comfort and safety, particularly those willing to manage a complex staysail ketch rig and perform diligent maintenance on aging systems.
- Bluewater capability:
- With a displacement of 31500.0 lb, a capsize ratio of 1.76, and a full/long keel, the boat is inherently stable and well-suited for offshore passages, provided critical structural components like the rudder and deck core are sound.
- Comparables:
- Comparable to the Hallberg-Rassy 43 and O'Day 42 due to similar heavy-displacement, full-keel characteristics and ketch or sloop configurations from the same era, though the HC43 offers a distinct staysail layout.
Performance
Estimated Value
Medium ConfidenceAsking price by model year
18 listings · boat years 1979–1989 · median $179,000
Each dot is one listing · hover for details · dashed red line marks the median · obvious data-entry outliers (top & bottom 2.5%) excluded.
Estimated Cost of Ownership
Based on 42.62ft LOA. Actual costs vary by condition, usage, and local rates.
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Known Issues & Pre-Purchase Inspection
17 reported issues across 9 systems for the HANS CHRISTIAN 43, compiled from owner reports in sailing forums and owner-association material.
Unlock the full inspection report
Thinking of buying a HANS CHRISTIAN 43? This is an in-depth report on the faults this model is known for — so you know exactly what to check when you walk the boat. For the price of a coffee.
- ✓ All 17 specific issues — severity, symptoms & fixes
- ✓ Model-specific pre-purchase inspection checklist
- ✓ Downloadable PDF to take to your surveyor — yours to keep
One-time $2.99 · secure checkout by Stripe · instant access · 30 days online, PDF yours to keep
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Used sails that fit the HANS CHRISTIAN 43
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