Built by Shannon Yachts beginning in 1986, this Walter Shultz-designed 44-footer represents classic American bluewater cruising design with a distinctive staysail ketch rig configuration. The fiberglass construction combines traditional aesthetics with modern materials, creating a vessel well-suited for serious offshore passage making. With a displacement of 27,000 pounds and 10,000 pounds of ballast, this design prioritizes stability and seaworthiness over pure performance. The substantial 8.58-foot draft and keel/centerboard hybrid configuration provide excellent upwind ability while offering shoal-water versatility for gunkholing. The comfort ratio of 35.37 indicates a motion that favors stability in heavy weather, making extended offshore passages more comfortable for crew. The staysail ketch rig totaling 910 square feet offers excellent balance and redundancy, particularly valuable for shorthanded sailing or challenging conditions. This sail plan allows for numerous combinations and easy sail handling, with the ability to carry reduced sail area while maintaining good balance. Shannon Yachts built a reputation for high-quality construction and attention to detail, and this model exemplifies their commitment to creating seaworthy cruising boats. The 60-horsepower auxiliary engine provides reliable motoring capability, while the hull speed of 8.10 knots offers respectable passage-making potential under sail.
No owner reviews yet — be the first to share your experience with this boat.
What is the Shannon 43's sail area to displacement ratio?
The Shannon 43 has a Sail Area to Displacement ratio (SA/D) of 16.24. Values between 14–18 are typical cruising sailboats; 18–22 is cruiser/racer; over 22 is performance racing.
What is the Shannon 43's comfort ratio?
The Shannon 43 has a Ted Brewer Comfort Ratio of 35.37. A ratio over 30 indicates good offshore comfort; over 40 is very comfortable offshore.
Is the Shannon 43 safe for offshore sailing?
The Shannon 43 has a Capsize Screening Formula value of 1.74. Values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing; under 1.8 is ideal.
What is the hull speed of the Shannon 43?
The theoretical hull speed of the Shannon 43 is 8.10 kn knots, calculated from its waterline length.
How much does a Shannon 43 weigh?
The Shannon 43 has a displacement of 27,000.00 lb and a length overall (LOA) of 43.83 ft.
Who designed the Shannon 43?
The Shannon 43 was designed by Walter Shultz, first built in 1986.