Gunfleet 43

The Gunfleet 43 is a British bluewater cruiser designed by naval architect Tony Castro and built by Gunfleet Marine in Ipswich, England, with production at the Windboats Marine facility near Norfolk. The company was founded by Richard Matthews, the former founder of Oyster Yachts, and the 43 was first launched in September 2011 as the lead model in a range that grew to include a 58-footer and a 74. The target customer is an experienced couple seeking a fast, seakindly offshore cruiser with no sacrifice in onboard comfort.

At 44 feet on deck and displacing just over 14,000 lbs, the 43 carries a fractional sloop rig with swept-back spreaders on a Seldén mast. A standard fin keel with lead bulb is the baseline, with an optional shoal-draft hydraulic centerboard version available for sailors who frequent shallow anchorages. Twin rudders come standard.

The hull is hand-laid in a female mold using a solid GRP laminate with isophthalic resin below the waterline for moisture resistance, transitioning to an end-grain balsa core sandwich above. Kevlar reinforcement is incorporated on the centerline forward of the keel, and carbon fiber is used at high-load points associated with the rig. An integral E-glass and carbon fiber structural grid stiffens the hull without added weight. Marine ply bulkheads are laminated in place to contribute to overall rigidity.

The standard keel consists of a cast iron fin carrying a lead bulb, providing a ballast-to-displacement ratio of approximately 26 percent. Vinylester skin resin and an NPG gelcoat offer good long-term osmotic and UV resistance. Interior woodwork is available in maple, cherry, teak, or oak, and the boat features a CZone digital switching system throughout.

With a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of around 16 and a displacement-to-length ratio of 225, the Gunfleet 43 is a moderate performer rather than a racehorse, but reviewers found her well-mannered and predictable across conditions. In 12–15 knots of breeze at 35–40 degrees apparent wind angle, the boat recorded over 6 knots, peaking at 6.7 knots. Upwind she tracked cleanly at a tacking angle of roughly 65 degrees. A gennaker option pushes speeds to the 7–8 knot range on broad reaching angles.

The helm is described as responsive without being nervous, and the twin-rudder configuration provides positive feel and good control when heeled. The 11/12ths fractional rig with a 113 percent genoa allows a two-person crew to manage all sail handling from the cockpit. Under power, the 60 hp Volvo Penta drives the boat to a comfortable cruising speed of about 7 knots and a maximum of around 8.5 knots.

Below decks the 43 is configured as a true two-cabin, two-head couples' cruiser. The aft master suite features an island berth, generous hanging lockers and drawer stowage, and a separate en-suite shower compartment. Headroom reaches 6 feet 3 inches in the cabin and 6 feet 7 inches at the companionway. A forward guest cabin provides a large double berth with its own en-suite facilities and ample stowage. A third cabin can be fitted amidships to starboard as a custom option, though this comes at the cost of the forward-facing chart table.

The saloon is open and light, drawing daylight from hull ports and coachroof windows. The galley is equipped with a GN Espace gimballed stove, double sinks, and fully fiddled Corian work surfaces. The nav station carries a CZone touchscreen control panel. Multiple interior wood species are offered as a build option, allowing owners to personalize the finish to their taste.