Tanton 43 Information, Review, Specs

Built by the renowned Taiwanese shipyard Ta Chiao, the Tanton 43 benefited from a builder known for its meticulous attention to detail and pioneering use of fiberglass construction in the late 1960s.

History and Design

The Tanton 43, designated as Tanton design #793, began production in 1980. Designer Yves-Marie Tanton, with a career spanning over four decades and more than 650 boat designs, approached the Tanton 43 with a philosophy of "eschewing design dogma" and embracing innovation. This ethos is evident in the boat's defining characteristic: an unstayed cat-ketch rig with carbon free-standing masts and aluminum wishbone booms. This rig was a significant departure from conventional designs, aiming for simplified sail handling and enhanced performance.

During this era, Ta Chiao had already established itself as a leading builder of sturdy, ocean-capable cruising yachts, particularly renowned for their "CT" series. Their manufacturing process emphasized durability, often incorporating an Airex core above the waterline for the fiberglass hull, which is also seen in the Tanton 43. The Tanton 43 shared its hull with the CT-44, further underscoring the builder's consistent approach to proven designs. While the exact end year of its production is not specified, approximately 48 units of the Tanton 43 cat-ketch were built at various locations in Taiwan. Variations of the model included a pilot house version.

Sailing Performance and Handling

The Tanton 43 was engineered for a balance of spirited performance and comfortable, stable cruising. With a length overall of just over 43 feet and a waterline length of 37.58 feet, she maintains a good turn of speed. Her design ratios provide insight into her capabilities:

• Sail Area to Displacement (SA/D) Ratio: At approximately 18.38, the Tanton 43 suggests good performance in lighter air, indicating she can move well even when winds are modest.
• Ballast to Displacement (B/D) Ratio: A ballast ratio of around 45.5% points to a stiff and stable vessel, capable of standing up to a significant amount of wind and providing a comfortable motion in a seaway.
• Displacement to Length (D/L) Ratio: With a D/L of approximately 184.8, the Tanton 43 falls into the category of a lighter, more performance-oriented cruiser for her size, rather than a heavy, traditional displacement vessel.

The unstayed cat-ketch rig is a key factor in her handling characteristics. Owners and reviewers often praise the ketch rig for its inherent comfort and stability, particularly when sailing downwind or on a broad reach. The distributed sail area across two smaller sails makes the Tanton 43 notably easier to handle, even for shorthanded crews. Tacking is described as straightforward, requiring little more than a turn of the wheel. The combination of a fin keel and a skeg-hung rudder further contributes to responsive handling and robust directional stability, ideal for long offshore passages.

Accommodations and Layout

While specific interior dimensions like maximum headroom are not detailed in all specifications, Ta Chiao yachts, including the Tanton 43, are well-regarded for their "luxurious teak woodwork found throughout their interiors". This suggests a warm, classic aesthetic with high-quality finishes, a hallmark of the builder's identity.

Typically, a cruising yacht of this size and era would offer a conventional layout designed for liveaboard comfort and extended voyages. This would generally include a forward V-berth cabin, a head with shower facilities, a spacious main salon, a functional galley, and often an aft cabin or quarter berth(s). Given Ta Chiao's reputation, ample storage and good ventilation would likely be priorities in the design, facilitating comfortable life at sea. The emphasis on solid construction extends to the interior, where robust joinery and durable materials would be expected.