Beneteau Sense 43 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

The Sense 43's hull is solid fiberglass set in polyester resin, with a balsa-cored deck bonded and bolted to it, and a cast-iron ballast keel. The hull carries a hard chine along its aft third just above the waterline, and considerable beam carried all the way aft, which together help minimize heel angle under way. Twin rudders and those hard chines give the boat great directional stability even when hard pressed. The coach-top forward edge is wedge-shaped and meets the deck well forward of the mast, and the cabin top rides higher than on most boats to accommodate an interior only three steps below the cockpit. Finish quality is about average for a modern mass-production yacht. The boat earned a CE certification of A6/B7/C10.

Rig and Handling

Twin helm stations are pushed all the way aft, each with a gas shock-assisted seat that folds up and out of the way in port. There is no mainsheet traveler; instead the main sheets to blocks on a large arch overhead, and all lines from mast and boom lead aft to secondary winches on the forward cockpit coamings, though the many lines are stuffed into two rather small line boxes. A collapsible sill keeps you from accidentally backing out of the open transom. On the water, test sailors found the helm smooth and well balanced, and could keep hands off the wheel for up to ten minutes close-hauled before she slowly rounded up. In 10–12 knots of true wind off Miami Beach she held 5.7 to 6 knots close-hauled in flat water at a 40-degree apparent angle, and with a gennaker on a close reach topped 7.6 knots. The twin rudders gave good backing control as long as angles stayed shallow; one tester noted she backed a little sluggishly to starboard.

Accommodations

The very wide cockpit is separated from the saloon by only three low steps, and the companionway itself is enormous, with three steps at a 45-degree slope instead of the usual five. The saloon is bright, spacious, and open, with sightlines in every direction and large windows with integral opening ports facing port, starboard, and aft to the cockpit. Bench seating at the table takes six and doubles as the chart-table seat. A teak cockpit table amidships converts with wrap-around seating into a sun bed, and the modular cockpit table also makes a huge sun-lounger. Two enormous side lockers swallow fuel jugs, sails, tenders, and outboards; a dedicated life-raft locker sits between the wheels.

Below, the in-line galley to port behind a center island has scads of counter space, a grey synthetic resin worktop, and useful storage with excellent working areas either side of the stove, though the two sinks are a tad small and shallow. The nav station runs along the settee's aft edge with a view into the cockpit and a long desk for charts. Forward, all sleeping spaces and a head sit in the bow: the owner's cabin all the way forward has a queen berth flanked by hanging lockers and an ensuite bathroom, while a guest cabin offers a large double berth, ample storage, and an ensuite shower. An amidships island hides a drop-down flat-screen TV facing the settee.

Known Issues

Engine access is the boat's weak spot: the engine is mounted far back in its space and is not easy to reach, though the shallow companionway steps fold up for quick access and side panels in the cockpit lockers open for work. The absence of a mainsheet traveler is a deliberate design choice but limits trim options, and the open aft end leaves her exposed to following seas that can wash aboard. One tester found the engine-fluid check panel in the starboard cockpit locker less than easily accessible.

The Verdict

The Sense 43 is a thoughtfully opened-up cruiser that trades some conventional separation of spaces for a light, sociable deck-and-cabin flow suited to family bluewater use. Her directional stability and easy helm make her forgiving, while the compromised engine access and open aft end are the prices paid for the layout.

Pros