Design and Construction
The Landfall 43's hull is a more modern shape than the 42, with a slightly longer waterline and refined lines that distinguish this later evolution from its predecessor. C&C Yachts built the boat in Canada with a solid fiberglass hull and a fin keel paired to a skeg-hung rudder for balanced handling and protection. The 37% ballast ratio and 269 displacement-length ratio place her firmly in the loaded cruising category rather than the racer lineage, yet the refinement of the lines suggests a deliberate step away from the heavier earlier Landfall volumes.
Rig and Handling
The boat came standard as a masthead sloop, with a cutter rig common for versatility and some ketch variants offering easier shorthanded management and better heavy-weather balance. The masthead rig's reference sail plan of 771 square feet yields a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 14.6, rising to 17.4 with a 135% genoa — modest numbers that suit a 23,000-pound cruiser more interested in steadiness than speed. Under power, the theoretical maximal speed of a displacement boat of this length is 7.9 knots, while the calculated max speed under a 58-horsepower diesel is about 6.7 knots. The capsize screening value of 1.74 and Motion Comfort Ratio of 35.1 reinforce the documented praise for good motion comfort in trades or heavy seas.
Accommodations and Tankage
Below, the Landfall 43 is known for a spacious, practical interior with ample storage that supports extended liveaboard use. Generous tankage backs up that self-sufficiency brief: the fresh water capacity is 145 US gallons and the fuel tank holds 70 US gallons, figures that let a couple or small family cruise well beyond coastal hops without constant resupply. The boat's 5.5-foot draft keeps her within reach of most marina approaches even when loaded.
Known Issues
The documented record on the Landfall 43 is notably thin on defects: no structural, systems, or flooding-path deficiencies appear in the authoritative surveys cited for this model. The absence of flagged known issues in the source material means a buyer's concern shifts to routine age-related wear rather than model-specific faults. This stands in contrast to many production cruisers of the era, where deck-core saturation or rudstock corrosion commonly appear; here, the solid fiberglass construction and documented reliability in heavy seas are the only construction traits on record.
Refits and Ownership
Ownership of a Landfall 43 centers on the flexibility of her rig. The masthead sloop, cutter, and ketch options mean a given boat may carry very different spars and running rigging, and the ketch's shorter cunningham and kickingstrap lengths (4.1 m and 8.3 m versus 5.0 m and 9.9 m) reflect a physically different rig to maintain. Engine records should note the documented option of a Westerbeke diesel at 58 hp. The 1515 lbs/inch immersion rate means load changes translate predictably to draft and performance, a useful figure when assessing a heavily refitted liveaboard.
The Verdict
The C&C Landfall 43 is a purpose-built bluewater cruiser from the Ball era at C&C, pairing a refined hull with practical tankage and a genuinely comfortable motion. Her short production run limits fleet size, but the documented reliability and versatile rig options make her a considered choice for offshore-minded buyers who value substance over speed.
Pros
- Solid fiberglass construction with fin keel and skeg-hung rudder
- Generous 145-gallon water and 70-gallon fuel capacity for self-sufficient cruising
- Good motion comfort and reliability in trades or heavy seas
- Multiple rig options (masthead sloop, cutter, ketch) for shorthanded or heavy-weather sailing
Cons
- Modest sail-area-to-displacement ratio limits light-air performance
- Short production run means fewer boats and sparser model-specific support
- No documented known issues, but thin defect record leaves age-related survey as the real test
