Columbia 43 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the brokerage market for a Columbia 43 means chasing one of 153 Tripp-designed masthead sloops that Columbia built between 1969 and 1974, with production split between Costa Mesa and Portsmouth. These are flush-deck, low-doghouse boats that still read as purposeful, and the market holds three distinct generations whose differences matter more than the usual used-boat cosmetics.
Layouts on the Used Market
Most examples afloat are the Mk I with a cast-iron deep fin keel drawing just under seven feet, but the keel-centerboard Mk II appears often enough to check before you assume draft — its board-up figure is under five feet and its maximum over ten. The Mk III, built in the last two years, carries a lead-ballasted keel and skeg-hung rudder with a mast six feet taller and bridge clearance of 64 feet against 58 for the earlier boats. Inside, the molded fiberglass pan holding the galley and dinette was never well bonded to the hull, so a floating interior is a known trait rather than a one-off defect; the forward cabin, saloon sea berths, and port galley with twin iceboxes remain constant across generations.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Power is the first divide: the standard Universal Atomic 4 gasoline engine or, in some boats, a Palmer, was widely replaced at purchase by the Perkins 4-107 diesel, so verify which sits in the engine bay. The original teak deck box ahead of the mast and the period winches and deck rigging have generally survived, making rigging less of a worry than on many contemporaries. For cruising buyers, the optional 70-gallon water tank under the V-berth is a meaningful upgrade over the standard 50 gallons beneath the settees, and the large flush deck remains a genuine asset for both sail handling and anchor living.
What to Inspect
End-grain balsa decks demand a careful tap-around for soft spots, particularly near fittings where Columbia substituted plywood at the mast partners and cleats. The interior pan's poor bond to the hull means movement or gaps at its edges deserve a close look, as some owners have reported the pan seems to float inside the hull. One experienced owner has flagged the 3-inch rudder stock as undersized for the boat's rudder area, so inspect the stock and bearing for flex or wear.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
The two original build sites are Costa Mesa and Portsmouth. For a buyer, the short checklist is: confirm Mk and keel type before measuring draft; verify diesel conversion and tankage; tap every balsa deck panel; and assess rudder-stock condition. A sound 43 rewards the search with a light-displacement hull whose race pedigree and cruising layout remain uncommonly well matched.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Columbia 43. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
5 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dufour Classic 43 | 43' | $ 86,884 | 33 | 3 |
| Slocum 43 | 42.5' | $ 105,000 | 27 | 2 |
| Swan 43 | 42.78' | $ 92,676 | 15 | 2 |
| Contest Yachts 43 | 42.65' | $ 185,352 | 13 | 4 |
| Catalina Morgan 43 | 43' | $ 55,000 | 5 | 3 |