Design and Construction
Ron Holland’s 1980 design differs from the earlier Ron Amy 43, which was sold as the Spindrift and Hampton. The hull is solid fiberglass below the waterline, while the teak deck sits over a fiberglass-and-plywood sandwich.
The fin keel carries 9,260 pounds of lead ballast and draws about 6.6 feet when loaded. That produces a ballast ratio of 37 percent, giving the boat below-average resistance to heeling. Her capsize screening value is 1.73, which would admit ocean racing by that formula alone.
Other principal measurements include a 33.33-foot waterline and a length-to-beam ratio of 3.32. Wetted surface is about 516 square feet, and immersion is 1,836 pounds per inch.
Rig and Handling
The masthead rig has a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 15.43. Jib and genoa sheets run 41.8 feet at 14 mm, while the mainsheet is 104.6 feet and the spinnaker sheet 92 feet.
The Formosa 43 is roomier than half of similar designs.
Accommodations and Tankage
Below, the boat has three cabins, a galley, and a toilet, all finished in teak. The 33.33-foot waterline provides room for the three-cabin layout.
Tankage suits cruising, with 120 gallons of water and 60 gallons of fuel.
Engine
A 60-horsepower Volvo Penta MD 21A drives a single shaft. The 60-gallon tankage warrants replumbing.
Known Issues and Refit Considerations
The teak-over-plywood deck creates a path for water ingress if the caulking fails, so owners face teak renewal. The solid fiberglass hull below the waterline avoids core rot, though it shows grounding damage plainly.
Rigging replacement is another ownership consideration, given the 14 mm sheets and the model’s 1980 production start. Only 20 boats were built, limiting the market for spares.
The Verdict
The Formosa 43 is a heavy, beamy, teak-finished cruiser that balances formula-based admissibility for ocean racing against below-average resistance to heeling.
Pros
- Solid fiberglass hull below the waterline, with no core rot
- Three teak cabins and 120 gallons of water
- A 1.73 capsize screening value, admitting ocean racing by that formula
Cons
- Teak deck over plywood invites water ingress
- Ballast ratio provides below-average resistance to heeling
- Only 20 built, resulting in a thin spares market
