Maletto Grand Soleil 43 Sailboats for Sale

Layouts on the Used Market

The interior plan is traditional for the size: twin aft staterooms beneath the cockpit and a forward owner’s cabin. Aft cabins have full rectangular double berths with no cutouts and standing headroom at the door. Forward is a generous island double with an ensuite head and segregated shower. Midship holds an L-shaped galley to port opposite a small head, with a U-shaped dinette and a short starboard nav station. The cockpit is open-transom with twin wheels and a single rudder, plus a fold-down swim platform and a liferaft locker under the port seat.

Equipment and Common Upgrades

Consequence-driven equipment centers on power, sail handling, and navigation. A 55hp Volvo diesel with a two-bladed folding Gori prop was seen on the test boat, and a fixed carbon bowsprit supported by a bobstay is an option that lets you fly Code 0 sails confidently. The standard 9/10ths fractional aluminum rig can be upgraded to a taller carbon racing rig. Twin helms and belowdeck-led controls with six Harken winches define the cockpit, while flush deck hatches and a belowdeck Furlex furler round out the sail-plan hardware. Teak decks are a common fitted feature.

What to Inspect

The steering quadrant is very easily accessed, which aids inspection of the single rudder and quadrant linkage anchor. Check the deck hardware bases for the embedded bronze plates, since these replace corrosion-prone aluminum and should show no laminate cracking around fittings. The foam-core hull to the waterline and vacuum-infused vinylester skin should be surveyed for osmotic or impact damage as with any cored laminate. The fold-down cockpit table is a light structure usable only when idle, so verify its hinge and sole recess for stress. On any boat with the folding Gori prop, confirm engine rpm reaches expected values; the test example peaked at 2,600 rpm wide open, suggesting prop tuning may be needed.

Availability and Buyer's Takeaway

These boats are typically found in the United States. For a shopper, the short checklist is: confirm keel version (standard 7ft 10in or shoal 6ft 6in), verify carbon structure and bronze deck plates are intact, inspect the easily accessed steering quadrant and rudder, test the Volvo diesel against the prop tuning note, and confirm the bowsprit and rig option match your sailing plans. Teak decks are commonly present and should be assessed for caulking and wear.