Martin 243 Sailboats for Sale & Market Overview

Drawing Diagram

Builder drawing

Hull type

Monohull · lifting

Rig

Fractional Sloop

LOA

24' · 7.32 m

Displ.

1,450 lbs · 658 kg

First year

1998

The Martin 243 represents a highoctane evolution of the successful Martin 242 design, specifically engineered to compete in the burgeoning sportboat classes of the late 1990s. Designed by Don Martin and produced by Martin Yachts Ltd. in Vancouver, British Columbia, the 243 was conceived as a "turbocharged" alternative to its predecessor, trading the fixed keel and conventional rig of the 242 for a retractable bulb keel, a carbon fiber mast, and an aggressive asymmetric spinnaker configuration. While the Martin 242 remains a cornerstone of onedesign racing in the Pacific Northwest, the Martin 243 was built for sailors demanding higher speeds and the ability to plane consistently off the wind. Constructed using advanced vacuumbagged epoxy and Corecell foam, the vessel is significantly lighter and stiffer than traditional production boats of its era, marking it as a premium performance tool rather than a generalpurpose cruiser.