Design and Construction
The Roy 43 has a 13-foot-6-inch beam and a 34-foot-9-inch waterline. Frers gave her a length-to-beam ratio of 3.23 and a displacement-length ratio of 235, placing her among moderate racers.
Her defining feature is the centerboard. Loaded draft is roughly 5.4 feet, though it may range from 5.4 to 5.7 feet depending on load. Lowering the board increases draft to 9.4 feet, or nearly 9.5 feet, allowing access to shallow marinas while providing additional draft offshore. The underwater body has about 602 square feet of wetted surface.
Rig and Handling
The Roy 43 carries a masthead sloop rig with 865 square feet of sail area, giving her a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 17.46. The specified running-rigging dimensions are substantial: jib and genoa sheets are 43.5 feet long and 5/8 inch in diameter; the mainsheet is 108.8 feet of the same diameter; and the spinnaker sheet is 95.7 feet long, also at 5/8 inch.
Her capsize screening value is 1.92, and her Motion Comfort Ratio is 28.6, while her 49 percent ballast ratio and capsize screening value indicate a seaworthy hull. Theoretical hull speed is 7.9 knots, while the immersion rate is about 1,639 pounds per inch.
Accommodations and Intended Use
The builder’s documentation doesn’t specify tankage or berth count, so the living spaces can only be judged from the boat’s external geometry. She isn’t a voluminous coastal cruiser. Her moderate displacement, centerboard, and 49 percent ballast ratio point to a boat that heels and recovers rather than wallows.
Refit and Ownership Considerations
The centerboard mechanism and long sheet leads are the main ownership considerations. The specified 5/8-inch diameter for every sheet provides a baseline when replacing worn running rigging. The variable-draft arrangement also calls for survey attention to the centerboard trunk.
With about 602 square feet of wetted surface, antifouling will be a recurring cost.
Verdict
The Roy 43 is a moderate racer from Frers, combining the versatility of a centerboard with straightforward solid-fiberglass construction. She isn’t a spacious coastal cruiser, but her numbers describe a stiff, quick boat.
Pros
- Centerboard provides a shallow draft of 5.4 feet and a deep draft of 9.4 feet
- A 49 percent ballast ratio and 1.92 capsize screening value indicate a seaworthy hull
- Solid-fiberglass hull and deck avoid the risk of rot in cored structures
Cons
- The large, 602-square-foot wetted surface implies higher antifouling costs than a slimmer hull
