Design and Hull Form
Perry drew the Saga 43 six inches narrower than the Valiant 40, and later observers noted her beam is at least a foot narrower than the typical modern 43-foot cruising boat, carried further forward than is typical. The nearly plumb bow and broad stern maximize sailing length, while the length-to-beam ratio of 3.94 and a D/L of 152 describe a hull that is easily driven rather than voluminous. There is not much flare in the hull, but she provides a dry ride, as the original test sailors learned on their sail. The keel is cast lead secured with two rows of one-inch bolts, and a partially balanced spade rudder placed as far aft as possible gives the helm a light, well-balanced feel that testers praised.
Construction
The hull is cored with three-quarter-inch Baltek AL600 balsa over a one-and-three-quarter-inch solid fiberglass bottom, with additional reinforcing on the centerline at the keel, rudder, and mast step. An 18-inch-deep matrix frame of six layers of 2408 mat supports the hull, and structural bulkheads are tied to both hull and deck. The hull-deck joint is a flange bonded with 3M 5200 and fastened on four-inch centers, and the aluminum toerail is similarly bonded and through-bolted. Coring is omitted where through-hulls and deck fittings penetrate and at the keel and rigging grid, a detail that protects against water intrusion. Seacocks are Marelon ball valves with double-clamped hoses, and the mast and chainplates are grounded with 7AG copper wire for lightning protection. Writing in Practical Sailor, the survey team found the wiring behind the electric panel excellent, swinging down on two wing nuts for instant access to color-coded bundles.
Rig and Handling
She carries a masthead rig with double headstays, both headsails flown from Harken furlers; the jib headstay is tacked at the stem and the outer stay for overlapping sails sits 2.6 feet forward on a stainless bowsprit with double rollers. The inner jib is self-tacking on a Harken cabintop traveler, making tacking to weather is nearly effortless without handing sheets. A keel-stepped Offshore mast on 1x19 wire, two slightly aft-swept spreaders, and a solid Forespar vang with 16:1 tackle complete the picture. The mainsail runs on a Harken Batt-Car system to a traveler forward of the companionway. Unlike a cutter, the two headsails are not flown together: the self-tacking jib works to weather, the genoa best off the wind, and on a beam reach with the genoa unfurled you can expect around 10 knots. Polar data shows her fastest between 120 and 135 degrees, touching 10 knots in 20 knots of wind, and on paper she should make 7-plus to weather in the same. One owner recorded 14 knots downwind in 35–40 knots under reefed main and headsail.
Accommodations
Below, the boat offers 6-foot-5 headroom and a 14-foot saloon with port and starboard 78-inch settees around a 48-inch drop-leaf table. The trunk cabin brings exceptional ventilation through four dorade vents, eight opening ports, and seven hatches. A huge galley to starboard sits opposite the master head and shower to port, and a quarter-berth cabin with a large double berth lies to port against a vast starboard storage locker reached through the cockpit seat. Three plans vary only forward of the mast: a centerline-berth stateroom with wash basin, that same arrangement with a small port head, or a Pullman berth to port behind an all-forward head. The Pullman is the better sea berth though the outboard sleeper must climb over the inboard one in port; the forward head itself is handy dockside but near useless at sea. From hull 16 onward the forward head was eliminated, and the most recent bow option is a centerline queen island berth.
Known Issues and Ownership
The double-headsail slot is too small for the genoa to pass through when running, so the sail must be furled and reset after each gybe. The exterior is about as low maintenance as you can get with no exterior woodwork to maintain. Saga backed the structure with a five-year warranty against defects and a 10-year transferable warranty against osmotic blisters, plus a one-year systems warranty.
The Verdict
The Saga 43 is a thoughtfully engineered fast cruiser that rewards the sailor who values light-air performance, clean decks, and a low-maintenance shell over volume and initial stiffness. Her narrow beam and Perry hull lines make her quick and handy, and the double-headsail rig simplifies short-handed work upwind even if downwind sail handling is fussy.
Pros
- Easily driven hull with strong reaching and beating speeds for her size
- Self-tacking inner jib and well-considered deck layout ease short-handed sailing
- First-rate balsa-cored construction with non-wood exterior and strong joints
- Excellent access to engine, electrical panel, and deep cockpit storage
Cons
- Genoa must be furled and reset on every gybe when running downwind
- Forward head arrangements weak at sea; some plans waste the space
- Narrow beam limits interior volume versus typical modern 43-foot cruisers
