Saga 43 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the brokerage market for a used Saga 43 means chasing one of roughly 55 Robert Perry-designed fast cruisers built from 1996 onward, a boat whose narrow beam and double-headsail rig still read as distinctive against the Valiant 42 or Tartan 4100. Most used examples are owner three-cabin layouts, though both forward-plan variants appear, and ex-charter boats are a common sight. Knowing which layout and which rig details matter will save a buyer grief before the surveyor steps aboard.
Layouts on the Used Market
Three accommodation plans were offered, and the only differences lie forward of the mast. One plan places a centerline berth and wash basin in the bow; a second adds a small port-side head; the third puts a full centerline head forward followed by a Pullman berth to port. From hull 16 the forward head was deleted in favor of a stateroom, and the newest bow option is a centerline queen island. The Pullman is the superior sea berth but forces the outboard sleeper to climb over the inboard one in port, while the forward head — convenient at the dock — is widely considered useless at sea and often pressed into storage. Aft, every boat keeps the huge starboard galley, port head and shower, and a quarter-berth cabin opposite a vast storage locker.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Used Saga 43s commonly carry a chartplotter, solar, self-tacking jib, electric winches, bimini, radar, AIS, autopilot, and a short-handed setup, so a buyer can expect modern navigation and reduced crew workload as standard fare. Often-seen additions include a dodger, air conditioning, and dinghy davits for tropical cruising comfort. Less common owner upgrades run to heating, a freezer, life raft, furling main, swim platform, cockpit shower, or watermaker — worth noting if a specific voyage profile demands them. The 56-hp Yanmar diesel sits below the companionway steps and is reached through the starboard seat locker and under the quarter berth, a layout that keeps service straightforward regardless of electronics fitted.
What to Inspect
The double-headsail slot between the stem tack and the bowsprit stay is too small for the genoa to pass through, so on a downwind gybe the genoa must be furled and reset after each gybe; check the Harken furlers and the outer stay for chafe from that routine handling. Confirm the hull-to-deck flange is intact, bonded with 3M 5200 on four-inch centers, and that coring is absent at through-hulls and keel attachment where water intrusion would start. Seacocks should be Marelon ball valves with double-clamped hoses, and the keel's two rows of one-inch bolts deserve close inspection for weeping or corrosion. The 10-year transferable blister warranty and five-year structural warranty have likely expired on older boats, so any osmotic or structural history should be documented by the seller rather than assumed covered.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These boats turn up across the United States, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Spain, Chile, Mexico, and Colombia, with ex-charter and owner versions both in circulation. A practical shortlist for viewing: confirm which forward layout suits your berthing needs, verify the genoa-furling routine hasn't worn the bowsprit rigging, and inspect the balsa-cored hull boundaries at every through-hull. With those cleared, the Saga 43 remains a quick, low-upkeep Perry cruiser that rewards a careful used-boat buyer.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Saga 43. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 11 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 25 | 1 | $209,000 | — |
| Apr 25 | 1 | $159,000 | -23.9% |
| May 25 | 4 | $169,000 | +6.3% |
| Aug 25 | 3 | $199,000 | +17.8% |
| Sep 25 | 8 | $160,750 | -19.2% |
| Nov 25 | 1 | $185,000 | +15.1% |
| Mar 26 | 2 | $180,000 | -2.7% |
| Apr 26 | 15 | $126,288 | -29.8% |
| May 26 | 3 | $129,500 | +2.5% |
| Jul 26 | 4 | $185,000 | +42.9% |
| Aug 26 | 1 | $149,900 | -19.0% |
Where they're listed
Saga 43 listings appear across 3 countries. United States has the most listings with 20 (83.3%), followed by US Virgin Islands and New Zealand.
Country view
24 listings · 3 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $180,000 | 20 | 2 | 83.3% |
| US Virgin Islands | $120,000 | 3 | 0 | 12.5% |
| New Zealand | $126,288 | 1 | 0 | 4.2% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
8 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeanneau Sun Sun Odyssey 43 | 43.34' | $ 107,464 | 61 | 9 |
| X-Yachts X-43 | 42.42' | $ 249,071 | 42 | 5 |
| Dufour Classic 43 | 43' | $ 61,568 | 29 | 3 |
| Saga 43You are here | — | $ 169,500 | 26 | 2 |
| Contest Yachts 43 | 42.65' | $ 174,251 | 12 | 3 |
| Shogun Yachts 43 | 42.98' | $ 889,938 | 11 | 1 |
| Baltic 43 | 43.34' | $ 139,927 | 10 | 2 |
| Swan 43 | 42.78' | $ 79,777 | 10 | 0 |