Design and Construction
Amy's hull measures 42.5 feet overall with a 35.58-foot waterline, a 12.96-foot beam, and a displacement of 34,810 pounds carried on 10,043 pounds of iron ballast. The length-to-beam ratio of 3.33 and a displacement-length ratio of 333 place her firmly among heavy cruisers, while a capsize screening value of 1.58 and a motion comfort ratio of 46.4 describe a stable, forgiving platform. Ka Shing built her in fiberglass with a long keel, and the wetted surface runs about 516 square feet. The immersion rate of 1,621 pounds per inch tells you how reluctant she is to squat under load — a trait that suits a boat fitted for long passages rather than regatta tuning.
Rig and Handling
The cutter rig carries a foretriangle with an I dimension of 53.92 feet and a J of 17.75 feet, with a mainsail hoist (P) of 49.50 feet. Sheet specifications are generous: jib and genoa sheets run 43 feet at 5/8-inch diameter, the mainsheet 107.5 feet, and spinnaker sheets 94.6 feet, all sized for secure control of a 1,141-square-foot sail plan. With a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 17.12, she combines sail and power with an ease of handling that translates to effortless speed rather than sparkling acceleration. Her theoretical displacement-hull speed is 8.0 knots, and at 7.99 knots by standard formula she is built to hold a steady offshore stride. The cutter layout and heavy ballast give her the stiffness and directional steadiness that define the type.
Accommodations
Owner three-cabin and alternative layouts appeared among the fleet, with ex-charter examples having seen service. The 300 gallons of water and 250 gallons of diesel support extended cruising, and the 1,141 square feet of canvas drives a hull whose comfort ratio of 47.12 speaks to a settled motion at sea. The tankage and volume class mark her as a boat intended for weeks aboard rather than weekend hops.
The Verdict
The Spindrift 43 is a quintessential early-1980s heavy cruiser: Ron Amy's lines, Ka Shing's Taiwanese fiberglass work, and a long-keel hull that privileges seaworthiness over agility. She is a boat to be judged on steadiness, tankage, and the quiet confidence of a 34,000-pound hull, not on light-air sprinting.
Pros
- Sturdy, seaworthy heavy-displacement cutter built by Ka Shing in 1982
- 29% ballast ratio, 1.58 capsize screen, 46.4 comfort ratio for stable motion
- Generous 250 gal fuel and 300 gal water for long-range cruising
- Cutter rig with full-sized sheet specs suited to offshore control
Cons
- Heavy cruiser proportions limit light-air responsiveness
- Draft of 6.33–6.63 ft restricts her to major marinas
