Spindrift 43 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the brokerage market for a Spindrift 43 means looking at a 42.5-foot Ron Amy cutter built by Ka Shing of Taiwan from 1982, a heavy-displacement cruiser with a long keel and solid fiberglass hull. These are boats that came equipped for serious living aboard, and the used fleet reflects both private and former charter histories.
Layouts on the Used Market
Owner three-cabin arrangements are the more common layout seen among resale boats, though the alternative configuration is also available. Ex-charter examples are common, so buyers should expect some hulls with heavier cyclical use and the wear that comes with fleet service. Either layout carries the same 34,810-pound hull and 10,043-pound ballast foundation.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Well-found examples commonly carry an inverter, freezer, chartplotter, air conditioning, bimini, dodger, autopilot, and life raft, with a short-handed setup frequently part of the package. That cluster means a buyer can expect self-sufficiency for offshore or extended coastal use without immediate outlay. Less common but seen as owner upgrades are heating, spinnaker, hot water, dinghy davits, teak decks, radar, and AIS — worth noting if a specific boat lacks them, as they raise capability and price. Many boats may carry the inboard Ford Lehman diesel engine noted in period specifications.
What to Inspect
The Spindrift 43 draws 6.33 to 6.63 feet depending on load, so confirm the keel and hull beneath the waterline for grounding scars at that draft range, particularly on ex-charter hulls that frequented tight marina approaches. With a wetted surface near 516 square feet and a long-keel form, inspect the full bottom for osmotic blistering or repair history across the solid fiberglass. Check the cutter rig's chainplate beds and the attachment of the long keel, as these are structural points on a 34,810-pound cruiser that saw heavy use in fleet service.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
The typical market for these boats is the United States.
- Verify draft and keel condition against load
- Survey the full wetted surface for blistering
- Inspect chainplate bedding and keel joint
- Confirm engine is the Ford Lehman diesel
- Review ex-charter history for wear
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Spindrift 43. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 5 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 25 | 1 | $130,000 | — |
| Nov 25 | 1 | $29,999 | -76.9% |
| Apr 26 | 1 | $59,000 | +96.7% |
| May 26 | 2 | $99,500 | +68.6% |
| Jul 26 | 1 | $99,500 | 0.0% |
Where they're listed
Spindrift 43 listings appear across 1 country. United States has the most listings with 4.
Country view
4 listings · 1 country| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $79,250 | 4 | 0 | 100.0% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
6 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dufour Classic 43 | 43' | $ 87,338 | 33 | 3 |
| Slocum 43 | 42.5' | $ 105,000 | 27 | 2 |
| Swan 43 | 42.78' | $ 92,857 | 15 | 2 |
| Contest Yachts 43 | 42.65' | $ 186,321 | 13 | 5 |
| Mason 43 | 43.83' | $ 79,900 | 10 | 1 |
| Spindrift 43You are here | — | $ 99,500 | 5 | 1 |