Design and Construction
Ta Shing built the Taswell to Lloyd's Register specifications, with solid hand-laid fiberglass below the waterline and balsa-cored reinforcement above it, and the yard's own record describes a high level of construction quality and a generally well-built hull. The 43's wet bottom spans roughly 61 square metres, and her ballast ratio yields a righting moment slightly above average for withstanding heel. Dixon appears to have chosen a substantially more spacy hull than almost all other designs — the 43 is heavier and more spacy than 99.9% of comparable sailboats, with a length-beam ratio of 2.57 underscoring the volume. The deck arrangement works well except at the cockpit, which is rather tight and quite high vertically; that small cockpit is ideal for offshore safety yet insufficient for socializing, and its elevated position allows a faster, larger rolling action in a seaway.
Rig, Keel, and Handling
Under the sloop rig and fin keel the Taswell 43 is an intermediate-performance cruiser with excellent seaworthiness, and in deck-salon configuration she is an excellent yacht for demanding sailing expeditions. The typical inboard is a Yanmar 4JH-HTE diesel of 55 horsepower giving a top speed of roughly 7 knots under power, with a 326-litre fuel tank. Her maneuverability comes from the fin keel, though that same geometry costs her some stability against a long-keel counterpart. The early design was not originally suited to offshore conditions but could be modified to perform rather well when compared to many contemporary designs.
Accommodations
Below, the Taswell 43 shows abundant space above and below deck and a very efficient use of that space for livability, though she comes with a variety of interior arrangement options. The layout includes a big owner's cabin with ensuite bathroom aIft — an owners suite with island berth and private head with stall shower — plus a forward stateroom with its own head and stall shower, two cabins with bunk beds and a second bathroom in the bow, an airy salon with wonderful outdoor views, a nearly circular port dinette, a forward-facing starboard navigation station, and an enormous U-shaped galley. That interior is ideal for coastal sailing or living aboard, and the 43 carries a better configuration for offshore work than subsequent models, which are described as completely unsuitable for such use.
Known Issues
The oriental teak decks are screw-fastened over plywood and are not suggested for extended blue-sea cruising: they have a limited lifespan, need significantly more upkeep, and generate sheer heat underfoot in the tropics, requiring replacement 15 to 25 years into the boat's life. With that construction there will almost certainly be substantial rot in the plywood sub-deck before rebuild, and the structural deck — the sub-deck — cannot be inspected, making the teak decks unsuitable for a long-distance offshore cruiser. Efficient use of space also comes at the expense of necessary bulk storage for large items, and because of that absence these vessels are less than suitable for long-distance offshore sailing. The comfort ratio is more comfortable than only 12% of similar designs, a substantially lower than normal level of comfort.
Refits and Ownership
Owners considering a Taswell 43 for bluewater use should weigh the deck rebuild cycle and the hidden sub-deck rot that follows screw-fastened teak over plywood; the inability to inspect the structural deck complicates any survey. The early configuration can be modified toward offshore capability, but subsequent models cannot be made suitable. The tight, high cockpit and limited bulk storage remain inherent to the design regardless of refit.
The Verdict
The Taswell 43 is a voluminous, well-built Taiwanese cruiser from the Dixon era at Ta Shing, strong on livability and seaworthiness yet compromised for long-distance offshore use by teak-over-plywood decks and scarce bulk storage. She suits coastal cruising and living aboard better than ocean passage work.
Pros
- Large, efficient interior with aft and forward private heads, enormous galley, and airy salon
- Built to Lloyd's specs with solid glass below the waterline and a slightly above-average righting moment
- Excellent seaworthiness and maneuverable fin-keel handling; early boats modifiable toward offshore use
Cons
- Teak decks screw-fastened over plywood rot the sub-deck and cannot be inspected; unsuitable for long-distance bluewater
- Limited bulk storage makes her less than suitable for long offshore passages
- Tight, high cockpit poor for socializing; comfort ratio below 88% of similar designs
