Design and Construction
The Young Sun 43 measures 42'6" overall with a 12'11" beam and displaces 35,000 pounds. It has a cutaway-forefoot full keel, a keel-hung rudder, a solid FRP layup, and 10,000 pounds of encapsulated lead ballast—all contributing to the heft expected of a bluewater cruiser from this era.
Above the waterline, the boat carries considerable exterior teak. Both the center-cockpit and pilothouse aft-cockpit versions have a canoe stern and a substantial bowsprit. The decks are clear, with room to move fore and aft. An offset companionway to starboard leads below via curved steps rather than a ladder.
Rig and Performance
The deck-stepped, double-spreader masthead rig carries just over 1,100 square feet of sail area. Bridge clearance is just under 60 feet, and the staysail attachment is set on deck only a couple of feet aft of the stem.
Originally, the boat left the yard with five non-self-tailing cockpit winches and three mast winches from Custom Yacht and Cathay Industrial. At the helm, the original wheel was a traditional wooden work of art.
Under sail, the Young Sun 43 is no lightweight. It takes at least 10 to 15 knots of wind to move her, but once underway, she has a nice ride and tracks well. She settles to around six knots under sail and 7.5 under power.
Accommodations
The builder initially offered four interior layouts. One had a galley-up arrangement with an L-shaped galley to starboard, while others featured three cabins or galley-down configurations.
The aft master stateroom remained constant across all layouts, with a Pullman berth to starboard, ample stowage cubbies, and a small head to port. Forward of the main saloon, bunks run along the port side opposite a combined navigation station and office. Farther forward are a head with a separate stall shower and a bow cabin with a Pullman berth.
Headroom is 6'1" in most areas, good for an older boat. Some pilothouse models also have an inside steering station with decent visibility forward and to the sides.
Machinery, Tankage, and Equipment
Most boats carried Perkins 4018 engines. Two iron fuel tanks hold 300 gallons, while two stainless-steel water tanks hold 200 gallons.
Engine access is excellent: lifting the saloon floorboards exposes the entire engine. Forward, the boat has a deep anchor locker and a double bow roller. Original equipment included an icebox, a gimbaled stove, and plentiful stowage.
Many owners have replaced the original manual windlasses with electric units that retrieve hundreds of feet of chain rapidly.
Known Issues
The pilothouse aft-cockpit model has a triangular cockpit that is a tight squeeze for some and provides limited lazarette space.
Spares for the original winches may also be difficult to find because the mast-winch makers may no longer be in business.
The Verdict
The Young Sun 43 is a heavily built, traditional cruiser that rewards patient sailors with a steady manner at sea and a voluminous, well-arranged interior. She isn’t a light-air performer, and the pilothouse version trades cockpit space for shelter, but her construction and layout reflect serious offshore intent.
Pros
- Solid FRP hull with 10,000 pounds of encapsulated lead ballast
- Excellent engine access through the saloon floorboards
- Four adaptable layouts, all with an aft master stateroom
- Clear decks and a substantial bowsprit for foredeck work
Cons
- Needs 10–15 knots of wind to make way
- Tight cockpit and limited lazarette space on the pilothouse version
- Spares for the original mast winches may be unobtainable
