1984 Mason 43 Cutter

Tortuga is hull #59 of Al Mason's celebrated Ta Shing–built 43, a heavy-displacement bluewater cutter with the long overhangs, high bow and flowing sheer that made the design a classic. She has been thoughtfully upgraded for shorthanded passagemaking: a 76 hp Yanmar repower, a 2013 rig refit with new standing and running rigging, reefing lines led aft, an electric halyard winch, and a removable inner stay that converts her from cutter to sloop.

Freshly detailed and polished, now afloat in Southport, NC, and newly fitted with Velair reverse-cycle air conditioning (2026), she carries 200 gallons of fresh water in stainless steel tanks, shows the care of attentive owners, and offers a proven offshore platform at a compelling price.

MAINTENANCE & UPGRADES

• 1998: Repowered with 76 hp Yanmar 4JH2-THE
• 2006: Preventive barrier coat (3 coats West System epoxy, 9 coats Interprotect)
• 2008: 128% genoa and Profurl furler
• 2011: Starter and wiring harness; Technautics refrigeration
• 2012: Major engine service and dual Racor setup; complete Raymarine electronics suite, ICOM VHFs, AIS and new antennas; new interior and cockpit cushions
• 2013: Standing and running rigging; Doyle main; hydraulic backstay and running backstays; electric halyard winch; reefing led aft; boom vang; Lifeline AGM batteries; engine start switch and panel
• 2014: Holding tank plumbing and macerator; Ritchie compass; Fairclough cover
• 2015: Chainplates; removable inner stay; storm staysail; lifelines; dodger and bimini; boarding ladder; diesel tanks and fuel lines; freshwater plumbing and pump; LED cabin lights; LinkPro monitor
• 2016: Propane system; cutlass bearing and rudder bearings; mast and spreaders painted; LED nav lights; Espar fuel pump; swim ladder
• 2017: Bow washdown pump; stuffing boxes serviced
• 2018: Xantrex TrueCharge 2 charger
• 2021: 600Ah lithium house bank; 250A Balmar high-output alternator; Victron MultiPlus 12/3000/120 inverter/charger and Orion-Tr Smart DC-DC charger
• 2024: New plastic diesel fuel tanks
• 2025: New Carolina cover
• 2026: New Velair reverse-cycle air conditioning/heat system; boat detailed and polished
• Annually: Two coats of antifouling each spring (most recently Hydrocoat Eco); hull Awlgripped with Imron clear coat

DIMENSIONS & CAPACITIES

• LOA / Beam / Draft: 43' 10" / 12' 3" / 6' 3"
• LWL: 31' 3"
• Displacement / Ballast: 25,000 lbs / 8,400 lbs
• Fuel / Fresh Water: 100 gal in 2 plastic tanks (replaced 2024) / 200 gal in 5 stainless steel tanks
• Holding Tank: 25 gal (new plumbing, macerator and tank gauge 2014)
• Designer / Builder: Al Mason / Ta Shing Yacht Building Co., Taiwan

ACCOMMODATIONS & INTERIOR

• Layout: 3 cabins / 1 head with separate stall shower. Forward cabin with double berth; aft cabin with port double and starboard single (both with lee cloths). Main salon dinette lowers to a double, and the starboard settee converts to two pilot berths with lee cloths.
• Galley: U-shaped galley with Force 10 two-burner propane stove with oven and broiler (propane system all new 2016) | Technautics holding-plate refrigerator and freezer with electric compressor (2011), top- and side-access. Double stainless sinks, pressure fresh water plus manual fresh and saltwater pumps, Seagull water purifier.
• Joinery: Signature Mason varnished teak cabinetry with louvered doors; teak and holly cabin sole.
• Light & Ventilation: 14 chrome opening portlights with screens, 3 screened deck hatches, 2 deck prisms, 4 chrome dorades on teak boxes, red/white LED overhead lighting (2015).
• Upholstery: New cushions throughout cabin and cockpit (2012).
• Hot Water: 12 gal water heater (110V and engine heat exchanger).

MECHANICAL & PROPULSION

• Engine: Yanmar 4JH2-THE | 76 hp (factory engine was 50 hp) | 2,400 hrs (repowered 1998)
• Drive & Prop: Shaft drive with Aquadrive flexible coupling; shaft parallel to the waterline for deep prop placement. Cutlass bearing replaced 2016; rudder bearings repacked 2016; stuffing boxes serviced 2017.
• Engine Service: Major service 2012 (new exhaust and cooling hoses, injectors cleaned, valves adjusted, shaft serviced); new starter and wiring harness 2011; new start switch and engine panel 2013. Dual Racor fuel filters, oil-change pump, Halon system in engine compartment. Engine sits beneath an insulated, fully removable 6-panel salon sole for quiet running and full access.
• Climate Control: Velair reverse-cycle air conditioning and heat (new 2026) | Espar 18,000 BTU diesel forced-air heat with vents to all cabins and head (new fuel pump 2016), retained and fully operational

ELECTRONICS & NAVIGATION

• Chartplotter: Raymarine e125 at helm (2012)
• Autopilot: Raymarine P70 control head with Autohelm 7000 linear drive (2012)
• Radar: Raymarine digital radome on transom electronics pole (2012)
• Instrumentation: Three Raymarine i70 displays in cockpit with Raymarine speed and depth transducers (2012)
• Secondary Displays: Raymarine e7 chartplotter at nav station (2012)
• Weather: Sirius XM weather receiver (2012)
• Other: Ritchie binnacle compass (2014), Rieker inclinometer

COMMUNICATIONS & CONNECTIVITY

• VHF Radio: ICOM IC-M424 DSC with remote cockpit mic, plus a second ICOM IC-M412 DSC at nav station (both 2012)
• AIS: Raymarine AIS transceiver — transmit and receive (2012), integrated with chartplotters
• Antennas: New VHF, AIS and GPS antennas (2012)

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

• House Bank: 600Ah lithium | 2021 (installed with the Victron system)
• Starting Battery: 12V 105Ah Lifeline AGM | 2013; cockpit crossover switch for emergency starting from house bank
• Solar Array: 700W solar array
• Inverter/Charger: Victron MultiPlus 12/3000/120 — 3,000 VA pure sine wave inverter, 120A battery charger, 50A automatic transfer switch with PowerAssist | 2021
• DC-DC Charger: Victron Orion-Tr Smart 12/12-18 isolated DC-DC charger with Bluetooth monitoring, each side protected by a 25A thermal breaker | 2021
• Charging: 250A high-output Balmar alternator programmed for lithium; Xantrex TrueCharge 2 shore charger (2018)
• Monitoring: Xantrex LinkPro battery monitor (2015)
• Shore Power: 30A cockpit inlet with 50' cord; 110V outlets in aft cabin, galley and salon; 12V charging outlets at nav station, salon and cockpit
• Lighting: LED cabin lights (2015); LED navigation and mast lights (2016)

SAILS & RIGGING

• Sail Inventory: Doyle full-batten mainsail with 2 reefs, stack pack and lazy jacks (2013); 128% genoa with foam luff on Profurl furler (2008); Doyle hanked-on staysail (spare Profurl furler included); storm trysail on dedicated mast track; storm staysail (2015)
• Rigging: Standing rigging replaced 2013; new chainplates 2015 | Running rigging 2013/2014. Hydraulic backstay and running backstays (2013); removable inner stay with release lever and stowage bracket for sloop configuration (2015); Strong Track mainsail system; boom vang (2013); mast and spreaders cleaned and painted (2016)
• Winches: Lewmar 48 self-tailing primaries; Lewmar 30 self-tailing staysail winches; Lewmar 46 electric halyard winch on cabin top (2013). Reefing lines led to cockpit (2013).

SAFETY & SECURITY

• EPIRB: ACR 406
• Recovery: Lifesling with throw rope
• Bilge: Two electric bilge pumps plus manual pump in cockpit
• Fire: Three Type II extinguishers plus Halon system in engine compartment
• Deck: Coated 1/4" double lifelines (2015), heavy-duty granny bars at mast, teak cabin-top handrails, radar reflector, custom emergency tiller

MISCELLANEOUS & CRUISING GEAR

• Tender Handling: Kato outboard davit and transom outboard bracket
• Ground Tackle: Simpson Lawrence 1500 windlass with bow foot switches and cockpit rocker switch | Twin bow rollers; 60 lb Delta primary on 350' of 3/8" BBB chain; 30 lb Bruce secondary with 30' chain and 250' rode; 80 lb fisherman storm anchor; snubber bridle with Mantus chain hook; saltwater washdown at bow (new pump 2017)
• Canvas: Beige dodger and bimini (2015); mainsail stack pack; beige covers for teak handrails and hatches; Fairclough full winter cover (2014); new Carolina cover (2025)
• Cockpit: Folding teak cockpit table, cushioned teak raised backrests, two large cockpit lockers, folding stainless boarding ladder (2015) and swim ladder (2016)
• Companionway: Louvered teak doors, clear heavy-duty Plexiglas door and three-piece slatted door