---
title: Mason 43 Cutter
description: 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. 
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### ![1984 Mason 43 Cutter](https://capefearbrokerage.com/images/boats/sailboats/01.png)

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



















### Specifications

#### 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