2001 Saga 43

This particular Saga 43, “Free Spirit”, has had two owners since she was built and is a truly unique yacht. She presents like a much newer boat, has many recent upgrades, is in excellent condition and is absolutely worth your time to look at.  

Her first owners were experienced boaters, knew exactly what they wanted and directed Saga to build her that way, so she is unique among her sister ships. Here are a few of the more obvious custom features:

• They didn’t want the reflective glare of an all-white deck, so they had her built using an almond color gelcoat on the hull and the deck, which really looks sharp and solves the problem.

• They had two cleats installed instead of one in all six locations around the deck, so you never had to loosen one line to get at another beneath it- sometimes a dangerous task in a blow.

• There is a cockpit locker designed to be dedicated for a life raft on the starboard side. This is usually located at the aft end, which makes it a challenge to crawl under for access to the space beneath the helm. “Free Spirit” was built with the life raft locker forward, eliminating that issue.

• A custom drop-down Corian and cherry surface in the galley over one of the sinks provides a space for a dish drainer, expresso machine or just some additional counter space.

• The tip-out trash bin container is substantially larger than is commonly found on these boats.

The current owners spared no expense and have taken a good boat and made her even better. In that process she is a stronger, better boat as a result. They undertook a major refit in 2015, which included:

• Keel dropped and custom backing plates installed to replace the keel bolt washers

• New water tanks

• New forward fuel tank

• New standing rigging

• New main bulkhead laminated in (now double thickness and much stiffer)

• New mast step, stringers and ribs in the mast step and main bulkhead area

• New Electroscan system in the aft head

The owner’s efforts were also rewarded with something they weren’t expecting- quiet! By beefing up the main bulkhead and installing new stringers and ribs, they discovered the squeaks and groans they were used to hearing underway had disappeared!

The owners have made many other improvements to her during their stewardship (as you will see by looking under the “Full Specs” tab.

This truly is a boat that presents wonderfully and is ready to go cruising. Provision, drop the lines and head out. “Free Spirit” is certainly worthy of your personal inspection and should be on the short list of anyone with plans to take off and go cruising. She’s pulling at her dock lines and ready to go- call and make an appointment to see her today!

While the exterior of the Saga 43 means business under sail and fine performance, the moment you step inside you come into a very classic and elegant interior. The interior of “Free Spirit” is hand crafted in satin-varnished American cherry wood and whispers luxury. Headroom is generous at 6'5". All of the cabinets have inviting raised panel fronts on them.

Forward head: In the forepeak forward of the head is a huge chain locker, which is separated from the head by a Starboard type door for easy cleaning. This locker, however, is all storage- and lots of it- as the two hawse pipes lead below the locker to get the weight of the chain down low, where you want it.

Just aft of that is the manual head, which has a fiberglass shower seat that lowers over it if you want to shower seated or for changing. There is custom bin access to the spaces on either side of the seat and mirrored sliding cabinet doors lining the hull sides on either side. The entire space is made of molded fiberglass and laminate, so cleanup is easy and the space is bright. The floor is also molded non-skid for safety. The clamshell sink is on port has storage beneath it as well. Across on starboard is counter space. The shower head is a wand on an adjustable bar with its own separate mixer. There is a screened Lewmar hatch overhead for ventilation and light, as well as two LED overhead lights.

Forward stateroom: Located just aft of the forward head, the master stateroom features a 6’4” long Pullman style double berth along the port side of the cabin. The berth has a lee cloth. Beneath the berth there are six drawers; the balance of the space beneath the berth is all storage and accessed from beneath the mattress. Outboard and above the berth are raised panel cherry door cabinets the length of the berth. Ash staving covers the hull side between the berth and cabinets. There is a large fiddled bookshelf at the foot of the berth, with a pair of reading lights and a magazine rack at the head.

The entire starboard side of the master stateroom is storage. On starboard there are two spacious cedar lined hanging lockers lockers, with fiddled shelf space above both. Between the two is a vanity type space, with a mirrored locker door and shelves above the fiddled countertop and two drawers and a drop-front locker below.

Lighting and ventilation for this cabin include the two LED reading lights, four LED ceiling lights, a screened overhead hatch, two opening ports and a Hella fan mounted at the foot of the bed. Headroom in this space is 6’3”.

Saloon: The main saloon features a fixed drop-leaf centerline cherry table with opposing settees. The table can comfortably seat six and has a center storage space and drawers. Both settees (6’4” and 6’8” long) are equipped with lee clothes. There are water tanks and storage beneath the settees, with more storage behind the settees; shelving and cabinetry are outboard and above that.

The cherry battened headliner is removable for access to the deck hardware and wiring. Overhead one also finds plenty of grab bars to hold on to at sea. Ventilation and illumination is good, with four fixed ports, three dorade vents, four LED reading lights and four LED overhead lights, one Caframo fan, two overhead hatches with screens and two opening portholes. Headroom is 6’3”.

Nav station: The nav station is aft facing on the starboard settee and includes a hinged AC/DC distribution panel and a generously sized chart table with ample storage inside it. The electrical panel is quite the sight, as it has tidy wire management and buss strips, with all of the wiring numbered.  Two lockers are below the chart table and hinged panels drop down to access electronics installation. The right hand panel is set up such that you can attach a laptop, so that the laptop is up and safely stowed until you are ready to use it.

Aft head: The aft head is located on port and is across from the galley. When you enter, the head is to the left, with the molded scallop sink is directly in front of you, with storage beneath it. To the left of the sink above the counter is a molded fiberglass cabinet with acrylic shelves inside of it; there is another locker beneath the counter under this. To the right of the sink is the separate stall shower, which has a fully molded interior (including a shower seat) and a circular acrylic door that rotates to open or close. Ventilation to this space is provided by a dorade, one hatch with a screen and two opening ports.

Galley: The galley is aft of the nav station and at the foot of the companionway steps to starboard. Wrap around Corian counter tops provide plenty of space to prepare anything from crackers to crepes and the storage is generous.

Facing forward, there is a large double stainless steel sink with double doors beneath it in front and a tip-out trash bin on the end. Looking along the hull side one finds counter space to the right of the sink and wrapping around to the stove, then with more counter space to the right of that. Beneath the stove is a drop-front cubby for pot and pan storage; on either side of the stove are three drawers and a drop front locker beneath the counter. Above the counter on either side of the stove is cabinet storage, with sliding Plexiglas doors. Above and behind the stove is a double-doored spice cabinet. On the aft end are the refrigerator and freezer compartments, with the refrigerator portion having a top/front lid for easier access to the bottom of the box. Above that is the microwave. There is an overhead hatch, one dorade vent and two opening ports for plenty of ventilation.

Aft stateroom: Aft of the head on port is the guest cabin. The berth is a generous 6'7" x 6'2" and has a large fiddled shelf at the aft end and two drawers beneath it; the cabin is well ventilated, with two opening ports and an overhead hatch with screens. There is a cedar lined pantry locker, a stack of drawers with a Corian top above them, ash batten staving lining the hull and room to move around.

• Cherry hardwood interior in a hand rubbed stain varnish finish
• Solid raised panel cherry cabinet doors w/ventilation slots
• Solid cherry drawer fronts
• All cabinet interiors are finished in cherry wood
• Ash staving along hull sides
• Teak and holly cabin sole
• Positive locking cabin sole boards
• Lee clothes on master berth and both settees
• Overhead hatches with screens
• Stainless steel portholes with screens
• Caframo fans in master stateroom & saloon
• LED lighting throughout

• Corian countertops and backsplashes with high cherry fiddles
• Deep double SS sinks
• Corian and cherry drop-down dish drainer surface/latte/cutting board
• Single lever faucet with pull-out sprayer
• Whale freshwater foot pump (not connected)
• Seagull water filtration (’13)
• Gimballed Force 10 four-burner stove with oven and broiler
• SS safety bar with strap
• Pot and pan storage beneath stove with drop down teak panel
• Two 20# aluminum LPG tanks in propane locker
• Sylvania microwave oven
• Tip out oversized trash bin
• Double door storage beneath sinks
• Tip out dish sponge tray
• 5 drawers and 2 drop front lockers on either side of the stove
• Double door spice rack above and behind stove
• Double shelf units along hull side with sliding Plexiglas doors
• Top loading freezer with Technautics cold plate
• Air circulation system for cold air circulation in freezer
• Top loading refrigerator with Technautics condenser plate
• Single piece top and front refrigerator lid with gas assist lift
• Chaney LED refrigerator/freezer temperature gauges
• Refrigerator light
• 2 opening ports
• 1 overhead hatch with screen
• 4 LED overhead lights
• Cherry paper towel holder

Forward head:

• Seamless unit construction with non-skid molded sole
• Groco manual head
• Holding tank replaced (’11)
• Tankwatch holding tank alert
• Macerator pump
• Y valve for overboard discharge
• Molded countertop with scallop shell sink
• Stainless steel H/C pressure water mixer
• Separate shower wand on adjustable bar
• Electric shower sump
• Sliding mirrored door storage spaces over counters on both hull sides
• Custom storage spaces on either side of the head

Aft head:

• Seamless unit construction with non-skid molded sole
• Clamshell molded fiberglass sink
• Stainless steel H/C pressure water mixer
• Separate shower stall with seat and curved Plexiglas door
• Separate shower wand on adjustable bar
• Atwood 750 electric shower sump
• Jabsco Quiet Flush electric head (’16)
• Electroscan sanitation treatment system (’15)
• Cherry framed mirror

• 130 gallons of water in two tanks beneath settees (replaced ’15)
• Water tank selector manifold
• Hot and cold pressure water
• Isotherm 8 gallon hot water heater with engine heat exchanger
• Village Marine 12v. water maker 6GPH/144GPD
• Tankwatch fresh water tank monitors
• Shurflo anchor wash down system
• Hot and cold cockpit shower
• Rule 2000 Bilge pump w/ electronic float switch
• Whale manual bilge pump in cockpit
• Whale manual bilge pump under galley sole

The hull of the Saga 43 has a nearly plumb bow and rakish stern with a convenient walk-out swim platform. Construction of the hull is of hand-laid fiberglass, using premium grade polyester resin, with two layers of Vinylester resin for added osmotic protection. There is aircraft grade Baltek balsa coring in the hull and deck; the core is voided or replaced with high density backing plates in areas of thru-hulls or deck hardware attachment. Along the keel is additional heavy duty keel solid laminate layup for additional keel and mast support strength. The aluminum slotted toe rail has a PVC rub rail for full length hull side protection. The keel is externally hung lead with a double row of 10 1" keel bolts. All bulkheads and furniture components are fully bonded to the hull and deck. The hull to deck joint is thru-bolted on 4" centers and bonded with polyurethane adhesive sealant. There is a massive sub floor framing structure utilizing bi-directional E-Glass reinforcements for hull stiffness and added strength. The exterior is tropics friendly, with no exterior teak to maintain. The cockpit seats have nice high coamings for great back support and are 7'6" long, making them wonderful for cockpit sleeping. Foot braces are molded into the cockpit sole for the helm and crew.

This is the only Saga with almond colored gelcoat on the hull, deck and non-skid- a truly unique Saga!

• NO exterior bright work to maintain- fiberglass and stainless only!
• Keel shoe added (approx. 900 lbs.) for improved upwind performance and better motion comfort
• Interprotect 2000 barrier coat ('14)
• Seahawk 44 hard ablative bottom paint (04/16)
• Stainless steel bowsprit and rail
• Double stainless steel anchor rollers extend well forward of the bow
• Rocna 25Kg primary anchor with 250’ of 5/16” chain (’15)
• Super Max 16 44 lb. secondary anchor with 10’ of 5/16” chain and 300’ of nylon rode
• Fortress lunch hook
• Lofrans Progress 1000 electric windlass with gypsy
• Up and down windlass foot switches
• Windlass remote at helm
• Anchor hawse pipes lead thru the anchor locker to deep in the bow- keeps the weight low
• Divided chain locker
• Slotted aluminum toe rail
• Double SS cleats bow, mid ship and stern (custom)
• 32” high stanchions with double wire lifelines
• Port and starboard boarding gates
• Stainless steel stern rails extend gate to gate for safety
• 4” diameter stainless steel rudder stock
• Low friction rudder stock bearings and a balanced rudder design provide a very light, responsive feel to the helm
• With exception of the water maker, all thru-hulls are ¼ turn Marelon ball valves, requiring no grounding and non-corrosive
• Stainless steel mast safety bars
• Storage wells on either side of the mast base- great for winch handles, dock lines…
• Stainless steel dorades with guards (4)
• Stainless steel grab rails
• Custom stainless steel arch with integral dinghy lift
• Fixed stainless steel framed ports (4)
• Lewmar Ocean Series stainless steel hatches with screens (7)
• Hatch covers for all hatches
• Lewmar stainless steel opening ports with screens (9)
• 7’6” long, deep sculpted cockpit seats provide great back support and good sleeping under the stars
• Green Sunbrella canvas
• Bimini
• Dodger with side grab bars (’16)
• Window connector with cover
• Full Eisenglass cockpit enclosure
• Full screened cockpit enclosure
• 5 cockpit pad eyes
• Dedicated self-draining life raft locker
• Dedicated, USCG approved, vented locker for dinghy gasoline storage
• Removable helm seat with integral storage cubby for walk-thru to swim platform
• Walk thru transom door for ease of boarding and safety- MOB retrieval is simple with the electric winch
• Swim platform with stainless steel swim ladder

Some preconceived notions about conventional sloops or cutters may need to be discarded in order to understand how the Saga 43's Variable Geometry rig works. It's not a cutter or a sloop in the usual sense and the techniques for sailing it are a tad different than what you may be used to. The rig is proportioned so that an overlapping head sail is never required. The inner head sail is used when sailing close-hulled, even in light air. As it is self-tending, tacking simply requires a turn of the wheel, no crew required. Off the wind, the reaching genoa is deployed to both add sail area and shift the center of pressure forward to maintain an extra light helm pressure on all points of sail. At deeper angles downwind an asymmetrical spinnaker can be flown from the bowsprit. Furthermore, the Saga 43 will remain well balanced and easily steered even when pressed hard on a tight reach, unlike conventionally rigged boats. Mainsail hoisting and reefing chores are easily taken care of inside the safety of the cockpit with a push of the button on the two speed self-tailing electric winch.

The Saga 43 is no slouch on the water- in fact she has an impressive sail area/displacement ratio of 20.01. The current owners (to their chagrin) have a 73 PHRF on her; NE PHRF is 81. 

• Saga “Variable Geometry” rig
• Harken MKIII roller furlers for genoa and jib
• Harken curved track and jib car for self-tending jib
• Harken “Big Boat” 4:1 mainsheet track and car with mid-boom sheeting
• Offshore keel stepped double spreader aluminum mast
• Mast and boom stripped and repainted (’11)
• Mast step replaced (’15)
• Stainless steel 1 x 19 wire standing rigging replaced (’15)
• Forespar 18’3” carbon fiber whisker pole
• Adjustable whisker pole car on mast mounted track
• Forespar rigid mechanical boom vang
• Navtec hydraulic backstay adjuster
• Harken Battcar track and slides provide low-friction raising and lowering of the main
• Stack pack with lazy jacks (’15)
• All running rigging replaced (’13)
• Self-draining line organizer boxes molded into both cockpit coamings
• Storage wells at mast base for winch handles, etc.
• All halyards, reefing and control lines are led aft to the safety of the cockpit beneath a carapace, keeping them from underfoot to reduce trip hazards while on deck and protecting them from the elements
• Harkin 2SP32CHST self-tailing halyard winch on mast for Jib and Genoa
• Spinlock line clutches on mast (3)
• Harken 2SP40CHEST Electric winch on housetop
• Harken 2SP40CHST control winch on housetop
• Spinlock line clutches on housetop (10)
• Harken 2SP53CHST primary winches
• Winch handles
• North Sails full battened mainsail w/3 reef points (’13)
• North Sails 130 Genoa (’13)
• North Sails jib (’13)
• Halsey storm jib
• Asymmetrical spinnaker

• Yanmar 4JH3E 56HP engine w/4048 hours S/N: E23297
• Kanzaki KM 3A1 transmission (rebuilt @ 1330 hours)
• Remote Yanmar oil and fuel filters mounted forward for easy access ('14)
• Dual switchable Racor R20P primary fuel filters
• Racor vacuum gauge
• Algae-X fuel conditioner system
• Electric fuel pump ('15)
• Forward fuel tank replaced (’15)
• Reverso electric oil change system
• Oil changed every 100 hours
• Stainless steel 1 ¼” prop shaft with bronze strut
• Dripless shaft seal
• 3-blade Max-Prop (’14)
• Spare 3-blade prop
• Engine hoses replaced (’13)
• Engine room work lights
• Heavily insulated engine compartment
• Steps and engine room front panel are hinged for easy access
• Whitlock steering pedestal with single lever engine control
• Leather wrapped SS wheel
• Ritchie compass
• Marine Air 16K BTU reverse cycle heat/air conditioning (’13)

• 30A shore power connection w/50’ cord
• Galvanic isolator (’13)
• Bass 120V AC electrical panel with volt and amp meters
• GFCI protected 120v. receptacles throughout
• Heart Freedom 2500W inverter/75A battery charger
• Bass 12v DC electrical panel with volt and amp meters
• Beautiful hinged drop-down electrical panel with numbered wiring system
• Electrical chase pipes located along both hull sides for pulling lines
• 8 Trojan T105 House batteries with 840 amp hours (’16)
• Delco Group 27 starting battery (’16)
• Blue Sea Systems house, engine and battery cross connect switches
• Heart Freedom battery monitor/inverter controller
• Link-10 battery monitor
• Dual 125A & 150A engine alternators
• Spare alternator
• 5 Kyocera 80W solar panels
• Xantrex Trace C Series solar charge controller
• LED tricolor and anchor lights
• LED interior lighting
• Caframo 12v. fans (2)
• Cabin floor courtesy lighting throughout

• Raymarine E9 Hybrid Touch 9” chart plotter/radar at helm (’12)
• Raymarine E7 Hybrid Touch 7” chart plotter/radar at nav (’12)
• Raymarine 18” digital HD radar dome (’12)
• Questus gimballing radar mount (’12)
• Raymarine AIS transceiver (’12)
• Global Star satellite phone (requires subscription)
• Icom IC-M802 single side band radio
• Icom AT-140 auto tuner
• Insulated backstay antenna
• KISS antenna grounding system ('15)
• Icom SP-24 external speaker
• SCSDR7400 Pactor modem
• Icom IC-M502 VHF with DSC at nav station
• Icom RAM microphone at helm
• Raytheon ST6000 autopilot
• Raytheon ST600-R autopilot remote control
• Raytheon ST60 Speed
• Raytheon ST60 Depth
• Raytheon ST60 Wind speed and direction
• Raytheon ST60 Multi display
• TV/phone shore connection
• Mast mounted radar reflector

• Winslow Offshore 6 person life raft in valise Exp. Date October ‘16
• Ditch bag
• Switlik MOM-8-A Man Overboard Module
• Life Sling
• Mast mounted radar reflector (’15)
• Mercury 310 (9’10”) air floor dinghy (’13)
• Honda 9.9HP outboard motor
• Forespar Nova Lift engine hoist
• Edson outboard motor pad
• Cockpit cushions
• Teak cockpit table
• Cup holders
• Emergency tiller
• Weems & Plath brass clock/barometer
• Tilt-o-meter (clinometer)
• Full-screen enclosure
• Full plastic enclosure
• Dock lines and fenders
• Boat hook
• PFD’s
• Numerous spare parts specific for this boat kept as backups for extended cruising! 
• Manuals

Owner’s personal effects and any items not specifically described in this listing

Potential purchasers should assume that any items on the vessel at the time of viewing, but not specifically listed on this specification sheet, are not included with the sale of the yacht. These specifications are believed to be correct but cannot be guaranteed. Specifications are provided for information purposes. Data was obtained from sources believed reliable but is not guaranteed by owner or brokers. Buyer assumes responsibility to verify all speeds, consumptions, capacities and other measurements contained herein and otherwise provided, and agrees to instruct his/her agents or his/her surveyor to confirm such details prior to purchase. This vessel is subject to sale, price and inventory changes or withdrawal from market without notice.