FOR SALE: 1984 Nauticat 43 Ketch (Friday Harbor, WA)

FOR SALE BY OWNER: 1984 Nauticat 43

Toba Inlet, July 2025

Location: Friday Harbor, WA – San Juan Islands
Price: $135,000 (unless we list with a broker @ $165k) 
Contact: email

For the discerning sailor who understands classic yachts: This is a rare opportunity to acquire a legendary Sparkman & Stephens designed Nauticat 43. Tiptno is our fifteenth cruising boat in our sailing careers as licensed charter captains, and no doubt the most capable. But, alas – new opportunities on our horizon make it possible to offer our personal vessel directly to the next knowledgeable custodian.

This is not a pristine museum piece; she is a strong, capable, and extensively upgraded cruising yacht ready for the next adventure. Her value is in her world-class design, robust construction, and tens of thousands of dollars in recent, substantive upgrades to all critical systems.

The Pacific Northwest cruising season is far from over for a boat like this. With her new engine, heating system and massive tankage, you can be exploring the San Juans from the comfort of the pilothouse through the fall, winter, and spring while others are shrink-wrapping their boats and wishing they had… your new boat. 

Specifications:

• Year: 1984
• Make: Nauticat
• Model: 43
• Designer: Sparkman & Stephens
• LOA: 42.67 ft (+bowsprit and davits: 50 foot slip)
• Beam: 13.75 ft
• Draft: 6.25 ft
• Displacement: Approx. 33,100 lbs (empty)
• Ballast: Approx 9,400 lbs of lead in encapsulated keel
• Engine: Volvo D2-75  (re-powered & propped in 2012, less than 500 hours)
• Fuel Capacity: Approx. 264 gallons
• Water Capacity: Approx. 158 gallons

The Real Value: Modern Upgrades on a Classic Foundation

While we would have loved to have had more time to devote to generational cosmetics, our focus has been on function, safety, and reliability offshore. We just spent 75 days cruising remote wilderness and fjords. This boat is ready to take you cruising, not leave you stranded. The most critical—and expensive—work has already been done.

• Re-Powered: Volvo D2-75 – completed in 2012, still less than 500 hours! (Sips fuel at .8 gal/hr at 1800rpm)
• NEW Propeller: Autoprop – wildly efficient, best upgrade ever! (Though, zero propwalk in reverse.)
• NEW Electronics: Dual helm Garmin GPSMAP series, HD Radar, AIS, redundant depth sounders, VHF/hailer,  engine monitoring
• NEW Autopilot: Garmin SmartPump for control from either helm, plus Garmin remote for control from anywhere on deck (usually while lounging in the cockpit while motoring)
• NEW Solar System: 600 Watts for high-efficiency solar on sleek fold-down brackets along aft deck that double as privacy/wind break. Dual Victron MPPT controllers (port and starboard panel separation for redundancy and failsafe).
• NEW House, Engine and Generator Battery Banks: 780 amp hours in house bank of six Trojan T-145’s, new double-battery engine starter bank, and new generator starter
• NEW Diesel Forced-Air Heating System: Wallas Spartan – much quieter and more efficient than Webasto turbine systems.
• NEW Inverter/Charger & Shorepower: Victron Cerbo GX running Victron Quattro II-2x (with 3,000w inverter), plsu thoughtful conversion to 30/50amp shorepower to split heavy loads (water heater, dryer, watermaker) from inverter circuit.
• NEW Canvas: Brand new Sunbrella stack packs for main and mizzen along with matching UV cover on genoa.
• NEW Primary Anchor: Massively oversized Excel #8 (88lb) anchor – sets instantly EVERY time! New Mantus swivel and heavy duty snubber system. (Plus… Bruce on second roller, Rocna in storage)
• NEW Windlass: Maxwell HRC-10 (much more powerful and efficient than old Nillson, taking half the space on deck)
• NEW Galley Stove/Oven: 4 burner Force 10 with large oven and broiler
• NEW Fridge and Freezer Controllers & Thermostats: Fridge is happy all day/night at 34 degrees, freezer kept at 8 degrees.
• NEW Head/Toilet/Macerator & Sanitation Hoses: Raritan Marine Elegance electric toilet, new macerator (overboard) pump, and updated hoses
• NEW Inner Forestay Stowage: System to sweep-back the inner forestay when not in use to clear foredeck and make tacking the genoa easier.
• NEW Cockpit Ergonomics: Folding Lewmar wheel, single-lever engine control, swiveling chartplotter, + 5 new networked instruments and compass above companionway.
• NEW Nonskid Deck: Aft teak deck removed and replaced with TotalBoat primer and 5 layers of nonskid
• NEW Entertainment System: Samsung 4k SmartTV and Q-Sound home theater soundbar (total overkill, but thoroughly enjoyable)
• NEW LEDs and FANS Throughout: All cabin areas now serviced by night vision friends RED-then-WHITE LED’s. All circulation fans updated with modern quiet 12v models (with three spares in deep storage).
• NEW Plumbing Fixtures: Efficient low-flow faucets (head and galley), manual backup footpump in galley, and new thermostatic mixer and shower in master
• NEW Hot Water: Now tied into new engine for hot water while at sea
• NEW Window Screens & Blackout Blinds: Nicely framed metal screens for all overhead hatches and portholes. (Never used.)
• NEW Weber BBQ and Aluminum Tank: Gone are the days of Magma!
• NEW Custom Mattress: In master stateroom, & memory foam topper if needed
• SPARES STORES: We have stocked up on spares for the major systems. In addition to basic engine maintenance (filters, belts), we also have NEW replacements as backups for engine starter, alternator, water pumps, toilet pumps, lighting, and fans.

A CLASSY SEAWORTHY BEAST: Don’t settle for just any “old” sailboat or overpriced modern dock candy. Experience the legendary quality and performance of a true Sparkman & Stephens designed offshore pilothouse ketch that offers the “best of both worlds”: the exhilarating performance of a capable bluewater sailor with the all-weather comfort and protection of a classic pilothouse. The Nauticat 43’s heavy displacement gives it a sea-kindly motion that provides comfort and safety in rough conditions. Nearly a third of that weight is concentrated in a solid lead keel deep below the waterline along with a bulletproof skeg hung rudder give her immense righting moment and stiffness to stand up to a strong breeze. This isn’t a lightweight coastal cruiser; it’s a serious offshore vessel designed to be stable, safe, and comfortable on long passages.

Full Disclosure: Known Deficiencies & Projects

We believe in a transparent, efficient sales process. Our last three vessels sold for cash within days of listing because we believe in showing a buyer everything, good and bad. The price of this Nauticat 43 is set to reflect the following known projects.

• Leaks: As is typical for a boat of this vintage, there are a few annoying (non-structural) leaks around deck hardware and pilothouse windows that show up in heavy rain. A standard fitting-by-fitting “re-bed as needed” project is in her future. We were toying with having new windows made in Vancouver.
• Interior Brightwork & Cabin Sole: There are some areas around windows that have been stained/bleached in the past and in need of a cosmetic refresh.
• Removing Old Wiring: There is a vast array of “dead” wiring that can be removed at any time. From the old autopilot, ssb, loran, and early instruments – to an alarm system, cable tv, and phones. We just left it in place in case we ever needed to use an old wire to pull a new run.
• Gelcoat: As you can see by a couple close-up photos, she glosses up nicely and the gelcoat is THICK! We started polishing her port side to get ready for a change in paint stripe colors but held off for the season to rethink our preferences. It’s an easy DIY, or hire it out, or… let it go another 40 years?
• Speaker System: There are speakers and volume controls throughout the boat and cockpit. However, when we bought the boat there was now head unit installed. We installed a new Garmin Fusion stereo system in the pilothouse console, but haven’t taken the time to chase speaker wires back to it.
• Teak Decks/Seats: The original decks are worn and nearing the end of their life. They are serviceable for now, but the next owner should plan for eventual removal and refinishing with non-skid—a common and highly recommended upgrade for these vessels. The good news is that it’s a fairly straightforward process as there is NO CORING in the fiberglass decks (or hull, for that matter). We already completed the aft deck and have two gallons of matching non-skid to continue at your leisure.
• Bottom Paint & Bootstripe: The bottom paint is 3 years old now with a LOT of miles, in need of a bottom job after finishing our last voyage with a few days in Todd Inlet (a very nutrient-rich environment that supercharged some barnacle & mussel growth). When we bought her from world-cruisers, the heavily laden bootstripe was half below the water line, so – we simply had the yard raise the waterline over the boot stripe. As you can see in some pics, this “stripe” didn’t adhere very well in a few areas. (Easy options at next haul and bottom paint.)
• V-Berth Upholstery: The previous owners had the cushions off the boat in storage for a decade and they got pretty chewed up by moths. (We lay out sleeping bags for guests, so… no biggie for us.)
• Unused Equipment: We’ve never actually fired up the two air conditioners, water maker, or clothes dryer. (Though, we did watch the previous owner pickle the watermaker when we bought her and show us an extra/new membrane in storage.)

This is the perfect opportunity for a buyer who wants to put their own cosmetic stamp on a boat without having to worry about the engine, electronics, or other critical systems. The “sweat equity” here is purely cosmetic.

Our Ideal Buyer: You understand classic boats. You know the difference between good bones and superficial gloss. You recognize the immense value of a new engine and modern systems, and you’re looking for a vessel you can trust. You appreciate a straightforward, honest transaction with experienced owners.

Location: The boat is currently at the dock in Friday Harbor, WA ready for viewing by serious, qualified buyers in afternoons or weekends. (We’ve tried to be very transparent above, so… let’s not waste each other’s time.) If this sounds like the opportunity you’ve been looking for, we look forward to hearing from you. email

Also Available (at additional cost, separate transaction):
Portland Pudgy, completely loaded with sail kit, exposure canopy (never rigged), and all the extras.
We also have two new ePropulsion long-shaft options; the Evo (hydrogenerator) and the new eLite.
$12k for full kit (save $3k, shipping, and taxes)