Click for MotorCheck Click for Burger Click for Abeking Click for JetForums Click for Westport

43 handling/performance?

Discussion in 'Ocean Yacht' started by Bucksh0t, Feb 11, 2020.

You need to be registered and signed in to view this content.
  1. Bucksh0t

    Bucksh0t Member

    Joined:
    Mar 18, 2018
    Messages:
    76
    Location:
    Morehead City NC
    I have heard a few mention that the 43 does not like a following sea. My offshore trips will put me in a quater following sea for most of my returns. My 40 Luhrs Open eats it up, she is wet but there is no bow steer or sudden scary moments. I am a fair weather fisherman but the SW wind can often pick up enough to make it a little sporty for the ride home.
    For those of you that own/run the 43 convertible, can you tell me just how the boat handles?
  2. Tashmoo

    Tashmoo New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 24, 2016
    Messages:
    58
    Location:
    Cape Cod
    Every hull trades off on something. The 43 has sharp entry forward and modest aft deadrise. This makes for a fast, economical, dry hull and a great head and beam sea ride, but down sea will require more active helm response - especially on the quarter. I've never felt unsafe in a big following sea, but I generally take it off pilot, obviously no tabs and try to square up to bigger stuff to minimize yaw and roll. And my wife generally sets up in the cockpit in big followers.

    Ocean built 75 of these hulls between 2000 - 2005 and most of them are still regularly running offshore
    Last edited: Feb 11, 2020
  3. Trinimax

    Trinimax Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 18, 2010
    Messages:
    237
    Location:
    Trinidad and Tobago Yacht club
    I run a 43 Ocean, and I would admit that she is not the best, but also not the worst in a following sea. As Tashmoo said above, how you run the boat will have a big effect on the ride. The boat needs to be run at minimum 22 kts or so, to get the bow up and out of the water, and then she does alright in a big following sea. at under that speed the bow doesnt lift out the water quite as yet, and then she could be a bit squirly. I did the 80 mile run from Grenada to Trinidad in a 4-5 ft quartering following sea, and the boat did fine at 23-24 kts, I just burned a bit more fuel, but it was worth it for the improvement in the ride.
    Last edited: Feb 11, 2020
  4. Prospective

    Prospective Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2016
    Messages:
    232
    Location:
    New England
    Tashmoo and Trinimax know the boat well. My experience is the same. Head sea ride is excellent and it's a quick boat given the power package. But the narrow and flat aft sections don't make for a great ride in followers. And the boat rides pretty flat even without tabs so it's hard to get the aft end to sit down as much as you'd usually want in followers. But honestly, the worst rolling I experience is generally from boat wakes that hit me aft of the beam while I'm in otherwise calm condition and have the bow trimmed down slightly. Small following rollers that are close together. That really seems to get the boat rocking. Bigger sea swells (4+ feet) like you'd experience off shore I have found to be a non issue.
  5. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2004
    Messages:
    12,649
    Location:
    Satsuma, FL
    Your asking about Luhrs or Oceans?
  6. Bucksh0t

    Bucksh0t Member

    Joined:
    Mar 18, 2018
    Messages:
    76
    Location:
    Morehead City NC
    Ralph
    The Ocean , I may move to a convertible later this year and I am narrowing my searches now.
    Thanks to everyone for their feedback.
  7. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2004
    Messages:
    12,649
    Location:
    Satsuma, FL
    Got it now. Have fun and good luck on your searches.
    100104~3.GIF
  8. Rick Prince

    Rick Prince New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 17, 2018
    Messages:
    24
    Location:
    Montauk, New York
    I have had my 43 for two seasons now. I’m very much a fair weather boater. Still trying to learn the boat. Two trips come to mind. First was a trip back west from MTK to Glen Cove in the Long Island sound late October. Wind against tide, running into 2' to 3's with some 3' to 4's mixed in at certain points along the way. 3 to 5 sec dwell. First time running the boat in those conditions. Was pretty sloppy, had to keep speed at least 18 to 20 knots to keep bow up with no tabs. Still a bit lumpy. 20knts of wind so spray going over the bridge. Not a pleasant ride for 5 hours. Boat felt solid, not a whole lot of shutter. Pic of my buddy running a 43 post next to me that day.
    Trip_West.jpg

    The second trip was from MTK to Greenport in Block Island sound. Prob mid to late Sept, 3' to 4's on my starboard quarter, around a 5 second dwell. Running about 20knts, no tabs. I was aware about the claims for the handling in a following sea so I was prepared for it and made sure I tended the wheel accordingly. Noticed it a bit but not terrible. Never felt uncomfortable, boat reacted predictably as long as I stayed on the wheel and made my corrections. As I say, I'm still learning the boat, certainly different than my old boat, but I had that for 13 years. Very happy with my 43 so far. Good luck with your search !!
  9. Bucksh0t

    Bucksh0t Member

    Joined:
    Mar 18, 2018
    Messages:
    76
    Location:
    Morehead City NC
    Thanks Rick, so you feel that autopilot in these following sea conditions are not possible/recommended with the 43? " 3' to 4's on my starboard quarter, around a 5 second dwell."
  10. Rick Prince

    Rick Prince New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 17, 2018
    Messages:
    24
    Location:
    Montauk, New York
    Hard to say. I guess it depends on your autopilot and how it responds. I have a Simrad autopilot but I didn't consider trying it that day. For me, I felt more comfortable running the boat myself in those conditions. Good point, maybe I should have tried it to see how well it handled. I was in a similar situation as you. I had a 30' Pursuit express. The boat had a 21 degree dead rise at the bow, don't recall what it was at the stern. The boat handled great in rough weather. Bow was up and stern would sit at around 15knts. Going from an express to a convertible with a bridge was a change for me as well. Family getting bigger, needed more room and amenities. My 43 gives me all that. The boat has definitely been a good fit for me so far.
  11. PacBlue

    PacBlue Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 9, 2009
    Messages:
    1,988
    Location:
    Dana Point, Ca
    Autopilot response benefits from a Power Steering assists/booster pump on your typical Hynautic type steering station:

    http://www.seastarsolutions.com/products/hydraulic-new/power-steering-new/

    Your Rudder Response Rate improves, but there are always times when a hand driven helm with the anticipation of the human mind is better. Personally, I like those situations.
  12. NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2008
    Messages:
    11,205
    Location:
    Long Island, NY
    I used to run a 43 back and forth between NY & Miami. The boat ran all day at 29 kts burning about 23 gph (Yanmars) because of the hull design. Did the trip in that boat one time in 5 days, the fastest I ever made it. The boat has a distinct personality. Going into a 1-2' chop was like riding over a washboard, but it was fine when the waves got bigger. It does not like following or quartering seas due to the narrow transom and deadrise (the things that get it the speed and economy). We once ran south out of Hilton Head following another 43 in about 14' seas. The other cap had his boat on auto-pilot. Every time the bow dug in at the bottom of the trough his stern got pushed around by the following wave. One minute I'm looking at his transom and the next his bow . His mate was donating his breakfast off the stern. Auto-pilots react, they don't predict. Once I convinced him to steer manually he was fine. Another time I got caught in confused seas that had me looking up from the bridge to see the wave tops. Scariest ride of my life and it wore me out trying to keep that boat in line, but it did get me to my port.
    Coming into Ocean City once riding about a 10' swell on an outgoing tide I had to go WOT to climb the backs of the waves. When I fell off the front I had to go reverse and play the throttles and tabs like a puppeteer to keep off the rocks.
    So basically the boat runs like a sportscar. It's a boat that requires you to work hard in big seas, especially following or quartering seas, but it gets you home. In flat water it runs like a really fun toy but small head seas are bouncy. Around the dock it maneuvers great except that it gets blown around a lot in heavy winds. At slow speeds your wake won't upset anyone in the marinas.
  13. Bucksh0t

    Bucksh0t Member

    Joined:
    Mar 18, 2018
    Messages:
    76
    Location:
    Morehead City NC
    I am mainly interested in the normal 3 to 5's following/quatering that we can get at the end of the day. I am now a fair weather fisherman but that summer breeze often kicks up by the end of the day. My normal run back in is 35 -45 miles.
    There are not many boats in the 40 to 45 ' range that are in my price range and I would like to keep the Ocean 43 on my list. Sounds like your overall opinion is that the 43 could be a "hand full" on some of the days the following sea kicks up. For now the boat will stay on my list.
  14. NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2008
    Messages:
    11,205
    Location:
    Long Island, NY
    Running home in 3-5' should be no problem. You'll be running ahead of it. But you'll work a bit coming into the inlet if it meats an outgoing tide. So 10 minutes of work for a whole day of fun. One other thing I should point out is that if you drift fish it drifts pretty nicely, a lot less rocking than a 52 Bertram I ran.
  15. Beau

    Beau Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 15, 2010
    Messages:
    2,261
    Location:
    Beaufort, NC
    My little vessel does well in following seas, but even in 3-5's I have control of her, not the AP. Just me, I guess. I've always heard that the 43 Ocean was a nice running boat and nicely fitted inside- even battle ships have their limits?
  16. Beau

    Beau Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 15, 2010
    Messages:
    2,261
    Location:
    Beaufort, NC
    Way less deadrise. You can run from gunwale to gunwale on my Post and barely get a ripple off the chine. Do that on a Bertie three times and you might have the grassy side facing the sun?
  17. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2004
    Messages:
    12,649
    Location:
    Satsuma, FL
    Yes, This is an issue when we drift fish. Dive bag and a few 5 gal pails off the bow help but we still rock & roll.
    With the rite music, lessens the effort keeping in rhythm with the rolls.
  18. Beau

    Beau Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 15, 2010
    Messages:
    2,261
    Location:
    Beaufort, NC
    That's quite a sea anchor....
  19. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2004
    Messages:
    12,649
    Location:
    Satsuma, FL
    It does help a bit than rolling in the swells. Thx.
    Last edited: Mar 27, 2020
  20. Mark Martire

    Mark Martire New Member

    Joined:
    May 9, 2020
    Messages:
    6
    Location:
    New york
    The ocean is a very nice boat but I’ll put the 36 convertible and the 38/40 open. Will run rings around that boat when the water gets sloppy in flat water the ocean is a faster boat because of the flat bottom . deep v any day of the week just my opinion please don’t get insulted. My friend owes a 43 ocean been on it in almost every situation