1980 Hans Christian 43

The 1980 Hans Christian 43 is a fiberglass staysail ketch built around a design renowned for seaworthiness and sailing performance. At 43 feet with a 14-foot beam, she carries an Isuzu diesel engine rated at 60 horsepower with 1,550 hours since rebuild. The yacht cruises at 5 knots and reaches 7 knots under power. Her rigging—1 by 19 stainless steel wire with a 13-year service history—supports a full sail plan: two battened mainsails, furling genoa in three sizes, two mizzens, a staysail, and an asymmetric spinnaker, all in fair to excellent condition. Six years of continuous cruising in the Sea of Cortez have been matched by systematic maintenance and upgrades.

Below deck, the yacht offers three cabins and one head across a comfortable cruising layout. The v-berth received an 8-inch foam mattress and Froli support system in 2022. Accommodations include a galley with oven and refrigerator, a deep freezer, and a hot water heater. The head was fully rebuilt in 2022 with a spare pump included. Tankage comprises 150 gallons of fuel capacity across two black iron tanks and 100 gallons of fresh water across three tanks—one stainless and one food-grade plastic. A Cruise RO watermaker producing 20 gallons per hour was installed in 2024.

Power systems have been substantially upgraded. A 560 amp-hour lithium house bank with lead-acid engine start battery supports Victron inverters rated at 1,200 and 600 watts. Solar panels generating 1,000 watts, backed by Victron chargers and battery monitor, work alongside a 90-amp alternator and 30-amp DC-DC charger. Eight USB plugs provide modern charging throughout the boat. Navigation and safety gear include radar, GPS plotter, autopilot, depth sounder, wind instruments, and VHF radio alongside life jackets, harnesses, and jack lines.

Recent work completed in 2026 includes deck and cabintop refinishing with two-part epoxy paint and new nonskid, fresh bottom paint, new propeller coating, rebuilt starter and solenoid, new saltwater pump, porthole screens, replacement cabin cushions, and serviceable fire extinguishers. Structural work from 2021 included teak deck removal with core inspection, fiberglassing, and crossbeam support reinforcement. Ground tackle is substantial: Rocna Vulcan 40-kilogram bower anchor, Spade 65-pound auxiliary, and Fortress 30-pound stern anchor with 375 feet of chain and 300 feet of rode on an electric Maxwell windlass. A 10.6-foot fiberglass dinghy with 15-horsepower Mercury outboard from 2024 is included, along with extensive spare parts and tools organized for cruising self-sufficiency.