Old Name - New Design
July 2001 - Sail Magazine (Just Launched - Gib'Sea 43)
By Robby Robinson - Edited by Bill Springer
The Gib'Sea 43 may have an old and trusted name but there is nothing old-fashioned about the design.
Long respected for a tradition of innovation, attention to detail, and functionality, Gib'Sea sailboats, once built by Gilbert Marine in France, are now part of Dufour's line of family cruisers. The Gib'Sea 43 may have an old and trusted name, but there is nothing old-fashioned about the design. It has an ingenious convertible master cabin layout, a practical "dolphin- nose" anchoring system, and an electrical system that isolates the ship's AC panel from the DC. The boat also delivers a solid foundation for quick and comfortable cruising, thanks to a tall, two- spreader spar, well-engineered sail-furling systems, rugged anti-skid on deck, and ample space down below.
At the dock, before I even stepped aboard, what first impressed me was the 43's beaminess. Maximum beam of 14 feet contributes to the over-all form stability that allowed J&J Designs to pare the keel down to a slim fin weighing just 6,160 pounds. All things considered, the 43's waterline beam is acceptably svelte and made for a lively and relatively stiff boat, but owners need to pay attention to ultimate stability since beam is such a major part of the equation.
Wind against current chop had us pounding a bit as we powered out of Ft. Lauderdale. The 43's relatively flat forefoot was not an advantage in these conditions, but the true test was how she would handle the seas under sail. Once we'd cleared the jetty, set the genoa and single-reefed main, killed the engine, and hardened onto the 15-knot southeaster, the 43 heeled over nicely (to about 20 degrees) and purposefully stood out to sea. Tacking through 85 degrees despite the chop was a good indication of the boat's underwater efficiency.
In the cockpit, the twin wheels were convenient, as was the central instrument pod; life-raft access was excellent, and a well-designed cockpit table was a plus. On the other hand, I realized it would take, time to get used to the aft- mounted winches, which forced me to look aft while trimming, and a cockpit locker was inaccessible under power because the throttle (in forward) was in the way. But these are small things when you look at the total package.
My first and lasting impression of the interior was "space." The master stateroom forward, with its adjacent private sitting area and ensuite head, is bigger than you would expect for a 43-footer. And there's a twist: You can unfold several easy-to- stow door panels to convert the master stateroom's sitting room into a fourth stateroom with two single bunks, just in case the dwo double guest cabins aft are already taken.
Generous beam carried aft allows for sapcious accomodations.
The Gib'Sea's beam pays dividends in th saloon. It will accommodate eight for dinner and more for drinks. There's ample counter and storage space for cooking (at sea) in the galley, and engine access under the companion way stairs is excellent.
Judging by their second boat in their new line (the 43 was preceded by a Gib'Sea 33) it's obvious Dufour is serious about building cruisers that deliver accommodation, innovation, and performance in generous amounts.
Gib'Sea 43
Designer: J&J Designs
Builder: Dufour SA,
1 Rue Blaise Pascal
17182 Perigny, France
tel. 011-335-46-30-07-60
US importer: Dufour Yachts USA
1 Chelsea Court, Annapolis, MD, 21403
tel. 410-268-6417, fax 410-268-9739
Construction:
Hull built of isophthalic resin and solid hand-laid fiberglass with Twaron reinforcement in high- stress areas. Deck is balsa-cored. Floors are laminated to the hull. Inner moldings stiffen hull and deck. Barrier coat is made from gelcoat impregnated with NPC. Keel is cast iron. Semi-elliptical rudder is filled with closed-cell epoxy foam and fitted on self- aligning bearings.
| LOA | 42' 8" |
| LWL | 35' 9" |
| Beam | 14' |
| Draft | 5' '7" |
| Displacement | 18,040 lbs |
| Ballast | 6,160 lbs |
| Sail area (100% foretriangle) | 777 sq ft |
| Fuel/water/ | 61/150/ |
| Waste | 15 gals |
| Engine | 50-hp Volvo diesel |
| Displ-length ratio | 176 |
| Sail area-displ. ratio | 18 |
Price
$184,403 (base price FOB Baltimore, MD)
Includes electric windlass, propane solenoid and regulator,
ground tackle, holding tank, and 110 V battery charger.
This article was written and photos taken by Robby Robinson, edited by Bill Springer
and published in the July 2001 edition of Sail Magazine - Just Launched !
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