The Columbia 43 MkIII Sailboat
Specs & Key Performance Indicators

The Columbia 43 MkIII was designed by William Tripp Jr and built in the USA by Columbia Sailing Yachts.

The gentle sheer and flush deck of this Columbia 43 MkIII aft-cockpit cruising yacht make for a very attractive sailboat. From a purely aesthetic point of view, to me anyway - sailboat perfection.

Sweet lines on 'Kailani', a Columbia 43 MkIII at anchor off St Georges, Grenada in the West Indies

Published Specification for the Columbia 43 MkIII

Underwater Profile: Fin Keel & Skeg-hung Rudder

Hull Material: GRP

Length Overall: 43'9" (13.34 m)

Waterline Length: 32' 8" (10.0 m)

Beam: 12'4" (3.76 m)

Draft: 7' 0" (2.13 m)

Rig Type: Masthead sloop

Displacement: 22,000 lb (9,769 kg)

Designer: William Tripp Jr

Builder: Columbia Sailing Yachts (USA)

Year First Built: 1973

Number Built: 96

Owners Association: Columbia Yacht Owners Association

Published Design Ratios for the Columbia 43 MkIII

1. Sail Area/Displacement Ratio: 17.5

Less than 16 would be considered under-powered;
16 to 20 would indicate reasonably good performance;
Over 20 suggests relatively high performance.

2. Ballast/Displacement Ratio: 46.8

Under 40: less stiff, less powerful
Over 40: stiffer, more powerful

3. Displacement/Length Ratio: 282

Under 100: Ultralight
100 to 200: Light
200 to 275: Moderate
275 to 350: Heavy
Over 350: Ultraheavy

4. Comfort Ratio: 33.3

Under 20 indicates a lightweight racing boat
20 to 30 indicates a coastal cruiser
30 to 40 indicates a moderate offshore cruising boat
40 to 50 indicates a heavy offshore boat
Over 50 indicates an extremely heavy offshore boat

5. Capsize Screening Formula: 1.8

Under 2.0 (the lower the better): Better suited for ocean passages
Over 2.0: Less suited for ocean passages

Summary Analysis of the Design Ratios for the Columbia 43 MkIII

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1. A Sail Area/Displacement Ratio of 17.5 suggests that the Columbia 43 MkIII will, in the right conditions, approach her maximum hull speed readily and satisfy the sailing performance expectations of most cruising sailors.

2. A Ballast/Displacement Ratio of 46.8 means that the Columbia 43 MkIII will stand up well to her canvas in a blow, helping her to power through the waves.

3. A Displacement/Length Ratio of 282, tells us the Columbia 43 MkIII is a moderate displacement cruiser, which means she'll carry all your cruising gear without it having a dramatic effect on her performance. Most of today's sailboats intended for offshore cruising fall into this displacement category.

4. Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio of 33.3 suggests that crew comfort of a Columbia 43 MkIII in a seaway is similar to what you would associate with the motion of a moderate bluewater cruising boat - a predictable and acceptable motion for most seasoned sailors.

5. The Capsize Screening Formula (CSF) of 1.8 tells us that a Columbia 43 MkIII would be a safer choice of sailboat for an ocean passage than one with a CSF of more than 2.0.