Outremer 43

The 43 is the last representative of the original Outremer philosophy: a spartan catamaran which is simple, light and safe. Built until 2000, it gave up its place to the already more civilized 42, whilst the 45, which is quite a bit bigger and more liveable – 6.1 tonnes as against 3.8 – is not in the same category. Because leaving aboard a 43 has a lot in common with a vocation: don’t bank on embarking diving gear, your electric guitar and your two favourite surfboards... The useful load carrying capacity boils down to 1,700 kg. Do the sums: two adults and two children (200 kg), 300 litres of water, 150 l of diesel, and 150 kg of provisions, and just 900 kg remain for the downwind sails, the second anchor, the tools and the comfort elements. In other words, generators and barbecues must remain in the chandler’s! Times have changed: today, offering such a radical sailing boat would be a recipe for disaster... Outremer has understood this and are offering bigger boats which can accept more load... Before we discover our test 43, a few explanations are necessary: at the start there was the Outremer 40, launched in 1985. The very first models were equipped with a very small coachroof, and most often propelled by a small outboard motor. Ultra-light and powerful, these basic 40-footers speed along effortlessly at over 20 knots, and are capable of long surfs on the Atlantic swell. Ten years later, a ‘Light’, or 38-foot version was directly developed from the 40, with a large coachroof: the rig was detuned – mast 1.8m shorter – and the platform was narrower by 60 cm. The 38 was available in a 43-foot version, with a crossbeam further aft, a bigger cockpit and hulls which had been lengthened at the stern. This is the model (launched in 1998) we are presenting here. Are you following? Because the 40 also had its lengthened 43 version… This is why we talk about the 38/43 or 40/43, to differentiate the two cats. 

 

Full refit

So there we were in the port of Les Minimes, in the technical area of the port of La Rochelle. The new owner formed a crew with…the previous owner ! Yes, they are friends… The transaction took place in Port Saint Louis du Rh ne: Christophe Maury decided to sail round Spain to bring Thal s back, but his crew member deserted him after the first gale. He continued the delivery trip singlehanded, before Alain Damage, the former owner, gave him a hand from Faro onwards. A nice story! The boat had already been around a bit: it had belonged to a couple of teachers who had been transferred to Martinique, then Polynesia, and finally to Reunion. At each job change, the family and the boat followed... Thal s then remained in the Mediterranean for a few seasons. It was here that Alain, based in Belgium, bought it: “I have already sailed quite a lot with friends and my daughter. Its advantages? Low wetted surface area, therefore low drag, for excellent performance. And its main fault is its lack of ‘liveability’. I wanted to sail round the world, but I found it spartan. However the Outremer 43 is well suited to hot countries and the Mediterranean.” The catamaran had just undergone a full refit. Not everything was new, but all the important elements had been revised or replaced: fittings dismantled and modernised, sugar scoops revised, new non-slip paint, new external decoration after the gel coat had been polished, new electronics, rudder bearings changed, rudder and daggerboards removed. The brand new pulpits and pushpits were borrowed from the Lagoon 620, and the engines, 2GMs, will no doubt be replaced by Lombardinis. All this makes this boat an attractive support… And justifies a selling price of 185,000 euros, even though the boat was purchased for 100,000 euros less.

 

Good potential under sail

Meanwhile, the catamaran got away from the quay with no problems, even though the wind was blowing from the wrong direction, and there was not much room. The two diesel engines made the task easier – things would be more complicated with a single, central outboard. But the 43 is assisted by its low freeboard, its light weight and its daggerboards. Side by side with a H lia 44, the low freeboard was noticeable, compared to the latest boat from Fountaine Pajot. Our machine’s cockpit was sheltered by a rigid bimini - in laminated ply – which isn’t in the spirit of the boat. We would have preferred a canvas one, but it supports the solar panels. The sails were quickly hoisted; the Outremer 43 caught the first gusts, to sail effortlessly at over 7 knots. The boat is particularly manoeuvrable – it tacks easily – and pleasant at the helm. Inside, the nacelle’s low volume is surprising, but everything is there – saloon, galley and chart table. In the hulls, there is even less volume, but nevertheless a rake of double berths. Access to the starboard aft cabin is via the cockpit. At first, this was surprising. “Finally, the children really appreciate it,” Christophe observed... A spartan machine for having fun under sail, dedicated to those who are not addicted to all the modern comfort elements – this is what the Outremer 43 offers you. Note: Thal s is ready to set off again…and its owner is interested in buying the boat back when you return. A good idea for a sabbatical year!

 

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The points to check

The monolithic polyester structure is indestructible, and very easy to repair in the case of an impact: even if seems to be in a very sorry state, the boat generally remains very sound. On the other hand, the rough finishing on the first models – particularly the 40, available from 1985 onwards – results in tired accommodation. Lots of elbow grease will be necessary to smarten up the interior, to welcome your family aboard. Also to be checked on the boats, which have covered a lot of miles: engine, electric circuit, windlass, sails, standing and running rigging.

 

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Les Pluses:

+ Exceptional performance  
+ Guaranteed pleasure at the helm  
+ Particularly robust structure

 

The Minuses: 

- Low liveable volume  
- Load carrying capacity limited to two tonnes  
- Very basic finishing

 

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TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Builder: Atelier Outremer
Architect: Gérard Danson
Hull length: 13.2 m
Waterline length: 12.9m
Beam: 6.2m Draft: 0.5/2 m
Unladen weight: 3.8 t
Mainsail area: 49 m²
Genoa area: 30m²
Engines: outboard, or two 10 or 18 hp diesels
Production of the 38, 40 and 34: 36 examples
Second-hand price: 100,000 to 190,000 euros