Gulfstar 43 Ketch For Sale
An affordable waterfront summer home in Maine does exist!
Ready for your next big adventure? Ready to cast the lines and explore the world? Need a budget-friendly well-built boat? Want a cozy home you can actually afford? Zephyr is for you!
Zephyr, a1978 Gulfstar 43 Mark II is a Blue water Yacht which is capable to take you around the world if that is in your plan or just out for the weekend. The Gulfstar 43 is a long time favorite among cruisers and liveaboards for her accommodations, storage, layout and stability.
A dream to sail, a cozy home and a ticket to freedom.
Price: $20,000
Well below resale value.
All reasonable offers accepted.
A perfect Summer (or anytime) Home!
Imagine a 2 bed, 2 bath home with an amazing deck on the water? Watching the seabirds, feeling the seabreeze, smelling the briny air as you grill on the back deck? What would that cost? Surely a lot more than $40,000, right? All this and more can be yours! Zephyr was our summer home for 12 summers and 5 winters. We loved living aboard and felt very much at home aboard this beautiful boat. Being surrounded by the rich mahogany walls, teak and holly floors, warm lighting and cozy interiors made us (and obviously our dog, see below) feel so cozy and happy when below decks.
The massive aft cabin features a queen size bed and TONS of storage for clothes and belongings. A recently updated ensuite master head features a AirHead composting toilet (hello SMELL FREE LIVING!) and a beachy, coastal design. Pressure water system pump has been replaced and there’s a 120 volt hot water system for warm showers anytime, anywhere. The passageway and engine room access is forward from the aft cabin and features even more wood paneled louvered hanging lockers and a front loading Engel highly efficient 12-volt fridge. The navigation station has tons of storage for charts, drawers and shelving for more essential items and a spin out white vinyl navigator’s stool so you can sit at the nav both for charting or crack your laptop for a bit. There is a Fusion two-zone bluetooth enabled stereo system with speakers in the salon and in the cockpit. Solid teak abounds throughout the space with teak laminated door frames, hatch frames, salon archway trim and bulkhead corners. This boat has beautiful lines and an overwhelming overbuild of quality materials.
The main salon has two comfy benches that both pull out to full berths with all new Sunbrella cushions (the white cushions in the photo below have been replaced) and storage behind them. Amazing cabinet and shelving storage for food, personal items, cooking items and books. On the ceiling you’ve got white vinyl headliner which is fire and mildew resistant. The table has two leafs that open to make for a large table and a hidden bar for the ship’s rum and wine - essentials aboard. In the galley there’s a Shipmate two burner stainless steel gimbled propane stove with oven, stainless steel guard rail and solenoid shutoff. There’s a massive Technicold refrigeration holding plates 12v/120v top loading refrigerator ideal for provisioning for longer passages. Double stainless steel galley sink and dish lockers and utensil drawers. Plenty of room, tools and space for prepping the most elaborate or most simple meals.
Forward of the salon is the forward head which we’ve converted into a full size shower with a high pressure handheld shower head and new sump pump.
Off the head is the V-Berth that features both a comfy bunk, additional storage and the windlass and anchor locker.
Deck Life is the Best Life!
Coming through the gorgeous teak companionway doors into the cockpit is entering a whole separate and glorious living space. The fully enclosed cockpit means you never have to face rain blowing in your face and you can enjoy those rainy days aboard dry and barefoot. Underway the dodger can keep the wind out of your face while allowing you full viewing of the sails and telltales. The center cockpit design means you are safe, dry and centered in any and all weather - we saw 12 foot waves one harrowing time and didn’t get a drop on us. At the helm you have a rebuilt ship’s compass, a large wheel, Autopilot (ST4000AP), GPS chartplotter (Northstar M84 with transduce), a mount for your iPad (we use Navionics), a teak cupholder and a folding table for cockpit dining. Electronics (they could take a refresh): Radar - Lowrance Navico Broadband, BR24; Wind - Standard Horizon WS150; Depth & Speed - Standard Horizon MD150.
On deck you’ve got a ketch rig with an out of mast Hood main sail furler, a 135% Genoa with a Hood furler, and a Mizzen with battens and slugs. All sails can be rigged at the start of the season and set from the cockpit, you never have to leave the cockpit to control sails. NOTE: Both furlers will need attention. We have replaced all halyards and sheets (though they have been in the Maine winters so they should be replaced again soonish). We installed all new life lines in 2021 and secured and upgraded many of the stations while rebedding all of them. Standing rigging has turnbuckles and is very hardy with this being a blue water cruiser. There are seacocks on all thru hulls below waterline and gate valves on all thru hulls above waterline. In 2021 we updated the stern railing system to allow for the hauling and storing of our dinghy engine and to accommodate our solar panels. We installed a steel outboard motor lift with a mounting panel for safekeeping while underway. There is a massive storage locker on the back deck, the beauty of a center cockpit is you have a lot of space back there, perfect spot for beanbags and a fishing pole. There is a Magma stern rail mounted gas grill and fishing pole holder. Life is beautiful looking out over the stern while cooking dinner at anchor.
On the bow you’ve got a rebuilt (2021) electric windlass that hauls a 35 lbs CQR anchor with 150 ft of BBB 3/8th chain and 300 feet of 3-strand high gauge nylon rode. The teak bow pulpit has 2 steel bow rollers.
Some more specs…
LOA: 42 ft. 7 in.
LWL: 33 ft.
Beam: 11 ft. 10 in.
Ballast: 8000 lb
Draft: 5 ft.
Displacement: 23000 lbs
Engine: 1983 Perkins 4.108 • 1.76 L • 50 hp • 2912 engine hours • Cruise 7.5k, 1 gallon per hour • WOT 8.5k, 1.2 gallons per hour • Shaft 1” stainless steel • Kiwi feather propeller, 3/2010 • 'Strpper' linecutter • Hurth reverse gear, HBW100, 2-1 ratio
Rig and Sail Particulars: I: 44.90' / 13.69m J: 14.92' / 4.55m P: 38.70' / 11.80m E: 11.80' / 3.60m PY: 27.25' / 8.31m EY: 9.00' / 2.74m Tot. sail area (100% fore+main triangles): 685.91 ft2/63.72 m2
Sailboat Calcs: S.A. / Displ.: 14.01 Bal. / Displ.: 23.81 Disp: / Len: 156.11 Comfort Ratio: 29.60 Capsize Screening Formula: 1.73 S#: 2.82 Hull Speed: 8.39 kn Pounds/Inch Immersion: 1,667.88 pounds/inch
Navigation: • Autopilot - ST4000AP, 2001 • Radar - Lowrance Navico Broadband, BR24 • Wind - Standard Horizon WS150, 2002 • Depth & Speed - Standard Horizon MD150, 2001 • GPS chartplotter - Northstar M84 with transducer • VHF - ICOM M126DSC
Electrical: 120 volt shore power with cable and adapter, 30amp. • Deluxe electric control panel with circuit breakers for l2 volt DC and 120 volt AC system • AC unit - runs on shorepower. • Inverter - ProWatt 1500w • Alternator - Battery Master, 85amp, installed 8/2010 at 2540 engine hours. • Alpha alternator regulator • Battery charger - True Charge, 20/40 amp charger
Fuel: 65 gallons
Water: 115 gallons
Improvements: all new Sunbrella salon cushions (2019) rebuilt electric windlass (2020) rebuilt master compass (2021) solar panels (2021), new batteries (2021), new front load fridge (2021), reinforced stern pulpit for dinghy engine hauling and storage (2020), composting head (2021) new anchor chain and rode (2019)
BONUS ITEMS FOR SALE:
2021 10' North Atlantic Inflatable Hypolon Dinghy and 9.9 hp Honda outboard.
2 E-Sea-Rider marine beanbags
The Skinny:
Why Are We Selling? What’s the Real Deal?
We are preparing for a new adventure abroad and haven’t been using Zephyr as she deserves. She has been shrink wrapped and stored safely in the boatyard in Harpswell, Maine since October 2021 though she has sat for a bit she has been monitored, cared for and certainly not forgotten.
WHAT SHE NEEDS:
This is not an exhaustive list - all interested buyers are responsible for their own inspection and determination of necessary work.
Woodwork, brightwork, varnish, varnish, varnish - she’s an old boat full of wood, she will need a lot of work to make her woodwork shine again.
Leak chasing - she’s an old boat, she has leaks, we have always done our best to keep her dry and chase and fix leaks but the next owner will have to continue to chase leaks, we can ID areas we were going to get to next.
Genoa Furler - currently an old Hyde furler that has lost its bearings, could potentially be rebuilt
Main Sail furler or new main sail system - currently an out of mast furler that needs to be replaced we were going to do lazy jacks and a stack pack.
Cabin sole - the cabin floor is rough, there are soft spots and holes and many hatches in the floor have given out.
Mahogany Interior - there is staining from leaks and moisture on the walls and where walls meet the sole - mainly aesthetic but woodwork is needed.
Electronics - her electronics especially her nav system are old and could use replacing - we did fine with an iPad and Navionics for navigation. We used the Northstar mainly for depth and speed.
New aft mattress - we threw out the old one, you can get an affordable foam mattress that fits on Amazon.
Starboard side stanchion by the midship the stanchion has broken off due to the shrinkwrap - USE CAUTION WHEN ENTERING/EXITING THE BOAT.
Running rigging - her halyards and sheets have sat outside the shrinkwrap through Maine winters, enough said.
Systems not tested/known, last used and fully functional in October 2021:
Fresh water
Through hulls/Seacocks
Engine - last ran, serviced and winterized in Oct. 2021
Electrical
Steering
Marine Radio
Air Conditioning (last serviced running like a champ in 2021)
Refrigeration (new Engel DC fridge installed in 2021; on board cold plate pit fridge status unknown)
She needs some love but she is an incredibly solid boat her decks are all solid with no blistering and at this price is a great deal. This era of Gulfstars were very much overbuilt and used highest quality construction and therefore don’t run the risk of blistering as many others of this class and era do. Her engine, Mr. Perkins as he is respectfully known in our family is a beast and was professionally winterized in 2021 we were obsessive about engine maintenance so we have no reason to think her engine will need anything beyond some regular maintenance, oil change and fuel filters change.
We are looking to usher Zephyr smoothly into her next adventure. We are so proud of this boat and of the life she afforded us - the stories and memories we have from this season of life will be with us forever. Selling everything we had, buying her and moving aboard in 2012 was truly the best thing we ever did, take it from us, it is so beyond worth it - even in the Maine winters! We want to help someone else afford the same freedom therefore we are selling her at a discount in the hopes that we can inspire another family to take the leap! We are happy to share any and all information we have about the boat but we will not be able to accommodate much in terms of launching or in water surveying. Her price reflects what we think she needs and she is priced to sell smoothly and easily so we can move onto our next adventure.
Reach out today to arrange a showing. She is on the hard so you’ll need to be OK with climbing a ladder.
Photos from June 2026
“Somethin' 'bout a boat sitting on the sea
Out there in the wind, floatin’ on the free
Take you 'round the world, bring you back home
Gives a man hope, somethin' 'bout a boat.”
— Jimmy Buffett