1984 Mason Cutter — Tortuga

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Tortuga is hull #59 of Al Mason's celebrated Ta Shing–built 43, a heavy-displacement bluewater cutter with the long overhangs, high bow and flowing sheer that made the design a classic. She has been thoughtfully upgraded for shorthanded passagemaking: a 76 hp Yanmar repower, a 2013 rig refit with new standing and running rigging, reefing lines led aft, an electric halyard winch, and a removable inner stay that converts her from cutter to sloop. Freshly detailed and polished, now afloat in Southport, NC, and newly fitted with Velair reverse-cycle air conditioning (2026), she carries 200 gallons of fresh water in stainless steel tanks, shows the care of attentive owners, and offers a proven offshore platform at a compelling price.

DIMENSIONS & CAPACITIES

• LOA / Beam / Draft: 43' 10" / 12' 3" / 6' 3"
• LWL: 31' 3"
• Displacement / Ballast: 25,000 lbs / 8,400 lbs
• Fuel / Fresh Water: 100 gal in 2 plastic tanks (replaced 2024) / 200 gal in 5 stainless steel tanks
• Holding Tank: 25 gal (new plumbing, macerator and tank gauge 2014)
• Designer / Builder: Al Mason / Ta Shing Yacht Building Co., Taiwan

ACCOMMODATIONS & INTERIOR

• Layout: 3 cabins / 1 head with separate stall shower. Forward cabin with double berth; aft cabin with port double and starboard single (both with lee cloths). Main salon dinette lowers to a double, and the starboard settee converts to two pilot berths with lee cloths.
• Galley: U-shaped galley with Force 10 two-burner propane stove with oven and broiler (propane system all new 2016) | Technautics holding-plate refrigerator and freezer with electric compressor (2011), top- and side-access. Double stainless sinks, pressure fresh water plus manual fresh and saltwater pumps, Seagull water purifier.
• Joinery: Signature Mason varnished teak cabinetry with louvered doors; teak and holly cabin sole.
• Light & Ventilation: 14 chrome opening portlights with screens, 3 screened deck hatches, 2 deck prisms, 4 chrome dorades on teak boxes, red/white LED overhead lighting (2015).
• Upholstery: New cushions throughout cabin and cockpit (2012).
• Hot Water: 12 gal water heater (110V and engine heat exchanger).

MECHANICAL & PROPULSION

• Engine: Yanmar 4JH2-THE | 76 hp (factory engine was 50 hp) | 2,400 hrs (repowered 1998)
• Drive & Prop: Shaft drive with Aquadrive flexible coupling; shaft parallel to the waterline for deep prop placement. Cutlass bearing replaced 2016; rudder bearings repacked 2016; stuffing boxes serviced 2017.
• Engine Service: Major service 2012 (new exhaust and cooling hoses, injectors cleaned, valves adjusted, shaft serviced); new starter and wiring harness 2011; new start switch and engine panel 2013. Dual Racor fuel filters, oil-change pump, Halon system in engine compartment. Engine sits beneath an insulated, fully removable 6-panel salon sole for quiet running and full access.
• Climate Control: Velair reverse-cycle air conditioning and heat (new 2026) | Espar 18,000 BTU diesel forced-air heat with vents to all cabins and head (new fuel pump 2016), retained and fully operational

ELECTRONICS & NAVIGATION

• Chartplotter: Raymarine e125 at helm (2012)
• Autopilot: Raymarine P70 control head with Autohelm 7000 linear drive (2012)
• Radar: Raymarine digital radome on transom electronics pole (2012)
• Instrumentation: Three Raymarine i70 displays in cockpit with Raymarine speed and depth transducers (2012)
• Secondary Displays: Raymarine e7 chartplotter at nav station (2012)
• Weather: Sirius XM weather receiver (2012)
• Other: Ritchie binnacle compass (2014), Rieker inclinometer

COMMUNICATIONS & CONNECTIVITY

• VHF Radio: ICOM IC-M424 DSC with remote cockpit mic, plus a second ICOM IC-M412 DSC at nav station (both 2012)
• AIS: Raymarine AIS transceiver — transmit and receive (2012), integrated with chartplotters
• Antennas: New VHF, AIS and GPS antennas (2012)

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

• House Bank: 600Ah lithium | 2021 (installed with the Victron system)
• Starting Battery: 12V 105Ah Lifeline AGM | 2013; cockpit crossover switch for emergency starting from house bank
• Solar Array: 700W solar array
• Inverter/Charger: Victron MultiPlus 12/3000/120 — 3,000 VA pure sine wave inverter, 120A battery charger, 50A automatic transfer switch with PowerAssist | 2021
• DC-DC Charger: Victron Orion-Tr Smart 12/12-18 isolated DC-DC charger with Bluetooth monitoring, each side protected by a 25A thermal breaker | 2021
• Charging: 250A high-output Balmar alternator programmed for lithium; Xantrex TrueCharge 2 shore charger (2018)
• Monitoring: Xantrex LinkPro battery monitor (2015)
• Shore Power: 30A cockpit inlet with 50' cord; 110V outlets in aft cabin, galley and salon; 12V charging outlets at nav station, salon and cockpit
• Lighting: LED cabin lights (2015); LED navigation and mast lights (2016)

SAILS & RIGGING

• Sail Inventory: Doyle full-batten mainsail with 2 reefs, stack pack and lazy jacks (2013); 128% genoa with foam luff on Profurl furler (2008); Doyle hanked-on staysail (spare Profurl furler included); storm trysail on dedicated mast track; storm staysail (2015)
• Rigging: Standing rigging replaced 2013; new chainplates 2015 | Running rigging 2013/2014. Hydraulic backstay and running backstays (2013); removable inner stay with release lever and stowage bracket for sloop configuration (2015); Strong Track mainsail system; boom vang (2013); mast and spreaders cleaned and painted (2016)
• Winches: Lewmar 48 self-tailing primaries; Lewmar 30 self-tailing staysail winches; Lewmar 46 electric halyard winch on cabin top (2013). Reefing lines led to cockpit (2013).

SAFETY & SECURITY

• EPIRB: ACR 406
• Recovery: Lifesling with throw rope
• Bilge: Two electric bilge pumps plus manual pump in cockpit
• Fire: Three Type II extinguishers plus Halon system in engine compartment
• Deck: Coated 1/4" double lifelines (2015), heavy-duty granny bars at mast, teak cabin-top handrails, radar reflector, custom emergency tiller

MISCELLANEOUS & CRUISING GEAR

• Tender Handling: Kato outboard davit and transom outboard bracket
• Ground Tackle: Simpson Lawrence 1500 windlass with bow foot switches and cockpit rocker switch | Twin bow rollers; 60 lb Delta primary on 350' of 3/8" BBB chain; 30 lb Bruce secondary with 30' chain and 250' rode; 80 lb fisherman storm anchor; snubber bridle with Mantus chain hook; saltwater washdown at bow (new pump 2017)
• Canvas: Beige dodger and bimini (2015); mainsail stack pack; beige covers for teak handrails and hatches; Fairclough full winter cover (2014); new Carolina cover (2025)
• Cockpit: Folding teak cockpit table, cushioned teak raised backrests, two large cockpit lockers, folding stainless boarding ladder (2015) and swim ladder (2016)
• Companionway: Louvered teak doors, clear heavy-duty Plexiglas door and three-piece slatted door

MAINTENANCE & UPGRADES

• 1998: Repowered with 76 hp Yanmar 4JH2-THE
• 2006: Preventive barrier coat (3 coats West System epoxy, 9 coats Interprotect)
• 2008: 128% genoa and Profurl furler
• 2011: Starter and wiring harness; Technautics refrigeration
• 2012: Major engine service and dual Racor setup; complete Raymarine electronics suite, ICOM VHFs, AIS and new antennas; new interior and cockpit cushions
• 2013: Standing and running rigging; Doyle main; hydraulic backstay and running backstays; electric halyard winch; reefing led aft; boom vang; Lifeline AGM batteries; engine start switch and panel
• 2014: Holding tank plumbing and macerator; Ritchie compass; Fairclough cover
• 2015: Chainplates; removable inner stay; storm staysail; lifelines; dodger and bimini; boarding ladder; diesel tanks and fuel lines; freshwater plumbing and pump; LED cabin lights; LinkPro monitor
• 2016: Propane system; cutlass bearing and rudder bearings; mast and spreaders painted; LED nav lights; Espar fuel pump; swim ladder
• 2017: Bow washdown pump; stuffing boxes serviced
• 2018: Xantrex TrueCharge 2 charger
• 2021: 600Ah lithium house bank; 250A Balmar high-output alternator; Victron MultiPlus 12/3000/120 inverter/charger and Orion-Tr Smart DC-DC charger
• 2024: New plastic diesel fuel tanks
• 2025: New Carolina cover
• 2026: New Velair reverse-cycle air conditioning/heat system; boat detailed and polished
• Annually: Two coats of antifouling each spring (most recently Hydrocoat Eco); hull Awlgripped with Imron clear coat

The company offers the details of this vessel in good faith but cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of this information nor warrant the condition of the vessel. A buyer should instruct his agents, or his surveyors, to investigate such details as the buyer desires validated. This vessel is offered subject to prior sale, price change or withdrawal without notice.

Engine and generator hours are as of the date of the original listing and are a representation of what the listing broker is told by the owner and/or actual reading of the engine hour meters. The broker cannot guarantee the true hours. It is the responsibility of the purchaser and/or his agent to verify engine hours, warranties implied or otherwise and major overhauls as well as all other representations noted on the listing brochure.

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