Sailing Experiences on Mason 43/44

[Harley1]

Hello
it would seem that all postings on the mason 43/44 are quite dated.
im the proud owner of a mason 43 and hope to start my cruising life next spring would like to meet people with similar interests.
My home port is Virginia Beach Virginia
hope to hear from you soon
Harley

[MSB44]

Harley 1... Are you a member of our Owners group?



Sent from my iPad using Cruisers Sailing Forum

[Don C L]

Originally Posted by Harley1

Hello
it would seem that all postings on the mason 43/44 are quite dated.
im the proud owner of a mason 43 and hope to start my cruising life next spring would like to meet people with similar interests.
My home port is Virginia Beach Virginia
hope to hear from you soon
Harley

Welcome! I don't have a Mason but have admired them from afar. Here's the link:
Cruisers & Sailing Forums - Mason Sailboats

[Harley1]

Would like to be a member please direct me?

Thank you
Harley

[Cheechako]

An acquaintance had a Mason 43. Beautiful boat. Heavy I guess, but likely no more than many. Took him quite a while to sell it, but eventually did. I was surprised he didn't get more for it.

[CarinaPDX]

Friends of mine have had to swallow the hook for health reasons and their Mason is for sale, currently in Turkey. I can provide contacts for anyone interested.

Greg

[matauwhi]

G'day, Harley. Here is the link to the Mason Owner's Group on Yahoo:
https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/...at_owners/info
All the best. Cheers

[robert sailor]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

An acquaintance had a Mason 43. Beautiful boat. Heavy I guess, but likely no more than many. Took him quite a while to sell it, but eventually did. I was surprised he didn't get more for it.

The 44 was an attempt to improve the design and I think it did. 43's were not as popular. I remember them as new boats, yikes, anyways they do have very pretty lines.

[Harley1]

Sailing this summer on the Chesapeake and as far as charleston south carlina has been quite the joy ...
cant wait till this spring to head south for a few years .

single handed all summer what a boat (mason 43 )

If anyone would like to share there plans or would like to sail out with ,,,,, email is pharley107@aol.com

[Lowcountry]

I bought 1988 M44 hull 125 last November and have been refitting her. Sailing her to the Exumas in two months, can't wait.

[KJB]

While I don't have a production Mason, I am the very satisfied owner of a custom built (mahogany on white oak) Mason 38. This is a design that Al Mason drew in the 60's I believe. Mine was built in 1980 and as far as I know - she is the only Mason 38 built.

Like her bigger sisters (43, 44) she is a full keeled heavy cruiser designed to take her captain as far as he would like to go, which is what I would like to do one day. I get many admiring looks and questions about her. This is not an attempted hijack - only meant to participate in the conversation. Have a nice day.

[johngfoster]

I'm seriously interested in a Mason 43. I love the interior layout, but my biggest concern is the offsets companionway. How big of an issue is this for world cruising? Are there work-arounds that can make it safer and more secure? Just wondering how folks have managed with it in the real world.

[Cheechako]

I don't think it's much of an issue really. I have a friend who cruised one. I'd have to look and see if I have their email etc to find out their thoughts thinking back. Solid boats, heavy.

[Don C L]

Perhaps I am missing something, but I don't see the offset companionway as unsafe. Do you mean in a knock-down to starboard, that it will take on more water?

[MSB44]

johngfoster

Many owners of Mason 43's and 44's have done some serious offshore cruising. You can join our owners group and seek more direct input.

A number of owners (some with kids/some without) have sailed the California coast to Mexico, then jumped off to the South Pacific, others have crossed to the Med or to the Eastern Caribbean. George Day (Blue Water Sailing mag editor) circumnavigated with his wife and 2 children. I have not heard of any horror stories involving the offset companionway. The only time its really ever come up is when Joe Minick's M43 Southern Cross got knocked down by a meltemi while at anchor in the eastern Med. Think his companionway was open (no drop boards in place) and that allowed water into the interior. He had an article about this event in Practical Sailor.

I think that if you are sailing offshore on any sailboat and conditions are challenging with waves that could break into the cockpit, you should have the drop boards securely in place. And you should have a spot to clip in your tether/harness for transitioning from down below to on deck.

Have sailed our M44 for the past 26 years, I've never had any issues with the offset companionway.

By the way, a Mason 43 won the Cruisers division in the 2016 Newport-Bermuda race.

Bob