General Description

This semi‑custom 43’ fiberglass Hampton Pilothouse Cutter is a well‑built cruising sailboat designed for comfort, protection, and offshore capability. The aft cockpit features a custom fiberglass helm pedestal with an elevated helm chair, teak‑capped coamings, teak‑planked seating and sole, and an aluminum pipe bimini with canvas top and sun‑shade curtains. A starboard‑offset companionway leads forward beneath a green canvas dodger.

The hull carries a traditional spoon bow with a teak/stainless bowsprit and solid stainless rod bobstay, balanced by a graceful canoe stern fitted with a custom aluminum‑and‑teak boarding platform and folding ladder. White hullsides with emerald green boot and sheer stripes pair with a teak/stainless rub rail and ten bronze opening ports.

Teak‑planked decks are bordered by molded fiberglass bulwarks and protected by stainless bow and stern rails, stanchions, and wire lifelines. Deck features include a teak butterfly hatch, an aluminum deck hatch, and teak Dorade vents. The pilothouse incorporates stainless‑framed side windows, rectangular opening ports, stainless hatches, and teak handrails and eyebrow trim.

Rigged as a masthead cutter, the vessel carries anodized aluminum spars, stainless wire standing rigging, in‑boom mainsail roller furling, and roller furling on both headsails. Auxiliary power is supplied by an inboard diesel engine with a direct‑drive shaft, supported by a single 120/240V diesel generator.

Accommodations & Layout

This semi‑custom pilothouse design offers a comfortable two‑cabin, two‑head layout well suited for cruising or liveaboard use.

Entry to the interior is via a starboard‑offset companionway leading into the main salon. To port is an L‑shaped settee with a fixed dining table, while the raised interior helm station with an elevated helm chair is positioned immediately forward. A single seat occupies the forward starboard corner of the salon, with the entertainment center and storage lockers located to starboard. The engine and generator are housed below the salon sole and accessed through removable floor panels.

Moving aft from the salon and down two steps is a private aft cabin, featuring a large double berth to starboard and a private head to port, creating an ideal owner’s stateroom arrangement.

Forward of the salon, down three steps, is the spacious L‑shaped galley to port, designed for safe and efficient use underway. Opposite the galley is a settee with storage lockers. Just forward of this area is the forward head with a separate shower stall. Additional storage lockers and a built‑in washer/dryer are located further forward to port.

The forward cabin features a large double berth offset to starboard, with storage lockers on both port and starboard sides. The anchor locker is accessed directly through the forward bulkhead for convenient inspection and service.

Overview

Gypsea Dancer is an exceptional example of the Hampton 43 Pilothouse Cutter—extensively refit over the past decade and surveyed in January 2026 with an overall condition described as “Like New – Well Above Average” for a vessel of this age and type.

Built by Hampton Yacht Building Co. in Taiwan and designed by Ron Amy, this semi‑custom pilothouse cruiser offers classic offshore pedigree combined with modern propulsion, electrical systems, sail handling, and interior upgrades. The result is a true turnkey cruising yacht with dramatically reduced ownership risk compared to typical vessels of this vintage.

A professional condition and valuation survey assigns a replacement cost new of approximately $1.4 million.

Vessel Specifications

• Builder: Hampton Yacht Building Co. (Taiwan)
• Designer: Ron Amy
• Model: Hampton 43 Pilothouse Cutter
• Year: 1997
• Vessel Name: Gypsea Dancer
• Hull Material: Solid fiberglass
• Rig: Masthead cutter
• LOA: 51’ 0”
• LWL: 35’ 7”
• Beam: 13’ 0”
• Draft: 6’ 4”
• Displacement: Approx. 34,810 lbs
• Fuel Capacity: 340 gallons
• Water Capacity: 170 gallons
• Holding Tank: 60 gallons
• Cruising Speed: 5–8 knots

Location: Texas (Gulf Coast

Construction & Exterior

• Solid fiberglass hull with Imron finish
• Teak‑planked decks (new system bonded without mechanical fasteners)
• Teak‑capped fiberglass bulwarks
• Stainless steel bow and stern rails, stanchions, and lifelines
• Stainless steel opening ports and hatches
• Teak/stainless bowsprit with stainless rod bobstay
• Canoe stern with custom aluminum pipe and teak boarding platform
• Self‑bailing cockpit with four large scuppers
• Custom aluminum pipe cockpit bimini with canvas top and sun shades

Mechanical & Propulsion

Main Engine

• Make/Model: Beta Marine B‑85 Turbo
• Horsepower: 85 HP
• Year Installed: 2019
• Hours: Approx. 25 hours
• Transmission: Velvet Drive hydraulic (2.57:1)
• Condition: Like new

Generator

• Make/Model: Phasor K3‑7 PMG
• Output: 8 kW, 120/240V
• Year Installed: 2019
• Hours: Approx. 6 hours

Condition: Like new

Electrical Systems

• 120/240V AC and 12V DC systems fully replaced
• Victron MultiPlus‑II inverter/charger (3000W)
• Lithium house battery bank (Victron LiFePO4)
• Dedicated AGM starting battery
• Blue Sea AC/DC panels with digital monitoring
• Victron system monitoring display
• Galvanic isolator installed and tested
• All wiring marine‑grade and professionally installed

Survey Notes:

Electrical systems found in very good condition with tidy workmanship and no evidence of overheating or faults.

Plumbing & Tankage

• Stainless steel and polyethylene freshwater tanks
• Two 12V freshwater pressure pumps
• 6‑gallon stainless steel water heater with engine heat
• Sea Recovery water maker (installed, never commissioned)
• Fiberglass holding tank with macerator and deck pump‑out

Rigging, Sails & Deck Gear

• Masthead cutter rig
• In‑boom mainsail furling system
• Roller furling genoa and staysail
• Standing rigging replaced (2021)
• New sails (reported 2021)
• Electric halyard winch
• Multiple self‑tailing winches
• Cross‑cockpit mainsheet traveler

Electronics & Navigation

• Garmin multifunction displays ( 2 inside and 1 cockpit)
• Garmin radar
• Garmin hydraulic autopilot
• AIS
• VHF radio with cockpit control
• Bow thruster
• Compass at both helm stations
• Forward-Facing All-Weather Camera

Climate Control & Comfort

• Three self‑contained marine air conditioning units
• Generator‑powered and inverter‑supported systems
• Pilothouse provides a protected all‑weather helm station

Broker’s Summary

Gypsea Dancer represents an outstanding opportunity to acquire a serious offshore pilothouse cruiser that has already undergone an extensive and high‑quality refit. With modern propulsion, lithium power, updated rigging and sails, and exceptional interior and exterior condition, this Hampton 43 stands apart from typical vessels of her vintage.

Ideal for coastal cruising, offshore passage making, or extended liveaboard

Detail

Hampton 43 – Improvements & Upgrades

1. Deck, Cockpit & Exterior Enhancements

• Aluminum swim platform with teak grate
• Aluminum rigid bimini with canvas cover
• Fiberglassed cockpit lazarette and propane locker hatches with added drains
• Four cockpit scuppers added
• Traveler relocated with take‑up lines routed through cockpit coaming
• Upper helm seat added
• Teak companionway hatch (crowned to prevent leaks)
• Teak companionway doors
• Companionway screen (chocks mounted in wet locker)
• Teak decking added to coach roof
• Deck wash‑down system with quick disconnect
• Updated, larger roller furling systems
• Teak shroud rollers
• Replaced all domed through‑holes with flush‑mount fittings (safety improvement)
• Salon side glass upgraded from 3/16" to 1/2" tempered safety glass

2. Helm Stations, Navigation & Controls

• Re‑fiberglassed and Corian‑finished binnacle to accommodate instruments and Richie compass
• Teleflex Marine side‑mount engine controls (upper and lower helms)
• Vetus marine gauges with rudder angle indicators (upper and lower helms)
• Garmin electronics with VHF radios at upper and lower helms (2022)
• Custom laminated Corian helm station
• Custom Edison laminated wheel
• Custom helm seats (upper and lower)

3. Rigging, Sails & Deck Hardware

• Lewmar winch with teak base for roller furlers
• Upgraded Lewmar mast winch
• Serviced and rebuilt original winches
• Sails and rigging upgrades including:
• Schaefer boom
• Caliber type staysail rig
• Pre‑tensioned halyards (genoa and staysail)
• LED running lights with up‑down spreader lights

4. Mechanical & Propulsion Systems

• Beta 85 diesel engine with Velvet Drive transmission (installed 2021; 25.5 hours)
• Northern Lights generator with sound shield (circa 2016; believed 10 kW, to be confirmed)
• Side‑Power bow thruster (2018)
• Shaft brake installed
• Converted stainless steel 40‑gallon water tank to day diesel tank
• Advanced Diesel Systems fuel polishing system
• Oil change pump installed

5. Electrical, Power & Climate Control

• Updated AC/DC electrical panel with sub‑panel
• Victron inverter and lithium house battery system (just under 1000 Ah)
• Forward and aft 12,000 BTU air‑conditioning units
• Dometic 16,000 BTU air‑conditioning unit in main salon (2026)
• Intra Marine dimmable LED lighting with red night lighting
• LED courtesy lighting on stairways and steps
• Caframo 12V cabin fans (8 units)

6. Plumbing, Water & Galley Systems

• Sea Recovery Aqua Mini 750 watermaker with 70‑gallon tank (installed, never commissioned)
• Converted icebox to dedicated freezer compartment
• Technautics 12V refrigeration and freezer system
• Seaward F700 stainless steel water heater
• Jabsco water pressure pump system
• Jabsco self‑priming macerator pump
• Replaced stainless steel sinks and faucets (galley and heads)
• Replaced shower faucet

7. Heads & Sanitation

• Raritan PHII manual freshwater head (forward head)
• Raritan Marine Elegance freshwater macerating head (aft head)
• Port‑side cabinet added in aft head
• Corian shower panels replacing Formica walls
• Inset mirrors added in both heads
• Finished cabinetry under sinks
• Remodeled forward head cabinetry with banjo‑style door and extended storage

8. Interior Joinery, Layout & Comfort

• Replaced vinyl headliner with removable Okoume plywood panels and ceiling grooves
• Teak & holly laminate ceiling beams with corbels
• Routed air conditioning into the heads
• Improved AC discharge venting in the main salon
• Corian countertops throughout the interior
• Custom table with compass rose inlay
• Curio cabinet with a statue
• Modified TV nook with Samsung Bluetooth TV/computer monitor
• Replaced all lift‑out Formica panels (settees, berths, etc.)
• Replaced all louvered doors; added louvered doors behind galley sink
• Converted ¾ berth into lockers and a pilot berth with a footwell
• Added a full‑length mirror near the compression post

9. Stateroom Improvements

Forward Stateroom

• Upper cabinets added (port and starboard)
• Berth converted from slide‑out to stationary
• Curved shelf added
• Screen added to the opening hatch
• New mattress and custom bedding

General

• All upholstered cushions replaced

10. Exterior Maintenance & Refit Work

• Teak Decking Systems glue‑down teak decks with soft‑spot repairs (2021)
• Full blister repair with two layers of fiberglass and vinyl ester resin (2026)
• Stem‑to‑stern paint (2021)
• Rebuilt and painted Maxwell HWC windlass
• New canvas (2022)
• Replaced plexiglass in all opening hatches

11. Safety Equipment

• Winslow 4‑person life raft in Pelican case with stainless cradle
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