Very nice tribute to a really beautiful boat. My wife and I have owned our Mason 54, Final Straw, hull #6, for 26 years. We had the greatest adventure of our lives taking her on a Pacific crossing from San Diego to Australia. We left in 2001 and returned in 2008. It was an incredible journey and we learned a lot about sailing these magnificent vessels. We never felt unsafe in all sorts of weather situations. The comfort of having a boat with great air circulation at hot and humid South Pacific anchorages was a clear benefit over other cruising boats. The handholds located in strategic places along the main salon and hallways saved us from many potential injuries in rocky seas. We were fortunate to have hydraulics for our three main winches and our headsail & mainsail furling. Sailing double-handed was very easy with this addition. Cruising is often defined as "fixing your boat in paradise." We were no exception. But we thanked PAE every time we had to work on something because she was designed with lots of reasonable access. Crawling in the bilge might be an exception. But it got the job done. The boat is easy to handle and she is fast off the wind. We made the 2800 nautical miles from Puerto Vallarta to Hiva Oa in the Marquesas in under 17 days at an average speed of 7 knots. The engine used all of 35 gallons from the 380 gallon capacity thanks to good tradewinds and lots of downwind sailing. Enjoyed watching this video. I can say firsthand, I wholly agree with its conclusions! We're now preparing her for a second Pacific crossing in January 2025 as we pass the helm to our son and his family!
Hi Tim, Wonderful video! You have done a fantastic job of gathering up photos and telling the Mason story. I didn’t see any errors in what you said and to the contrary was amazed at how much history you were able to uncover. Of course I agree with all that you reported… the Masons are gorgeous boats and their bones and structure are such that they should last for 100 years. Some more DNA history…. You showed the schooner Malabar VII. Malabar VII was owned by my family when I was in my early 20s and we cruised that boat from California to Florida in 1970/71. Alden’s beautiful sheer lines were picked up by Al Mason when he worked for Alden. That is why we looked up Al. The sheer lines and other lines of the Masons are just perfect and that is the foundation of the beauty of these classic boats. Jeff Leishman (PAE partner and Chief of Design) studied under Al Mason and subsequently did the design work as each of the “3” models (33,43,53 and 63) were updated to the “4” models. Jeff emulated Al’s genius and combined that with his own natural talent to design our Nordhavns (25 Nordhavn models over the last 35 years). I know.. I know.. “dark side”, but it is a surprisingly short step from a Mason to a Nordhavn. Al Mason was in the later years of his career when he designed the Mason 43. For most of Al’s career, he designed in wood because he was suspicious of FRP. As a result, the structure of the Masons are brutally strong and overbuilt with the heavy laminate schedule, internal stringer grid system and heavy bulkheads. To my knowledge, there has never been a structural failure of a PAE/ Ta Shing built Mason. Fast forward 48 years… Young men have become old men, but these lovely timeless Masons keep going. And something else that keeps on going is our relationship with the Ta Shing factory in Tainan Taiwan. The design is only half of the story… the other half is the skill and dedication of the builder to produce a quality product consistently over the years. Ta Shing does that and more… I can’t praise them enough. When the early Masons were built, we were fighting an uphill battle to be respected. How could 3 young guys from California and an unknown builder in Taiwan produce a nice boat? It took the perspective of time to realize how precious these boats are. Today of course Ta Shing builds Nordhavns… 48 years after we shook hands on the first Mason 43. Your video is a great history lesson for those who are interested in learning about Masons (212 built over 20 years) and I think that it will be viewed many many times in the coming years. It is a historical document. I have some other photos that can be added to the video. Please reach out to me and I will send them to you. Thank you for the time and effort you put into the video, Dan Streech President PAE/Nordhavn Dan@nordhavn.com
Thanks for the great review! We just spent five years and over 9,000 NM cruising the Pacific side of Mexico and the Gulf of California on our Mason 44. It’s been a safe, comfortable, and beautiful home for our cruising adventures. I can’t think of another boat that I would prefer over our Mason. We recently completed the Baja Bash from San Jose Del Cabo back to California and the range under power is closer to 800-1,000 NM depending on conditions. The only downside to owning a Mason is having to deal with all the other cruisers complimenting you on how beautiful your boat is.😂
Tim - this is one of your best videos - packed with the history of PAE, a good description and videos of the factory and the Mason 44. I have never sailed on one, but did a walkthrough of a Mason 44 for sale in Annapolis last year. I was impressed, too bad it wasn't on the market before I bought my present boat!
mason are awesome built blue water boats. spent three years blue water sailing on our 54 and weathered every weather situation but a hard core hit hirricane. never doubted the boat, only myself for taking on too much. our only issue was draft. nary a negative comment, strong recommendation.
$120,000 you bet !! Years ago when I resided in Southern Cal. I had the opportunity to crew on a Mason 44 traveling north up the coast along the channel Islands. Very pleasurable boat to sail. Very comfortable.
We bought a 79' Island Trader/Transworld 41' CC during Covid site unseen- we were in northern Ont and it was in Maine- two years later we were able to get our hands on her and brought her to where we now live in N.S- hubby's first "sail" on the ocean. This year she's getting some work done/sanding- the woodwork is incredible, we have dragons carved on our doors- Taiwanese built chubby chic. Fortunately for us the previous owners had her for 20 years and put in a LOT of work, replacing the teak decks and masts and the suck- so that all the 'ehavy lifting' was done. Now we just have to sell our 34' 1986 Catalina w/ the rebuilt engine/etc in Ontario! We went 'bigger' because we realised that we just wanted the added security of being on a boat that's made for oceans/more room for guests. Thank you for another great video- :)
I also have a Transworld 41 Taiwan Built boat @ladyk did you intend to offend viewers by saying Choy Lee and Tayana aren't beautiful? I'm a big fan of both. Tayana Mariner is a sexy blue water boat. And Choy Lee... practically in a class by themselves. Careful... you got a lot of Leaky Teakers lurking in your audience. Love one. Love them all.
You should speak to Tom Cunliffe a highly respected British Sailor instructor and writer on all things boaty with sails , and a fount of knowledge and experience. who when he stopped sailing “ Real boats “ ( wooden things ) and couldn’t find a plastic boat that suited him here travelled to the USA and bought a Mason 44 . Joking aside I’ve enjoyed his writings and videos for years ( Although not a boat owner or sailor ) I’m sure some of your viewers would enjoy his videos.
@@TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns My pleasure Tom. Spent 3 weeks on a Vancouver I think 27 /30 ft maybe in the med . Never having set foot on a sailboat tiny , cramped , noisy under engine . Zero wind in the mornings stiff breezes in the afternoons the boat bounding through the short chop like a terrier through long grass . Absolutely the best holiday of my life and I’ve devoured books magazines and videos on sailing ever since . Through all that your work and style stands out for me . Thank you for all you do , and regards to your good lady .
For somebody who wants a "real boat", there are a few excellent candidates up here in Puget Sound right now, including an amazing cold-molded Jespersen/Davidson that someone with both racing and cruising intentions should make theirs as well as four Cape George sailboats (including a brand new one that was fitted as an electric sailboat...for the person with an extra million dollars; the older ones are approachable to normal folks, though). 🙂
Mason’s were one of the few boats with such a high level of detail from the Far East. As a sailmaker, at a production loft, I made a quite a few sets of sails for Mason’s including the 65. I was invited to sail on the 65 with Mason on board, Interesting guy.
I am the owner of the 1983 M43 that hove to in 35kts for 8 hours. I also sailed through 20 footers breaking the top 4 feet sailing nearly downwind. The boat did want to move towards a broach if you made no steering correction in steep large following seas, but remained very steerable. The inboard rudder does have enough authority. And you forgot to mention the huge strength and protection of the rudder being attached to the keel. I've owned the boat for close to 40 years now. PAE was one of the only Taiwan builders that employed US engineers to oversee the building of these boats. While the Taiwanese were great craftsmen, they were not yachtsmen, there is no pleasure boating in Taiwan. They had no real world experience to draw from, so any unsupervised yard would make a plethora of mistakes for an ocean going yacht. The Mason as a result is built to a far higher standard, in materials, design, and most importantly, in execution of the design. The other tradeoffs on the 43 vs 44 are The 43 has a much larger owners stateroom and a valuable and seaworthy quarter berth that the 44 loses. If you like teak decks, and I do, the 43 has them, just don't scrub them to death. The bad rap some express on teak decks is due to unknowledgeable owners, not a fault in construction, assuming the decks were installed properly in the first place. The 43 has teak shower stall, marble vanity, and quite a few small touches the 44 does not. The 43 Nav desk is athwartship and the 44 is fore and aft. If you move the traveler on a 43 to the cockpit right at the forward end of the cockpit well, you eliminate the narrow traveler, and improve the dodger design options. That's a great mod to do. The 44 does have more ergonomic backrests, and a more straightforward dodger. The 44 has fewer opening portlights and metal hatches instead of teak. I would not sell my 43 to get a 44. I would get a 53/54. These boats were built on a nearly custom basis. Consequently there are many variations in berths, heads, galley, saloon table, hatches, winches and deck hardware. If you are thinking of buying one, look into the owners group, currently hosted on Yahoo. The owners are a great resource, and the lead moderator has done a great job of keeping the forum going. groups.io/g/PAE-Mason-Sailboats
Always loved this boat. You might want to mention PAE went on to design and build Nordhavns after fully going over to the dark side! Excellent video. Subscribed.
Our buddy owns a Maison 44 and we have had a chance to sail it. It's such a beautiful, solid classic sailboat and in Malaysia that price point even today is not considered Cheap.
Always a nice video great Work , you know id be happy crossing anywhere on a production boat. I lived aboard for three years with my wife and we’d not be afraid of a many production boat if the condition was good and the systems were all fresh . I can’t say that a heavy boat really appeals to me because we really don’t like sailing at 2-3 knots it’s depressing . We like moving along and getting those miles done and getting to where we are going . But size matters for us and when we’re so old we need that waterline length for comfort and speed and space. Great video good work and we’re always learning from your videos very good work keep them coming .
Ta shing built my Baba 30 and I can attest to the fine level of teak woodwork but my next boat when/if I get one won’t have so much teak. Upkeep is a lot of work lol
I almost ended up with a Mason 54 that used to live in Sausalito (may still); however, the teak decks were paper thin, and it needed a full re-decking. Below, though, it was a level of finish I haven't seen on any other sailboat, not even another Mason. In the end, I found a beautiful Morris 46 (and a Tayana 52...ahem). Anyway, to answer your question, unless there's a serious issue yet to be uncovered during survey, that vessel is absolutely worth the asking price. In fact, I think it would be hard to do better for that amount, if it's a cruiser that one is looking for.
I have always liked the Mason 43 and 44. Living in Bass Harbor Maine and sailing out of Southwest Harbor, ME there are several Mason 44s in the area. I liked hearing about Bass Harbor Marine. I bought my boat through their brokerage working with Bob Pooler who was behind them importing the Mason Boats. The 44 is nice, but an equivalent condition 43 will be much cheaper. Of course, If I was going to spend $150K I would give that Hinckley 48 you showed the picture of a close look. It is listed for $135K, which is a good price for an absolutely top quality boat. Of course, If I had $200K to spend, I would look seriously at a Hinckley SW50. That is a nice boat you can sail anywhere.
This Mason is awesome, just the kind of boat I’m looking for in a years time. That or a Passport 42, I must admit was leaning Mason but I also really like having a dodger.
My complaint about this boat is it was made AFTER the marine industry learned from the 1979 fastnet race that overhangs, especially aft, can be dangerous in a large sea. Most boat made after 1979 went away from the overhangs after the study's results was published. The fault is a rudder farther in giving less leverage with the stern being father back giving the sea more leverage making it easier to be broached. Seems these guys kept with the old hull design. Looks great but odd in my opinion on a bluewater boat. The overhangs in the front aren't as dangerous and have the advantage of being able to 'drag' the anchor just below the waterline to clean it when pulling out of an anchorage without hitting the hull with the anchor. Other than the stern overhang, I really like this boat and a good price for it too. First thing I would do if I bought it is replace the dodger-Bimini with a windshield connected Bimini with sides that go about a foot farther back. That would keep the cockpit a lot drier when beating into it or when raining. People really underestimate the need for a large Bimini in the tropics and if kept tight, will not blow off in a blow like some claim.
Yes Fastnet taught us a lot . What a disaster . I do just that . Drag my anchor and even some chain before bringing it up , never get mud on the deck .
I'll be honest, I've never been a fan of some older boats, but that thing is gorgeous. Definitely looks ocean worthy. If I was in the market (had that kind of money) I'd definitely want to take a closer look.
Tim, this would be THE fiberglass boat to pry me from my C&C. I realize 145k seems steep, but I wouldn’t hesitate to tender that cash for her if I had the cash to do so. These boats are pretty much the epitome of a cross between CCA and contemporary boatbuilding, and ditch the flash and lightweight boatbuilding so popular now. No substitute for weight down low and thick layups. She’ll take much more than I can!
Great channel. I'm still looking through your videos. I have tons of questions. How far away have you sailed? What is the proper etiquette greeting other cruisers? How do you alert other governments of your presence? What happens when you're boarded? What is it like communicating via radio with bridges and coast guards and other sailors? How safe do you feel leaving your boat at anchorage, and what do you use to secure it? How old is too old to sail? How much is the mark-up on food when your cruising? What drives people away from cruising? And just off the top of my head, when you're in the Caribbean and a hurricane is bearing down, what do you do? How do you know where to go to get out of dodge? Thanks for even reading the comment, I'd love it if you could answer some of these in a video, if you already have, I'll eventually find the answers as I watch your vids I guess.
And BTW: You will see all kinds of boats that cross the oceans that you wouldn't think would have a chance. Tons of Beneteaus included. I would dare it in a Benny but there are lots of them doing it every year. I sailed a Hunter 376 across most of the South Pacific. I would sail the southern sea in it, but it was perfectly OK for the South Pacific. I say OK because, well, I now have a Whitby 55' and it is night and day difference between those two boats. I'll never give up my Whitby as long as I can sail because, well, it may be the best boat every made, but I had a lot of fun on my Hunter cruising the Bahamas, all of the Caribbean and the South Pacific.
Let’s talk ocean going vessels and sugar scoops ! How and where do you attach the wind vane on a sugar scoop? Which boat is the worst for a wind vane? Which boat is the best for a wind vane? Modern and older in the 5-40 year age range.
THIS is the video I've been waiting for!! Thank you!!! I'm in the market for a ~$100k blue water boat. The Mason is pretty close to what I'm looking for. If it had a sugar scoop, it might be perfect.
Het Tim, thank you that was awesome vid. I love the mason's they are such a beautiful vessel. If I have not just bought a Beneteau I would seriously look at this.
@@robertgold2643 I’m selling mine if you’re interested; I love it but I barely use it so it’s hard to justify the expense. It is equipped like no other and ready go anywhere- even has a four man life raft.
Hi Dude. The boat you highlight throughout your video, Quivira, belongs to me. I have owned her for 18 years, and I agree with everything you said about M43s and M44s...right up to the end. Where do you get off thinking my listing price is high and that she might be worth 120k?? I currently have a perfectly acceptable offer and am awaiting survey. So there is that. I enjoyed seeing my boat promoted and hope you (and it) get a lot of eyeballs.
PAE crossed over to power in the early 90s when the first Nordhavn trawlers were made. I know.....I know.....stinkpots 😝 But some 40+foot Nordhavns have circumnavigations to their credit. I think that speaks volumes about PAE. Whether powered by wind or fuel, their boats are built to go offshore. I'm not a fan of their latest, I like the N46 and N62 of 90s and early 2000s. The Masons are gorgeous. A shame they still aren't produced.
True blue water boats don’t come cheap , they are costly to build and maintain . The recipe for these boats have not changed all that much . Those hull shapes that make a boat stable in big seas are still the same . Not flat bottoms with fin keels and spade rudders . They don’t hove too well. So if blue water is what you are going to do , get the right boat for the job . This Mason is a steal and a great start . A good going over , replace a few bad things , go to sea !
That looks like a Mason 43' and no my dad wanted to buy the 43' at the boat show when it came out. But couldn't get past if you knocked it down on the starboard side it would flood especially in open ocean because the seas get so large, some may say we'll I've never knocked down a boat . I would say you don't push your boat. Even though once we knocked down in the molokai channel on a beautiful day.because auto pilot. And again about a 1000 miles off west coast heading to Hawaii, when we lost a rudder and we broached and knocked down . Those were two times with just trade winds and 10 to 15' seas so perfect sailing. But with your hatch open like it would be you would flood a boat extremely fast . Look at bayasian no one know for sure why she sank but once water coming end . It generally game over
Mason was previously owned by Nordhaven in Dana point calif. Nordhaven held on to the molds for a decade in hopes people would return to the classics rather than the bendytoys. But now are very successful trawler builders.
Is she worth it? She's a 40 year old boat who we know has good bones. But a 'good bones' to 'well-equipped blue water' for a boat of this size can vary by $50 to $100 K. I'd have to know a lot more about the boat - running/standing rigging? Sail inventory/condition? Electrical/Electronic systems/condition? Engine/Transmission? The point is that no one can estimate the value without a thorough inspection and survey. I say both because my experience of a survey was extremely disappointing. Know what you are buying!
A downside to potentially be added is the engine is effectively in the bilge. For a blue water boat this is a little concerning. Otherwise the models available for sale are beautiful!
I think these boats are beautiful like Hinkley, but for long term living I would think a Jenneau or Benny would be more comfortable. I have very little experience, I’m just guessing
In my view, a boat that costs anywhere between $120K to $250k actually isn’t cheap. There are many older and proven bluewater boats out there that have and can continue to cross oceans which cost under $100K. Sure this is a good looking and competent boat but it’s not cheap. The cost of a boat is all relative to your means, needs and abilities.
Check out my Norseman 400 for sale Marina Del Rey, InSieme. Samuel Beto broker. I've owned it for 25 years. Put over $170,000 upgrading her over time recently. In better shape today then when I bought her.
Very nice tribute to a really beautiful boat. My wife and I have owned our Mason 54, Final Straw, hull #6, for 26 years. We had the greatest adventure of our lives taking her on a Pacific crossing from San Diego to Australia. We left in 2001 and returned in 2008. It was an incredible journey and we learned a lot about sailing these magnificent vessels. We never felt unsafe in all sorts of weather situations. The comfort of having a boat with great air circulation at hot and humid South Pacific anchorages was a clear benefit over other cruising boats. The handholds located in strategic places along the main salon and hallways saved us from many potential injuries in rocky seas. We were fortunate to have hydraulics for our three main winches and our headsail & mainsail furling. Sailing double-handed was very easy with this addition. Cruising is often defined as "fixing your boat in paradise." We were no exception. But we thanked PAE every time we had to work on something because she was designed with lots of reasonable access. Crawling in the bilge might be an exception. But it got the job done. The boat is easy to handle and she is fast off the wind. We made the 2800 nautical miles from Puerto Vallarta to Hiva Oa in the Marquesas in under 17 days at an average speed of 7 knots. The engine used all of 35 gallons from the 380 gallon capacity thanks to good tradewinds and lots of downwind sailing. Enjoyed watching this video. I can say firsthand, I wholly agree with its conclusions! We're now preparing her for a second Pacific crossing in January 2025 as we pass the helm to our son and his family!
Thanks for watching!
Hip hip Hurray & Cheers to your successful adventures.
Hi Tim,
Wonderful video! You have done a fantastic job of gathering up photos and telling the Mason story. I didn’t see any errors in what you said and to the contrary was amazed at how much history you were able to uncover.
Of course I agree with all that you reported… the Masons are gorgeous boats and their bones and structure are such that they should last for 100 years.
Some more DNA history…. You showed the schooner Malabar VII. Malabar VII was owned by my family when I was in my early 20s and we cruised that boat from California to Florida in 1970/71. Alden’s beautiful sheer lines were picked up by Al Mason when he worked for Alden. That is why we looked up Al. The sheer lines and other lines of the Masons are just perfect and that is the foundation of the beauty of these classic boats. Jeff Leishman (PAE partner and Chief of Design) studied under Al Mason and subsequently did the design work as each of the “3” models (33,43,53 and 63) were updated to the “4” models. Jeff emulated Al’s genius and combined that with his own natural talent to design our Nordhavns (25 Nordhavn models over the last 35 years). I know.. I know.. “dark side”, but it is a surprisingly short step from a Mason to a Nordhavn.
Al Mason was in the later years of his career when he designed the Mason 43. For most of Al’s career, he designed in wood because he was suspicious of FRP. As a result, the structure of the Masons are brutally strong and overbuilt with the heavy laminate schedule, internal stringer grid system and heavy bulkheads. To my knowledge, there has never been a structural failure of a PAE/ Ta Shing built Mason.
Fast forward 48 years… Young men have become old men, but these lovely timeless Masons keep going. And something else that keeps on going is our relationship with the Ta Shing factory in Tainan Taiwan. The design is only half of the story… the other half is the skill and dedication of the builder to produce a quality product consistently over the years. Ta Shing does that and more… I can’t praise them enough. When the early Masons were built, we were fighting an uphill battle to be respected. How could 3 young guys from California and an unknown builder in Taiwan produce a nice boat? It took the perspective of time to realize how precious these boats are. Today of course Ta Shing builds Nordhavns… 48 years after we shook hands on the first Mason 43.
Your video is a great history lesson for those who are interested in learning about Masons (212 built over 20 years) and I think that it will be viewed many many times in the coming years. It is a historical document. I have some other photos that can be added to the video. Please reach out to me and I will send them to you.
Thank you for the time and effort you put into the video,
Dan Streech
President PAE/Nordhavn
Dan@nordhavn.com
Dan wow thank you!!! I sent you an email :)
Thanks for the great review! We just spent five years and over 9,000 NM cruising the Pacific side of Mexico and the Gulf of California on our Mason 44. It’s been a safe, comfortable, and beautiful home for our cruising adventures. I can’t think of another boat that I would prefer over our Mason. We recently completed the Baja Bash from San Jose Del Cabo back to California and the range under power is closer to 800-1,000 NM depending on conditions. The only downside to owning a Mason is having to deal with all the other cruisers complimenting you on how beautiful your boat is.😂
That is awesome! Thanks for watching!
This was my dream boat back in the day. Still looks lovely now!
Tim - this is one of your best videos - packed with the history of PAE, a good description and videos of the factory and the Mason 44. I have never sailed on one, but did a walkthrough of a Mason 44 for sale in Annapolis last year. I was impressed, too bad it wasn't on the market before I bought my present boat!
Thanks so much for watching!
45 minutes of solid data presented in 13 minutes. Nice!!!
mason are awesome built blue water boats. spent three years blue water sailing on our 54 and weathered every weather situation but a hard core hit hirricane. never doubted the boat, only myself for taking on too much. our only issue was draft. nary a negative comment, strong recommendation.
This is a truly beautiful boat. Thanks Tim, I look forward to Sunday mornings. ⚓
Enjoy!
$120,000 you bet !! Years ago when I resided in Southern Cal. I had the opportunity to crew on a Mason 44 traveling north up the coast along the channel Islands. Very pleasurable boat to sail. Very comfortable.
We bought a 79' Island Trader/Transworld 41' CC during Covid site unseen- we were in northern Ont and it was in Maine- two years later we were able to get our hands on her and brought her to where we now live in N.S- hubby's first "sail" on the ocean. This year she's getting some work done/sanding- the woodwork is incredible, we have dragons carved on our doors- Taiwanese built chubby chic. Fortunately for us the previous owners had her for 20 years and put in a LOT of work, replacing the teak decks and masts and the suck- so that all the 'ehavy lifting' was done. Now we just have to sell our 34' 1986 Catalina w/ the rebuilt engine/etc in Ontario! We went 'bigger' because we realised that we just wanted the added security of being on a boat that's made for oceans/more room for guests. Thank you for another great video- :)
Thanks for watching!
I also have a Transworld 41 Taiwan Built boat
@ladyk did you intend to offend viewers by saying Choy Lee and Tayana aren't beautiful?
I'm a big fan of both. Tayana Mariner is a sexy blue water boat.
And Choy Lee... practically in a class by themselves.
Careful... you got a lot of Leaky Teakers lurking in your audience. Love one. Love them all.
You should speak to Tom Cunliffe a highly respected British Sailor instructor and writer on all things boaty with sails , and a fount of knowledge and experience. who when he stopped sailing “ Real boats “ ( wooden things ) and couldn’t find a plastic boat that suited him here travelled to the USA and bought a Mason 44 . Joking aside I’ve enjoyed his writings and videos for years ( Although not a boat owner or sailor ) I’m sure some of your viewers would enjoy his videos.
Yes Pal and we've seen Tom!
I follow his channel, extremely informative and typical understated English humour
Hi Paul. Thanks for the endorsement mate. After 13 years, we still love Constance, our M44. Perfect boat for us.
@@TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns My pleasure Tom. Spent 3 weeks on a Vancouver I think 27 /30 ft maybe in the med . Never having set foot on a sailboat tiny , cramped , noisy under engine . Zero wind in the mornings stiff breezes in the afternoons the boat bounding through the short chop like a terrier through long grass . Absolutely the best holiday of my life and I’ve devoured books magazines and videos on sailing ever since . Through all that your work and style stands out for me . Thank you for all you do , and regards to your good lady .
For somebody who wants a "real boat", there are a few excellent candidates up here in Puget Sound right now, including an amazing cold-molded Jespersen/Davidson that someone with both racing and cruising intentions should make theirs as well as four Cape George sailboats (including a brand new one that was fitted as an electric sailboat...for the person with an extra million dollars; the older ones are approachable to normal folks, though). 🙂
Mason’s were one of the few boats with such a high level of detail from the Far East.
As a sailmaker, at a production loft, I made a quite a few sets of sails for Mason’s including the 65. I was invited to sail on the 65 with Mason on board, Interesting guy.
Oops, I should have said Mason 63.
This video is indeed a real masterpiece.
Thank you so much for your work
Thank you for watching!
I am the owner of the 1983 M43 that hove to in 35kts for 8 hours. I also sailed through 20 footers breaking the top 4 feet sailing nearly downwind. The boat did want to move towards a broach if you made no steering correction in steep large following seas, but remained very steerable. The inboard rudder does have enough authority. And you forgot to mention the huge strength and protection of the rudder being attached to the keel. I've owned the boat for close to 40 years now.
PAE was one of the only Taiwan builders that employed US engineers to oversee the building of these boats. While the Taiwanese were great craftsmen, they were not yachtsmen, there is no pleasure boating in Taiwan. They had no real world experience to draw from, so any unsupervised yard would make a plethora of mistakes for an ocean going yacht. The Mason as a result is built to a far higher standard, in materials, design, and most importantly, in execution of the design.
The other tradeoffs on the 43 vs 44 are
The 43 has a much larger owners stateroom and a valuable and seaworthy quarter berth that the 44 loses. If you like teak decks, and I do, the 43 has them, just don't scrub them to death. The bad rap some express on teak decks is due to unknowledgeable owners, not a fault in construction, assuming the decks were installed properly in the first place. The 43 has teak shower stall, marble vanity, and quite a few small touches the 44 does not. The 43 Nav desk is athwartship and the 44 is fore and aft. If you move the traveler on a 43 to the cockpit right at the forward end of the cockpit well, you eliminate the narrow traveler, and improve the dodger design options. That's a great mod to do.
The 44 does have more ergonomic backrests, and a more straightforward dodger. The 44 has fewer opening portlights and metal hatches instead of teak.
I would not sell my 43 to get a 44. I would get a 53/54.
These boats were built on a nearly custom basis. Consequently there are many variations in berths, heads, galley, saloon table, hatches, winches and deck hardware.
If you are thinking of buying one, look into the owners group, currently hosted on Yahoo. The owners are a great resource, and the lead moderator has done a great job of keeping the forum going.
groups.io/g/PAE-Mason-Sailboats
thanks Tim really enjoyed this video, loved the rich step back in history such a lovely boat showing timeless beautiful lines and craftsmanship
Glad you enjoyed it and thank you for watching!
I own a 1986 Mason 33; it’s a freshwater boat and just lovely - looks near new!
That's the boat you park next to so you have something nice to look at from your massive cockpit with a drop down transom.
Beautiful boat for sure. This one in particular is a good find as it doesn’t have the teak decks that are typical of Masons
Always loved this boat. You might want to mention PAE went on to design and build Nordhavns after fully going over to the dark side! Excellent video. Subscribed.
Thanks for the info! And thanks for watching!
Our buddy owns a Maison 44 and we have had a chance to sail it. It's such a beautiful, solid classic sailboat and in Malaysia that price point even today is not considered Cheap.
Always a nice video great
Work , you know id be happy crossing anywhere on a production boat. I lived aboard for three years with my wife and we’d not be afraid of a many production boat if the condition was good and the systems were all fresh . I can’t say that a heavy boat really appeals to me because we really don’t like sailing at 2-3 knots it’s depressing . We like moving along and getting those miles done and getting to where we are going . But size matters for us and when we’re so old we need that waterline length for comfort and speed and space. Great video good work and we’re always learning from your videos very good work keep them coming .
Thanks for watching!
Ta shing built my Baba 30 and I can attest to the fine level of teak woodwork but my next boat when/if I get one won’t have so much teak. Upkeep is a lot of work lol
I almost ended up with a Mason 54 that used to live in Sausalito (may still); however, the teak decks were paper thin, and it needed a full re-decking. Below, though, it was a level of finish I haven't seen on any other sailboat, not even another Mason. In the end, I found a beautiful Morris 46 (and a Tayana 52...ahem).
Anyway, to answer your question, unless there's a serious issue yet to be uncovered during survey, that vessel is absolutely worth the asking price. In fact, I think it would be hard to do better for that amount, if it's a cruiser that one is looking for.
Solid episode !!! So nice to see you grow and improve. good job Tim !!! %$&@ what the haters say.
Thank you so much!
I have always liked the Mason 43 and 44. Living in Bass Harbor Maine and sailing out of Southwest Harbor, ME there are several Mason 44s in the area. I liked hearing about Bass Harbor Marine. I bought my boat through their brokerage working with Bob Pooler who was behind them importing the Mason Boats. The 44 is nice, but an equivalent condition 43 will be much cheaper. Of course, If I was going to spend $150K I would give that Hinckley 48 you showed the picture of a close look. It is listed for $135K, which is a good price for an absolutely top quality boat. Of course, If I had $200K to spend, I would look seriously at a Hinckley SW50. That is a nice boat you can sail anywhere.
Id like to hear about the boat, we know tashing. Oh well, maybe I'll watch when I have time for a history lesson~!
I saw one of these recently and I said to myself well hey there that's a nice looking boat.
This Mason is awesome, just the kind of boat I’m looking for in a years time. That or a Passport 42, I must admit was leaning Mason but I also really like having a dodger.
We have a great dodger on our M44...
My complaint about this boat is it was made AFTER the marine industry learned from the 1979 fastnet race that overhangs, especially aft, can be dangerous in a large sea. Most boat made after 1979 went away from the overhangs after the study's results was published. The fault is a rudder farther in giving less leverage with the stern being father back giving the sea more leverage making it easier to be broached. Seems these guys kept with the old hull design. Looks great but odd in my opinion on a bluewater boat. The overhangs in the front aren't as dangerous and have the advantage of being able to 'drag' the anchor just below the waterline to clean it when pulling out of an anchorage without hitting the hull with the anchor. Other than the stern overhang, I really like this boat and a good price for it too. First thing I would do if I bought it is replace the dodger-Bimini with a windshield connected Bimini with sides that go about a foot farther back. That would keep the cockpit a lot drier when beating into it or when raining. People really underestimate the need for a large Bimini in the tropics and if kept tight, will not blow off in a blow like some claim.
Yes Fastnet taught us a lot . What a disaster . I do just that . Drag my anchor and even some chain before bringing it up , never get mud on the deck .
I'll be honest, I've never been a fan of some older boats, but that thing is gorgeous. Definitely looks ocean worthy. If I was in the market (had that kind of money) I'd definitely want to take a closer look.
The draft is my concerns since I live in Florida.
Tim, this would be THE fiberglass boat to pry me from my C&C. I realize 145k seems steep, but I wouldn’t hesitate to tender that cash for her if I had the cash to do so. These boats are pretty much the epitome of a cross between CCA and contemporary boatbuilding, and ditch the flash and lightweight boatbuilding so popular now. No substitute for weight down low and thick layups. She’ll take much more than I can!
Great channel. I'm still looking through your videos. I have tons of questions. How far away have you sailed? What is the proper etiquette greeting other cruisers? How do you alert other governments of your presence? What happens when you're boarded? What is it like communicating via radio with bridges and coast guards and other sailors? How safe do you feel leaving your boat at anchorage, and what do you use to secure it? How old is too old to sail? How much is the mark-up on food when your cruising? What drives people away from cruising? And just off the top of my head, when you're in the Caribbean and a hurricane is bearing down, what do you do? How do you know where to go to get out of dodge? Thanks for even reading the comment, I'd love it if you could answer some of these in a video, if you already have, I'll eventually find the answers as I watch your vids I guess.
I love the mason. I looked at one years ago but didn't pull the trigger.
And BTW: You will see all kinds of boats that cross the oceans that you wouldn't think would have a chance. Tons of Beneteaus included. I would dare it in a Benny but there are lots of them doing it every year. I sailed a Hunter 376 across most of the South Pacific. I would sail the southern sea in it, but it was perfectly OK for the South Pacific. I say OK because, well, I now have a Whitby 55' and it is night and day difference between those two boats. I'll never give up my Whitby as long as I can sail because, well, it may be the best boat every made, but I had a lot of fun on my Hunter cruising the Bahamas, all of the Caribbean and the South Pacific.
Your background seared my retinas.
Ooops sorry!
Beautiful.
Let’s talk ocean going vessels and sugar scoops !
How and where do you attach the wind vane on a sugar scoop?
Which boat is the worst for a wind vane?
Which boat is the best for a wind vane?
Modern and older in the 5-40 year age range.
THIS is the video I've been waiting for!! Thank you!!! I'm in the market for a ~$100k blue water boat. The Mason is pretty close to what I'm looking for. If it had a sugar scoop, it might be perfect.
Thanks for watching!
Wonderful looking boat - thanks for making this video
Thanks for watching!
Het Tim, thank you that was awesome vid. I love the mason's they are such a beautiful vessel. If I have not just bought a Beneteau I would seriously look at this.
Thanks for watching!
Mason 33’s been on my short list for a singlehander 😎
@@robertgold2643 I’m selling mine if you’re interested; I love it but I barely use it so it’s hard to justify the expense. It is equipped like no other and ready go anywhere- even has a four man life raft.
A newer Mason 44 in bristol condition is easily worth 2OOK USD. Hard to find a nicer sheer line or sweeter tumblehome.
Agreed, and very rare to find since most Masons are cruised hard and cross oceans. I would wager 250 if you found one updated in perfect condition
Beautiful boat
It sure is!
Sure this would be an ideal boat on which to cruise the world; If you happen to be in the top 1%.
Thx for the video , Mason designed some nice boats I wouldn't fault them at all , so it's do due diligence before laying down money and godspeed 🙂
Good point - Thanks for watching!
Hi you should do a video of the Nordhavn Motorsailer 56. It's built at the same Tashing factory in Taiwan. There is also one for sale in San Diego.
She's easily worth 120K if the new owner sails her.
The '43 and '44 are boats to fall in love with and stay in love with.
Short answer: Yes. She's stunning.
Absolutely worth it!
Excellent review 🙂 The masons are some of my favorite boats. I don't own one but I'd love to 🙂
Thanks for watching!
Samuel Betko broker MDR, CA. Rob Perry design, Ta Shing, a doppelgänger for this one.
Hi Dude. The boat you highlight throughout your video, Quivira, belongs to me. I have owned her for 18 years, and I agree with everything you said about M43s and M44s...right up to the end. Where do you get off thinking my listing price is high and that she might be worth 120k?? I currently have a perfectly acceptable offer and am awaiting survey. So there is that. I enjoyed seeing my boat promoted and hope you (and it) get a lot of eyeballs.
Great Video & History lesson!
Thanks for watching!
PAE crossed over to power in the early 90s when the first Nordhavn trawlers were made. I know.....I know.....stinkpots 😝 But some 40+foot Nordhavns have circumnavigations to their credit. I think that speaks volumes about PAE. Whether powered by wind or fuel, their boats are built to go offshore. I'm not a fan of their latest, I like the N46 and N62 of 90s and early 2000s. The Masons are gorgeous. A shame they still aren't produced.
I need one
True blue water boats don’t come cheap , they are costly to build and maintain . The recipe for these boats have not changed all that much . Those hull shapes that make a boat stable in big seas are still the same . Not flat bottoms with fin keels and spade rudders . They don’t hove too well. So if blue water is what you are going to do , get the right boat for the job . This Mason is a steal and a great start . A good going over , replace a few bad things , go to sea !
I know of a Mason 44 that may be coming on the market soon , and it’s in Ontario !
That looks like a Mason 43' and no my dad wanted to buy the 43' at the boat show when it came out. But couldn't get past if you knocked it down on the starboard side it would flood especially in open ocean because the seas get so large, some may say we'll I've never knocked down a boat . I would say you don't push your boat. Even though once we knocked down in the molokai channel on a beautiful day.because auto pilot. And again about a 1000 miles off west coast heading to Hawaii, when we lost a rudder and we broached and knocked down . Those were two times with just trade winds and 10 to 15' seas so perfect sailing. But with your hatch open like it would be you would flood a boat extremely fast . Look at bayasian no one know for sure why she sank but once water coming end . It generally game over
Beautiful !
Thanks for watching!
Would like to find a boat like this to cruise SE Asia and further afield.
Mason was previously owned by Nordhaven in Dana point calif. Nordhaven held on to the molds for a decade in hopes people would return to the classics rather than the bendytoys. But now are very successful trawler builders.
PAE built Masons and then Nordhavns when the sailboat market shit the bed.
Beautiful boat, for $120k absolutely!
Is she worth it? She's a 40 year old boat who we know has good bones. But a 'good bones' to 'well-equipped blue water' for a boat of this size can vary by $50 to $100 K. I'd have to know a lot more about the boat - running/standing rigging? Sail inventory/condition? Electrical/Electronic systems/condition? Engine/Transmission? The point is that no one can estimate the value without a thorough inspection and survey. I say both because my experience of a survey was extremely disappointing. Know what you are buying!
Nice boats
A downside to potentially be added is the engine is effectively in the bilge. For a blue water boat this is a little concerning. Otherwise the models available for sale are beautiful!
she has quite a deep bilge that goes about 2 feet deeper, below the feet of the engine
For this boat, the difference between LOA and LWL is a staggering 12ft.
Write that check!
So is a Beneteau 50 a good boat for blue water travel? Or not?
$120k ABSOLUTELY!
I'll never get a 43 foot boat on a trailer.
Can you make some videos on aluminum sailing boats please.
I think these boats are beautiful like Hinkley, but for long term living I would think a Jenneau or Benny would be more comfortable. I have very little experience, I’m just guessing
I think you have that backward.
Please review a fantasia 35 great boat
They are lovely, darn near bought one
Is it posible to sail from aylmer qc to thunder bay on
She's worth about 115k to about 125k. Nice boat thou.
At 3:48, I think you meant to say Taiwan rather than Thailand. Or did the Taiwanese company outsource some of the work to Thailand?
In my view, a boat that costs anywhere between $120K to $250k actually isn’t cheap. There are many older and proven bluewater boats out there that have and can continue to cross oceans which cost under $100K. Sure this is a good looking and competent boat but it’s not cheap. The cost of a boat is all relative to your means, needs and abilities.
Balsa cored deck = bad idea…
It's bigger than my house.
Where do you look?
This boat is easily worth 140K
?? You can cross any ocean with virtually anything... given enough seamanship.
first!
hahahahah YESSS
@@LadyKSailing what do you think about a Catalina 30? as far as being a sturdy boat?
I dont like the back ground. Please bring back the apartment
No It's much worst bro!
There is no such thing as a "cheap" boat. It doesn't exist.
Check out my Norseman 400 for sale Marina Del Rey, InSieme. Samuel Beto broker. I've owned it for 25 years. Put over $170,000 upgrading her over time recently. In better shape today then when I bought her.