S/V Banyan

Make:  Mason, Designed by Al Mason and built by Ta Shing in Taiwan
Year: 1979, Hull #5
Size: 43ft
Keel: Full with cutaway forefoot
Hull: Solid Fiberglass
Rig: Cutter Rigged, Sloop – genoa and staysail both furling. Standing rigging new in 2021 by Rope Tek – Nelson, NZ. Chainplates inspected and rebedded 2021
Steering: Keel-hung Rudder, cables replaced (2021), pedestal and below decks steering components pulled, inspected, refurbished and rebed (2021), Emergency tiller
Auto Steering: Raymarine Autopilot, Monitor Wind Vane
Engine: Yanmar 4JH3E (56HP) re-powered in 2009, 3,600 hours as of 2022.  3,000 hour service completed professionally in 2020.  Situated under salon floorboards for low weight distribution and space efficiency. Easily accessed. 3 blade propeller. Exhaust tubing replaced 2021
Displacement: 30,000 lbs
Water: 200 gallons (750 liters) Storage
Water Maker: 12 L/h, Katadyn 80E 12V
Diesel: 80 gallons (300 liters) between two tanks (new in 2015) w/ filter boss system, (2015)
Wind Turbine: AirX with ‘airsilent’ blue blades (rebuilt 2020)
Solar: 560 watts total. 400w new hard panels and 160w new soft panels, Vintron 40A charge controller and Renogy 40A charge controller
Batteries: 6 x 110Ah Victron AGM.  Still in good shape, (2018)
Power: 12V, Victron 2000W inverter (110V) (2020)
Heater: Forced Air Diesel Heater (2020)
Water Heater: Quicknautic 40L (new in 2021) runs off engine

Wenches: Barlow self tailing for main sheet and genoa sheets in cockpit, two non-selftailing for staysail. At mast the main halyard wench (non self tailing, but weirdly works as if it is self tailing), and reefing wech (self tailing). 

Ground Tackle
33kg Rocna
CQR (secondary on bow)
Danforth mounted to stern
300ft (100m) Hightest 7mm galvenized chain (2015)
300ft backup chain – same size, older vintage
160ft rope rode & many extra rodes

Windlass: 12V workhorse of a windlass, and oldy but a goodie

Safety & Communication
EPIRB – up to date
PLB x 2 – inside Captain and First Mate life jackets
Life Raft – Viking RescYou 6 Person – Recertified in NZ in 2021
Sea Anchor
Storm Trisail
Storm Gib
Ditch Bag
First Aid Kit Extraordiair
Passive Radar Reflector
Jack Lines, Harnesses and Teathers
AIS send & recieve (new 2020)
Satelite Phone – Iridium Extreme
Icom 802 SSB Radio (New 2015)
Installed VHF Radio with antenea and GPS
Handheald VHF x 2
Hard lifelines – SS

Navigation
Navionics via Ipad 
Raymarine Navpod chartplotter on binnacle w/ Speed and Depth instruments
OpenCPN via Laptop
Marine Binoculars
Marine Spotlight
Range Finder
Sextant

Sails
Tripple Reef Main – 2015
Genoa – on furler with sun protection sunbrella strip
Stay Sail – 2018, furler and sunbrella sunstrip new in 2021
Spinnaker
Yanky
Storm Trisail
Storm Gib

Amenities & Accomodation

Sleeping:
Aft Cabin with queen to port and  single to starboard
Forepeak Cabin with offset double to port
2 popular SeaBerths to starboard in main salon, both expandable
Lee cloths for all beds and ample storage space for clothes and persoal effects
Comfortabely sleeps 6, can sleep up to 9 in a pinch

Head:
Jabsco pump to holding tank rebuilt or replaced annually.
Separate shower stall with lots of storage and heater vent for drying heavy weather gear
Solar vent for air circulation

Galley:
Force 10, three burner propane hob and oven, gimbled
Two basin sink with fresh water footpump, water pressure system as well as salt water
Refridgeration: Cooblue 12v compressor run plate chest fridge with single plate, top and side access,
Freezer: super efficient 12v Ingle

Lounge:
Large and comfortable booth seating, easily seats 4 and snuggly 6 with bench along starbaord side which can easily fit 4+

Storage: tons of food storage around salon area and below floorboards. Ergonomic, efficient and sturdy cabinetry with easy access.

Cockpit:
Large cocpit with sturdy combing
Sunbrella biminy and dodger in good condition with infill attachment for shade and rain protection.
Snap in sunbrella side shades for sunny weather
New fully enclosed isinglass zip in sides which make the cockpit dry during wet weather – lt’s like a sunroom!
Flip-up teak table seats 5
Sunbrella spray cloths protect from rogue waves as well as provide privacy
VHF mouthpiece port – attached into installed VHF
Compass
Two large cockpit lockers
Isloated and draining propane locker fit two 9kg bottles
aft line locker for sternanchor rode or spring line (floating poly pro)
Shower port with hot and cold water for outdoor showers

Navigation Station:
Large chart table with ample storage for navigation tools, books and computers
Heater Control
Electrical Panel
Isolators
Charge Controlers
SSB & VHF

Etc.
Three tall hanging lockers, one of which is quite large
Five Large dorade vents which are directional
Three large hatches with wind scoops and fitted fly screens (oriented in different directions for choice in gathering or avoiding breeze)
Shade cloth for topsides
Recently installed 20mm insulation under decks as well as 10mm insulation inside lockers along hull for heat and condensation proteciton.
All portholes given new safety glass in 2015 and were rebedded then, and when needed, all have removable metal insect screens.
Main hatch rebedded 2021
All lamps and lights LED and in good order
Lots of headroom for tall sailors
Starboard side offset companionway

Recent Posts about Maintenance

“A great cruising yacht has to be well-rounded and provide speed, comfort and safety in any condition.” Al Mason on the Mason 43

Banyan was designed by Al Mason and built in the Ta Shing Boat yard in Taiwan.  Al Mason came out of the Sparkman Stephens design firm which is famous for proven seaworthy designs.  Rumor has it the inspiration for the Mason 43 was the proven ocean racer named Sitzmark, a boat also designed by Al Mason. Ta Shing is the same yard that today builds Nordhaven, a respected world cruising motor cruiser.  Banyan was built in 1979 (same vintage as Annie), she’s hull number 5 of 83 boats built through 1986.  In 1985 they added a foot and made the Mason 44 for numbers 100 through 169.  It’s interesting that they skipped lucky #13 in both the 43 and 44’.  We don’t know the exact history of our boat but in the process of cleaning her up we have found Italian Lira, English pound and French Polynesian Francs.  We know the previous owner took her on an epic surfing safari down the west coast of the Americas, French Polynesia and eventually New Zealand.  At one time she had 14 surfboards on board, we still have the surfboard racks and hope to eventually fill them with Kayaks!  The Mason is a blend of a heavier displacement sailboat and a more modern cruiser, she is surprisingly quick and nimble for her age.  She has a full keel with a cutaway forefoot and a keel hung rudder.  This hull design provides strength and maneuverability underway.  Our rig is a cutter rigged sloop.  This provides many options when under sail.  She was re-powered in 2009 to a Yanmar 4JH3E which provides 56HP and is sufficient to move her along comfortably at 6 knots.

The Mason has a very unique layout, it has an offset companionway on the starboard side of the cockpit.  Upon coming down the companionway the navigation station is just to starboard (right).  If you make a hard left and face the stern (back of the boat) your looking into the aft cabin, it has a double berth on the port side and a single berth to starboard.  Facing the bow at the base of the companionway stairs you will have the galley just to port (left).  Moving towards the bow is the salon, we have a table to fit the family on the port side and bench to starboard with a sea berth above.  Moving forward again we have the head (salty term for bathroom) to port and a hanging closet to starboard.  Forward of this is the forepeak which contains an offset “V-berth”.  This layout is ideal as it provides four different “sea berths” (two in the aft cabin and two in the salon) are habitable in all weather conditions.

From left to right: back bedroom (aft cabin), kitchen (galley), living room (settee), front bedroom (forepeak), and the couch and sea births (bunk beds in main salon area)
From left to right: back bedroom (aft cabin), kitchen (galley), living room (settee), front bedroom (forepeak), and the couch and sea births (bunk beds in main salon area)