FREEBYRD
43.33 ft' Beneteau 43 Sense 2011

Manufacturer supplied writeup on the Sense 43:

A new spirit and new concept, the Sense (‘43) breaks the rules and reinvents the spirit of yachting. It takes a different view of the sea; no longer is it designed as a sailing space alone but as a living space in its own right. Sailing and anchoring are complementary. They express a new lifestyle which brings more than its share to comfort and well-being without neglecting safety and performance. Consequently, the pleasure of life on board becomes a matter of course and easy navigation a basic principle. Feel like a bit of freedom, new discoveries, and pleasurable encounters? It’s time to cast off!

At first glance, she is elegant with a perfectly, smooth, continuously proportioned silhouette, which merges into the ocean. She has graceful lines and simplicity enhancing her beauty. Nothing overshoots or hangs about. Everything has its place, and everything can be stowed away in lockers or other spaces. Clever ideas, as practical as they are attractive, create a feeling of space leaving each to take advantage of the place as they will. So, perfection can be translated by absolute simplicity…

When smoothness and stability go together with safety the Sense (43’) is a modern boat imagined to provide as much pleasure and safety as possible. A true distillation of technology with remarkable sea keeping, she can be steered from the helm station where all the sail trimming is centralized, making sailing more practical and easier. She is optionally equipped with Dock&Go technology. The Sense (43’) puts maneuvering at your fingertips. Once trimmed, the boat gains speed, stays on course well, and benefits from a hull shape that stabilizes it at a moderate heel: time stops, a fully pleasurable moment.

When comfort transforms life on board Cleverly distributed, there is a continuation of different spaces in which nothing obstructs your view. Even the differences in level are lessened, from the impressively large and convivial cockpit to the huge remarkably fitted and extremely luminous saloon, not to mention the cabins, which are genuinely practical and ergonomic rooms. The many large windows mean you can enjoy the magic of the sea continuously. A soft light subtly filtered by a slightly tinted glass floods the saloon. The quality of the materials and the equipment level provide comfort and well-being second to none on this kind of boat. Home-style surroundings with freedom into the bargain.

When imagination sets sailing free the horizon is the predominant line that designs the boat… the way life is organized, is designed in terms of great width and not height. Visibility becomes unlimited; navigation is made easier and smoother, with greater safety and no concessions to performance. The pleasure is all the more intense! The design aims at modularity, in the image of the lift-up helm seats or the removable rear wall, adding to comfort and space. The generous cockpit is freed and becomes an open convivial, practical, and protected space, making it the center of the boat, the place where life is good, close to the water.

Layout/Features:

• Primary cabin forward in the bow with and island style bed that measures 2m x 1.6m.  Generous hull windows to bring the outside in.  Ensuite entrance to the head.
• Private guest cabin to port with a large berth comfortable for two.  Plenty of storage in drawers and hanging locker.
• Head to starboard with an ensuite stall shower.
• The main saloon and galley are the showstopper for the Sense 43!  Surrounded by light and views, the galley is both comfortable, functional, and connected to the lounge area.  The saloon serves and the dining, navigation and relaxing areas.  When entering from the cockpit, there are only a few steps that are gently slopped to feel like steps in a home.
• The cockpit is area is amazing!  This is a fantastic space to spend time sailing or just relaxing while on a mooring.  The dodger and bimini provide protection from the elements.  The twin helms make it easy to see the sails while at sea, and also provide for easy passage when moving from the cockpit, moving aft to the swim and dinghy platform.  The platform itself provides easy access for swimming, boarding a dinghy or stepping off onto a floating dock.  ‘Freebyrd’ features a dinghy davit arch that also supports the solar panels. 

The vessel has undergone a major refit from 2021 through 2023.  New electrical system, new electronics, new interior cushions, new cockpit cushions, new bow thruster (2023), new saildrive (2022), new engine control panel, new heat exchanger, 

Hull and Deck:

• Hull painted with Awlcraft paint in 2021, with new barrier coat and bottom paint in 2022
• Keel stripped to metal and barrier coated
• Teak cockpit flooring
• FRP cockpit arch for the dodger, speakers and lighting
• Cockpit arch for dinghy, solar
• Inner forestay chainplate
• Self-tacking jib track
• Helm benches that hinge upwards and outboard to open up the swim platform access
• Rub rail along sheerline

Engine:

• Yanmar Yanmar 4JH5E. 57HP
• New Volvo Saildrive SD60-5-2-23-S - installed 2022

Electronics:

• 3 - Garmin 8612 MFD
• 2 - GMI 20
• Raymarine Autopilot
• ICOM IC-M605 VHF
• ICOM COMMANDMICIV Remote
• AIS 800
• FLIR M232
• FUSION RA770 Entertainment
• Sirius Radio
• Starlink satellite communication antenna
• Sense recharging station at chart table
• TV/DVD hides when not in use
• Wireless network to allow remote communication with the vessel by computer or cell phone
• Cellular modem

Power/electrical:

• Full new setup over the last four years!  Solar power allows the yacht to stay unplugged for autonomous boating!
• Victron system with 1,000 amp/hour 12v Lithium-Ion battery system
• 1520 watts solar installed in 2021
• 4 - LG380N1C-A6 High Efficiency LG NeON® 2 Solar Panel, 380W
• 2 - Victron Multiplus  12/3000/120-50 120V (Inverter charger that integrates with the battery management system and has automatic transfer on ac power)
• 5 - LiFePO4 Battery 12,8V/200Ah – Smart
• Onan 7.5kw generator
• Indirect lighting throughout
• Galvanic isolator
• Balmar 170-amp alternator

Galley:

• 3-Burner gimbled gas stove and oven
• 130l Front opening SS refrigerator w/freezer ac/dc
• 85l Top opening freezer
• Double stainless-steel sinks
• Microwave oven

Equipment:

• Spectra Cape Horn Extreme 330 water maker new in 2021 – pickled at this time
• Air conditioning – can be run off the batteries for hours via the inverters
• 12V Raritan Elegance toilet
• Raritan Electroscan – waste treatment unit
• Isotherm drawer 130 INOX fridge/freezer
• Full new canvas and cushions inside and out - 2021
• Bow thruster new in 2023
• Windlass with chain counter on starboard helm
• 25l Hot water heater

Sails, Canvas and Rigging:

• Seldon in-mast furling spar with 2 spreaders, ICW friendly height (height reported to be under 62')
• Mainsail furls inside the mast – North Sails (recent)
• Headsail on roller furler – North Sails (recent)
• Self-tacking jib
• Code “0” sail
• Code “0” furler led to cockpit
• Inner forestay
• Recent dodger with Strataglass type windows
• Recent bimini with connector piece to dodger
• Recent cockpit cushions
• Electric halyard winch
• Self-tailing winches for halyards and sheets

Misc:

• West Marin hard bottom dinghy with electric Torqeedo outboard motor
• Recent Rocna anchor – 55lbs
• Recently replaced anchor chain
• Danforth Anchor and rode