1983 Ocean Alexander 43 Flush Aft Deck "Island Time"

Lake Washington · Freshwater Moored · Covered Slip · 24-Year Ownership

Some boats are maintained; a rare few are kept. Island Time is the latter: a 1983 Ocean Alexander 43 Flush Aft Deck that has spent 25 years in freshwater, the last 20 under cover, in the hands of one owner for 24 of them. She lies on Lake Washington, a morning's run through the Ship Canal and the Ballard Locks from Puget Sound.

Ocean Alexander was founded in 1977 on a simple premise: build a better trawler yacht than the Taiwan yards of the day were turning out. The company's first design was commissioned from Northwest naval architect Ed Monk Jr., and its boats have been fixtures in these waters ever since. The 43 Flush Aft Deck, also known as the 43 Double Cabin, was built from 1980 to 1985. She is one of the models that established the name in the American market, and she is still counted among the better-quality imports of her era.

The hull explains why. She is a heavy fiberglass, semi-displacement form carrying 14' 6" of beam and roughly 40,000 pounds in cruising trim, with a long keel deep enough to protect the running gear. Where the standard 43 left the yard with twin 120 HP Lehmans, Island Time carries twin naturally aspirated Caterpillar 3208s at 210 HP apiece. At 1,500 RPM she settles into an 8.5-knot passage on less than 5 gallons an hour combined. With 500 gallons of fuel aboard, that works out to better than 750 nautical miles with a prudent reserve. When the tide or the schedule demands it, she has 14-plus knots on tap.

The layout is the reason this model has such a loyal following. The aft deck sits flush atop the master stateroom, which gives the owner a full-beam cabin with a walk-around queen and private head below, and a 10' x 14' covered deck above that seats six at a teak table. Guests berth forward with their own head, a full boat-length from the master. Between the two are a bright salon with the lower helm and a galley-down with a four-place dinette. Wide side decks with raised bulwarks and rails run her full length, and the flybridge carries the second helm.

She is rigged for the Northwest's full calendar. A three-zone Hurricane hydronic system heats the boat, makes the domestic hot water and preheats the engines. Canvas encloses her from the bridge windshield to the stern. A 7.5 kW Westerbeke and dual 1,000-watt inverters keep her self-sufficient on the hook. For the tight anchorages north of the border she carries 200 feet of chain on an Ideal windlass and a dedicated stern-tie system.

Her care is documented. A 24-year logbook records every cruise, every service and every gallon of fuel. The engines have been serviced annually, and the bottom paint, zincs and shaft packing were renewed in October 2025. She is offered cruise-ready, with a 13' AB tender and 40 HP Honda on stern davits, extensive spares, and charts from Olympia through Canada. Provision her and cast off.

Propulsion

• Twin Caterpillar 3208 V8 naturally aspirated diesels, 210 HP each, 3,500 hours
• Twin Disc transmissions, 2:1 reduction
• 2" shafts with three-blade propellers, plus a spare four-blade set
• Cruise: 8.5 knots at 1,500 RPM, under 5 GPH total
• Top speed: 14+ knots
• Oil and filters serviced annually
• Engine preheat from the hydronic boiler

Electrical

• Westerbeke 7.5 kW generator, 2,500 hours
• Dual 1,000-watt 12V/120V inverters for redundancy
• Interior lighting converted to LED

Heating & Domestic Systems

• Hurricane hydronic furnace with three zones and eight thermostatically controlled registers
• Domestic hot water from the boiler or the electric water heater
• Water and power plumbed to the aft companionway closet for a washer/dryer
• CO detectors in the forward and aft cabins

Accommodations

Forward Stateroom

• Bunk berths
• Electric head, configured as a wet head with shower

Galley & Dinette

• Galley-down arrangement
• Propane stove and oven
• Large AC/DC refrigerator
• Microwave
• Trash compactor
• Dinette seats four and drops to form a youth berth

Salon

• Lower helm
• Settee converts to a berth
• High/low table converts from coffee to dining height
• TV with DVD/VCR
• Stereo system throughout the boat, with Panasonic CD player
• Large ice maker
• Privacy screening on all salon windows

Aft Master Stateroom

• Full-beam cabin with walk-around queen berth
• Two hanging lockers and drawer stowage
• TV
• Ensuite electric head with vanity and separate stall shower with door

Aft Deck

• 10' x 14' carpeted deck under a bimini
• Expanding teak table seating six, with six teak chairs
• BBQ, utility sink and cabinet
• Weather cloths below the rail for privacy and wind protection

Flybridge

• Upper helm with two captain's chairs
• Custom seating with stowage lockers
• Full canvas from the bridge windshield to the stern, with zip-in windows
• Covers for all bridge seating and the dash

Deck & Ground Tackle

• Large foredeck with Ideal windlass
• 200' of chain backed by 100' of nylon rode
• Backup anchor and rode
• Stern-tie line system with retriever and holder
• Wide walk-around side decks with raised bulwarks and rails

Electronics & Navigation

• Radar
• Two depth sounders
• Two fixed VHF radios and one handheld
• Laptop chartplotter with backup
• Charts from Olympia through Canada

Tender

• 13' AB inflatable with aluminum hull
• 40 HP Honda outboard
• 9.5-gallon forward fuel tank
• Depth/fish finder, full instrumentation and running lights
• Full storage cover
• Carried on stern davits

Maintenance & Records

• New bottom paint, zincs and shaft packing in October 2025
• 24-year logbook of cruising, maintenance and fuel records
• Extensive spare parts inventory

Lying Lake Washington. Shown by appointment. Contact the listing broker for additional details or to schedule a viewing.

The company offers the details of this vessel in good faith but cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of this information nor warrant the condition of the vessel. A buyer should instruct his agents, or his surveyors, to investigate such details as the buyer desires validated. This vessel is offered subject to prior sale, price change or withdrawal without notice.

Listing MLS by Yachtr.com