Californian 43 Cockpit Motor Yacht

Built 1983–1987 by Californian Yachts

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About the Californian 43 Cockpit Motor Yacht

Researched from public sources for this model. Any individual boat may have been modified or repowered — confirm before relying on any figure.

Illustration of a Californian 43 Cockpit Motor Yacht — **Illustration, not a photo of this model.** AI-generated illustration of a typical flybridge motor yacht.

Built: 1983–1987
Builder: Californian Yachts
Length: 43.67 ft
Beam: 13.25 ft
Draft: 3.5 ft
Displacement: 32,000 lb
Hull / keel: planing
Propulsion: inboard
Fuel: 400 gal
Water: 140 gal
Stern thruster: not fitted

Tank capacities — where the figures come from

Fuel 400 gal
“Fuel Tank Capacity (gal): 400 gallons” — search excerpt (1985), marinesource.com · “400 gallons of fuel capacity” — search excerpt (1984), boattrader.com

Several listings agree on 400 gal (likely copied from the same spec guide); no builder figure was found. One listing for a 43 Cockpit Motoryacht claims 1,200 gal, which is implausible for this boat and probably another model or a typo, so it was dropped.
Water 140 gal
“Water Tank Capacity (gal): 140 gallons” — search excerpt (1985), marinesource.com · “140 gallons of water capacity” — search excerpt (1984), boattrader.com
Holding unknown
Only one listing gives a holding size (30 gal) and the same listing's fuel figure (1,200 gal) is implausible, so it is not used.

Tanks are often replaced or added on older boats — check the tank labels or a survey for yours.

Thrusters and steering — where this comes from

Bow thruster unknown
No builder document, review or listing found that mentions a bow thruster.
Stern thruster not fitted
Nothing was found either way; our earlier figure of none has no source.
Steering unknown
No builder brochure, review or association source found; a 1985 listing gave no steering detail.

Thrusters and steering are often replaced — check the units on your boat before ordering parts.

A 38 MY with a 5-ft cockpit and more fuel. Modified-V with hard aft chines and shallow full keel; walnut interior; hardtop standard. Cruises 13-14 kt with 210hp Cats.

Engines fitted

Caterpillar 3208 NA — 210 hp, diesel, twin standard
HMY's Californian 38 MY page says the 43 Cockpit MY is the same boat with a cockpit extension, with standard 210 hp Cats (about 14 knots in the 38). A 1985 43 CMY listing shows twin Cat 3208s.

Sources: hmy.com · denisonyachtsales.com
Caterpillar 3208 turbo — 300 hp, diesel, twin factory option
300 hp turbo Cats (just under 20 knots cruise in the 38 MY).

Sources: hmy.com

Boats of the same model can differ — check which engines yours actually has before ordering parts.

Generator

“Westerbeke 7.7kw Diesel Generator” — search excerpt (1984), yachtworld.com · “Twin Caterpillar 3208 T Diesel Engines, 7.7 kw Westerbeke Deisel Generator” — search excerpt, craigslist.org

Two sale ads, a 1984 boat on YachtWorld near Everett, WA and a Craigslist ad from Lakewood, both show a Westerbeke 7.7 kW diesel, but they may be the same boat, so we list no set.

Known problems for this model

No well-sourced problem reports found yet.

Engines & parts

Caterpillar 3208 (NA / T / TA) parts: good

Factory standard engine — you entered “Caterpillar 3208 NA”

V8 introduced in the 1970s and discontinued in the late 1990s (Big Bear Engine gives 1999). Naturally aspirated versions run about 210 hp; turbo and turbo-aftercooled versions go up to 435 hp. Cat dealers still supply many genuine parts by serial number, and aftermarket in-frame/overhaul kits (pistons, rings, liners, bearings) are sold by Diesel Pro Power, Highway and Heavy Parts and others; complete remanufactured long blocks are also sold. The block is unsleeved from the factory but can be bored and sleeved during a rebuild.

Parts sources: Diesel Pro Power, Highway and Heavy Parts (Cat 3208), Big Bear Engine Company (3208 long blocks)

Common problems (3)

Aftercooler failure flooding the engine (TA models) cooling
The seawater-cooled aftercooler on turbo-aftercooled 3208s has aluminum parts that corrode; a failure can let seawater into the cylinders. Owners pull, clean, grease and pressure-test aftercoolers every 2–3 years and some replace them on a fixed schedule.
trawlerforum.com · forums.ybw.com
Short life at high ratings / overloading engine
The higher-rated 3208TA engines last longer when run well below full power and propped so they can reach rated rpm; overheating or running at full load continuously shortens life.
trawlerforum.com · trawlerforum.com
Overheating at high throttle cooling
Common causes owners check are clogged heat exchangers, thermostats, fouled keel coolers or restricted raw water flow, and faulty temperature senders.
justanswer.com · facebook.com

Maker’s service schedule (20)

Engine oil & filter change	250 hrs or 1 yr	“Every 9000 L (2400 US gal) of Fuel or 250 Service Hours or Yearly ... Engine Oil and Filter - Change” — manufacturer, princessklubben.se
Fuel filters & water separator	250 hrs or 1 yr	“Every 9000 L (2400 US gal) of Fuel or 250 Service Hours or Yearly ... Fuel System Primary Filter/Water Separator Element” — manufacturer, princessklubben.se
Raw-water pump impeller	250 hrs or 1 yr	“Every 9000 L (2400 US gal) of Fuel or 250 Service Hours or Yearly ... Auxiliary Water Pump - Inspect” — manufacturer, princessklubben.se
Engine pencil zincs	50 hrs	“Every 1900 L (500 US gal) of Fuel or 50 Service Hours ... Zinc Rods - Inspect/Replace” — manufacturer, princessklubben.se
Air filter / intake silencer	250 hrs or 1 yr	“Every 9000 L (2400 US gal) of Fuel or 250 Service Hours or Yearly ... Engine Air Cleaner Element - Clean/Replace” — manufacturer, princessklubben.se
Valve clearance check / adjust	2,000 hrs	“Initial 9000 L (2400 US gal) of Fuel or 250 Service Hours or 1 Year ... Engine Valve Lash - Inspect/Adjust” — manufacturer, princessklubben.se
Coolant replacement & freeze-point test Cat DEAC / conventional coolant	1,000 hrs or 2 yrs	“Every 36 000 L (9000 US gal) of Fuel or 1000 Service Hours or 2 Years ... Cooling System Coolant (DEAC) - Change” — manufacturer, princessklubben.se
Coolant replacement & freeze-point test Cat ELC (extended life coolant)	6,000 hrs or 4 yrs	“Every 216 000 L (57 000 US gal) of Fuel or 6000 Service Hours or 4 Years ... Cooling System Coolant (ELC) - Change” — manufacturer, princessklubben.se
Turbocharger inspection	1,000 hrs or 2 yrs	“Every 36 000 L (9000 US gal) of Fuel or 1000 Service Hours or 2 Years ... Aftercooler Core - Clean/Test” — manufacturer, princessklubben.se
Turbocharger inspect	2,000 hrs	“Every 72 000 L (19 000 US gal) of Fuel or 2000 Service Hours ... Turbocharger - Inspect” — manufacturer, princessklubben.se
Heat exchanger & oil cooler cleaning	2,000 hrs	“Every 72 000 L (19 000 US gal) of Fuel or 2000 Service Hours ... Heat Exchanger - Inspect” — manufacturer, princessklubben.se
Injector test / service	2,000 hrs	“Every 72 000 L (19 000 US gal) of Fuel or 2000 Service Hours ... Fuel Injection Nozzles - Test/Exchange” — manufacturer, princessklubben.se
Sea water strainer clean/inspect	250 hrs or 1 yr	“Every 9000 L (2400 US gal) of Fuel or 250 Service Hours or Yearly ... Sea Water Strainer - Clean/Inspect” — manufacturer, princessklubben.se
Coolant SCA test/add	250 hrs or 1 yr	“Every 9000 L (2400 US gal) of Fuel or 250 Service Hours or Yearly ... Cooling System Supplemental Coolant Additive (SCA)” — manufacturer, princessklubben.se
Hoses and clamps inspect/replace	250 hrs or 1 yr	“Every 9000 L (2400 US gal) of Fuel or 250 Service Hours or Yearly ... Hoses and Clamps - Inspect/Replace” — manufacturer, princessklubben.se
Crankcase breather clean	250 hrs or 1 yr	“Every 9000 L (2400 US gal) of Fuel or 250 Service Hours or Yearly ... Engine Crankcase Breather - Clean” — manufacturer, princessklubben.se
Thermostat (water temperature regulator) replace	1,000 hrs or 2 yrs	“Every 36 000 L (9000 US gal) of Fuel or 1000 Service Hours or 2 Years ... Cooling System Water Temperature Regulator - R” — manufacturer, princessklubben.se
Marine transmission oil cooler clean/inspect	1,000 hrs or 2 yrs	“Every 36 000 L (9000 US gal) of Fuel or 1000 Service Hours or 2 Years ... Marine Transmission Oil Cooler - Clean/Inspect” — manufacturer, princessklubben.se
Crankshaft vibration damper inspect	2,000 hrs	“Every 72 000 L (19 000 US gal) of Fuel or 2000 Service Hours ... Crankshaft Vibration Damper - Inspect” — manufacturer, princessklubben.se
Jacket water pump inspect	3,000 hrs or 2 yrs	“Every 108 000 L (28 500 US gal) of Fuel or 3000 Service Hours or 2 Years ... Water Pump - Inspect” — manufacturer, princessklubben.se

Service part numbers (4)

Fuel filter	Caterpillar 1R-0750	“\| Fuel Filter \| 1R0750 \|” — dealer, marineenergy.com.au · “Fuel Filter for Caterpillar 3208 Natural and Turbo engines 1R0750 Advanced Efficiency” — dealer, dieselpro.com
Zinc / anode heat-exchanger anode (10 mm); 2 on the 4W-9164 heat exchanger, 3 on the 7C-3114 heat exchanger	Caterpillar 6L-2283	“\| Anodes on 7C-3114 Heat Exchanger \| 6L-2283 \| [CM6L2283] x 3.” — dealer, marineenergy.com.au · “Zinc Anode for Caterpillar Marine Engines 6L2283 NPT: 1/4”” — dealer, dieselpro.com
Zinc / anode 16 mm anode, starboard bottom of bonnet, 4W-9164 heat exchanger only	Caterpillar 6L-2289	“Anodes on 4W-9164 Heat Exchanger \| 6L-2283 6L-2289 ... [TEC 02023] x 1. Starboard Side, bottom of the bonnet. 16mm” — dealer, marineenergy.com.au · “Zinc Anode for Caterpillar Marine Engines 6L2289 NPT: 1/2”” — dealer, dieselpro.com
Zinc / anode transmission oil cooler anode (if the cooler has one)	Caterpillar 6L-2288	“\| Anode - Transmission Oil Cooler (If present on cooler) \| 6L-2288 \|” — dealer, marineenergy.com.au · “Zinc Anode for Caterpillar Marine Engines 6L2288 NPT: 1/2”” — dealer, dieselpro.com

From the engine maker’s parts lists, or two independent parts dealers. Numbers change with serial number and get superseded — check yours before ordering.

Sources disagree on horsepower — left blank rather than guessed.

Model sources (3)

hmy.com · hmy.com · denisonyachtsales.com

Other Californian models

Californian 38 Motor Yacht 1983–1987
Californian 45 Motor Yacht 1988–1991

Researched from public sources. Spotted an error? The sources are listed above — tell us what they got wrong.