Introduced in 1979, the Hatteras 43 Convertible was the replacement boat for the aging Hatteras 42 Convertible. She was built on a then new double chine hull with a wide 14'6" beam and shallow keel. Not only is the ride drier than the old 42; the wider beam made for a larger engine room and a more spacious interior. The standard two-stateroom, single-head interior of the 43 Convertible boasts a surprisingly spacious salon with built-in L-lounge to starboard and two barrel chairs to port. A full-service galley is four steps down from the salon, to port. The master stateroom with twin berths is across from the galley, and the bow stateroom has adult-sized V-berths, sink and concealed toilet. An alternate layout with a double bed in the master stateroom came out in 1982. On the downside, the cockpit dimensions of the Hatteras 43 are modest for a boat this size. (Note the engine room air intakes under the cockpit coaming.) Topside, the flybridge seats six. The wide side decks and secure handrails of the Hatteras 43 are a plus. Early models with 450hp Detroit 6V92 diesels cruise at 18–20 knots. Optional “high-performance” Detroit 500hp 6V92s boost the cruising speed into the low 20s.