A closer look reveals a deck which is well laid out and outfitted for cruising. There are four large and well protected dorades and eight nicely constructed stainless steel portlights for good ventilation. Seven Lewmar hatches and four large deadlights help to provide ample light to the interior. All of the lines running on the cabin top between the mast and cockpit are concealed beneath a large fiberglass deck molding which the builders appetizingly refer to as the "carapace." This structure protects the lines from the sun and the fumbling feet of crew members at night, as well as minimizing the amount of water entering the front of the dodger where it is penetrated by the lines. Large stainless steel crew support rails are provided port and starboard of the mast, an important detail for a boat with a tall deckhouse and narrow side decks. Without them, a person loosing his or her balance on the cabin top when heeled is likely not to have the opportunity to grab a lifeline on their way over the side. Another nice feature is the addition of small integral deck lockers adjacent to each of the winches for storing line tails and winch handles. Mooring cleats, chocks, and winches are all well placed and stout. A point has been made to avoid any exterior wood in order to minimize time consuming maintenance.

All of the deck hardware and rigging on the Saga is of high quality and appears to be laid out and sized properly for blue water cruising. The standard boat even comes rigged with robust jacklines in the cockpit and on deck. An electric winch is provided as standard equipment for handling the main halyard and reefing lines.

The Saga 43 comes standard with the Saga exclusive "VARIABLE GEOMETRY RIG™". This is an interesting twin headstay headsail arrangement inspired by the BOC/Whitbread singlehanders. Basically it is a twin headstay arrangement in which both headstays dead end near the masthead and within about two and a half feet of each other at the bow. Both headstays are rigged with large Schaeffer roller furling systems. The inner forestay carries a high aspect ratio self tacking jib whereas the outer forestay carries a large high clewed genoa. The idea behind this layout is that the self tacking jib is used upwind and the genoa is used for reaching and downwind sailing. There are a number of reasons why this layout should be very convenient for cruising sailors: headsail changes shouldn't be necessary until well above 25 knots of wind, and tacking upwind is a matter of simply turning the wheel. In fact, with the slick single line reefing system rigged to the cockpit, it shouldn't even be necessary to leave the cockpit until well over 25 knots of wind.

The Yanmar engine installation has good access to the front, top and back of the engine but poor access to the sides. For long distance cruising, where people with little engine experience often end up doing major engine work in difficult conditions, I would prefer to see more space around the engine. The boat comes standard with a bronze raw water strainer, Racor fuel filter and 80 amp alternator. With a fuel capacity of 75 gallons, the blue water cruiser will probably want to add an auxiliary fuel tank. The 135 gallon water capacity should be more than sufficient, especially with a watermaker on board.

The construction of the Saga is very conservative and robust. The centerline of the vessel is solid glass for keel, mast and impact loads. The hull and deck incorporates balsa coring for durable panels of moderate weight. The core is removed and replaced with solid glass at all through hulls and hardware through-bolting locations, maximizing the strength of the attachments and minimizing the chance of water intrusion into the core.

All and all the Saga is a very well thought out and executed cruising boat which is delivered ready for serious cruising. Sailor's interested in a reasonably priced, purposeful boat with all of the quality, strength, and equipment necessary to make it a dependable cruising platform will be strongly attracted to this boat.