2004 Dudley Dix Jacobs Bros 43 Pilot

Interior Layout

Linda Lee is fitted with a functional layout both for sailing and housekeeping in mind. She has simple white laminate surfaces trimmed with light teak to create a modern aesthetic. Her teak and holly sole is tried and true with a nod towards a more traditional and popular finish. She has 6’+ of standing headroom in all areas of the main cabin, head and forward cabin areas. Her hull is insulated with sprayed in foam. 

Starting forward, the owners cabin has lots of natural light through the square overhead hatch. The hatch is equipped with a sun shade for off watch naps. The cabin has two LED overhead lights, two reading lights and two cabin fans. The custom mattress from provides a great night sleep with custom fitted sheets and covers. On the starboard side of the cabin at the head of the bed there is a shelf with drawers below for storage.

The head compartment is separated from the forward cabin by a single panel door. There is a separate shower stall that has a built inbuilt-in seat with teak grate on top. Behind the seat and outboard is a storage compartment. Standing headroom in this space is a no compromise six feet. There is a nifty ad-hoc retractable clothes line for wet foul weather gear or a small laundry load. There is an opening overhead deck hatch for ventilation and a satin varnished teak grate in the shower pan. The head has a single oval stainless sink basin, two outboard storage cabinets, towel bar, and an electric flush toilet.

Rejoining the main cabin outside the head, a corridor leads to the forward end of the galley which is home to the Force-10 3-burner stove and oven. Working aft, cabinets line the hull for plentiful storage and the entire length of countertop accesses the refrigerator and freezer in two compartments. There is one opening portlight in the hull for cross ventilation but the space has lots of headroom and two Hella Turbo fans to facilitate moving more air while cooking. On the aft and inboard side of the galley is the double basin stainless sink and more cupboard storage.

Opposite the galley on the port side of the boat is a small watch berth/settee and storage galore. There is a built in cabinet with slide out drawer storage that was converted from housing a washer/dryer. The plumbing still exists so reverting back just requires the drawers to be removed. Small shelves are above with a built-in microwave cabinet. Facing aft here there is access to the generator space and a small countertop area with a large fiddle to keep items temporarily in place or burly enough to catch yourself with in a seaway.

Up two steps into the raised main salon and pilothouse, there is ample seating for the whole crew and large saloon windows to enjoy the scenery at anchor or maintain a lookout while underway. The port side has a raised dinette with an L-shaped settee outboard and a single linear settee opposite the table. Ample red or white LED lighting keeps the space well lit after the sun goes down. Engine access is amazing by lifting the settee and table out of the way with a purchase system that is connected to the overhead. The entire center floorboard also removable for nearly 360º access. The settee cushion is easily removable to gain access to the ample storage locker outboard in the hull. To starboard in the main salon is the watchkeeping station. There is an adjustable Springfield Marine helm seat with full thruster and throttle controls, all navigation equipment and the AC/DC electrical panel. Visibility forward is suitable from this position and an overhead hatch gives an idea of the sails.

Aft on the starboard side is a second cabin set low into the hull, forming an excellent sea berth. The bunk length is 6’2” and 4’ wide coming in just under a standard queen mattress. There is a hanging locker for personal items and a door that separates the space from the main salon.

The companionway is all the way aft with four steps that lead to the cockpit. There are ample handholds and good tread on the stairs for sure footing.

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Electronics and Navigation

Poly-Planar MRD 87i stereo

*Unique features on this electrical system from the owner*

Shore power is run through galvanic isolators, then the two Skylla chargers. All AC loads come from the inverter, even when on shore power (unless bypassed). This allows the Linda Lee to use any shore power in the world without need for a converter or transformer. Additionally, when using the generator and Quatro to charge the batteries, the two Skylla chargers can be added. This puts the generator at 80% load, and charges the batteries very quickly.

Hull and Deck

Linda Lee’s round bilge underbody is a well faired, clean, and stable design. Her 5’ 11” fin keel holds 8,816lbs of ballast, making her stable and seaworthy but also able to punch through lighter areas of wind while cruising. Her rudder is fully protected by a skeg that also provides some directional stability. The bottom was brought back to bare metal in 2021 and new primer and bottom paint (Epaint SN-1) was applied. The feathering Max-Prop was rebuilt by the factory at this time as well. Linda Lee is fully insulated from the waterline up reducing condensation build up on her interior. 

Linda Lee’s deck layout is designed with the adventurer in mind. She has a large swim platform with integrated swim ladder and durable nonskid decking. An aluminum arch is integrated into the transom, burly enough for a large RIB dinghy, radar mount, solar array, wind generator and bimini. Her cockpit has seating across the aft end and extending three feet forward on both ends to form a “U”. This increases the workability for several people forward of the binical and makes for a kinder entrance into the main cabin. The pilothouse dodger provides loads of protection for the watch stander without inhibiting their view. For added protection a canvas dodger fits over a stainless fold down frame. Working halyards lead to one of two electric winches and all sheets can be routed to one of those or a dedicated manual primary winch. Moving out of the cockpit and forward, there are many and holds and sturdy non-skid. Aluminum stanchions carry double lifelines the length of the deck with a boarding gate on both sides. New to the deck in the 2021 refit was: all salon windows, and companionway boards.