Reviews

Mustang 43 Sports Flybridge

Volvo Penta's IPS system has revitalised the Mustang 43 Sports Flybridge which, with simple joystick docking control, fuel efficiency and long-range capability, allows even novices to gallop around Australia's wild coastline

  • The Mustang 43 is New Zealand-designed for general family and fishing use
  • The Mustang 43 Sports Flybridge utilises Volvo Penta’s IPS system to improve performance, manoeuvrability and responsiveness
  • The Mustang reviewed has twin fully electric Volvo Penta D6 engines with common rail injection, producing 435hp
  • Hull construction for the Mustang 43 is solid GRP with a Kevlar layer for impact resistance
  • The boat reviewed has a large cockpit space due to the upgraded engine layout, three cabins and an aft galley

The Mustang 43 Sports Flybridge is New Zealand-designed for general family and fishing use, and is normally paired with twin Cummins QSC-490s (490hp each). The Mustang used in this review had an A$50,000 upgrade to Volvo Penta IPS 600s. The engines consume 90lt/h, with a cruise speed of 22.5 knots.
The compact D6 engines aft are easy to maintain, with electronic management panels to notify when you need to top up the coolant, oil and whether there are heating- or fuel-related problems.

The Mustang 43 Sports Flybridge utilises Volvo Penta’s revolutionary IPS system, which features steerable forward facing drives and a joystick docking device. The throttles are responsive, especially in close-quarters boating like marinas. This improves the boat’s performance and manoeuvrability.

With the IPS system the diesel engines are reversed so the gearboxes are forward and the engines are located back aft in the boat. The twin D6s are mounted beneath the cockpit floor. The engine room now acts as a utility space and holds the Mustang 43’s 1900 litres of fuel in wing tanks.

Hull construction for the Mustang 43 Sports Flybridge is solid GRP with a Kevlar layer for impact resistance. There is coring in the decks and flybridge superstructure to reduce weight and a watertight collision bulkhead forward. The boat has QL trim tabs instead of Bennett tabs to reduce noise levels and drag.

The Mustang has a large cockpit space, three cabins and an aft galley. The galley has a two-burner cooktop, convection microwave oven, dishwasher and a 150lt fridge with small freezer. The boat holds 670 litres of water. There is room for an extra 500 litres of fuel and options like desalinator, washer/dryer and custom storage ideas are available.

Features of the boat include a lockable outdoor rod locker, an outward opening marlin door with cutting board lid, a two-tray tackle locker, 12v cockpit fridge/freezer and small in-transom bait bin with livewell in the swim platform.

Options for the M43 include factory fitted Relax outrigger poles, five heavy-duty through-bolted rodholders, a third cabin, Raymarine electronics, a 200kg davit for its tender, and an icemaker, filtered drinking water and cushions.

To read in-depth boat reviews, see the latest issue of Trade-A-Boat magazine, on sale now at all good retailers.

Specifications

Priced from A$692,700 w/twin Cummings QSC 490s (price as reviewed – approx A$844,736 w/Volvo Penta IPS 600s, and options)

Hull GRP hull w/ kevlar reinforcing, cored decks and hardtop
Length overall 14.39m
Hull length 13.40m
Beam 4.61m
Draft 1.20m
Engines 2 x Volvo IPS600
Weight 15,700kg dry w/std motors
Berths 6 + 2/3 on lounges
Fuel 1900lt
Water 670lt
Holding tank 200lt

Photography: David Lockwood

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