The 243's embrace of enduring value comes in combining spread-out spaciousness for captain and crew with ubiquitous storage, easy movement stem to stern, and a masterpiece of a sliding companionway door that enables both wide-open access to the cabin and a separate cockpit entrance to the head compartment, itself roomy and well-optioned.

The cockpit an entertainment center and the cabin a private retreat, the 243 means appointments rich and thoughtful, with a set of options that maximize value: a dinette table, filler cushions, a television and DVD player, a heater, and terry-cloth seat covers.