Regatta yacht for the archipelago: Shogun 43 gets carbon lifting keel

With the lifting keel, the Swedish shipyard Shogun Yachts is significantly expanding the range of uses of the Shogun 43 and is following the concept for which shipyard owner Mats Bergryd once founded Shogun Yachts: he wanted a performance-oriented yacht that could alternate between demanding regatta sailing and access to shallow harbours and bays. Bergryd himself owned a ClubSwan 50, whose large draught bothered him when cruising in the Stockholm archipelago - so he had the Shogun 50 with a lifting keel. Now the smaller 43 is following suit. The Shogun 43 was tested by the YACHT 2024 and impressed with its impressive sailing characteristics with a displacement of only 6.1 tonnes.

Lighter than steel, stiffer than aluminium

The lifting keel was developed by the shipyard OQS and the Swedish composite specialist Marström Composites. The keel box and keel fin are made entirely of carbon prepreg and are cured in an autoclave - a process that promises maximum weight and strength efficiency. The keel offers 1.2 metres of lift and reduces the minimum draught from the original 2.4 or 2.7 metres (depending on the keel version) to 1.5 metres. Unlike telescopic keel designs, Shogun relies on a continuous keel box to maintain the optimum profile of the fin. "We wanted to ensure that we could maintain the optimum cross-section of the fin without compromising performance," explains designer Oscar Södergren.

Change draught - at the touch of a button

The lifting keel is operated via a hydraulic cylinder located under the floorboards in the saloon. The system is based on the experience gained with the Shogun 50, whose draught can be reduced from 3.5 metres to 2 metres at the touch of a button. Thanks to the full carbon sandwich construction with Divinycell foam core, the 43 displaces only 6.1 tonnes and has a ballast ratio of 42 percent. In the 2024 YACHT test, the boat easily reached speeds of over ten knots and cruised at eight knots. The new lifting keel is not intended to impair these characteristics, but merely to increase the yacht's versatility.

Production at OQS in Finland

Since September 2025, the Shogun yachts have no longer been built by Rosättra Båtvarv in Sweden, which is known for its Linjett yachts, but by Ocean Quality Systems (OQS) in Jakobstad, Finland. The boat builder specialising in carbon construction produces in the immediate vicinity of Nautor Swan and Baltic Yachts and brings decades of experience in carbon composite production, the vacuum infusion process and high-quality interior fittings to the table. The lifting keel system is now available as an option for the Shogun 43. Prices for the option are not yet available. The basic version of the Shogun 43 itself costs from around 1.14 million euros (without sails). Further information can be found at shogunyachts.com.

TECHNICAL DATA:

• Hull length: 13.10 m
• Width: 3.70 m
• Standard draught: 2.40 m or 2.70 m (depending on keel version)
• Draught with lifting keel: 1.5 m to 2.70 m
• Displacement: 6.1 tonnes
• Ballast/proportion: 2.7 t/42 %
• Sail area: 119 m² (main + genoa)
• Construction: Carbon prepreg sandwich, Divinycell core, vacuum infusion