When the first Pardo 43 appeared in 2017 it was hard to miss. Reverse bow, tall topsides, clean walkaround decks, it felt like a Med beach club that had grown a hull. In seven years, more than 300 examples have been launched, enough to prove that manufacturers, Cantiere del Pardo, had read the room rather well.
So why rebuild such a successful boat from scratch? And does that kind of radical update make sense in New Zealand, where owners tend to care more about range, reliability and easy maintenance?
The short answer is that the new Pardo 43 is still very much a style piece, but this time the substance is harder to ignore. The Italians have used the second generation to tidy up some compromises, to add volume where it matters and to fold in technology that did not exist when the original hull hit the water.
New Pardo 43 on deck
Seen side on, the new Pardo 43 looks leaner and more purposeful. The sheerline is lower and cleaner, the reverse bow remains, and a new “swoosh” feature line carries aft to meet the air intakes, which now sit outside the hull structure. Those intakes do more than look sharp, they help push engine noise out and away from the cockpit so the boat feels quieter underway.
Aft, the hydraulic swim platform has been reshaped for better drainage and now carries an electric bathing ladder. It sits flush with the tender garage opening, which sounds like a small change until you are trying to launch a dinghy in a bit of leftover swell. A daily hatch lets you reach fenders and lines without shifting guests off the sunbed, a detail born from real use rather than styling.
The cockpit is where the new Pardo 43 feels most different. The dining table drops hydraulically to form a king sized sunbed, while the sofas slide and tilt to give forward facing seating underway. An electric bimini sits above a carbon T-Top that is roughly 30 percent larger than before, yet the walkaround side decks remain wide and easy to use.
The outdoor galley has grown in every direction. There is more bench space, more cold storage, a proper sink and a choice of induction cooktop, barbecue or both. Drawer fridges under the seating can convert to freezers, which feels very relevant for New Zealanders who think nothing of a weekend that stretches into a week when the weather plays ball.
Forward, a redesigned bow lounge pairs a broad sunpad with a proper forward facing bench. The bulwarks are slimmer, yet still high enough to feel safe, and folding sidesteps set into the topsides let guests step from cockpit to water without clambering.
Helm and technology on the new Pardo 43
The helm has moved a long way from the original boat. Three Volvo Glass Cockpit displays dominate the dash, driven by a Garmin based interface that merges charts, engine data, systems and lighting control into a single view.
Triple helm seats, proper footrests and a wraparound glass screen make it feel like a small wheelhouse rather than an exposed console. Air conditioning at the helm comes as part of a wider climate system, a welcome thought on a hot afternoon in the Hauraki Gulf, Bay of Islands, or the Marlborough Sounds.
Ambient lighting can be tuned from the screens, right down to preset scenes for interior, exterior and underwater fixtures. It is a detail you might dismiss as a party trick until you consider how much of our boating now happens at anchor, with friends aboard and kids in the water long after sunset.
Joystick control for the IPS drives makes close quarters work almost absurdly simple. That will not replace boat handling skills, and nor should it, but it lowers the stress for owners who are happy to drive their own boat yet do not want every marina arrival to feel like a performance.
Below decks: Nauta’s lighter touch
Drop below and you notice the light first. Larger hull windows and pale finishes pull the sea into the cabin space, which feels calmer and more open than the old interior.
Nauta Design has created two main layouts. One uses a fixed forward double berth, the other uses a C shaped dinette with a raise and lower table that converts into a double at night. Either way there is room to sit, read, work or escape the cockpit noise for an hour.
Aft, the second cabin offers two single berths and more headroom than you expect in a 43 footer. The bathroom has grown, with a separate shower complete with seat and its own air conditioning outlet. It is a small acknowledgement that many owners will push this boat beyond the classic dayboat brief.
Materials are restrained rather than shouty. Soft linings take the edge off sound, timber adds warmth and most surfaces feel like they would handle bare feet, wet towels and the odd sandy bag without complaint.
Power choices for different coastlines
Under the cockpit sole, the engine room is tidy and easy to move through. The inboard new Pardo 43 runs twin Volvo IPS 500, 600 or 650 options, with top speeds around 37 knots and an easy cruise near the 30 knot mark. Fuel capacity sits at about 1300 litres, with 400 litres of fresh water, so coastal passages and long weekends are well within scope.
For owners who lean more towards speed than range, there is the Pardo 43R. This outboard version uses a different hull, built for triple Mercury V10 or V12 outboards and speeds north of 50 knots. A massive 2600 litre petrol capacity and a separate diesel tank for the generator keep the boat in its own space, part luxury weekender, part Italian muscle car.
Where the new Pardo 43 fits New Zealand
Does a Med style walkaround really belong in New Zealand, where the water is cooler and the fetch often longer. The updated boat makes a stronger case than its predecessor.
The walkaround layout suits family use, the enlarged T-Top and bimini bring shade into play, and the bigger galley and storage let you treat the boat as a floating batch rather than just a beach club tender. The hydraulic platform, proper tender garage and easier anchoring setup turn the stern into a water sports hub instead of a simple swim step.
It remains an aspirational piece of Italian design, but beneath the gloss there is more thought for how people actually use boats. For New Zealand owners who want a fast, open dayboat that can also stay out when the forecast tempts you to stretch the weekend, the new Pardo 43 feels less like a fashion statement and more like a workable way to live that idea.
For more information, contact Eyachts at boats@eyachts.com.au.
