BoatsBristol Yachts 40

Bristol Yachts 40

Masthead Sloop · Modified Full Keel · 1970–1986

A versatile masthead sloop available as a cutter or yawl, produced over sixteen years for steady, comfortable cruising

Designed by Ted Hood.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Modified Full Keel

See her sail

The Bristol Yachts 40, on the water

The fleet's own footage — the truest look at how she really moves.

Footage from Practical Sailor

Is it for you?

Character

Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.

LivelyComfort 37Sea-kindly
CoastalCapsize 1.66Bluewater
LightD/L 376Heavy
EasygoingSA/D 15.4Powered-up
TenderBallast 37%Stiff

Built heavy and sea-kindly — a boat made to cross oceans and forgive a rough night.

The living fleet

Sailed by the fleet

Where the fleet has filmed this boat.

Seen once across one channel of the fleet.

Basemap © Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

On the water

The Bristol Yachts 40 on video

What they go for

Market signal

Where the fleet has seen this model for sale, and the asking prices that came with it.

1seen for sale
1channel looked into buying
$40,000Median asking

  • A classic cruising sailboat available on the used market for approximately $40,000, seriously considered for purchase by budget-conscious cruisers

    from Practical Sailorseen March 20260:09

From the fleet's own footage — our observed signal, not broker listings.

The record

Full specifications

The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
37.0%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
15.4
Displacement / length
375.7
Comfort ratio
36.7
Capsize screening
1.66
Hull speed
7.0 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
1058
Hull
Hull type
Modified Full Keel
Construction
Fiberglass
Ballast type
Lead
Production
Years built
1970–1986
Units built
149
Designer
Ted Hood
Builder
Bristol Yachts Inc

Boats like this, on the water

More boats like her, on the water

Comparable boats the fleet has on camera: same type, within a quarter of her length. Open the boat, or watch the video — a timestamp means she only appears in passing.

Bristol Yachts 3911.89 mSame hull family0.4 m shorterA 1966 masthead sloop with a long keel, built for five years as a precursor to the long-running Bristol 40
Bristol 40 for $40,000 - Can You Make it Work?from Practical Sailor
Rustler Yachts 3610.77 mSame hull family1.5 m shorterA Holman and Pye designed masthead sloop featuring a heavy-displacement long keel hull built for offshore stability
Pär Nyman // GGR 2026 & Sailing Spirituality1:52from 59° North Sailing
Alberg 3711.33 mSame hull family0.9 m shorterA long-keeled masthead sloop produced for two decades with a transition from wood-heavy interiors to molded fiberglass
Sailing Pacific Mexico: Boat work in exotic locationsfrom Cruising Maya
Cape Dory 3611.01 mSame hull family1.2 m shorterProduced from 1978 to 1990, this long-keeled cutter was later marketed as the Robinhood 36
Solo Sailing the Atlantic: Africa to Caribbean0:37from Atom Voyager
Downeaster 3811.58 mSame hull family0.7 m shorterA 1974-era cutter with a 35.4 comfort ratio, built for stable, long-distance voyaging on a heavy-displacement hull
Why Sailors Still Want This Slow Old Cruiser – Down East 38from Practical Sailor
Shannon Yachts 38 PH11.51 mSame hull family0.7 m shorterA long-keeled cutter designed by Stadel for offshore stability, offering a comfortable motion and steady passage-making
A Sailboat With No Keel? Shannon Shoalsailer 351:37from Lady K Sailing

The family

Related models

The designs closest to hers — usually the rest of the builder's range, sometimes the same hull sold under another name.

Bristol Yachts 39A 1966 masthead sloop with a long keel, built for five years as a precursor to the long-running Bristol 40Bristol Yachts 41.1A masthead sloop with a deep 3.05-metre keel-centerboard draft, bridging the gap between the 411 and 43.3 modelsBristol Yachts 32A Ted Hood-designed masthead sloop with a modified full keel, built for steady, comfortable cruising over two decadesBristol Yachts 47.7A 14.33-metre semi-custom cruiser featuring a traditional counter stern and a deep 3.35-metre keel-centerboard draftBristol Yachts 31.1A 1983 masthead sloop with a fin keel and skeg-mounted rudder, optimized for a stable, comfortable coastal paceBristol Yachts 35.5A long-running production cruiser with a 43% ballast ratio, designed for a stiff and stable coastal sailing experience

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