BoatsEmpire 40

Empire 40

Masthead Sloop · Long Keel · 1964–1976

Utilizing iron ballast to lower production costs, this long-keeled masthead sloop offers a stable 35.29 comfort ratio

Designed by Philip L. Rhodes, built by Cheoy Lee Shipyard Ltd.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Hull type
Long Keel

Is it for you?

Character

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

LivelySea-kindly

Her heavy displacement on a moderate beam gives 35 — a sea-kindly motion in a seaway.

Comfort ratio 35
CoastalBluewater

1.82 — just under the 2.0 offshore line; her beam is modest for her weight.

Capsize screening 1.82
LightHeavy

427 — very heavy for her waterline, a serious load-carrying cruiser.

Displacement / length 427
EasygoingPowered-up

15.3 — moderate power for her weight; steady, all-round performance.

Sail area / displacement 15.3

A capable cruiser that sits just inside the offshore line — coastal work with real passages in her.

  • Draws more than ~80% of boats her size on file
  • Beamier than ~76% of boats her size on file

Compared with 369 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

The record

Full specifications

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

Dimensions
Weights
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
15.3
Displacement / length
427.1
Comfort ratio
35.3
Capsize screening
1.82
Hull speed
7.1 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
1251
Hull
Hull type
Long Keel
Construction
Fiberglass
Ballast type
Iron
Production
Years built
1964–1976
Designer
Philip L. Rhodes
Builder
Cheoy Lee Shipyard Ltd

Boats like this, on the water

Nobody has filmed this one — but these are close.

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.

Cabo Rico 3811.58 mSame hull family0.8 m shorterAn aft-cockpit evolution of the Tiburon 36, offering a heavy-displacement cutter platform for stable blue-water sailing
Downeaster 3811.58 mSame hull family0.8 m shorterA 1974-era cutter with a 35.4 comfort ratio, built for stable, long-distance voyaging on a heavy-displacement hull
Island Packet 370/37911.53 mSame hull family0.9 m shorterA long-running cutter produced from 2003 to 2019, featuring a skeg-hung rudder and a stable 1.3-meter draft
Bristol Yachts 4012.24 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterA versatile masthead sloop available as a cutter or yawl, produced over sixteen years for steady, comfortable cruising
Islander Yachts Freeport 4112.50 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA long-keeled staysail ketch derived from the Islander 40MS, featuring an interior redesign by Robert Perry
Island Packet 3811.58 mSame hull family0.8 m shorterA 38-foot cutter with a 1.52-meter draft, balancing a heavy 4535-kilogram ballast for offshore stability

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.

Keep looking

Nothing filmed of this one yet

Two ways to keep looking — both search what the fleet has actually recorded.

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