BoatsDickerson Boatbuilders 40

Dickerson Boatbuilders 40

Masthead Ketch · Long Keel · 1968–1974

A long-keeled masthead ketch produced from 1968 to 1974, serving as the final wooden predecessor to the Dickerson 41

Designed by Ernest Tucker.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
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 31 — a sea-kindly motion in a seaway.

Comfort ratio 31
CoastalBluewater

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

Capsize screening 1.83
LightHeavy

285 — heavy for her waterline, built to carry stores and ride steadily.

Displacement / length 285
EasygoingPowered-up

13.2 — modest power for her weight; easygoing rather than lively, and happier with a breeze.

Sail area / displacement 13.2
TenderStiff

31% of her weight is ballast — on the tender side; she'll heel readily and want a reef sooner.

Ballast 31%

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

  • Draws less than ~80% of boats her size on file

Compared with 377 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
Ballast / displacement
31.1%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Ketch
Ratios
SA / displacement
13.2
Displacement / length
285.5
Comfort ratio
30.5
Capsize screening
1.83
Hull speed
7.4 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
1304
Hull
Hull type
Long Keel
Construction
Wood
Production
Years built
1968–1974
Designer
Ernest Tucker
Builder
Dickerson Boatbuilders

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.

Shannon Yachts 3811.51 mSame hull family0.7 m shorterThe inaugural model from Shannon Yachts, this long-keeled cutter was produced with optional pilot house configurations
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
Islander Yachts Freeport 4112.50 mSame hull family0.3 m longerA long-keeled staysail ketch derived from the Islander 40MS, featuring an interior redesign by Robert Perry
Island Packet 3811.58 mSame hull family0.6 m shorterA 38-foot cutter with a 1.52-metre draft, balancing a heavy 4535-kilogram ballast for offshore stability
Bristol Yachts 4012.24 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA versatile masthead sloop available as a cutter or yawl, produced over sixteen years for steady, comfortable cruising
Downeaster 3811.58 mSame hull family0.6 m shorterA 1974-era cutter with a 35.4 comfort ratio, built for stable, long-distance voyaging on a heavy-displacement hull

The family

Boats like this

Nearby designs by size, type, and era — worth a look alongside her.

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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