BoatsDowneaster 41

Downeaster 41

Masthead Sloop · Long Keel w/trans. Hung Rudder · 1975–1981

A rare masthead sloop derived from the Downeaster 38, featuring a long keel and a heavy-displacement hull for steady cruising

Designed by Henry Morschladt & Bob Poole, built by DownEast Yachts.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Long Keel w/trans. Hung Rudder

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 narrow beam gives 34 — a sea-kindly motion in a seaway.

Comfort ratio 34
CoastalBluewater

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

Capsize screening 1.76
LightHeavy

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

Displacement / length 357
EasygoingPowered-up

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

Sail area / displacement 17.7
TenderStiff

38% of her weight is ballast — moderately stiff, a middle-of-the-road stability.

Ballast 38%

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

On the water

The Downeaster 41 on video

The record

Full specifications

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

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
38.5%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
17.7
Displacement / length
356.9
Comfort ratio
34.4
Capsize screening
1.76
Hull speed
7.2 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
1226
Hull
Hull type
Long keel w/trans. hung rudder
Construction
Fiberglass
Production
Years built
1975–1981
Units built
11
Designer
Henry Morschladt, Bob Poole
Builder
DownEast Yachts, Down East Yachts Inc

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.

Allied Boat Co. Mistress 3912.09 mSame hull family0.4 m shorterA heavy-displacement Arthur Edmunds ketch available in both aft and centre cockpit configurations for stable cruising
Bristol Yachts 4012.24 mSame hull family0.3 m shorterA versatile masthead sloop available as a cutter or yawl, produced over sixteen years for steady, comfortable cruising
Island Packet 34911.66 mSame hull family0.8 m shorterA Robert K. Johnson-designed cruiser featuring a shoal-draft long keel and a versatile Solent rig
Island Packet 38012.06 mSame hull family0.4 m shorterA 12-metre blue-water cruiser featuring a 1.4-metre draft that balances offshore stability with shallow-water access
Hans Christian 3612.80 mSame hull family0.3 m longerA heavy-displacement cutter with a long keel, designed by Bob Perry for offshore stability and traditional 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

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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