BoatsS&s 40 (1964)

S&s 40 (1964)

Masthead Sloop · Fin Keel · 1964–1976

A successful RORC racer from Sparkman & Stephens, built in both wood and fiberglass across a twelve-year production run

Designed by Sparkman & Stephens, built by Teksoglass.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Fin 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 narrow beam gives 39 — a sea-kindly motion in a seaway.

Comfort ratio 39
CoastalBluewater

At 1.55 she sits well under the 2.0 line — a solidly ocean-capable hull for her size.

Capsize screening 1.55
LightHeavy

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

Displacement / length 323
EasygoingPowered-up

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

Sail area / displacement 15.8
TenderStiff

41% of her weight is ballast — moderately stiff, a middle-of-the-road stability.

Ballast 41%

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

  • Narrower than ~90% of boats her size on file

Compared with 2845 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
40.7%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
15.8
Displacement / length
323.1
Comfort ratio
38.6
Capsize screening
1.55
Hull speed
7.2 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
1027
Hull
Hull type
Fin Keel
Construction
Wood
Ballast type
Lead
Production
Years built
1964–1976
Units built
20
Designer
Sparkman, Stephens
Builder
Teksoglass, Far East Yachts

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.

Colvic Craft Victor 4012.19 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA John A. Bennett-designed masthead ketch also known as the Blackwater 40, built for steady, comfortable passage-making
Hans Christian Christina 4012.14 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Scott Sprague-designed cutter with a skeg-hung rudder, built for steady, comfortable blue-water passages
Beneteau First 3812.25 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Jean Berret-designed masthead sloop built for performance, offered with multiple keel and rig configurations
Beneteau 4012.14 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 2007 Berret-Racoupeau design with a 1.9m draft, also marketed internationally as the Oceanis 40 and Moorings 41.3
J/40 Classic12.19 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 12.19-metre masthead sloop with a 1.98m draft, balanced for offshore cruising and production stability
Beneteau Oceanis 4012.15 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA spacious fractional sloop from Berret-Racoupeau featuring a versatile optional shallow draft keel

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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