1960 Hinckley 40' _{(12.19 m)} B-40

The Bermuda 40 Boat Review March 23rd, 2017 from Spin Sheet Magazine

• I’m going to be very up front with my prejudice here and tell you that, personally, I don’t recall a time when my sense of style, balance and proper proportion of sailing yachts has not been influenced by the design work of the late Bill Tripp. The Bermuda 40 is a quintessential example of Tripp’s art and masterful eye for near-perfect balance. I think it can be safely said that this boat has stood the test of time, and, although the design is now 40 years old, many people, myself among them, still consider the Bermuda 40 one of the most beautiful yachts afloat. It’s true that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I have yet to meet anyone who would deny the classic style and elegance of the Bermuda 40. The Bermuda 40 was designed in 1958 as a refinement of Tripp’s earlier Block Island 40 design. The sheer of the B-40 is slightly flatter, the transom more vertical and broader, and the bow is slightly less spoon-shaped. Although the differences in the two designs are subtle, to my eye, the B-40 has a better balance and a less dated look than the Block Island 40. 
• Henry R. Hinckley & Co. began production of the Bermuda 40 in 1959. Although Hinckley had experimented some with fiberglass boats prior to 1959, the B-40 was to become the bellwether for future production and established Hinckley as the premier North American builder of exceptional quality fiberglass sailing yachts. Over 200 Bermuda 40s have been built to date. 
• There have been two relatively minor variations of the original design over the years. In about 1968, the flat plate centerboard was replaced with an airfoil-shaped centerboard, and the mast height was raised slightly, resulting in approximately 20 square feet more sail area. In 1972, the Bermuda 40 Mark III was introduced with a main mast over four feet taller and the position of the mast moved aft nearly two feet. The increased sail area and the raised center of effort that resulted necessitated the addition of nearly a 1000 pounds of ballast. And, likely to help offset the added weight as well as further reduce the center of gravity, the decks of the Mark III were constructed first with balsa and later with PVC foam. 
• Construction of the B-40 is as good as it gets for custom or production built boats. Although not built to any specific standard, other than Hinckley’s own, that I know of, the scantlings are impressive by anyone’s standards. The hull of most B-40s is a solid laminate of fiberglass cloth and resin, although newer boats reportedly used some Kevlar fabric. Originally, the decks were also solid fiberglass and resin laminates but, as noted above, later models were built with a core material to reduce weight while maintaining strength. The hull and deck are joined on an inward flange. This is a fairly common method of construction but what sets B-40s apart is that the hull flange is nearly twice as thick and twice as wide as comparably sized boats. Another sign of the craftsmanship and attention to detail that goes into the construction of the B-40 is the method of attachment of fittings and hardware. Fastener holes are drilled slightly undersized and then tapped for the appropriate sized machine screw. When bedded and secured, leaks are less likely than with conventional attachment. I could go on with details of custom fittings and craftsmanship but space doesn’t permit.
• Accommodations of the B-40 are comfortable for four people. Because Hinckley has always offered clients considerable latitude in choosing layout, finishes and furnishings, each B-40 I have seen is slightly different. The cockpit is very large and comfortable, and decks are wide, uncluttered and well laid out. 
• Although the Bermuda 40 has achieved classic status as a cruising yacht, many of the elements of this design are the direct result of the CCA (Cruising Club of America) rating rule which was popular at the time. Unfortunately, the long overhangs, broad bilges, shallow draft and centerboards encouraged by the rule do not make for a boat that is particularly fast upwind. Hinkley’s own advertising once described the Bermuda 40 as "a great gentleman’s ocean racer" and everyone knows gentlemen don’t sail to weather. What the B-40 lacks in speed to windward she more than make up in other sailing qualities. Her performance off the wind is very good, and the full keel and centerboard make the boat easy to balance and comfortable to sail on beam and broad reaches. She is very well mannered in conditions that would give fits to the helmsmen of modern boats with high aspect fin keels and spade rudders. 
• For all this beauty, class and quality there is a price. The bottom line is these are very expensive boats, but they do retain their value exceptionally well and under some market conditions may even appreciate in value. They’re out of my range of affordability but I can still dream of someday being able to own one or, better yet, design a boat of such lasting beauty.

Accommodations

A custom Hinckley B-40's interior features a standard layout including a forward V-berth cabin, a main salon with a dining table, port and starboard pull-out transom berths with pilot berths, a full-width galley, and an aft navigation station. The interior is traditionally finished in varnished mahogany or cherry, with a varnished teak and holly sole, and includes a Hinckley fireplace



Forward Cabin

• V-Berth: Sleeps two in a V-berth, with a filler cushion to convert to a double berth. 
• Storage: Includes drawers, bin storage, a bureau, and a hanging locker on the starboard side. 
• Portlights & Lighting: Features fixed and opening ports

Main Salon

• Seating: Port and starboard pull-out transom berths, with pilot berths outboard. 
• Dining: A varnished mahogany drop-leaf table on the centerline, which houses the centerboard mechanism. 
• Galley: Located aft in some configurations, with features like a double sink, propane stove, oven, and refrigerated storage. 
• Hinckley Fireplace: A signature feature, the tile and brass solid-fuel heater is located in the salon. 

Galley & Navigation

• Location: A full-width galley is situated aft, with a navigation station to starboard. 
• Appliances: Equipped with a gimballed propane stove, oven, deep double sinks, and refrigeration. 
• Storage: Includes lockers, drawers, a built-in trash pan, and dish/silverware lockers. 

Customization & Finishes

• Materials: Interiors are typically finished with varnished mahogany or cherry, set against a white overhead and a varnished teak and holly cabin sole. 
• Custom Features: Each B-40 offers significant client latitude for custom layouts, finishes, and furnishings, resulting in variations between individual boats. 
• Head: Located forward to port, the head features a sink, shower, and a Raritan electric fresh water flush toilet in some models. 
• 
  

Galley

Galley is athwartships of the companionway and has plenty of counter and cabinet space for food prep and storage.

• Heritage 3 burner propane stove with oven
• Double stainless steel sinks with pressure hot and cold water
• Large stainless steel refrigerator with cold plate. Also serves as the stand up navigation station to starboard of the companionway

Sails and rigging

She has an aluminum spar stepped on the keel for the main mast and an aluminum spar stepped on deck for the mizzen mast. Stainless steel wire standing rigging,

• 2 - #48 Lewmar self-tailing primary winches
• 2 - chrome aft secondary winches
• #30 Lewmar cabin top winch
• Her traveler has been moved out of the cockpit bridgedeck and now is out of the way and on the cabin top (many later models did this same configuration).
• Manual boom vang
• Harken Roller Furling for the headsail
• Spin pole

Sail inventory -

• 150% Roller Furling Genoa - at the yard
• Main - at the yard
• Mizzen - at the yard
• 170% Drifter - at home
• Working jib - at home
• Cruising spinnaker - at home
• Mizzen staysail - at home

Electronics, mechanical, electrical

• Sony Am/FM/CD stereo
• Standard Horizon VHF radio
• Raymarine Auto pilot - updated
• Raymarine Depth - updated
• Raymarine Wind speed and direction - updated
• Westerbeke dsl engine with 821 hours
• Vacuflush head - updated
• 12 Volt electric panel at nav station
• 110V shore power with cord
• Electric Windlass with foot switch on foredeck
• Centerboard cable and crank in salon table

Hull and deck

• Her hull has been shaved, reglassed and barriier coated
• Her hull sides above the water line have been awlgripped
• Stainless steel bow and stern pulpits with side stanchions and double life lines
• Stainless steel bow stem
• Anchor roller
• CQR anchor with chain and rode
• Electric anchor windlass with foot pedal on foredeck
• 2 opening hatches
• several opening chrome ports
• Teak toe rails
• Teak combings
• Teak eye brows
• Teak hand rails
• Teak companionway slide and board
• Teak winch blocks for primaries and secondary winches and cleats
• New teak lazarette hatch
• Pedestal with stainless steel wheel, compass and shift and throttle
• 2 cowl vents on teak boxes
• Blue sail and hatch covers
• Beige dodger
• Cockpit cushions
• Stainless steel chimney for stove

Disclaimer

The company offers the details of this vessel in good faith but cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of this information nor warrant the condition of the vessel. A buyer should instruct his agents, or his surveyors, to investigate such details as the buyer desires validated. This vessel is offered subject to prior sale, price change or withdrawal without notice.

Listing MLS by Yachtr.com