It's a fabulous boat
Would really like to hear from other 40.5 owners on any issues with keel to hull joints, hull flexing, bulkheads shifting...or those that have had long pounding passages. I really like the boat. Just want to make sure that it id up to abuse.
FWIW - I had a chance to see the new Marlow Hunters - 33 and 37. To say I was impressed is an understatement.
I bought my 40.5 new from the factory.
It was a great boat. Excellent quality of construction
What a lot of people don't realize is that the hull to deck joint on the 40.5 is probably the strongest of any boat at any price
They flanged the deck & hull outwards, and then bolted on a full length toerail
You can literally lift the boat by the toerail, and nothing would happen.
Firstly, this method of construction makes hull to deck leaks virtually impossible.
The reason they did it, believe it or not, was cost.
In the toerail they had square holes.
So, one assembler could drop in bolts, (with a square head on the shaft), and tighten them himself.
With an inward turned flange its a lot more labour.
This was a brilliant design move.
It gave a full length toerail (boy, do I miss that), plus incredible rigidity of the joint.
In short, this boat is really well put together.