Beneteau 40 2010
- Thread starter AJL
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OK,
I'll start this by saying that I've been ON a B40, but not sailed her. So I cannot speak for her actual sailing characteristics. But some observations.
First, the ability to make any passage is much more about the skipper/crew, and less about the boat. a guy a few miles from me crossed the Atlantic in a 10 foot homemade boat, so anything is possible. The B40 is CE-A rated, blue water for sure, but is clearly designed as a coastal cruiser. For my eye, the biggest differences between that and a blue water boat are storage/tankage, and seaway comfort. The B40 is huge downstairs, and looks like a Soho loft. But lots of open spaces without handholds, and the 6'10 headroom makes using the rooftop for balance hard. The large beds will have you rolling all over the place. A true seagoing boat would have much more storage, and the decrease of (human usable) interior space would allow you to wedge into areas to prevent being tossed. Even the head is huge. Al that space is great sitting at anchor entertaining friends, but after for 4 days tossed in a gale it would be a shambles.
The cockpit is also a party zone, large and open, with little bracing area.
The desk stepped mast might give some pause.
You say you want to cross the Atlantic.... then what? Turn around and sail home? Sell the boat? Cruise Europe? If planning to sell remember that if you have made mods and have created a blue water B40, and that's not what most users will be looking for.
Not trying to dissuade you... Hell I want to go... just think it all through!
I'll start this by saying that I've been ON a B40, but not sailed her. So I cannot speak for her actual sailing characteristics. But some observations.
First, the ability to make any passage is much more about the skipper/crew, and less about the boat. a guy a few miles from me crossed the Atlantic in a 10 foot homemade boat, so anything is possible. The B40 is CE-A rated, blue water for sure, but is clearly designed as a coastal cruiser. For my eye, the biggest differences between that and a blue water boat are storage/tankage, and seaway comfort. The B40 is huge downstairs, and looks like a Soho loft. But lots of open spaces without handholds, and the 6'10 headroom makes using the rooftop for balance hard. The large beds will have you rolling all over the place. A true seagoing boat would have much more storage, and the decrease of (human usable) interior space would allow you to wedge into areas to prevent being tossed. Even the head is huge. Al that space is great sitting at anchor entertaining friends, but after for 4 days tossed in a gale it would be a shambles.
The cockpit is also a party zone, large and open, with little bracing area.
The desk stepped mast might give some pause.
You say you want to cross the Atlantic.... then what? Turn around and sail home? Sell the boat? Cruise Europe? If planning to sell remember that if you have made mods and have created a blue water B40, and that's not what most users will be looking for.
Not trying to dissuade you... Hell I want to go... just think it all through!
I mostly agree with Jackdaw except for the fact that there are much smaller Beneteaus sailing the world with great success. As for the open spaces, that can be worked around with straps, harnesses and the like. Though I have never sailed a B40, I have sailed and continue to sail a B393 and she is more than comfortable in following, beam and head on seas. We sail, annually, from the Carolinas to Florida and the Bahamas and all is done offshore as the wife hates the ICW. While I would not go out in 30 Kt. winds, when they come up while on the deep blue, the boat is more than capable of handling them. Just remember the old addage: "reef early, reef often".
Jim
Jim
Thanks for the input. I made a very difficult choice. I had the option of getting a 2000 B46 vs a new B40. I'm planning on keeping the boat long term which fed into my choice of new rather than old and I understand you cant really compare the 46 to the 40. re crew, your absolutely right, you need people who know what there doing for a crossing. At present I'm in Lake Erie. If and when I get there, will be the Southern Agean of Greece in between Crete and Karpathos which can be a pretty rough place at time.
I agree that the boat can make it. And as Jim points out all sorts of even smaller Bennies has done it. Many of the older ones in the states came here on their own keels, and a first 30 did the trip back. http://www.first285.com/atlantic/
I would do lots of mods to keep it comfortable and save in the seaway, and look hard at your tankage, water in particular. Even if you plan to bring a RO water filter, plan for worst case failure of that. Figure out budgets based on crew size for everything consumable, and make sure you have lots of safety margin. Stow it well. Make sure to fix the galley so someone can cook safely while the boat is heeling and pitching. Nothing worse than cold Dinty Moore for days because the galley is unsafe in a blow. The front loading fridge is not a great idea for passages, cold pours our when opening, can't be loaded with ice, and stuff can spill out at bad times. Find other ways to cut your DC power consumption too, LED lighting, etc. The furling main, not sure I'd want that at sea.
I would do lots of mods to keep it comfortable and save in the seaway, and look hard at your tankage, water in particular. Even if you plan to bring a RO water filter, plan for worst case failure of that. Figure out budgets based on crew size for everything consumable, and make sure you have lots of safety margin. Stow it well. Make sure to fix the galley so someone can cook safely while the boat is heeling and pitching. Nothing worse than cold Dinty Moore for days because the galley is unsafe in a blow. The front loading fridge is not a great idea for passages, cold pours our when opening, can't be loaded with ice, and stuff can spill out at bad times. Find other ways to cut your DC power consumption too, LED lighting, etc. The furling main, not sure I'd want that at sea.
All good ideas and yes re the Furling Main, I would change to a traditional Main. I havent rec boat yet, should be here in March. I think the mast has a second track to hoist a traditional main. Its hard to get information on details from dealer, and there pretty good. I would have to confirm with Beneteau directly
AJL I own a B43 and have sailed both the 40 and 46 on Chesapeake Bay in winds 20-25 gusting to 30. Seas were 3-5 with a short fetch so it was more than a bit rough out. The 40 series boats have a fairly flat hull form and therefore like to be sailed flat. You'll have to keep an eye on sail trim and traveller postion to keep her on her feet as they have plenty of sail area. Keep the heel angle to apx 10-12 degrees and they'll fly. They both sail well on all points of sail and exceeding hull speed under sail for extended periods is no problem. The 46 being a heavier boat is obviously more stable and of course has great accomodations below decks. We've not had an issue with either boat, or our 43, being able to hang on while in the cabin in rough seas. As for the Atlantic crossing the founders of another web site sailed their 43 to Spain with no issues. Additionally there are plenty of other 40/43 owners that sail their boats in all parts of the world in all sorts of conditions and everyone seems pleased with the boat's capabilities. Bottom line if I had the resources I would opt for the 46, it being a roomier more stable boat, but the 40 is no slouch either. Good luck with your decision.
Mike
Mike
heavy weather sailing
Mike's comments about trim and power mirror my own, and extend to other modern French boats I've sailed, like the Jeanneau and Dufour. Large flat hull sections aft get them near planing past 20 knots and off the wind. The ballast is right at the minimum, and the fin keel doesn't lend much to the tracking. Skillful sailing is required, and getting rounded up into 30kts is NO FUN, but they are capable boats and we love the speed. Reef the boat deeply and early, you will likely pick up speed. At 30knots I wish for a third reefing point on our classic main, and I am coveting that ATN Gail Sail. Our Genoa get's rolled up early, and a little head sail balance would likely keep the bow down and help tracking.
Mike's comments about trim and power mirror my own, and extend to other modern French boats I've sailed, like the Jeanneau and Dufour. Large flat hull sections aft get them near planing past 20 knots and off the wind. The ballast is right at the minimum, and the fin keel doesn't lend much to the tracking. Skillful sailing is required, and getting rounded up into 30kts is NO FUN, but they are capable boats and we love the speed. Reef the boat deeply and early, you will likely pick up speed. At 30knots I wish for a third reefing point on our classic main, and I am coveting that ATN Gail Sail. Our Genoa get's rolled up early, and a little head sail balance would likely keep the bow down and help tracking.
I appreciate that everyone has an opinion, but if you do not sail one and have not got one then why speculate. I have a Beneteau 393 and I sail it out of Fremantle Western Australia. 30 knots is an average sea breeze and is sails better than any other boat I have sailed in a sea. The cockpit is dry and the motion is easy. I have been out in 50 knots and still had no issues with the boat. I have sailed over 1500Nm non stop up one of the roughest coats in the world with the boat. I could not recommend it more. I have done the same route in an SS39, what a nightmare, wet cold in 25 knots, goes though the waves not over. I am sure the Bene 40 is the same. What you will enjoy is the real estate when you arrive.
If it has a Sparcraft mast yes it may have a second track. This is what I have on my Beneteau Oceanis 361. I believe you could use that second track for a try sail while keeping your main sail fully furled. To change to a classic sail you will need to remove completely the furling mechanism from the mast.
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