Lager 40 Information, Review, Specs

History and Design

The story of the Lager 40 begins in 1984, marking its production start under the skilled hands of Andy Wiggers and his team at Wiggers Custom Yachts Ltd.. The vessel's design is famously based on "Diva," a highly successful Joubert-Nivelt-designed IOR race winner from the same year. This direct link to a proven racing yacht inherently imbued the Lager 40 with a strong performance-oriented philosophy. Joubert-Nivelt, known for their innovative and fast designs, aimed to create a boat that could excel on the racecourse while still offering the potential for spirited cruising.

Wiggers Custom Yachts, founded in 1978, quickly established a reputation as "the best boat builder in Canada" by 1988, a testament to Andy Wiggers' background in fine woodworking and the company's commitment to custom, high-quality construction. During the era of the Lager 40's production, Wiggers' ethos revolved around bespoke solutions and delivering an unparalleled standard of quality workmanship, often collaborating with leading naval architects like Joubert-Nivelt to bring these visions to life. This synergy between a top design firm and a master custom builder ensured that the Lager 40 was not just a capable design, but also a meticulously crafted vessel. Given its custom nature and direct racing inspiration, there were no significant production variations like MkI or MkII models; each Lager 40 would have been tailored to the owner's specifications.

Sailing Performance and Handling

The Lager 40's racing heritage is immediately apparent in its sailing performance characteristics. With a calculated Displacement to Length (D/L) ratio of approximately 149.5, the Lager 40 falls firmly into the category of a light-to-moderate displacement vessel, suggesting excellent responsiveness and an ability to accelerate quickly. Its impressive Sail Area to Displacement (SA/D) ratio of approximately 23.92 indicates a powerful rig, promising strong performance even in light air conditions and ensuring an exciting sailing experience. This combination points to a boat that is "a very high performer".

Furthermore, the Lager 40 boasts an exceptionally high Ballast to Displacement (B/D) ratio of around 0.54, signifying remarkable stiffness and stability. This high ballast ratio means the boat can stand up to a significant amount of wind, allowing it to carry its sail area effectively and maintain its course with confidence in challenging conditions. Its fin keel and spade rudder configuration further enhance its performance pedigree, providing precise steering and efficient hydrodynamics for an engaging helm feel. Owners describe it as a "40-foot racer that is fast and fun to sail".

Accommodations and Layout

While the detailed interior specifications for custom builds like the Lager 40 are not extensively documented in generic databases, its length overall of nearly 40 feet (39.67 ft) and its purpose as a performance cruiser suggest a functional yet comfortable interior. Specific headroom details are not available, but boats of this size from the mid-1980s typically offered adequate standing room in the main salon.

Given its racing origins and custom builder, the interior layout of a Lager 40 would likely prioritize efficiency and seaworthiness while still providing essential cruising amenities. Common configurations for vessels of this size and era often include a V-berth forward, a main salon with settees that can serve as berths, a functional galley, and an enclosed head. Storage would be well-integrated, though possibly more spartan than on a dedicated cruising yacht to save weight. Wiggers Custom Yachts' reputation for exceptional woodworking suggests that any interior commissioned would feature high-quality finishes and robust construction, even if the layout itself was geared towards performance. Specific interior details would have varied significantly based on the original owner's custom requirements.