Beneteau First 40 Sailboats for Sale

Layouts on the Used Market

Belowdecks the First 40 keeps the 40.7 pattern with the head forward, making an ensuite bow cabin with a 6-foot 8-inch V-berth. Two equal double cabins aft give hanging lockers and berths around 6 feet 6 inches long, while the saloon centers on a table that seats most of the crew. The galley is to port with forward-facing sinks and a small stove; the wraparound nav station opposite is the best interior feature. The cockpit carries a single scooped wheel, removable lockers that racers leave behind dockside, and an open transom with a fold-down ladder. A liferaft locker sits beneath the sole, and the cockpit itself drains almost instantly through the transom.

Equipment and Common Upgrades

Autopilot, chartplotter, and an asymmetric spinnaker are commonly fitted, and the deck was prefitted for spinnaker gear from the factory. Often-seen additions include a dodger, cockpit shower, and AIS, along with heating and an inverter for colder or longer stays. For buyer consequence, the power and energy cluster matters most: an inverter and often a heating system are usual, while lithium batteries and solar appear as owner upgrades rather than standard. On sail handling, the asymmetric spinnaker and sometimes a gennaker or full spinnaker rig extend downwind range, and a dodger is a frequent comfort addition. Navigation typically centers on the chartplotter and AIS. Less common but worth noting are electric winches and dinghy davits as owner upgrades.

What to Inspect

The structural story is reassuring on paper: a solid hull with vinylester resin-infused layup, zone-specific stitchmat laminates in high-load areas, and main bulkheads bonded through 360 degrees anchor. Still, look closely at the balsa-cored deck for any signs of core issues, since the deck is balsa sandwich reinforced with unidirectional rovings and relies on that core for stiffness. Check the single pod chainplates for any corrosion history, though their design aims to avoid crevice corrosion. The saildrive and two-bladed folding prop should be serviced per hours, and the hydraulic backstay and vang deserve a function test. Because the cockpit drains through the transom, confirm the drain paths are clear and the transom ladder and fold-down seat operate.

Availability and Buyer's Takeaway

These boats turn up across the United States, the British Virgin Islands, Türkiye, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and Portugal. For a shopper, the short checklist is: confirm keel type and draft for your waters, verify the deep versus shoal performance trade, inspect the balsa deck core and chainplates, test hydraulic rig controls, and review the saildrive service record. Choose a three-cabin owner layout for cruising or an ex-charter example if budget leads, but sail the T-keel if racing is the plan.