Block Island 40 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Provenance

The Block Island 40’s pedigree is rooted in offshore competition. Richard Henderson, in Choice Yacht Designs, traced its inspiration to a S&S centerboard yawl that dominated the Bermuda Race, and the Tripp design went on to influence the production Nevins 40 and similar boats from other hands. On the race record alone the design speaks for itself: in the 1960 Bermuda Race, six of the first eleven finishers were Block Island 40s, and in 1978 the class winner Alaris proved the type still competitive anchor. The boat is no lightweight racer, though—at a cruising displacement of roughly 21,000 pounds with 5,000 pounds of lead ballast and a 23.8 ballast-displacement ratio, it is built to go somewhere and stay there.

Construction

Practical Sailor’s survey found the hull layup to be a purposeful combination of 1-1/2-ounce mat, 18-ounce biaxial, and 24-ounce directional fiberglass in polyester resin with an isophthalic gelcoat, and the first two laminations are vinylester, a detail credited with resisting blistering anchor. Airex core 5/8-inch thick is standard in the hull, while the deck is balsa-cored. The hull-to-deck joint is bonded with 3M 5200 and through-bolted every six inches, and bulkheads are tabbed to the hull. Inside, the only fiberglass pan is in the head, where wash water makes solid glass the right choice.

Rig and Handling

The standard rig is a yawl, with a sloop configuration possible but seldom seen—one builder delivering only yawls and voicing doubt about building a sloop, citing the virtues of two sticks. The wide side decks are a trademark shared with the Hinckley B40, letting a crew walk forward without ducking the shrouds. Metalmast’s higher-aspect mainsail sharpened the rig’s efficiency, and later refinements from builder Woods included a ball-bearing Lewmar traveler at the stern pulpit for better mizzen trim, breast cleats amidship, a revised outhaul and reefing setup, and a toerail that grows taller toward the bow. Woods also cleaned up the propeller aperture for smoother water flow and became a vocal advocate of a three-bladed feathering Max Prop to cut drag and improve backing-down control. PHRF ratings run from 156 to 186 depending on rig and fleet.

Accommodations

Below, the Block Island 40 is all wood, with ash ceilings, teak-faced plywood or solid teak joinery, and mahogany hidden from view. Louvered locker doors and a removable foam-backed vinyl headliner complete a finish Practical Sailor judged very nicely done, if not to Hinckley’s final polish. Eleven opening portlights, two hatches, and two Dorades give excellent airflow. The forward cabin is set off from a large forepeak by a watertight bulkhead, reached through a foredeck hatch—a detail with real offshore consequence. Foam cushions are a generous six inches thick. Tankage is adequate at 120 gallons water and 45 gallons diesel, with stowage to match a serious cruising brief.

Known Issues and Refit Notes

Buyers should note the early vinylester-and-polyester layup strategy as the production standard. Woods’ versions addressed original limits by lengthening the cabin trunk fore and aft, which allowed a proper U-shaped cooking area and a seated navigation desk absent on earlier boats, and by fitting a more hydrodynamic solid-fiberglass-and-lead centerboard for better windward work. These are improvements rather than corrections of fault.

The Verdict

The Block Island 40 remains a thoughtful answer to the racing-cruising brief: a centerboard yawl with real offshore pedigree, a robust core-and-solid-glass build, and a wood interior that wears well. Its wide decks, watertight forepeak, and proven regatta record make it a credible used-classic candidate for the sailor who values capability over polish.

Pros