Tripp’s first step in this direction was the Vitesse class of 1957, built in the Netherlands and imported into the U.S. by Van Breems International. American Boat Building Corporation of Warwick, Rhode Island, later bought the molds, renamed the design, and produced 22 hulls before moving on. Metalmast Marine built another 14. At one point, the company asked Tripp to separate the keel and rudder on the underbody and give the rig a higher-aspect mainsail.
Design and Provenance
The Block Island 40’s pedigree is rooted in offshore competition. In Choice Yacht Designs, Richard Henderson traced its inspiration to a Sparkman & Stephens centerboard yawl that dominated the Bermuda Race. Tripp’s design later influenced the production Nevins 40 and similar boats by other designers.
Its racing record speaks for itself. Six of the first 11 finishers in the 1960 Bermuda Race were Block Island 40s, and in 1978 the class winner Alaris showed that the type was still competitive.
This is no lightweight racer, however. At a cruising displacement of roughly 21,000 pounds, with 5,000 pounds of lead ballast and a 23.8 ballast-displacement ratio, the Block Island 40 is built to go somewhere and stay there.
Construction
Practical Sailor’s survey found a purposeful hull layup using 1-1/2-ounce mat, 18-ounce biaxial fiberglass, and 24-ounce directional fiberglass in polyester resin under an isophthalic gelcoat. The first two laminations are vinylester, a detail credited with resisting blistering.
The hull has a standard 5/8-inch Airex core, while the deck is balsa-cored. The hull-to-deck joint is bonded with 3M 5200 and through-bolted every six inches, and the bulkheads are tabbed to the hull. The only fiberglass pan below is in the head, where solid glass is well suited to handling wash water.
Rig and Handling
The standard rig is a yawl. A sloop configuration is possible but seldom seen; one builder delivered only yawls and expressed doubt about building a sloop, citing the virtues of two sticks.
Wide side decks—also a hallmark of the Hinckley B40—let the crew walk forward without ducking around the shrouds. Metalmast’s higher-aspect mainsail improved the rig’s efficiency. Later refinements from builder Woods included:
- A ball-bearing Lewmar traveler at the stern pulpit for better mizzen trim
- Breast cleats amidships
- A revised outhaul and reefing arrangement
- A toerail that grows taller toward the bow
Woods also cleaned up the propeller aperture to improve water flow. The builder became a vocal advocate for a three-bladed feathering Max Prop, intended to reduce drag and improve control when backing down.
PHRF ratings range from 156 to 186, depending on rig and fleet.
Accommodations
Below, the Block Island 40 is finished throughout in wood, with ash ceilings, teak-faced plywood or solid-teak joinery, and mahogany in areas hidden from view. Louvered locker doors and a removable, foam-backed vinyl headliner complete an interior that Practical Sailor judged very nicely done, though not quite up to Hinckley’s final polish.
Ventilation is excellent, with 11 opening portlights, two hatches, and two Dorades. The forward cabin is separated from a large forepeak by a watertight bulkhead. The forepeak is reached through a foredeck hatch, an arrangement with real offshore consequences.
The foam cushions are a generous six inches thick. Tankage—120 gallons of water and 45 gallons of diesel—is adequate, and stowage matches the boat’s serious cruising brief.
Production Changes and Refit Notes
Buyers should note that the early vinylester-and-polyester layup strategy was the production standard.
Woods’ versions addressed limitations in the original arrangement. The builder lengthened the cabin trunk fore and aft, making room for a proper U-shaped cooking area and a seated navigation desk, both absent from earlier boats. Woods also fitted a more hydrodynamic centerboard made from solid fiberglass and lead to improve windward performance. These changes were improvements rather than corrections of faults.
The Verdict
The Block Island 40 remains a thoughtful answer to the racing-cruising brief: a centerboard yawl with genuine 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
- Dual-purpose yawl with Bermuda Race provenance
- Solid, well-bonded hull-to-deck structure with blister-resistant laminations
- Watertight forward bulkhead and separate forepeak
- Generous tankage and stowage for extended cruising
Cons
- Early production boats lack the later Woods refinements to the galley and centerboard
- The sloop rig is rare; most buyers will live with the added complexity of a yawl
