At 40 feet 11 inches overall, with a 32-foot 6-inch waterline, 12-foot 8-inch beam, and 21,600-pound displacement, the 40 LRC sits squarely in the midsize bluewater-cruiser class. It leans toward neither ultralight nor heavy-displacement extremes. The boat carries the Long Range Cruiser name as a statement of intent rather than a trim level.
Design and Construction
The hull is a hand-laid composite of alternating 24-ounce woven roving and chopped-strand mat with resin. Every bulkhead, seat, berth, shelf, and cabinet is individually hand-laminated to the hull with multiple layers of fiberglass and resin, adding structural support. Caliber also reinforced the bow and the leading edge of the keel, and fitted a watertight crash bulkhead forward.
The deck is sealed to an inward hull flange with polyurethane adhesive. A perforated aluminum toe rail is then through-bolted to the flange on close centers. Its stainless-steel carriage bolts sit in square holes, preventing them from spinning during tightening and breaking the seal. The builder trademarked this joining method as the Quad-Seal Deck to Hull System anchor.
Fuel, water, and waste tanks are integral with the hull beneath the cabin sole. This arrangement distinguishes the LRC from the earlier Caliber 40, which used stand-alone tanks, and raises fuel capacity from 46 to 212 gallons. Below the waterline, the boat has a long, low-aspect fin keel and a skeg-supported rudder forward of it.
Rig, Cockpit, and Deck
The 40 LRC is rigged as a sloop/cutter with a removable inner forestay, providing a versatile headsail plan for offshore sailing. A sugar-scoop transom makes dinghy boarding easier and carries a fold-down ladder that can be reached from the water for emergency re-entry.
The T-shaped cockpit seats four or five adults comfortably. A 40-inch wheel allows the helmsman to sit outboard for better visibility while still holding the helm. A wide-opening port seat locker provides practical access to the machinery, batteries, packing glands, and steering gear.
Double lifelines and cabin-top handrails help crew move forward. At the bow, a large foredeck anchor locker with a secure closure and a bow-pulpit platform simplify ground-tackle handling.
Performance Under Sail
The boat’s sail-area/displacement ratio is 15.3, and its displacement/length ratio is 28, placing it in the moderate cruising range. Light-air performance isn’t its strong suit, but most owners praise its behavior in winds above six knots.
Later boats fitted with in-mast furling trade some sailing performance for easier mainsail handling. That’s a compromise worth noting when comparing rig configurations.
Accommodations
Below, the layout starts forward with a full head and shower. Aft of that is the master stateroom, with a Pullman berth to port, a hanging locker, and a bureau to starboard.
Amidships, the main cabin has an L-shaped dinette to port and a settee to starboard. The galley and navigation station occupy the aft port corner. To starboard are a second small head and a compact quarter-berth cabin suited to two small adults.
Because the integral tankage sits beneath the sole, it preserves cabin volume. The directly bonded furniture also gives the interior a stiff, unified structure rather than the feel of a dropped-in liner.
Verdict
The Caliber 40 LRC is a thoughtfully engineered cruiser. Its hand-laid solid hull, fully bonded interior, integral tanks, and sealed deck joint favor longevity and structural coherence over weight savings. It’s a moderate sailor that rewards wind rather than calm, while the LRC’s expanded fuel capacity makes it a credible passage-maker.
Pros
- Integral hull tanks and 212-gallon fuel capacity for long-range cruising
- Hand-laminated bulkheads and furniture create a structurally unified hull
- Watertight forward crash bulkhead, reinforced bow, and reinforced keel leading edge
- Trademarked deck-to-hull seal with bolts designed not to rotate during tightening
- Practical access to steering gear and machinery through the port seat locker
Cons
- Light-air performance isn’t a strength
- Later models with in-mast furling sacrifice some sailing performance
