Caliber 40 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the used Caliber 40 means choosing between the 1992-origin standard cruiser and the 1995 Caliber 40 LRC, both sharing the same 40.92-foot hull, 12.67-foot beam, and 5-foot draft. The LRC's defining change is tankage: where the standard boat carries 55 gallons of fuel and 156 of water, the long-range version expands fuel to 212 gallons and water to 179, with 130 of the LRCs built anchor. Either way you get Michael McCreary's solid-fiberglass hull and integral fiberglass tanks, a structure that rewards careful survey rather than cosmetic judgment.
Layouts on the Used Market
Both versions share identical accommodation footprints, with the standard 55-gallon fuel and 156-gallon water layout contrasting against the LRC's expanded integral tanks. The second smaller "day" head is common to the design and many owners use it for storage rather than as a head. Because the fuel, water, and waste tanks are fiberglass and molded into the hull, the interior volume reads differently from liner-built boats, and the cabin sole sits above tank structures that are not easily separated from the hull.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
On the brokerage market these boats commonly carry a watermaker, solar panels, bimini, dodger, cockpit shower, and chartplotter. Often-seen additions include an inverter, wind generator, electric winches, dinghy davits, autopilot, AIS, life raft, and a short-handed sail-handling setup suited to two-person crews. For the buyer, the energy cluster — solar, wind, inverter — matters most on the standard 55-gallon-fuel boat, where range depends on auxiliary power discipline; the LRC's 212-gallon tank already reduces that pressure. A watermaker and dodger/davits cluster speaks to self-sufficient anchoring rather than marina life.
What to Inspect
The holding tank is the key survey focus. It is large and bow-weighted, and documented cases show that pumping it out with a powerful dockside system can, if the vent is clogged, create a vacuum that delaminates the tank ends or hull sides or splits the integral tank top anchor. Verify the vent path is clear before any pumpout. Also note that the integral tanks can confuse hull resonation and moisture readings, so a surveyor must interpret meters with that caveat in mind.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
Caliber 40s typically appear in the United States and Grenada. For a buyer, the checklist is short: confirm which version (standard vs LRC) by tank capacity; clear the holding-tank vent before pumpout; expect integral tank repairs to be sole-invasive; and treat moisture-meter readings with suspicion near tank boundaries.
- Identify standard vs LRC from fuel/water capacity
- Inspect holding-tank vent for clogging risk
- Discount moisture readings near integral tanks
- Plan for sole surgery if tank repair is ever needed
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Caliber 40. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 14 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 25 | 1 | $194,950 | — |
| May 25 | 1 | $79,000 | -59.5% |
| Jul 25 | 2 | $189,000 | +139.2% |
| Sep 25 | 1 | $69,500 | -63.2% |
| Oct 25 | 4 | $169,000 | +143.2% |
| Dec 25 | 1 | $59,000 | -65.1% |
| Jan 26 | 1 | $189,000 | +220.3% |
| Feb 26 | 1 | $59,000 | -68.8% |
| Mar 26 | 3 | $149,900 | +154.1% |
| Apr 26 | 4 | $174,925 | +16.7% |
| May 26 | 4 | $189,000 | +8.0% |
| Jun 26 | 2 | $209,000 | +10.6% |
| Jul 26 | 1 | $194,950 | -6.7% |
| Aug 26 | 4 | $177,000 | -9.2% |
Where they're listed
Caliber 40 listings appear across 2 countries. United States has the most listings with 21 (91.3%), followed by Grenada.
Country view
23 listings · 2 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $169,000 | 21 | 6 | 91.3% |
| Grenada | $199,950 | 2 | 0 | 8.7% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
6 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Island Packet 40 | 40' | $ 159,000 | 53 | 20 |
| Caliber 40 LRC | 40.92' | $ 159,900 | 39 | 9 |
| Caliber 40You are here | — | $ 169,000 | 26 | 8 |
| Cabo Rico 38 | 38' | $ 89,000 | 25 | 7 |
| Tartan 40 | 40.25' | $ 89,900 | 13 | 3 |
| Warrior 40 | 39.37' | $ 93,810 | 10 | 4 |