Cheoy Lee Offshore 40 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the used market for a Cheoy Lee Offshore 40 means considering a Philip Rhodes–designed cruiser built from 1964 to around 1976, with most boats dating from the late 1960s to mid-1970s. Known also as the Empire 40, she is a full-keel bluewater sloop or yawl with teak decks and a teak interior. Around 160 hulls were built across both rigs, so patience and geography matter more than selection volume.
Layouts on the Used Market
Owner three-cabin arrangements are the more common layout seen among used Cheoy Lee Offshore 40s, though both the owner and ex-charter configurations are available, and ex-charter boats themselves are common. Either way the interior is teak-filled and geared to cruising rather than minimalist racing, with a deck-loading ice box and the original Atomic Four engine typical of the spec sheet.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
On the used market the Offshore 40 commonly carries a bimini, teak decks, inverter, spinnaker, hot water, radar, autopilot, and chartplotter — a cluster that signals boats refitted for modern shorthanded cruising rather than preserved as period originals. The inverter and hot water speak to liveaboard energy and comfort upgrades, while radar and chartplotter address navigation; autopilot and spinnaker together suggest owners who sail longer passages without full crew. Teak decks remain a defining visual and maintenance item rather than an upgrade.
What to Inspect
The defining inspection theme is the teak: laid strip teak decks and Burma teak trim are original features, and their condition governs both appearance and long-term cost. Confirm whether spars are the original Sitka spruce or the optional aluminum, since spruce is a period material with its own lifespan considerations. The hull, deck, and cabin trunk are solid fiberglass molded to Lloyd’s specifications, so structural survey should focus on the wood and on the Atomic Four auxiliary rather than the laminate itself.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These boats typically appear in the United States, Canada, and Spain. For a shopper, the practical checklist is short: verify teak deck and trim condition; confirm spar material and rig integrity; check the Atomic Four and cooling; confirm layout (owner three-cabin vs ex-charter); and assess installed cruising equipment against your intended use. The Offshore 40 rewards a buyer who wants a classic Rhodes full-keel cruiser and accepts the teak upkeep as part of the bargain.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Cheoy Lee Offshore 40. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 2 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 25 | 1 | $28,800 | — |
| May 26 | 1 | $55,000 | +91.0% |
Where they're listed
Cheoy Lee Offshore 40 listings appear across 1 country. United States has the most listings with 1.
Country view
1 listings · 1 country| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $55,000 | 1 | 0 | 100.0% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
4 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Island Packet 40 | 40' | $ 154,500 | 56 | 22 |
| Hughes 40 | 40' | $ 69,900 | 17 | 0 |
| Bayfield 40 | 45.5' | $ 98,500 | 7 | 5 |
| Cheoy Lee Offshore 40You are here | — | $ 55,000 | 1 | 0 |