Design and Construction
Abeking & Rasmussen built the Concordia yawls in Germany between 1950 and 1966. Of the 103 completed, 99 were built at that yard.
The 41-foot version wasn't an entirely new boat. The original yawls measured 39 feet 10 inches on deck, while the longer model kept the same proportions and added a single plank to increase interior volume and headroom below. Only 24 boats were built to the 41-foot overall length, making this model a distinct minority within the wider Concordia yawl family.
The hull displaces 21,450 pounds and carries 8,250 pounds of iron ballast. Flat, hard bilges provide real form stability when the puffs come.
Rig and Handling
The yawl rig was chosen not for appearance, but for rating and steadier behavior while riding at anchor. The Concordia 41 carries 740 square feet of sail.
Wheel steering operates a special triangular rudder designed by Ted Hood for greater efficiency. As a backup, a huge emergency tiller is lashed to the main bulkhead below. Owners have noted that the original 39-footers and the 41s could race one another without handicap, showing how closely the enlarged hull preserved the earlier boat's character.
Deck and Cockpit
Flip-up backrests at the aft end of the cockpit and the foredeck skylight reflect a design intended to serve both racing and comfort at anchor. The butterfly-wing skylight is attractive, but it is prone to leaking when green water comes aboard—a drawback worth considering for any boat worked in seas where the bow buries.
Accommodations
Belowdecks, the added plank gives the 41 more volume and headroom than her 39-foot sister. The saloon bunks fold up so they won't become storage spaces for wet sails during racing.
The galley stove was installed to starboard to suit right-handed users, and the sink has a manual water fixture. A custom cabin stove carries a crescent moon and star motif. Hunt and Howland tucked the head into a closet on the port side; with the doors open, it becomes a midships bathroom. A separate head was specified from the start.
The water tanks were made removable for easier inspection and maintenance. Forward, the fo'c's'le has a workbench with a fitted vise, while a flag locker sits behind the companionway ladder.
Auxiliary Power, Equipment, and Variations
The built-in auxiliary was a Yanmar 30 PS diesel, paired with a separate head and the wheel steering noted above. Period upgrades found on individual boats include larger Barient primary winches and an electric anchor windlass. Ray Hunt's own Concordia 41, Harrier, experimented with a bowsprit and sloop rig.
The Verdict
The Concordia 41 is a thoughtful enlargement of a classic yawl. It preserves the original's handling and rating logic while adding room and steadiness. She rewards an owner who values craftsmanship and a seamanlike deck plan, though the skylight's tendency to leak demands respect in heavy weather.
Pros
- Enlarged hull retains the original's proportions and racing parity
- Form-stable flat bilges and an efficient Hood rudder
- Removable tanks and a clever head arrangement ease upkeep
- Built by a highly reputable German yard
Cons
- Butterfly-wing skylight leaks when green water comes aboard
