Delphia 40 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

Skrzat’s hull measures 39 feet 2 inches overall, with a waterline length of 36 feet 3 inches and a beam of 12 feet 11 inches. Displacement is 18,150 pounds, including 6,072 pounds of ballast in a bulb-tipped fin keel. The shoal-draft keel draws 5 feet 6 inches and showed its potential for Chesapeake Bay and other draft-restricted cruising grounds. A 7-foot-2-inch deep keel should provide even sharper performance. The shoal-draft keel showed potential for draft-restricted cruising grounds, while the deep keel should provide sharper performance. A spade rudder and fractional sloop rig complete the basic configuration.

The glasswork is tidy throughout, and every recessed surface is gelcoated for protection and easy upkeep. That finish reflects the considerable cruising-boat experience behind the construction. Beneath the helm station, lockers provide good access to the steering gear as well as a clever stowage slot for the companionway drop board.

The pushpit begins well forward and wraps around the stern, providing real security across the back of the cockpit rather than following the open transom-platform fashion of the day.

Rig, Sailing and Motoring

The keel-stepped mast has shrouds led well inboard. Long deck tracks close to the coachroof allow tight sheeting angles and provide a generous range of lead adjustment. The inboard shrouds and deck tracks permit tight sheeting angles with a generous range of lead adjustment.

Under sail, testers found that the Delphia 40 wanted to round up into the wind when carrying too much canvas. Even so, the helm never loaded up and the rudder never stalled. The helm initially felt so light that it was disconcerting, but once the tester became accustomed to not fighting it, he found it positive and responsive.

Under power, noise was pleasantly low both on deck and below. Boat of the Year judge Ed Sherman’s decibel readings placed the boat in the middle of the 2006 fleet, owing in part to well-chosen soundproofing around the standard 40-horsepower Volvo diesel with saildrive. A 55-horsepower Volvo was optional.

Cockpit and Deck

The cockpit coamings sweep upward toward the front, forming deep shelters in each forward corner. The seats can easily accommodate half a dozen people, although they’re too short for sleeping.

At the bow, the foredeck windlass is tucked inside the locker, where it won’t foul sheets or endanger the bowman. However, the stainless fabrication supporting the anchor roller may seem light-duty for a cruiser intended to spend substantial time at anchor.

Boarding from a dinghy raises two further concerns. The stern platform needs better handholds, and the lack of lifeline gates makes stepping aboard from a low pontoon more difficult.

Interior Layout

The saloon furniture is pushed well outboard to emphasize space. Delphia offered three interior versions, differing mainly in the area forward of the main bulkhead. Two of the layouts have a pair of double-berth cabins flanking the cockpit. Each cabin includes a large berth, hanging locker, overhead hatch and a port opening into the cockpit.

The tested boat had a three-stateroom arrangement designed for three couples. Its forward section formed a master suite with a traditional V-berth, hanging lockers and a loveseat. The private head to port has a fold-down seat over the toilet, allowing the entire compartment to serve as an easy-care shower room.

The two-stateroom version is more oriented toward long-range cruising. It has an L-shaped galley to port that helps secure the cook. The three-stateroom layout is aimed instead at families and charter crews cruising for weekends or weeks, rather than at long-range passagemaking.

Light, Ventilation and Interior Details

The elevated “bubble” above the coachroof gives the Delphia 40 her distinctive profile and brings plenty of light into the saloon through its deadlights. Opening deck hatches provide adequate airflow in fair weather.

Ventilation is the design’s weak point, however. With no dorades or equivalent fittings, airflow will be limited on days of heavy rain or spray, while the bubble can create a greenhouse effect and build heat inside.

Several practical details stand out below. The companionway treads turn upward at their outboard ends, helping feet stay in place at steep angles of heel. A solid pillar beside the navigation desk supports the port side. A cavernous locker aft of the galley on the port side can be reached from both the cockpit and the galley.

Outboard, the eye-level locker doors are hinged along their lower edges and held open by struts, allowing them to serve as shelves. Deep fiddles help keep crockery secure in radical motion.

The three-cabin boat’s starboard galley has a single stainless-steel sink beside the range, an integral draining board and a foot pump for a water-conscious crew. In a seaway, however, the cook isn’t adequately supported while working on starboard tack. This contrasts with the more secure galley in the two-cabin layout.

Options, Maintenance and Ownership

Buyers could reduce the greenhouse effect by selecting blinds and screens on the order form. Small, outward-opening hatches in the doghouse windscreen could also be specified to improve ventilation. These were factory options rather than aftermarket fixes, so their presence is worth confirming on any particular hull.

The standard and optional Volvo saildrives are straightforward diesel installations. Tidy, gelcoated lockers should also make routine maintenance more forgiving for an owner willing to keep the ventilation issue under control.

The Verdict

The Delphia 40 is a thoughtfully detailed Baltic cruiser with a light, responsive helm, a roomy interior for three couples and distinctive styling. She suits buyers sailing in temperate, breezy waters who are prepared to treat her ventilation limitations as a known design trade-off rather than a defect.

Pros

Light, positive helm that remains controllable when over-canvased
Deep cockpit shelters and secure, gelcoated stowage
Three-couple layout with a bright bubble saloon and versatile lockers
Low motoring noise from well-chosen soundproofing and the saildrive installation

Cons