Delphia 40.3 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

Delphia built the 40.3 to Germanischer Lloyd's quality standards, and the hull is conventionally laid up by hand with a solid polyester laminate below the waterline, while the topsides and deck are cored with Airex foam for lightness. Around the keel the laminate is twice as thick, a sensible reinforcement at the highest-load zone. The deck carries molded non-slip that holds whether wet or dry, and the side decks are slightly angled so they are easier to negotiate when heeled. Teak inlays on the cockpit seats and sole lend a classy air, and the helm seat drops down neatly to create a walkway aft to the boarding platform.

The boat's underwater profile pairs shallow underwater sections, moderate beam, and a generous waterline with a deep spade rudder, and the standard deep fin keel with a bulb draws 7ft 5in while keeping ballast low for stiffness the deep-keel model that we sailed offers a noticeable extra “bite” on the water and keeps her ballast down low for maximum stiffness. A shoal keel drawing 5ft 10in and a swing-keel version (3ft 3in up, 6ft 4in down, with twin rudders) are also available.

Rig and Handling

The 40.3 carries a 7/8ths fractional rig that keeps the headsail manageable and lets the backstay flatten the main when beating. The standard full-battened main provides good shape and is easy to handle with optional lazy jacks and a zip bag, though one tester disliked having the mainsheet on a coachroof winch for singlehanded sailing. Most control lines lead via clutches to a pair of Lewmar 30ST winches on the coachroof, while the genoa sheets run to 48ST primaries on the coamings beside the helm. Chainplates and genoa tracks are tucked well inboard, leaving the decks unobstructed.

Under way the boat tracks well off the wind with little or no rudder adjustment, and her Jefa rod steering is positive but very light. Testers found her quick for her size: slipping along hard to windward at 5.4 knots in 12 knots of apparent wind, increasing to 6.2 on a close reach where she was so balanced the helm could be left alone the 40.3 tacks briskly, even in light air, and accelerates back up to speed in seconds. Her most efficient point of sail is just over 40 degrees off the wind, and hard on the wind she will sail at about 28 degrees to the apparent wind.

Accommodations

Buyers can order the 40.3 with two-, three- or four-cabin layouts across six arrangement plans. The raised-saloon coachroof with large windows and hatches follows the modern trend and keeps the interior bright; headroom is a generous 6ft 6in and six can eat at the saloon table without a crush. The saloon is pleasantly woody without being gloomy, and both heads are fully molded hose-down units with good headroom.

The three- and four-cabin models use a conventional dinette and linear galley popular on charter yachts, while the two-cabin version gains a larger U-shaped galley for security at sea and an even larger aft berth with its own ensuite head and shower. The three-cabin test boat had an ensuite owner's cabin forward with a generous V-berth and dressing area, and aft cabins with spacious berths. In the four-cabin version a twin-bunked crew cabin replaces the forward head, with the head moved opposite. A forward-facing chart table is a bit small, and the hinged console has room for instruments but no bookshelf.

Known Issues

One review noted a lack of openings for ventilation, which sits against another assessment praising excellent ventilation from the large skylights and numerous hatches. There are handholds on the raised saloon but none forward of the mast, a point worth noting for offshore movement below.

Refits and Ownership

The standard 53hp Volvo D2-55 diesel with sail drive is quiet, with minimal cockpit-sole vibration, and pushes the boat to a comfortable 6 knots at 1,800 rpm, topping at 7.5 knots. An optional bow thruster makes close-quarters handling trivial, and the deep anchor well houses the windlass so nothing protrudes to catch a crewmember. Optional equipment includes a full cockpit tent to stretch the season, lazy jacks, and twin wheels. The hinged electrical panel carries gauges to aid fault-finding, and the battery setup is one 110AH engine and two 110AH house batteries.

The Verdict

The Delphia 40.3 is a thoughtfully engineered Polish cruiser that rewards the buyer with real layout choice, a stiff and balanced hull, and a finished interior that punches above its production status. She is quick on the wind, easy to drive short-handed with the right options, and well suited to extended cruising.

Pros