Fast 40 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the brokerage market for a used Fast 40 means chasing one of just 18 examples built by North End Marine in Rockland, Maine, across 1982 and 1983. Alan Adler's narrow, lightweight 40-foot sloop is a specialist's boat, and the used fleet is small enough that each boat deserves a careful, individual look rather than a category assumption. With only 18 hulls produced in a two-year run, any candidate represents a rare expression of the designer's 1981 vision for a slender, low-displacement yacht.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Boats on the market commonly carry lithium batteries, a code zero, a self-tacking jib, a chartplotter, a short-handed setup, and an autopilot, which together point to owners who cruise and short-hand the boat without a full crew. Electric winches appear as a less common owner upgrade. For a buyer, the lithium and autopilot cluster means lower-draw systems and easier solo sailing, while the code zero and self-tacker suggest a versatile light-air inventory worth verifying against the original fractional rig. The 43.42-square-meter sail plan built around an 11.78-meter forestay should be matched to whatever upwind and downwind sails are offered.
What to Inspect
The Divinycell sandwich hull should be checked closely for any local softness or repair, since foam-core construction demands correct fix technique if damaged anchor. Exercise the lifting keel through its full 1.07-to-2.29-meter travel and check the trunk and pivot for play or water ingress. The skeg-hung rudder should be tested for bearing wear and free movement. Confirm the fractional sloop rigging matches the 11.78-meter forestay length and that the 43.42-square-meter sail plan is complete. The narrow 2.44-meter beam and 1,860-kilogram displacement are worth keeping in mind when judging how the boat sits and handles at the dock.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
The typical market for these boats is the United States. A short, practical checklist for any candidate:
- Inspect the Divinycell hull for soft spots or poor repairs
- Cycle the lifting keel and check the trunk for leaks
- Test the skeg-hung rudder for free play
- Verify the rig and sail inventory match the fractional sloop spec
- Confirm lithium and autopilot systems are functional
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Fast 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. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 26 | 1 | $29,000 | — |
| Apr 26 | 6 | $29,000 | 0.0% |
Where they're listed
Fast 40 listings appear across 1 country. United States has the most listings with 7.
Country view
7 listings · 1 country| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $29,000 | 7 | 0 | 100.0% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
5 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beneteau, France First 40.7 | 39.25' | $ 90,861 | 79 | 16 |
| Performance 40 | 40.42' | $ 115,324 | 36 | 8 |
| Elan 40 | 39.04' | $ 92,026 | 30 | 6 |
| Jeanneau Sun Fast 40 | 40' | $ 167,744 | 13 | 2 |
| North End 40You are here | — | $ 29,000 | 7 | 0 |