Fuji 40 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the brokerage market for a used Fuji 40 means looking at one of just over a dozen Sparkman & Stephens cruisers built by Fuji Yacht Builders of Yokosuka. These 39-foot 2-inch boats are uncommon on the used scene, and a buyer should judge each on the strengths and weak points that the design itself presents rather than on volume or pricing. The following guidance focuses on what the boat is and what to check before committing.
Layouts on the Used Market
Every Fuji 40 follows the same interior arrangement, starting forward with a bow storage compartment and V-berth, then a head and locker, settee seating, and a pedestal table whose leaves drop down, before reaching the galley and nav station. The aft cabin holds a generous double berth to port and a single to starboard, with drawers and a seat between, all under standing headroom that reaches 6 feet 10 inches throughout. The conventional plan means a buyer gets a two-cabin cruiser with a roomy saloon rather than a convertible open layout.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Owner upgrades on these boats tend toward ventilation and deck-structure rigidity rather than gadget lists. A meaningful change seen on some hulls is the replacement of the original eight plastic deadlights with stainless-steel opening ports, which brings welcome airflow below. On the exterior, bow-pulpit strengthening with added horizontal and vertical supports and bracing of the gate stanchions and stern pulpit to the teak toerail address flexibility in the original rail hardware. The original 40-horsepower Westerbeke diesel, 50-gallon fuel, and 100-gallon water tank remain the baseline cruising setup.
What to Inspect
Documented known issues center on service access and deck water management. Engine access is excellent forward and aft but poor on either side, so confirm whether routine maintenance can be reached without major disassembly anchor. The deck lacks efficient scuppers, with water escaping only through three half-inch drains on each side discharging a few inches below the sheer, and a buyer should test how the deck sheds water anchor. A documented limitation is that someone 5 feet 4 inches in height cannot stretch to the prop that secures the center hatch open, a small but real access quirk on certain boats anchor.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
Used Fuji 40s typically appear on the market in the United States. For a buyer, the short checklist is: verify side engine access for serviceability, examine deck drainage through the small drains, confirm any deadlight and pulpit upgrades, and assess the exemplary teak and makore joinery for condition after decades. A rare, heavily built S&S cruiser worth a close look if found.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Fuji 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. |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 26 | 3 | $19,000 | — |
| Sep 26 | 1 | $34,900 | +83.7% |
Where they're listed
Fuji 40 listings appear across 2 countries. United States has the most listings with 3 (75.0%), followed by Mexico.
Country view
4 listings · 2 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $19,000 | 3 | 0 | 75.0% |
| Mexico | $34,900 | 1 | 1 | 25.0% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
7 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Island Packet 40 | 40' | $ 150,000 | 51 | 24 |
| Hughes 40 | 40' | $ 129,950 | 16 | 0 |
| Swan 40 | 39.3' | $ 84,686 | 14 | 7 |
| Bayfield 40 | 45.5' | $ 98,500 | 7 | 1 |
| Tartan 40 | 40.25' | $ 70,000 | 7 | 3 |
| Delphia 40 | 39.21' | $ 109,001 | 7 | 3 |
| Fuji 40You are here | — | $ 19,000 | 4 | 1 |