Gulfstar 40 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Ted Hood—known for Hood Sailmakers, Little Harbor yachts, and similar Bristol-inspired designs—created the 40 as a custom collaboration while he was influential as a Gulfstar dealer. Introduced in 1976, it was built by Gulfstar Yachts in St. Petersburg/Tampa Bay, Florida, through 1978. Estimates put total production at fewer than 20 boats, or around 19 hulls.

The model reflects Gulfstar’s brief experiment with outsourced, higher-performance designs before it returned to in-house Lazzara models. It is distinct from the later center-cockpit Gulfstar 40 CC/Sailmaster, a Lazzara-designed derivative aimed at the charter market.

Design and Construction

Hood drew the Gulfstar 40 as a true performance cruiser/racer with classic lines, and the result earned a reputation as one of the best-performing models.

The boat also reflects Gulfstar’s improving construction practices in the mid-to-late 1970s. Build quality was solid for the era, with fiberglass construction and teak interiors—a step beyond the cost-saving methods the yard had used for its first hulls in the early 1970s.

The Gulfstar 40 has either a modern fin keel or an optional centerboard/shoal-draft configuration for greater versatility in shallow water. She measures just over 40 feet overall, with a 32.5-foot waterline and a 12-foot beam. Displacement is 20,000 pounds, including 8,500 pounds of ballast. That heavier displacement gives the boat stiffness, good righting ability, bluewater potential, and excellent motion comfort at sea.

Rig, Performance, and Handling

The Gulfstar 40 is an aft-cockpit masthead sloop with a generous sail plan. The mainsail measures 329 square feet and the jib 430 square feet. A 666-square-foot genoa is available for reaching, while a 1,098-square-foot asymmetrical spinnaker is available for downwind work.

On the water, those numbers translate into responsive and quick handling and excellent upwind ability. The boat makes good speed in moderate breezes, often reaching 10 knots or better. At the same time, she delivers a comfortable, cushy ride and handles chop without pounding. That combination helped establish the Gulfstar 40 as one of the builder’s finest sailing models.

Cockpit and Accommodations

Below, the Gulfstar 40 has a traditional two-cabin layout that sleeps six. There’s a V-berth forward, settees and convertible berths in the saloon, and an aft cabin offering private quarters. The interior provides ample overall volume.

The cockpit stretches more than eight feet, making it as sociable as the cabin. Forepeak anchor storage keeps the ground tackle separate from the living space—a practical feature for extended cruising.

Known Issues

Like any early Gulfstar, the 40 may have blistering or osmosis in the gelcoat and laminate. It’s a general caveat for boats of this generation rather than an issue unique to the model.

More specifically, the hull-to-keel junction is a known weak point in the design. That joint should always be surveyed thoroughly before purchase or any other commitment. A compromised connection between the hull and the fin keel or centerboard shoe isn’t merely cosmetic on a performance cruiser.

The Verdict

The Hood-designed Gulfstar 40 is a genuinely uncommon American cruiser: a Ted Hood performance cruiser/racer built in tiny numbers by a yard better known for volume production. It also benefited from the improved construction practices Gulfstar had adopted by the mid-1970s.

The boat will appeal to sailors who want strong upwind performance, quick handling, and sea-kindly motion, along with a traditional teak interior. Its rarity makes spares and comparable data scarce, however, and any prospective boat deserves particularly careful attention at the keel joint.

Pros