Hallberg-Rassy was once known for conservative cruising hulls without chines. For the 400, Frers drew a beamy hull whose fullness extends well aft, along with a plumb bow that maximizes the 38-foot-6-inch waterline. The wide stern called for twin rudders beneath the two helm stations, a configuration that provides total control when the boat is well heeled under sail.
Design and Construction
Below the waterline, the hull is solid laminate. Above it, the hand-laid laminate incorporates a Divinycell PVC foam core for insulation and a favorable strength-to-weight ratio. Structural bulkheads are laminated on both sides within a load-distributing grid that reaches deck level fore and aft.
A longitudinal internal keel stiffener is laminated to the hull. By removing the need for a central interior bulkhead, it opens up the saloon. The hull-to-deck joint uses overlapping laminate without fasteners, creating a strong, robust, monolithic structure capped by a formidable bulwark.
The deck-stepped, triple-spreader Seldén mast bears on a steel support molded into the fiberglass. Yacht magazine described the boat as stiff, well-built, and very commodious, with fine carpentry and perfect varnishing in a contemporary design language. Segeln also noted the well-made carpentry, including continuous grain across structural bulkheads and cabinets.
Rig, Sailing Performance, and Handling
The 400 has an easy-to-handle fractional sloop rig with an integrated bowsprit. Its standard headsail is a slightly overlapping sail of about 110 percent, providing plenty of power while remaining easy to tack; a self-tacking jib is optional. The sheets pass between the inboard and outboard shrouds, allowing tight closehauled angles.
The mainsheet traveler sits forward of the traditional Hallberg-Rassy windshield, with two solar panels immediately ahead of it. Control lines run concealed to the coamings, allowing electric winches to be fitted without taking up interior space. Telltales remain plainly visible from the helm.
Period testers were impressed by the boat under sail. Yacht found that it sailed as if on rails, needed only small corrections, and felt very stiff. Segeln reported an immediate but non-nervous response and an apparent desire for performance.
During testing in Annapolis, the 400 made between 7 and 8.5 knots on all points of sail in 10 to 18 knots of wind. At 40 degrees apparent in 11 knots true, it reached 8.1 knots with only a finger’s touch on the helm.
Under power, the 60-hp Volvo Penta D2-60 drives a three-blade Gori propeller through a saildrive. The test boat made 7.1 knots at 2,300 rpm and turned within a boatlength. Sound below measured a quiet 71 dBA.
Cockpit and Deck
The cockpit can be fitted with either a fixed, high-gloss teak table or a drop-leaf centerline version. Bins provide space for excess rope, while a fold-out swim platform is reached past the split backstay.
The bowsprit serves several purposes: it provides a tack point for a gennaker, a mount for a bow ladder, and stowage for an Ultra anchor. A pop-up foot brace helps brace the helmsman when the boat is heeled, and the companionway washboard is available with gas springs.
Accommodations
Hallberg-Rassy offers the interior with one or two aft cabins, one or two heads, and a forward cabin, across three layouts. For the first time in an aft-cockpit Hallberg-Rassy, buyers can choose an owner’s cabin in the bow with a centerline bed and en-suite head.
Choosing a single aft cabin makes room for an extra-long starboard settee and a large head with a separate shower. In the twin-aft-cabin arrangement, the two cabins still share an aft head.
The saloon has an L-shaped sofa paired with either settees or armchairs. Buyers can choose light khaya mahogany or optional European oak. Fiddles double as handholds, and the settees convert into secure sea berths.
Segeln praised the generously sized forward layout, including a center berth it considered exceptional in a boat of this size, and noted that every corner had been used for storage. Cruising World’s Boat of the Year director called the versatile layout unusual in a 40-footer.
Machinery, Systems, and Options
The Volvo Penta engine is accessible through the companionway steps and through panels in both aft cabins. There is also room for an optional genset. All tankage—two fuel tanks and three water tanks—is mounted low and centrally.
Comfort options include a washing machine, dishwasher, additional fridge or freezer, air conditioning, and a watermaker. Every boat is delivered with its own individual wiring diagram.
Verdict
The Hallberg-Rassy 400 combines the yard’s traditional craftsmanship and ocean-capable CE Category A rating with a Frers hull that sails with unexpected verve. It earned Import Boat of the Year in 2023 and shared Cruising World’s Overall Winner award. That rare double reflects the period press’s view of the boat as an evolutionary cruiser with matchless versatility.
Pros
- Beam carried aft and twin rudders provide precise control when heeled, while also contributing to a roomy interior
- Versatile layouts, including a forward owner’s cabin offered for the first time in an aft-cockpit Hallberg-Rassy
- Quiet, accessible Volvo Penta D2-60, with space for an optional genset
- Fast, easily handled rig with concealed controls and clearly visible telltales
Cons
- Standard draft of 6'4" limits access to some shallow cruising grounds; a 5'6" shoal-draft version is optional
- The extensive options list can complicate comparisons among used boats
