Design Lineage and Hull Form
Tripp treated the Bermuda 40 as a developed Block Island 40 rather than a clean-sheet design. The sheer is slightly flatter, the transom more vertical and broader, and the bow slightly less spoon-shaped than that predecessor, changes that read as a calmer, more modern profile without abandoning the classic long-overhang idiom. The hull itself is a solid laminate of fiberglass cloth and resin in most boats, with newer examples reportedly using some Kevlar fabric. Hinckley joined hull and deck on an inward flange, and that flange is nearly twice as thick and twice as wide as comparably sized boats, with fastener holes drilled slightly undersized and then tapped for machine screws—a detail that speaks to a structural joint built with margin rather than minimalism.
Construction and Evolution
Originally the decks were solid fiberglass and resin laminates, but the later Mark III adopted core construction, first with balsa and later with PVC foam, to reduce weight. Around 1968 the flat plate centerboard gave way to an airfoil-shaped centerboard and the mast was raised slightly for roughly 20 square feet more sail area. The 1972 Mark III then moved the mast aft nearly two feet and stood a main mast over four feet taller; the increased sail area and raised center of effort necessitated nearly 1,000 pounds of additional ballast. Those changes belong to later generations, but they map the trajectory the 40-1 started.
Rig, Draft, and Handling
The 40-1 is a centerboard yawl drawing 4.3 feet with the board up and 8.6 feet down, a range that lets her skim shallow anchorages yet stand up with a deep foil when sailing. The long overhangs, broad bilges, shallow draft and centerboards do not make her particularly fast upwind, but off the wind her performance is very good, and the full keel with centerboard makes her easy to balance and comfortable on beam and broad reaches. For a seagoing cruiser the average range of positive stability index measured across 11 similar IMS-rule boats was 116.5 degrees, a figure that places her in credible offshore company.
Accommodations and Deck Layout
Below, the Bermuda 40 is comfortable for four people, and because Hinckley gave clients wide latitude in layout, finishes, and furnishings, individual boats differ noticeably from one to the next. On deck the cockpit is very large and comfortable, with wide, uncluttered, well-laid-out surfaces that suit both lounging and sail handling. That combination of a bespoke interior and a pragmatic deck plan is central to the model’s enduring appeal.
Propulsion
Until 1992 the B-40 was powered by Westerbeke diesels from 35 to 46 hp, while later models carry a 51 hp Yanmar. The 40-1 generation precedes the Yanmar fitment and falls within the Westerbeke band, a point worth noting for anyone tracing a specific hull’s machinery.
The Verdict
The Bermuda 40-1 is a thoughtfully evolved Tripp design whose fiberglass solid-laminate hull, oversized hull flange, and tapped fastening detail signal a structure built to outlast fashion. She is not a windward rocket, but off the wind and on a reach she is balanced and comfortable, with a centerboard that reconciles shoal draft with offshore stability. Custom interiors and a generous cockpit make her a genuine cruiser rather than a platform.
Pros
- Refined from the Block Island 40 with a flatter sheer, broader transom, and less spoon bow
- Solid fiberglass hull with an exceptionally thick, wide inward flange joint
- Centerboard yields 4.3 ft shoal draft yet 8.6 ft deep-board performance
- Easy to balance and comfortable off the wind; credible stability index
- Customizable, comfortable accommodations for four with a large cockpit
Cons
- Not particularly fast upwind given overhangs, bilges, and centerboard
- Early decks are solid laminate; core construction arrived only later
- Westerbeke power range (pre-1992) is modest by modern standards
