Design Lineage and Hull Form
Tripp's 1958 redesign sharpened the Block Island 40 in measured ways: the sheer runs slightly flatter, the transom stands more vertical and broader, and the bow is a touch less spoon-shaped anchor. Those changes gave the Bermuda 40 a more settled profile without abandoning the long overhangs and broad bilges the rating rule encouraged. Around 1968 the 40-2 received an airfoil-shaped centerboard in place of the earlier flat plate, and the mast was raised slightly for roughly 20 additional square feet of sail area anchor. The hull type carries a centerboard with a minimum draft of 4.5 feet and a maximum of 8.75 feet, a range that lets the boat skim shoal waters yet bite deep offshore.
Construction
Most Bermuda 40 hulls are a solid laminate of fiberglass cloth and resin, with newer boats reportedly weaving some Kevlar fabric into that shell anchor. Originally the decks were solid fiberglass and resin as well, but the Mark III generation built after 1972 shifted first to balsa and later to PVC foam cores to shed weight. The hull and deck meet on an inward flange, and that flange is nearly twice as thick and twice as wide as comparably sized boats—a structural margin that speaks to Hinckley's conservative engineering. Fastener holes are drilled slightly undersized and then tapped for machine screws, a detail that preserves thread integrity across decades of service.
Rig, Sail Plan, and Handling
The 40-2 is a yawl carrying 657 square feet of sail area, and the 1968 mast raise added a useful margin of canvas without transforming the boat's character. What the design does not offer is upwind speed: the long overhangs, broad bilges, shallow draft, and centerboards combine to make her sluggish beating to weather anchor. Off the wind, however, she is very good, and the full keel paired with the centerboard makes her easy to balance and comfortable on beam and broad reaches. The Mark III, introduced in 1972, pushed the main mast over four feet taller and slid it aft nearly two feet; the resulting higher sail area and raised center of effort forced the addition of nearly 1,000 pounds of ballast to keep her upright.
Accommodations and Deck Layout
Below, the Bermuda 40 is comfortable for four people, and because Hinckley granted each client latitude in layout, finishes, and furnishings, no two interiors are quite alike. On deck the cockpit is very large and comfortable, while the surrounding decks are wide, uncluttered, and well laid out for short-handed cruising.
Stability and Seakeeping
Measured under the IMS rule across 11 boats, the Bermuda 40's average range of positive stability index sits at 116.5 degrees, a figure that places her among the more self-righting cruisers of her era anchor. That reserve underwrites the boat's reputation as a dependable offshore platform rather than a sprightly inshore plaything.
Power and Equipment
Until 1992 the B-40 relied on Westerbeke diesels of 35 to 46 hp, while later models stepped up to a 51 hp Yanmar anchor. The single engine, modest by modern standards, suits a boat whose sailing performance carries the passage rather than the propeller.
The Verdict
The Bermuda 40-2 is a thoughtfully evolved cruiser that trades upwind pace for offwind composure, shoal-draft flexibility, and a structurally overbuilt hull-deck junction. Her custom interiors and large cockpit reward owners who value individuality and room to move, and her stability numbers confirm a serious bluewater temperament.
Pros
- Airfoil centerboard and raised mast improved the 1968 40-2's sail plan without upsetting balance
- Hull-deck flange is nearly double the width and thickness of peers, with tapped fasteners for lasting joins
- 116.5-degree average positive stability index across surveyed boats
- Large, uncluttered cockpit and wide decks; comfortable four-person accommodations
Cons
- Long overhangs, broad bilges, and centerboard make her distinctly slow upwind
- Later Mark III's taller, aft mast demanded nearly 1,000 lb extra ballast, complicating the generation step
