Design and Construction
William Tripp Jr. developed the Bermuda 40 in 1958 as a refinement of his Block Island 40. The changes were restrained but meaningful: a slightly flatter sheer, a broader and more vertical transom, and a bow that was less spoon-shaped than its predecessor’s.
The Mark III, introduced in 1972, received a main mast over four feet taller, moved aft by nearly two feet. These changes raised the center of effort and added enough sail area to require nearly 1,000 pounds of additional ballast.
Most hulls use a solid laminate of fiberglass cloth and resin, while newer examples reportedly include some Kevlar fabric. Earlier decks used solid laminates; Mark III decks were initially built with balsa core and later with PVC foam core.
The hull and deck meet at an inward flange nearly twice as thick and twice as wide as those on comparably sized boats. Fastener holes were drilled slightly undersized and then tapped for machine screws, reflecting the marque’s construction standards in the early 1970s.
Rig, Draft, and Sailing Characteristics
The Bermuda 40-3 carries a masthead yawl rig with a reported 681 square feet of sail area. That includes a 426-square-foot foretriangle and a 254-square-foot mainsail, with a 49-foot I measurement and a 42.4-foot P measurement.
Her long overhangs, broad bilges, shallow draft, and centerboard configuration don’t make her particularly fast upwind. Off the wind, however, performance is very good. The full keel with centerboard also makes her easy to balance and comfortable on beam and broad reaches.
With the centerboard raised, she draws 4.3 feet; with it lowered, draft increases to 8.6 feet. Across 11 similar IMS-rule boats, the measured range of positive stability index averaged 116.5 degrees, placing her among conventionally seaworthy cruisers of her type.
Dimensions and Accommodations
Practical Sailor lists the Bermuda 40-3 at 20,000 pounds displacement, with 6,500 pounds of lead ballast. Beam is 11.75 feet, and waterline length is 28.83 feet.
The cockpit is very large and comfortable, while the decks are wide, uncluttered, and well laid out. Below, the boat provides comfortable accommodations for four people.
Hinckley gave clients considerable latitude in choosing layouts, finishes, and furnishings. As a result, individual boats vary slightly rather than following a single standardized production interior.
Auxiliary Power and Model Differences
Until 1992, the B-40 line used Westerbeke diesels ranging from 35 to 46 horsepower. Later boats moved to a 51 hp Yanmar.
The Mark III’s taller mast and aft-shifted rig distinguish it mechanically from the earlier Marks, but the basic auxiliary-power profile remains consistent across the production span relevant to hulls built from 1971 onward.
Verdict
The Bermuda 40-3 is a thoughtfully evolved cruiser. Its full-keel centerboard arrangement trades upwind sharpness for good offwind manners, easy balance, and shallow-water access. The heavily built, flange-joined hull and individually tailored interiors add to its appeal.
It best suits a couple or small family that values balance, custom interior character, and bluewater manners more than racing pace.
Pros
- Inward-flange hull-to-deck joint nearly twice as thick and wide as those on comparable boats
- Easy to balance and comfortable off the wind, with the centerboard raised or lowered
- Customizable interior with comfortable accommodations for four
- Solid-laminate hull, with some Kevlar reinforcement reported in later examples
Cons
- Not particularly fast upwind because of the long overhangs, broad bilges, shallow draft, and centerboard configuration
- The Mark III’s taller, aft-shifted rig required nearly 1,000 pounds of additional ballast
- Deck construction changed from balsa to PVC foam core during production, creating a variable for surveyors
