Hughes 40 Sailboats for Sale

Drawing Diagram

Builder drawing

Hull Type

Monohull · fin

Rig

Ketch

LOA

40' · 12.19 m

Disp.

28,000 lbs · 12,701 kg

First year

1975

The Hughes 40 represents the pinnacle of Howard Hughes’s ambition to produce a robust, offshorecapable cruiser with the pedigree of worldclass naval architecture. Originally introduced as the Northstar 80/20 under the ownership of US Steel, the design was penned by the legendary firm of Sparkman & Stephens as Design 2134. When Howard Hughes regained control of his company in 1977, he rebranded the vessel as the Hughes 40, refining the interior and deck layout to better suit the burgeoning market for centercockpit bluewater voyagers. Built during an era when fiberglass laminates were often "overbuilt" by modern standards, the Hughes 40 is a heavydisplacement ketch designed for stability and comfort over long passages rather than outright speed. It remains a significant piece of Canadian maritime history, representing the transition from the CCArule era to the modern cruising age.