Hunter 40.5 Legend Buyer's Guide
The Hunter 40.5 Legend was built by Hunter Marine in the United States from 1991 to 1997, a 40-foot shoal-draft sloop with a wing keel and B&R rig that has since spread across brokerage markets on several continents. For a buyer scanning the used Hunter 40.5 Legend fleet today, she presents as a beamy, easy-to-handle coastal cruiser with owner or charter interior layouts and a sail plan built for short-handed comfort.
Layouts on the Used Market
Two interior arrangements dominate the used fleet. The owner's version shows a large aft cabin with a queen berth, vanity, hanging locker, and private head with shower, while the charter version carries two aft double cabins sharing an aft head. Both retain the forward V-berth cabin with its own ensuite head and the bright saloon with a U-shaped settee that drops to a berth plus a starboard settee usable as a single or nav station. The port galley, deck saloon with cockpit hatch, and large cockpit with high coamings are common to all. A buyer should decide early which layout fits their plans, as the owner's layout trades guest berths for a private suite.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Most boats on the market carry a practical cruising kit. Commonly fitted items include a bimini, dodger, chartplotter, autopilot, air conditioning, and electric winches, which together mean a buyer can expect shaded helm comfort and push-button sail handling out of the box. Often seen are lithium batteries, an inverter, a freezer, and a swim platform — the lithium and inverter pairing signals upgraded house power that supports the electric winches and AC without generator dependence. Less common owner additions include solar, radar, AIS, asymmetrical spinnakers, and dinghy davits; these appear on better-equipped individual boats rather than across the fleet.
What to Inspect
The 40.5 Legend's hull and deck are balsa-cored fiberglass, so any survey must probe for core moisture or delamination, particularly on the deck where molded nonskid and through-fittings concentrate load. The winged keel and spade rudder should be checked for grounding damage given the shoal draft invites shallow anchoring anchor. The B&R mast is deck-stepped with no backstay, so inspect the step, swept spreader bases, and in-mast furling mechanism for wear that could disable the main without conventional rigging backup.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These boats turn up across the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, Italy, Gibraltar, and Australia. For a shopper, the takeaway is straightforward: confirm the core condition, match the layout to your use, and verify the rig and furling gear before committing.
- Decide owner versus charter cabin layout before searching
- Survey balsa core in hull and deck for moisture
- Inspect deck-stepped B&R mast and in-mast furling
- Check wing keel and spade rudder for grounding damage
- Confirm lithium or inverter upgrades if living aboard
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Hunter 40.5 Legend. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 13 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 25 | 1 | $84,990 | — |
| Jun 25 | 4 | $69,700 | -18.0% |
| Jul 25 | 3 | $75,000 | +7.6% |
| Aug 25 | 2 | $69,200 | -7.7% |
| Sep 25 | 1 | $64,505 | -6.8% |
| Jan 26 | 3 | $75,000 | +16.3% |
| Feb 26 | 5 | $39,000 | -48.0% |
| Mar 26 | 1 | $74,999 | +92.3% |
| Apr 26 | 17 | $69,000 | -8.0% |
| May 26 | 8 | $61,650 | -10.7% |
| Jun 26 | 9 | $76,000 | +23.3% |
| Jul 26 | 5 | $76,000 | 0.0% |
| Aug 26 | 3 | $69,500 | -8.6% |
Where they're listed
Hunter 40.5 Legend listings appear across 6 countries. United States has the most listings with 36 (73.5%), followed by Puerto Rico and Canada.
Country view
49 listings · 6 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $69,000 | 36 | 12 | 73.5% |
| Puerto Rico | $61,650 | 6 | 1 | 12.2% |
| Canada | $82,771 | 3 | 1 | 6.1% |
| Italy | $93,186 | 2 | 2 | 4.1% |
| Australia | $89,787 | 1 | 0 | 2.0% |
| Gibraltar | $64,505 | 1 | 0 | 2.0% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
10 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hunter Marine 35.5 Legend | 35.58' | $ 36,450 | 58 | 7 |
| Hunter 40.5 LegendYou are here | — | $ 69,000 | 52 | 17 |
| Hunter 37.5 Legend | 37' | $ 49,900 | 47 | 5 |
| Hunter 37 Legend | 37.5' | $ 35,000 | 33 | 7 |
| Hunter 43 Legend | 42.5' | $ 49,900 | 24 | 7 |
| Hunter 40-1 | 39.58' | $ 37,000 | 20 | 4 |
| Beneteau 40 | 39.83' | $ 152,638 | 14 | 1 |
| Marlow-Hunter 40 | 41.25' | $ 186,000 | 13 | 7 |
| Marlow-Hunter 36 Legend | 35.73' | $ 78,746 | 13 | 5 |
| Hunter 35 Legend WK + 246 | 35.58' | $ 27,900 | 11 | 0 |