Kettenburg 40 Buyer's Guide
The Kettenburg 40 is a wooden masthead sloop built by Kettenburg Boats from 1959, with around forty hulls completed over roughly seven years as the larger sibling of the K-38. For a shopper in the brokerage market, the class offers a carvel-planked mahogany cruiser-racer with a real Transpac and coastal racing history — but the wooden hull and the long service life of these boats mean condition varies sharply from one example to the next.
Layouts on the Brokerage Market
Most boats follow the standard 39-foot-11-inch to 40-foot hull length, though at least one example — hull #22 or 29 — stretches to 41 feet, which is atypical for the model. Interiors range from essentially original to heavily redesigned: some retain the factory plan with only a head and holding-tank update, while others show custom saloon, nav-station, galley, and V-berth cabinetry with relocated head and electrical systems. A buyer should expect individual variation rather than a single production layout, and should judge each boat on the quality of its specific restoration.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Power and energy systems are the most consequential area for a buyer. Several hulls have moved away from the original Gray Marine engine to diesels — a Volvo Penta on hull #37, an Isuzu on hull #11, a Pathfinder on hull #22 or 29, and an overhauled Westerbeke 4-107 on hull #26 — so confirm the engine make and installation standard on any candidate. Sail-handling upgrades appear on boats that have been modernized: roller furling jib, two-speed Lewmar aft winches, and lazy jacks show up on at least one hull, and a chartplotter is commonly fitted across the fleet. Navigation and comfort clusters are otherwise minimal; prioritize the drivetrain and rigging over cosmetic additions.
What to Inspect
Wood construction is the central inspection theme. One restoration required 53 frame replacements below the waterline and seven plank renewals, and another involved new ribs, floors, keel bolts, floor bolts, and all new fastenings over five years — so survey the frames, floors, and fastening integrity carefully. Replanking and refastening have been recorded on individual hulls, and a full spline job top to bottom was carried out on one boat in 2003. Verify whether keel bolts and floor bolts are original or renewed, and confirm the status of plumbing and electrical systems, since these have been fully replaced on restored examples.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These boats are typically found in the United States. For a purchaser, the essential checklist is: confirm the engine conversion and its installation; survey the wooden hull frames, planks, and fastenings with a wood-experienced surveyor; verify keel-bolt and floor-bolt condition; check whether rigging and rudder have been modified from original; and review the restoration history for any specific hull. A well-maintained K-40 rewards the effort with a seakindly, genuinely offshore-capable wooden cruiser-racer.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Kettenburg 40. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 1 row
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 26 | 3 | $35,000 | — |
Where they're listed
Kettenburg 40 listings appear across 1 country. United States has the most listings with 3.
Country view
3 listings · 1 country| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $35,000 | 3 | 3 | 100.0% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
4 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morgan 40 Cruising Ketch | 40.16' | $ 26,000 | 12 | 2 |
| Tartan 40 | 40.25' | $ 79,900 | 11 | 3 |
| Bayfield 40 | 45.5' | $ 98,500 | 7 | 3 |
| Kettenburg 40You are here | — | $ 35,000 | 3 | 3 |