Kettenburg 40 Sailboats for Sale

Layouts on the Used Market

Individual hulls show the range of interior configurations a shopper may encounter. Some boats, such as hull #37, remain essentially as original below with only a Groco head replacement, added holding tank, and teak/holly sole — a near-stock plan. Others, like hull #26, have been through a five-year complete restoration with custom cabinetry in the salon, nav station, galley, head, and v-berth plus a redesigned nav station and head. A buyer should expect variation between a preserved original layout and a rebuilt interior reflecting the owner's cruising priorities, since the model was used both for serious cruising and competitive racing.

Equipment and Common Upgrades

A chartplotter is commonly fitted on these boats today. Beyond that, the documented owner reports point to frequent mechanical and rigging modernization rather than a standard upgrade tier: hull #11 is in original condition except for a spade rudder and Izusu diesel, hull #26 received an overhauled Westerbeke 4-107, and hull #37 had its dead Gray Marine replaced by a Volvo Penta with added roller furling jib, Lewmar 2-speed aft winches, easy jacks for the main, and radar. Hull #22 or 29 shows a Pathfinder diesel, aluminum spar, and rod rigging. The baseline Gray Marine gasoline engine is often gone; treat any surviving original power as a question, not an asset.

What to Inspect

The wooden construction drives the inspection focus. Hull #36 required frame replacement (53 below waterline), seven planks, and splining top to bottom in a documented 2003 refit, and hull #26's restoration included new ribs, floors, keel bolts, floor bolts, and all new fastenings — so check for evidence of fastening and frame renewal. Hull #27 was refastened, replanked, and given new power and rigging, a scope of work that should prompt review of planking integrity and fastening condition on any candidate. Hull #1, the original factory prototype, spent 18 years in slow restoration in Cottage Grove, Oregon before final work in Bellingham, WA, illustrating that even the earliest hulls demand confirmation of structural completion. Verify plumbing and electrical systems were addressed where a rebuild occurred, as hull #26's new systems set a useful benchmark.

Availability and Buyer's Takeaway

These boats are found in the United States market. For a shopper, the takeaway is straightforward:

• Confirm documented structural refit history (frames, fastenings, planking) before purchase
• Verify engine replacement identity and condition; assume original Gray Marine is likely gone
• Inspect interior for original vs. rebuilt layout to match intended use
• Expect a chartplotter as a common fitting; treat other gear as per-hull variables
• Budget for ongoing wooden-hull maintenance regardless of recent restoration