King 40 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

Mills drew a slim, low-drag hull with deep CFD-refined foils, and the production boat pairs a lead bulb on a narrow-chord keel with a high-aspect rudder — a combination reviewers expected to deliver excellent upwind performance with a very balanced helm lead bulb/narrow chord keel. The hull and deck are vinylester vacuum-consolidated composite sandwich, the foam core blended with biaxial and unidirectional E-glass, and the structure is built to the rugged standards of the IRC rule with scantlings meeting the EU's CE Category A offshore requirement. Hull and deck bond through a molded toerail per ORC rules, structural bulkheads are bonded on all sides, and an anodized aluminum frame forms the mast step. A carbon-fiber spade rudder stock drew a note of unease from one tester, who was not wild about that choice carbon fiber stock. The molded nonskid is superb, and the deck plan was laid out with room for a racing crew yet with comfortable places to sit when cruising.

Rig and Handling

Above the deck, the King 40 carries a swept two-spreader carbon rig with two sets of swept-back spreaders that eliminate running backstays and simplify sail control, stayed with discontinuous rod rigging and a standard carbon-fiber spar by King Composites above an aluminum boom. The fractional sailplan flies masthead kites, using non-overlapping jibs and a masthead A-sail or spinnaker, with an available custom carbon spinnaker pole or sprit. Deck layout keeps lines tidy: mainsheet, traveler, and jib sheets all lead under deck, and twin alloy wheels on composite pedestals give clear visibility on either tack. Most deck hardware is Harken with a few Spinlock clutches, Lewmar portlights and hatches are fitted, and an optional hydraulic backstay adjuster was offered. The 15,655-pound displacement gives the boat heft and a solid feel in the water.

Accommodations

Below, the King 40 is a surprisingly comfortable interior that will never be mistaken for a floating condo but does offer comfortable bunks, a spacious and functional settee, and a serious nav station. The saloon is off-white with wood trim, facing settees around an easily removed drop-leaf table, and a forward-facing sit-down nav station opposite the galley with a clear-coated carbon-fiber counter. The galley itself is exceptional: a single stainless sink set into a clear-coat carbon-fiber counter, a two-burner stove outboard, a large top-opening icebox, and optional refrigeration. Sleeping space runs to three double berths — two aft cabins (a single to starboard, double to port) plus a forward stateroom with a good-sized V-berth, bureau, and hanging locker. The enclosed head to starboard is an integral composite molding with shower sump and overhead hatch, and the boat carries hot and cold pressure water with 55 gallons in two tanks.

Refits and Ownership

Summit offered the ex-King 40 in 2010 with new features including cutaway sidedecks aft, a refinement of the ergonomic cockpit for both racing and cruising use. Standard engineering is a 39-horsepower three-cylinder Yanmar 3JH4 X SD50 diesel on a sail drive with folding prop, two Group 31 batteries, and a 31-gallon fuel tank with inspection plate. Designer fabrics were available for the settees, letting owners tailor the saloon.

The Verdict

The King 40 is a thoroughly modern dual-purpose 40-footer: a Mills-designed, IRC-bred racer with a real interior and offshore-grade construction. It rewards a crew that wants speed and a family that wants to cruise, though the carbon rudder stock and racing-derived ergonomics are worth weighing.

Pros

Slim low-drag hull with CFD-refined lead bulb keel and high-aspect rudder for balanced upwind helm
Vacuum-consolidated sandwich construction to CE Category A offshore standard
Clean deck with under-deck sheet leads, twin wheels, and runnerless swept carbon rig
Genuine cruising interior: three double berths, exceptional galley, serious nav station

Cons