Design and Construction
The Admiral 40 uses conventional hand-laid fiberglass laminate, with a vacuum-bagged balsa core and a tabbed hull-to-deck joint. In areas where high-compression loads enter the structure, plywood replaces the balsa core. On the boat reviewed, the bulkhead supporting the deck-stepped mast and the heavy-duty chainplate structure showed capable craftsmanship.
The forward wing deck is deliberately short, helping to center weight and reduce wave slap. The trade-off is less forward trampoline area in exchange for a quieter motion in a seaway.
In cross section, the hulls are fairly full. That gives the boat significant buoyancy and supports its payload capacity, but it also reflects the Admiral 40’s priorities: this is a spacious cruiser rather than a lightweight racer. During Cruising World’s Boat of the Year evaluation, the stern dragged under the combined weight of displacement and payload. The builder explained that extensive customization had added significant weight to hull number one; molded modules made subsequent boats lighter.
Hardware on the test boat was carefully installed. There was also excellent attention to detail in the way the wiring and plumbing were routed throughout the boat.
Rig, Deck and Handling
The Admiral 40 carries a large-main, small-jib sail plan that testers found easy to handle. An efficient traveler system benefits mainsail trim.
A large trampoline spans the space between the hulls. Farther aft, a visually prominent targa arch supports the hard bimini over the cockpit’s spacious seating and lifts the mainsheet clear of the aft-deck walkway.
The boat uses small keels rather than daggerboards, so it’s a little less capable on the wind. In return, its shallow 3-foot-9-inch draft opens up more anchorages.
Under power, the twin 29-horsepower Yanmar saildrives produced 6.4 knots at 2,500 rpm and, according to the period test, a blistering 8.4 knots at wide-open throttle. The ground-tackle handling gear was rated first-rate, while the electrical and mechanical installations were a cut above the fray.
Accommodations and Cruising Systems
The standard layout fits four double-berth cabins, two heads and a large saloon into the 40-foot catamaran. An owners’ version replaces the four-cabin arrangement with three sleeping cabins and higher specifications for fit and finish. Both layouts have queen-size double berths arranged athwartships in the aft cabins.
The galley is up, giving the cook an outward view and equal social footing with the rest of the crew. It’s an arrangement suited to both liveaboard and charter use. Tankage is roughly 105 gallons each for fuel and water, supporting extended cruising.
A 4.2-kilowatt genset and the twin Yanmar saildrives provide a serviceable power and propulsion base for a liveaboard refit.
Known Issues
The main service-era concern is stern drag under load. Cruising World’s Boat of the Year testing showed the stern dragging under the boat’s displacement and payload. The builder acknowledged that extensive customization had added significant weight to hull number one before molded modules lightened later boats.
This is a design-characteristic issue rather than a structural defect. Still, buyers should understand that, in loaded cruising trim, the transom will sit lower than it does on an empty showboat.
Refits and Ownership
The Admiral 40’s construction lends itself to owner customization, as the builder’s account of hull number one’s bespoke additions and resulting weight demonstrates. Careful hardware installation and clean wiring and plumbing runs suggest that later upgrades—such as additional solar, watermakers or revised accommodation joinery—can be carried out without fighting the original build.
The Verdict
The Admiral 40 is a thoughtfully built, high-volume cruising catamaran that favors liveaboard space and shallow-water access over outright upwind performance. Period reviewers praised its construction details and systems integration, while the choice of charter or owners’ layouts broadens its appeal.
The trade-offs are equally clear. The boat sits heavily when loaded, and its small keels give up some windward ability compared with daggerboards.
Pros
- Hand-laid FRP construction with vacuum-bagged balsa core and carefully installed hardware
- Choice of four-cabin or three-cabin owners’ layouts, both with athwartship queen-size aft berths
- Galley-up arrangement and large saloon suited to social liveaboard use
- Twin 29-horsepower Yanmar saildrives, strong wide-open speed and a 4.2-kilowatt genset
- Shallow 3-foot-9-inch draft from twin keels
Cons
- Stern drags under displacement and payload
- Small keels make the boat less capable on the wind than daggerboard catamarans
- Customization added notable weight to hull number one before molded modules appeared
