At just over 39 feet overall, with a waterline length of 35 feet, the 40.04 sits toward the lighter, racer-oriented end of the cruising spectrum rather than among heavy offshore boats. She displaces 13,228 pounds and carries 5,291 pounds of lead ballast, giving her a ballast ratio of 40 percent.
Design and Construction
Jørgensen gave the 40.04 a composite hull, a foam-cored fiberglass deck, and a lead-ballasted fin keel. Her length-to-beam ratio of 3.53 reflects a slender hull, while a displacement-length ratio of 133 places her among light racers. Together with the 40 percent ballast ratio, those figures describe a boat tuned more for responsiveness than brute load-carrying ability.
The capsize screening value of 1.89 is where one would expect it to be for a stable coastal and moderate offshore design. The bottom has about 473 square feet of wetted surface. Combined with a theoretical displacement-boat maximum speed of 8.0 knots, that suggests a boat that accelerates quickly but remains governed by its waterline length.
Rig, Draft, and Handling
The 40.04 carries a fractional sloop rig with a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 23.71, a healthy figure for a 40-foot cruiser. The running rigging is generously dimensioned: the mainsheet is 98.4 feet long, the jib and genoa sheets are each 39.4 feet, and the spinnaker sheet is 86.6 feet. All are 14 millimeters in diameter.
Depending on load, the boat draws between 6.82 and 7.12 feet. That limits her to major marinas, but the fin keel gives her a firm grip when heeled. An immersion rate of about 1,377 pounds per inch means she settles sensibly under crew and stores without a dramatic change in trim. Her Motion Comfort Ratio of 22.3 points to a firm ride rather than pillow-soft motion.
Accommodation and Systems
Below, the 40.04 provides 4+2 berths. The layout supports four cabins plus a convertible pair of berths, making it suitable for both family cruising and guest programs.
Fresh-water capacity is 100 liters, or 26 US gallons, while fuel capacity is 37 gallons. Auxiliary power comes from a single 19-horsepower Volvo Penta MD2002 diesel. For a boat of this size, the arrangement keeps the engineering simple and serviceable.
Model Lineage and Ownership
Owners moving up from the Luffe 40 will find the 40.04 a direct evolution rather than a reinvention. The Luffe 40.20, which followed in 2020, retains the same basic hull form with slightly increased freeboard.
The composite hull and lead-ballasted fin keel are straightforward to survey, and the modest engine output keeps the drivetrain unstressed. With seventy boats built over the production run, the class is small enough to feel special, yet large enough for spares and knowledge to circulate among owners.
Verdict
The Luffe 40.04 is a considered Danish design that balances light-racer agility with cruising accommodation. Her slender hull, firm comfort index, and four-cabin-plus-berth layout make her a versatile 40-foot cruiser, although her load-dependent draft confines her to deeper harbours.
Pros
- Fractional rig with a healthy sail-area-to-displacement ratio
- 40 percent ballast ratio and 1.89 capsize screening value for stable handling
- 4+2 berths and 100 liters of fresh water for flexible cruising
- Direct evolution of the Luffe 40, with the later Luffe 40.20 sharing the basic hull form
Cons
- Load-dependent draft of 6.82 to 7.12 feet limits marina access
- Light-racer character brings firm motion rather than plush comfort
