Luffe 40 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the used Luffe 40 means looking at a 1987–2003 Danish fractional sloop designed by Oluf Jørgensen and built by Luffe Yachts. These are light-displacement cruiser-racers with lead fin keels and Volvo Penta MD2002 saildrive diesels — boats that reward a careful inspection of the structures and systems that age on a 20- to 35-year-old fiberglass hull.
Layouts on the Used Market
The Luffe 40 was built as a single-generation 40-foot model with a 36-foot waterline and a sandwich hull and deck. No distinct sub-layouts or owner-configured variants exist; what varies is keel choice, as the boat was offered with different keel alternatives and a keel that sits 6.2 to 6.5 feet deep depending on load.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
A buyer should evaluate each hull on its own installed gear — checking the Volvo Penta MD2002 saildrive, the fractional rigging, and any added navigation or energy systems at the viewing rather than assuming a standard inventory.
What to Inspect
Check the deep lead fin keel for signs of grounding damage, since it sits 6.17 to 6.47 feet deep and varies with ballast and stores. The saildrive transmission demands inspection of the diaphragm and shaft seal for weeping or corrosion, as this gear type ages in ways a standard shaft does not. The sandwich hull and deck construction should be tapped and probed around all deck penetrations — winches, stanchions, chainplates, and through-hulls — for any softness that would signal core moisture intrusion.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
Luffe 40 boats are typically found in Denmark and Germany. Before committing:
- Survey the saildrive seal and diaphragm for leaks
- Tap-test deck and hull core at every penetration
- Measure actual draft against declared load and keel type
- Confirm the Volvo Penta MD2002 starts and holds cooling
- Verify lead keel joint and fin for impact or repair
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Luffe 40. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 2 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 25 | 1 | $46,377 | — |
| Apr 26 | 1 | $173,911 | +275.0% |
Where they're listed
Luffe 40 listings appear across 2 countries. Germany has the most listings with 1 (50.0%), followed by Denmark.
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
6 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Performance 40 | 40.42' | $ 114,782 | 36 | 8 |
| Tartan 4000 | 40.67' | $ 299,500 | 22 | 0 |
| Jeanneau Sun Fast 40 | 40' | $ 166,955 | 13 | 2 |
| J/BOATS J/40 | 40' | $ 68,000 | 12 | 8 |
| Luffe 37 | 36.68' | $ 55,839 | 12 | 3 |
| Luffe 40You are here | — | $ 110,144 | 2 | 0 |