Migrator Block Island 40 Sailboats for Sale & Market Overview

Drawing Diagram

Builder drawing

Hull type

Monohull · centerboard

Rig

Yawl

LOA

40.75' · 12.42 m

Displ.

20,000 lbs · 9,072 kg

First year

1984

The Block Island 40 (BI40) is a cornerstone of American yachting history, representing the transition from traditional wooden boat design to the era of fiberglass offshore cruisers. Originally designed by William H. Tripp Jr. in 1957, the boat was initially built by American Boat Building as the "Vitesse 40." However, it was the iteration produced by Migrator Yachts, starting in the mid1980s, that refined the design for a modern audience. Led by Henry "Hank" Rapp, Migrator Yachts utilized advanced construction techniques, including handlaid solid fiberglass hulls and cored decks, to revitalize the classic centerboard yawl. As noted in a historical profile by Soundings Magazine, the design remains iconic for its graceful overhangs, low freeboard, and legendary seaworthiness, making it a "forever boat" for many traditionalists.