Design and Construction
Nautitech builds the 40 Open from polyester fiberglass over a sandwich core, and the decks carry a closed-cell foam core that keeps weight down without sacrificing stiffness resin-infused technique that produces a light, strong, uniform composite. Even after Bavaria's ownership, the hulls are still produced in the original Rochefort factory, with only the joinery pieces now fabricated at Bavaria's Giebelstadt, Germany, facility. Solid-wood cabin doors pair with foam-core veneer locker doors to trim mass where it matters, and the secondary systems show careful detailing: wiring is bundled, wrapped, and labeled, while hoses are double-clamped to bronze seacocks with ball valves. A distributed wiring architecture means only control wires run to the panels, simplifying the electrical runs through the long hulls.
Rig and Handling
The boat carries a Solent rig with a square-top mainsail and a self-tacking inner jib, and the test example added a light asymmetric on a bowsprit top-furler for versatile downwind coverage. The mainsheet travels on a hardtop-mounted track, and every other control line is led to winches and stoppers at the twin outboard helms, so the crew works from the weather edge with clear sightlines. Slim hulls built for performance still leave room for generous lockers and a bright interior thanks to enlarged outboard windows. On the water, the 40 Open surprised testers with its light-air ability: on a close reach in 6-knot puffs it held 4.5 knots under main and lightweight outer foresail, tacked without fuss under mainsail alone, and kept moving under the smaller self-tacking jib. The helm gives solid, positive control, and with both 40hp Volvos at 1,000 rpm the turning circle was just over a boatlength; a pirouette with opposed engines turned her in her own water. Wide-open at 3,000 rpm she made 8.2 knots, and at 2,500 rpm and 7.5 knots the cabin stayed quieter than most boats of this type and size.
Accommodations
The Open concept deliberately shrinks the enclosed saloon so that lounging, dining, and socializing happen aft under the hardtop, with a new open step at the forward cabin end preserving visibility from inside. Roseo Design handled the interior, and the test boat showed three cabins — two in the starboard hull sharing a head, with an owner's suite spanning the port hull. Nautitech reworked the original galley to improve cabin circulation; it holds a three-burner stove, big fridge, sink, and ample counter space open to the afterdeck. A convertible nav desk slides on a rail to become a lounging seat, and the trampoline forward is broad for sunbathing, flanked by fitted cushions and a small table. Two large foredeck lockers swallow fenders and lines, and a water catchment trough around the cabin top fills tanks in rain while doubling as a continuous grab rail along the side decks.
Equipment and Outdoor Living
Husky davits between the hulls and well-proportioned transom platforms make dinghy work and swimming straightforward. The builder offers a full enclosure for the aft deck, and air conditioning can serve that enclosed portion, keeping the boat comfortable in less perfect climes. Sailors of average agility get easy steps to the cabin top and full-length boom access for routine sail handling excellent access to the entire length of the boom.
Known Issues
The 65-foot 5-inch air draft will make Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway transit difficult at times, since several fixed bridges fall below 65 feet even at high tide. Testers also noted the running rigging is efficient but the boat could use better line-tail stowage at the helms.
Refits and Ownership
Engine access is through the aft end of each hull, where there is good maintenance space around the 40hp Volvo saildrives. The redesigned galley and open-step visibility are themselves products of the Mark II update, showing the yard's willingness to revise layout rather than only cosmetics. The water-catchment and grab-rail trough is a low-tech cruising asset that needs no upgrade.
The Verdict
The Nautitech 40 Open is a performance-minded cruising cat that trades maximal enclosed volume for sailing engagement and an indoor-outdoor deck society. Its Lombard hulls and Solent rig deliver genuine light-air motion and easy close-quarters control, while the Rochefort build and Giebelstadt joinery keep finish and systems tidy. The small saloon and tall rig are the trade-offs a buyer must accept.
Pros
- Slim hulls and Solent rig give excellent light-air performance and easy single-sail tacking
- Twin outboard helms and opposed-engine pirouette make docking within a boatlength simple
- Resin-infused composite and labeled, double-clamped systems reflect careful construction
- Open-deck living with hardtop social space and optional full enclosure for cold climates
Cons
- 65ft 5in air draft restricts Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway passage under fixed bridges
- Enclosed accommodation is deliberately small versus volume-maximized competitors
- Line-tail stowage at the helms needs owner improvement
