The same design also appeared as the heavier Hughes 40 and, across the Pacific, as the Swift 40, built by Kang Nam Shipbuilders in South Korea. All three share the same Sparkman & Stephens 2134 lineage.
Design and Construction
The 80/20 is a solid-fiberglass monohull with wood trim, a raked stem, and an angled transom. It measures 40 feet overall, with a 31-foot waterline and a beam of 13.33 feet. Displacement is 24,600 pounds, including 9,000 pounds of ballast—a ballast ratio of 36.6 percent. That combination gives the boat a steady, grounded feel, though not nimble performance.
Below the waterline, the boat has a fixed fin keel drawing 4.75 feet and a skeg-mounted rudder with wheel steering. Calculated hull speed is 7.46 knots.
When new, some boats went directly into the Caribbean yacht charter trade, an early indication of the design’s intended role as an accommodating passage-maker.
Rig, Power, and Handling
The Northstar 80/20 carries a masthead Bermuda ketch rig. Its mainsail measures just over 300 square feet, while the working jib or genoa is close to 345 square feet, for a total sail area of roughly 648 square feet. The foretriangle measures 49.25 feet on the I dimension and 14 feet on J, while the mainsail luff is 43.25 feet. Owners could choose among several jib or genoa options to suit conditions.
The skeg-hung rudder and wheel steering, combined with the moderate 4.75-foot draft, make for predictable low-speed control in harbours. Auxiliary power comes from a 52-horsepower Westerbeke 4-154 diesel, intended for docking and manoeuvring rather than passage propulsion.
Accommodation and Tankage
The interior sleeps seven in three distinct sleeping areas. The bow cabin has a double V-berth, the main saloon provides three straight settee berths, and the aft cabin contains another double V-berth.
A U-shaped galley sits to starboard, just forward of the companionway, and is fitted with a three-burner stove and sink. There are two heads on the starboard side: one immediately aft of the bow cabin and another in the aft cabin. This arrangement suits two-couple cruising or charter use without crossed paths.
Above, the centre cockpit defines the accommodation plan and shelters the companionway between the forward and aft sleeping spaces. Tankage comprises 75 gallons of fuel and 180 gallons of water, supporting extended stays aboard.
Verdict
The Northstar 80/20 is a straightforward, well-proportioned cruiser-ketch from the early 1970s. Its fiberglass construction, practical three-cabin interior, and generous tankage suit extended cruising. Moderate draft, substantial ballast, and a separate aft cabin give it a settled, livable character that helps explain its early use in charter service.
Its close family relationship to the Hughes 40 and Swift 40 also means buyers are considering a proven Sparkman & Stephens hull form rather than a one-off design.
Pros
- Centre-cockpit ketch with three distinct sleeping cabins and berths for seven
- 9,000 lb of ballast and a 4.75 ft fin keel for stable, predictable motion
- 75 gal of fuel and 180 gal of water for long, self-sufficient cruises
Cons
- Modest 7.46 kn hull speed limits offshore pace
- Skeg-mounted rudder and 40 ft length require careful close-quarters handling
- Ketch rig adds a second mast and another sail to maintain
