Olson 40 Sailboats for Sale

Layouts on the Used Market

The cabin follows a practical racer-cruiser plan, offering a bow V-berth, settees, galley, heads, and lockers for coastal or offshore sailing. Buyers should expect a boat configured for sailing first and accommodating second, with no extravagant salon volume. The 11-foot-3-inch beam and 36-foot waterline frame a cabin that is functional rather than expansive.

Equipment and Common Upgrades

Given the boat's race pedigree, the most consequential used-market upgrades cluster around sail handling and downwind propulsion. A 954-square-foot asymmetrical spinnaker or a 1,179-square-foot symmetric spinnaker is commonly part of the inventory for serious offshore or reaching work, and a 150-percent genoa extends light-air capability beyond the standard 373-square-foot jib. Rig refinements such as mast-position adjustments for balance appeared during the production run, so buyers should confirm which sailplan variant a specific hull carries.

What to Inspect

A tendency to ship water in heavy conditions comes from low freeboard and an open transom-like feel anchor. On any candidate, inspect deck margins, cockpit coamings, and any transom structure for signs of repeated water ingress or related softening, since the design's wet character is inherent rather than a defect of a single hull.

Availability and Buyer's Takeaway

With only 30 hulls ever constructed, the Olson 40 is an infrequent find in any market. When one appears, weigh these points:

• Verify the sailplan variant and included downwind sails (asymmetrical or symmetric spinnaker, genoa size)
• Inspect for water ingress paths tied to low freeboard and open transom-like design
• Confirm rig and keel-rudder integrity consistent with a 1980s ULDB racer-cruiser
• Budget for a practical racer-cruiser interior rather than a volume cruiser layout