At 15,873 pounds displacement, with 6,173 pounds of lead ballast in a bulb keel and a beam of 13 feet 1 inch, she is a beamy, moderately loaded 40-footer. A ballast-displacement ratio near 39 percent and a displacement-length ratio of 166 place her firmly in the performance-cruising camp rather than the volume-charter world.
Design and Construction
Salona Yachts built the 40 with a vacuum-infused hull bonded to a stainless-steel internal frame. Testers credit this combination with keeping weight low while delivering a stiff platform. The solid-fiberglass hull and deck carry their loads through this backbone rather than relying on the skin alone.
That construction serves the boat’s sailing brief: low mass and structural stiffness combine in a platform that testers found confidence-inspiring for offshore passages. The beam carried aft and broad side decks, which remain clear for maneuvering, reflect the same performance-minded approach.
Rig, Sailing Performance, and Handling
The Salona 40 accelerates quickly and keeps her speed close to the true wind even in light air. She also remains lively upwind, where lesser cruisers can become sluggish.
Test sailors found her settled on the helm, with responsive steering and predictable balance when pressed. It’s the handling of a sailor’s boat rather than a passive cruiser. The fractional sloop rig carries 874 square feet of sail and provides enough stiffness to hold sail longer before reefing than similar 40-foot performance cruisers.
Standard hardware includes six winches, a full-width traveller, and a German mainsheet. Together, they give the crew the leverage to exploit that stiffness without constant trimming.
Cockpit and Accommodations
Below, the cruising interior is practical and solidly finished rather than showy. The galley and saloon have good ergonomics for passage making, while the forward and aft cabins are comfortable for a cruising crew. The aft accommodation also benefits from the beam carried aft.
The boat sleeps eight in three cabins and has two heads. Storage is considered adequate, but it isn’t as generous as on volume-focused production cruisers. Interior volume and stowage are also tighter than on charter-oriented boats.
A wide swim platform closes the transom and makes boarding easier, although some sailors feel a smaller platform would better suit the boat’s lines. The large platform, combined with the performance rigging, can also limit cockpit shade.
Ownership Notes
Owners warned of delivery delays when the Salona 40 was new. That is a historical footnote rather than a defect in the boats themselves.
For long-term ownership, the defining features remain the structure, rigging, and practical interior described above. The solid, non-showy finish suggests a boat specified for use rather than display.
Verdict
The Salona 40 is a genuinely performance-oriented cruiser that rewards an engaged helm. Her vacuum-infused hull and stainless-steel backbone provide stiffness without a weight penalty, while the stiff rig helps her stay quick and lively as the breeze fades.
She isn’t a volume boat. Stowage is adequate but tight compared with charter-class rivals, and the large transom platform trades some shade and visual restraint for easier boarding. For a crew that wants to sail rather than simply float, she is a compelling 40-foot expression of the J&J Design and Salona Yachts brief.
Pros
- Stiff, low-weight vacuum-infused hull supported by a stainless-steel backbone
- Construction that testers found confidence-inspiring for offshore passages
- Quick acceleration and lively upwind performance in light air
- Responsive, predictable helm and strong rig stiffness before reefing
- Practical, solidly finished passage-making interior
- Good galley and saloon ergonomics
Cons
- Less storage and interior volume than charter-oriented production cruisers
- Wide transom platform can limit cockpit shade and divides opinion on appearance
- Owners reported delivery delays when the boat was new
