Scanmar 40 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the used market for a Scanmar 40 means chasing a small cohort of Scandinavian performance cruisers built between 1986 and 1991, with only around 20 hulls built. These are finished vessels from a Swedish builder, and the ones that surface in brokerage channels tend to reflect either private ownership or prior charter service. Knowing what was standard and what was added later is the difference between a tidy purchase and an expensive education.
Layouts on the Used Market
Owner three-cabin layouts are the more common on the used market, but both are available; ex-charter examples are common. The aft cabin is full-width and generously proportioned, which owners report reduces cockpit stowage but gives a proper private berth. Below, the boat carries a large galley and a chart table of a size rarely seen in modern designs, with solid mahogany trim throughout and wooden drawers in abundance. The saloon has lockers above the backrests and a vestigial keyhole bulkhead at the forward end of the galley incorporating pillar hand-holds. A high up-and-over bridge-deck sits at the forward end of the cockpit, with granny bars around the companionway and hand-holds running well forward for secure movement.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
On the used fleet, solar and wind generation are commonly fitted, paired with hot water and an autopilot for liveaboard comfort. Navigation is commonly handled by a chartplotter, AIS, EPIRB, and life raft, while a furling main and asymmetric spinnaker are common sail-handling upgrades. Often-seen additions include an inverter for shore-power independence, a gennaker for reaching, and a bow thruster for tight-quarters handling. A bimini and teak decks are commonly present, and the standard pair of Lewmar 55 self-tailers remains, though winching the overlapping genoa is still good exercise.
What to Inspect
A profusion of teak adorns the decks and alloy rails are fitted at the hull joint anchor—inspect the teak for softness and the toerail bond line for weeping. The shaft drive uses a shaft log rather than a P-bracket on most boats, but some later hulls may have been fitted with saildrives, so confirm the drivetrain and check the shaft log or saildrive seal accordingly. Bulkheads are bonded directly to hull and deck, so look for any separation at those bonds. The three-bladed folding prop emerges from a shaft log; verify its operation and the surrounding log integrity. Cockpit seat lids serve as escape hatches—confirm they open freely.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These boats typically appear in Ireland, Denmark, and Germany. For a shopper, the checklist is short but specific: confirm the drivetrain type (shaft log vs. saildrive on later boats), survey the teak decks and alloy toerail bond, verify bulkhead-to-shell bonds, test the folding prop and escape-hatch lids, and assess the genoa winching effort against your crew's strength.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Scanmar 40. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 4 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 25 | 1 | $108,900 | — |
| Feb 26 | 3 | $91,680 | -15.8% |
| Apr 26 | 4 | $91,680 | 0.0% |
| Jul 26 | 2 | $69,752 | -23.9% |
Where they're listed
Scanmar 40 listings appear across 3 countries. Ireland has the most listings with 7 (77.8%), followed by Germany and Denmark.
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
6 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swan 40 | 39.3' | $ 115,224 | 14 | 5 |
| Tartan 40 | 40.25' | $ 89,900 | 13 | 3 |
| Scanmar 33 | 33.17' | $ 35,188 | 11 | 4 |
| Scanmar 40You are here | — | $ 91,680 | 10 | 2 |
| Jonmeri 40 | 39.69' | $ 67,450 | 8 | 3 |
| Standfast 40 | 40' | $ 39,879 | 6 | 0 |