Tor 40 Buyer's Guide
The Tor 40 is a 40-foot wood-hulled cruiser designed by Ted Hood and built by Tor Yachts Ltd. with a centerboard keel and a lead ballast. For a shopper on the used market, the defining realities are her wood construction and her heavy-displacement cruising nature rather than any specific brokerage trend.
What to Inspect
Because the hull and deck are wood, the first task at any viewing is to assess the condition of the structure itself. Look for softness in the deck underfoot and for discoloration or odor in the bilge that would indicate past or active rot. The centerboard trunk and its pivot are particular points of attention on a stub/centreboard design, since the board moves through a slot in the hull and the surrounding timber is exposed to continuous moisture. Check the rudder bearing and the spade rudder attachment for play, and examine the lead ballast joint to the wood hull for any separation. A surveyor familiar with wooden boats should sound the planking and frames before any offer is made.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
Tor 40 yachts appear without a concentrated regional pattern in the record, so a buyer should watch broadly and be prepared for a lengthy search given the limited early-sixties wood construction. The defining realities of a wood hull and a centerboard keel mean a buyer must budget for structural survey and moisture inspection before purchase. A wooden boat of this 21,200-pound displacement rewards careful prepurchase examination and penalizes neglect, so a thorough haulout and sounding are non-negotiable steps in any transaction.
- Survey the wood hull and deck for rot with a qualified wooden-boat surveyor
- Inspect the centerboard trunk and pivot for moisture damage
- Check the spade rudder bearing for free play
- Examine the lead ballast joint to the hull for separation
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
3 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swan 40 | 39.3' | $ 114,629 | 14 | 5 |
| Tartan 40 | 40.25' | $ 79,900 | 11 | 3 |
| Bayfield 40 | 45.5' | $ 98,500 | 7 | 5 |