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Contrast 400
Designer: Rolf Magnusson  ·  Builder: Pronavia Marine (Swe)  ·  First built: 1989
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About the Contrast 400

Swedish designer Rolf Magnusson created this well-balanced 40-footer for Pronavia Marine, introducing the Contrast 400 in 1989 as a versatile cruising sailboat with performance potential. The yacht's fractional sloop rig and fin keel with spade rudder configuration delivers responsive handling while maintaining the stability needed for comfortable passage-making. With its moderate displacement of 16,534 pounds and substantial ballast ratio, the Contrast 400 strikes an appealing balance between performance and seaworthiness. The boat's sail area to displacement ratio of 18.63 suggests lively sailing characteristics in moderate conditions, while the comfort ratio of 26.99 indicates motion that's manageable for extended cruising. The capsize screening formula of 1.91 reflects good offshore capability, making this yacht suitable for coastal cruising and longer passages. Built with fiberglass construction by the respected Swedish yard Pronavia Marine, the Contrast 400 exhibits typical Scandinavian attention to quality and detail. The boat's generous beam of over 12 feet provides spacious accommodations below, while the moderate draft allows access to a variety of anchorages. This combination of performance, comfort, and build quality has earned the Contrast 400 recognition among sailors seeking a capable cruiser that doesn't sacrifice sailing pleasure.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 40.03 ft / 12.20 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 31.50 ft / 9.60 m
Beam 12.14 ft / 3.70 m
Max Draft 6.73 ft / 2.05 m
Displacement 16,534.00 lb / 7,500 kg
Ballast 6,614.00 lb / 3,000 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 753.00 ft² / 69.96 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/spade rudder
Rigging Type Fractional Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Rolf Magnusson
Builder Pronavia Marine (SWE)
First Built 1989
Related Sailboats ["Farr 1220" · "Santa Cruz 40" · "Cc 121" · "Imx 40" · "Schock 40"]
Owner Reviews

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Performance Ratios
SA/Displacement Sail Area to Displacement ratio measures how much sail power a boat has relative to its weight. Higher values mean more performance and speed.
Under 14 — Heavy cruiser, slow14–18 — Cruising sailboat18–22 — Cruiser/racerOver 22 — Performance racer
 18.63
Ballast/Displacement Ballast to Displacement ratio shows what percentage of the boat's total weight is ballast. Higher values generally mean better initial stability and stiffer sail carrying.
30–35% — Typical cruiser35–45% — Stiff performance boatOver 45% — Racing oriented
 40
Displacement/Length Displacement to Length ratio measures how heavy a boat is relative to its waterline length. Lower values mean a lighter, faster boat.
Under 100 — Ultralight racer100–200 — Light cruiser/racer200–300 — Moderate cruiser300–400 — Heavy cruiserOver 400 — Very heavy
 236.16
Comfort Ratio Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio predicts how comfortable a boat will feel in offshore conditions. Higher values mean a steadier, more comfortable motion in a seaway.
Under 20 — Uncomfortably rough20–30 — Acceptable coastal30–40 — Good offshore comfortOver 40 — Very comfortable offshore
 26.99
Capsize Screening Formula The USHS Capsize Screening Formula estimates offshore capsize risk. Lower is safer — values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing.
Under 2.0 — Safe for offshore2.0–2.2 — Borderline offshoreOver 2.2 — Coastal use recommended
 1.91
Hull Speed Hull Speed is the theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull, calculated from waterline length. Most cruising sailboats reach this speed in moderate conditions. 7.52 kn
Pounds/Inch Immersion Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline. 1,366.39 pounds/inch
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make Volvo Penta
Engine Model 2040
Engine Type Diesel
Horsepower 43
Fuel Capacity 34 gals / 129 L
Water Capacity 84 gals / 318 L
How It Compares

vs. Cc 121, Imx 40, Santa Cruz 40

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Contrast 400 ★
40.0 ft
Cc 121
40.0 ft
Imx 40
—
Santa Cruz 40
40.0 ft
LWL
Contrast 400 ★
31.5 ft
Cc 121
35.5 ft
Imx 40
34.4 ft
Santa Cruz 40
36.0 ft
Beam
Contrast 400 ★
12.1 ft
Cc 121
13.1 ft
Imx 40
12.5 ft
Santa Cruz 40
12.0 ft
Displacement
Contrast 400 ★
16 lbs
Cc 121
14 lbs
Imx 40
15 lbs
Santa Cruz 40
10 lbs
Ballast
Contrast 400 ★
6 lbs
Cc 121
5 lbs
Imx 40
5 lbs
Santa Cruz 40
5 lbs
Sail Area
Contrast 400 ★
753 sq ft
Cc 121
846 sq ft
Imx 40
951 sq ft
Santa Cruz 40
734 sq ft
Performance
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Contrast 400 ★
18.6
Cc 121
23.3
Imx 40
25.1
Santa Cruz 40
24.6
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Contrast 400 ★
40.0 %
Cc 121
39.0 %
Imx 40
—
Santa Cruz 40
—
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Contrast 400 ★
27.0
Cc 121
19.3
Imx 40
—
Santa Cruz 40
15.9
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Contrast 400 ★
1.91
Cc 121
2.17
Imx 40
2.02
Santa Cruz 40
2.20
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Contrast 400 ★
236
Cc 121
140
Imx 40
—
Santa Cruz 40
—
Hull Speed
Contrast 400 ★
7.5 kts
Cc 121
8.0 kts
Imx 40
7.9 kts
Santa Cruz 40
8.0 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Contrast 400 ★
—
Cc 121
4.4
Imx 40
3.8
Santa Cruz 40
5.4
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