Back to Search
Morris 40
Designer: Paine  ·  Builder: Morris Yachts  ·  First built: 1995
+ Add to Compare
About the Morris 40

Built by Maine's renowned Morris Yachts beginning in 1995, this Chuck Paine-designed 41-footer represents the yard's commitment to traditional cruising excellence with modern performance capabilities. The cutter rig configuration provides exceptional versatility for both coastal exploration and offshore passages, allowing sailors to balance sail area effectively across varying wind conditions. Paine's design philosophy shines through in the hull's balanced proportions, featuring a fin keel with rudder on skeg that delivers predictable handling while maintaining the directional stability prized by serious cruisers. The moderate displacement of 19,400 pounds strikes an appealing compromise between seakindly motion and responsive sailing characteristics. With a comfort ratio of 29.67, this design falls squarely in the performance cruiser category, offering more spirited sailing than heavy displacement cruisers while retaining enough heft for comfortable ocean passages. The capsize screening formula of 1.88 indicates good offshore capability, reflecting the conservative design values Morris Yachts is known for. The fiberglass construction showcases Morris's legendary build quality, with attention to detail that has made the Southwest Harbor builder synonymous with premium American yacht construction. This model appeals to sailors seeking a well-balanced platform capable of handling both weekend coastal cruising and extended blue-water adventures.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 40.92 ft / 12.47 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 32.00 ft / 9.75 m
Beam 12.58 ft / 3.83 m
Max Draft 5.25 ft / 1.60 m
Displacement 19,400.00 lb / 8,800 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 757.00 ft² / 70.33 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin with rudder on skeg
Rigging Type Cutter
Construction FG
Designer Paine
Builder Morris Yachts
First Built 1995
Owner Reviews

No owner reviews yet — be the first to share your experience with this boat.

Performance Ratios
PHRF Rating PHRF (Performance Handicap Racing Fleet) is a national racing handicap measured in seconds per nautical mile. Lower values indicate faster boats. Ratings are sourced from US Sailing's national database (median across 60+ regional fleets).
Under 0 — Ultralight racer0–90 — Performance racer90–150 — Cruiser/racer150–210 — Typical cruiserOver 210 — Heavy/slow cruiser
 132
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
 16.84
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
 264.3
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
 29.67
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
 1.88
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. 7.58 kn
S# (Speed Number) The Speed Number (S#) is a quick performance index. Higher values indicate a faster, more powerful design relative to its size.
Under 3.0 — Slow cruiser3.0–5.0 — Average cruiser5.0–7.0 — Performance cruiserOver 7.0 — Racer
 2.03
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. 1,438.39 pounds/inch
SA/Displacement (Calc) Calculated Sail Area to Displacement ratio using actual measured sail dimensions rather than reported values. More precise than the reported SA/Disp figure. 16.84
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 52.00 ft / 15.85 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 15.83 ft / 4.82 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 46.08 ft / 14.05 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 15.00 ft / 4.57 m
SA Fore 411.58 ft² / 38.24 m²
SA Main 345.60 ft² / 32.11 m²
SA Total (100%) 757.18 ft² / 70.34 m²
Est. Forestay Length 54.36 ft / 16.57 m
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Type Diesel
Fuel Capacity 50 gals / 189 L
Water Capacity 120 gals / 454 L
Find a Morris 40 For Sale
Y YachtWorld Brokerage listings S Sailboat Listings Sailboats only C Craigslist National search F Facebook Marketplace Local listings B boats.com Global marketplace