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Pacific Seacraft 40
Designer: William Crealock  ·  Builder: Pacific Seacraft (Usa)  ·  First built: 1997
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About the Pacific Seacraft 40

Renowned designer William Crealock created this handsome cutter-rigged cruiser for serious bluewater sailing when Pacific Seacraft introduced it in 1997. With its traditional lines and robust construction, this 42-foot yacht embodies the builder's reputation for creating seaworthy vessels that prioritize safety and comfort over speed. The boat's substantial 24,000-pound displacement and generous ballast-to-displacement ratio provide excellent stability and sea-kindly motion in challenging conditions. Its fin keel with rudder mounted on a protective skeg offers a good compromise between maneuverability and structural integrity, while the moderate draft of just over six feet opens up more cruising destinations than deeper keels would allow. The cutter rig configuration excels in varying wind conditions, allowing sailors to balance sail area effectively for both light air performance and heavy weather capability. With a comfort ratio of 37.5, this yacht delivers the motion characteristics that make extended passages pleasant for the crew. Pacific Seacraft's attention to detail and solid fiberglass construction methods earned these boats a strong following among serious cruisers. The design strikes an appealing balance between traditional aesthetics and practical offshore performance, making it well-suited for coastal cruising and ocean passage-making alike.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 42.16 ft / 12.85 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 31.25 ft / 9.53 m
Beam 12.42 ft / 3.79 m
Max Draft 6.08 ft / 1.85 m
Displacement 24,000.00 lb / 10,886 kg
Ballast 8,600.00 lb / 3,901 kg
Ballast Type Lead
Sail Area (Reported) 846.00 ft² / 78.60 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin with rudder on skeg
Rigging Type Cutter
Construction FG
Designer William Crealock
Builder Pacific Seacraft (USA)
First Built 1997
Related Sailboats Pacific Seacraft Pilothouse 40 · Valiant 42 · Passport 42 · Hylas 42 · Rustler 42
Owner Reviews

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Known Issues & What to Watch For
High Hull/Deck
The teak deck overlay, fitted on many PSC 40s, is bonded over a fiberglass subdeck. As the teak ages and caulking fails, water migrates beneath the teak and causes delamination and core saturation in the underlying balsa-cored deck sections. Inspect all teak deck areas with a moisture meter and tap test.
Medium Hull/Deck
Pacific Seacraft used balsa core in the deck but solid fiberglass in high-load areas. The transitions between cored and solid sections can develop stress cracks and allow moisture ingress, particularly around chainplate and stanchion bases. These areas are frequently undertapped during surveys.
High Keel
The lead keel is attached with stainless steel keel bolts; the keel-to-hull joint uses a bedding compound that can dry out and crack over time, allowing water intrusion into the stub. Inspect the bilge area immediately above the keel for soft laminate or rust weeping indicating bolt corrosion.
High Rigging
The chainplates on the PSC 40 are inboard, passing through the deck via compression tubes. The deck penetration seals are prone to failure, allowing water to run down the chainplate and saturate the bulkhead to which they are attached. Check the interior bulkhead faces at chainplate attachment points for soft or delaminated fiberglass.
Medium Rigging
The skeg-hung rudder uses a stainless steel rudder shaft and bearings; the lower bearing in the skeg is difficult to access and inspect and is known to wear, causing slop in the helm. Verify rudder play by pushing laterally on the blade at the dock.
Medium Engine
Many PSC 40s were fitted with the Yanmar 4JH series diesel, which has a known raw water impeller housing that is difficult to access in the tight Pacific Seacraft engine compartment. The awkward installation means impeller changes are frequently deferred, leading to overheating events. Confirm service history and inspect the heat exchanger for damage.
Medium Engine
The engine compartment on the PSC 40 is compact and the sound insulation foam lining retains moisture against the fiberglass, promoting hidden osmotic damage on the interior hull surfaces aft of the engine. Remove foam panels during survey to inspect the underlying laminate.
Low Accommodations
The teak and holly sole in the main cabin is supported on a grid that sits directly over the deep bilge. The sole support bearers are prone to rot and the sole panels themselves develop soft spots where water has been trapped beneath them. Inspect all sole panels by pressing firmly across the surface.
Medium Electrical
Pacific Seacraft's factory wiring used ring-terminal connections that are generally well executed, but the DC panel and wiring runs behind the nav station are densely packed and later owner-added electronics are frequently spliced in without proper terminals or labeling. A full wiring audit is advisable on any example that has changed hands multiple times.

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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
 150
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
 16.33
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
 35.83
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
 351.09
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
 37.5
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
 1.73
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. 7.49 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. 1,386.81 pounds/inch
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make Yanmar
Engine Model 4JH3E
Engine Type Diesel
Horsepower 50
Fuel Capacity 70 gals / 265 L
Water Capacity 140 gals / 530 L
How It Compares

vs. Hylas 42, Pacific Seacraft Pilothouse 40, Passport 42, Rustler 42, Valiant 42

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Pacific Seacraft 40 ★
42.2 ft
Hylas 42
42.1 ft
Pacific Seacraft Pilothouse 40
42.2 ft
Passport 42
42.0 ft
Rustler 42
42.0 ft
Valiant 42
42.0 ft
LWL
Pacific Seacraft 40 ★
31.3 ft
Hylas 42
33.5 ft
Pacific Seacraft Pilothouse 40
31.3 ft
Passport 42
34.8 ft
Rustler 42
33.5 ft
Valiant 42
34.5 ft
Beam
Pacific Seacraft 40 ★
12.4 ft
Hylas 42
13.0 ft
Pacific Seacraft Pilothouse 40
12.4 ft
Passport 42
12.8 ft
Rustler 42
13.3 ft
Valiant 42
12.8 ft
Displacement
Pacific Seacraft 40 ★
24 lbs
Hylas 42
17 lbs
Pacific Seacraft Pilothouse 40
24 lbs
Passport 42
25 lbs
Rustler 42
26 lbs
Valiant 42
24 lbs
Ballast
Pacific Seacraft 40 ★
8 lbs
Hylas 42
8 lbs
Pacific Seacraft Pilothouse 40
8 lbs
Passport 42
9 lbs
Rustler 42
10 lbs
Valiant 42
9 lbs
Sail Area
Pacific Seacraft 40 ★
846 sq ft
Hylas 42
826 sq ft
Pacific Seacraft Pilothouse 40
—
Passport 42
764 sq ft
Rustler 42
950 sq ft
Valiant 42
849 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Pacific Seacraft 40 ★
150 s/nm
Hylas 42
87 s/nm
Pacific Seacraft Pilothouse 40
—
Passport 42
132 s/nm
Rustler 42
—
Valiant 42
138 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Pacific Seacraft 40 ★
16.3
Hylas 42
19.6
Pacific Seacraft Pilothouse 40
—
Passport 42
14.2
Rustler 42
17.4
Valiant 42
16.1
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Pacific Seacraft 40 ★
35.8 %
Hylas 42
50.0 %
Pacific Seacraft Pilothouse 40
35.9 %
Passport 42
35.3 %
Rustler 42
—
Valiant 42
—
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Pacific Seacraft 40 ★
37.5
Hylas 42
24.8
Pacific Seacraft Pilothouse 40
—
Passport 42
35.6
Rustler 42
35.4
Valiant 42
34.9
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Pacific Seacraft 40 ★
1.73
Hylas 42
2.00
Pacific Seacraft Pilothouse 40
—
Passport 42
1.75
Rustler 42
1.80
Valiant 42
1.76
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Pacific Seacraft 40 ★
351
Hylas 42
208
Pacific Seacraft Pilothouse 40
358
Passport 42
269
Rustler 42
—
Valiant 42
—
Hull Speed
Pacific Seacraft 40 ★
7.5 kts
Hylas 42
7.8 kts
Pacific Seacraft Pilothouse 40
—
Passport 42
7.9 kts
Rustler 42
7.8 kts
Valiant 42
7.9 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Pacific Seacraft 40 ★
—
Hylas 42
2.9
Pacific Seacraft Pilothouse 40
—
Passport 42
1.7
Rustler 42
—
Valiant 42
1.9
Resources & Community
⚓ Class Association Pacific Seacraft Owners 💬 Owners Forum Owners Forum & Discussion
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