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Sea Wolf 40
Designer: William Garden/W.hardin  ·  Builder: Formosa/Hardin Yachts/Pacific Far East (Twn)  ·  First built: 1966
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About the Sea Wolf 40

Designed by the renowned William Garden and W. Hardin, this classic 40-footer represents traditional cruising yacht design from the mid-1960s era. Built primarily in Taiwan by respected yards including Formosa and Hardin Yachts, the Sea Wolf 40 combines old-world craftsmanship with practical offshore capability. The masthead ketch rig provides excellent sail handling options for shorthanded cruising, while the long keel configuration delivers predictable tracking and seakindly motion in heavy seas. With a displacement of 28,000 pounds and substantial ballast ratio, this yacht prioritizes stability and comfort over racing performance. The impressive comfort ratio of 44.81 confirms its suitability for extended offshore passages, making it an appealing choice for serious cruising sailors. Wood and fiberglass construction reflects the transitional building methods of its era, offering the aesthetic appeal of traditional materials with added durability. The generous beam provides good interior volume, while the moderate sail area keeps the boat manageable in varying conditions. With its proven seaworthiness and classic lines, the Sea Wolf 40 attracts sailors seeking a capable blue-water cruiser with timeless character and the reliability that comes from decades of proven offshore performance.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 40.90 ft / 12.47 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 32.00 ft / 9.75 m
Beam 12.16 ft / 3.71 m
Max Draft 6.16 ft / 1.88 m
Displacement 28,000.00 lb / 12,701 kg
Ballast 9,500.00 lb / 4,309 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 840.00 ft² / 78.04 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Long Keel
Rigging Type Masthead Ketch
Construction Wood/FG
Designer William Garden/W.Hardin
Builder Formosa/Hardin Yachts/Pacific Far East (TWN)
First Built 1966
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
14.63
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
33.93
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
381.47
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
44.81
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
1.61
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
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. 1,390.37 pounds/inch
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make Perkins
Engine Type Diesel
Fuel Capacity 100 gals / 379 L
Water Capacity 140 gals / 530 L
How It Compares

vs. Ct 41, Hans Christian 41, Offshore 41 Cheoy Lee

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Sea Wolf 40 ★
40.9 ft
Ct 41
41.0 ft
Hans Christian 41
40.8 ft
Offshore 41 Cheoy Lee
40.9 ft
LWL
Sea Wolf 40 ★
32.0 ft
Ct 41
32.5 ft
Hans Christian 41
36.8 ft
Offshore 41 Cheoy Lee
32.5 ft
Beam
Sea Wolf 40 ★
12.2 ft
Ct 41
12.1 ft
Hans Christian 41
13.3 ft
Offshore 41 Cheoy Lee
12.8 ft
Displacement
Sea Wolf 40 ★
28 lbs
Ct 41
27 lbs
Hans Christian 41
35 lbs
Offshore 41 Cheoy Lee
21 lbs
Ballast
Sea Wolf 40 ★
9 lbs
Ct 41
9 lbs
Hans Christian 41
12 lbs
Offshore 41 Cheoy Lee
8 lbs
Sail Area
Sea Wolf 40 ★
840 sq ft
Ct 41
792 sq ft
Hans Christian 41
1 sq ft
Offshore 41 Cheoy Lee
833 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Sea Wolf 40 ★
Ct 41
204 s/nm
Hans Christian 41
162 s/nm
Offshore 41 Cheoy Lee
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Sea Wolf 40 ★
14.6
Ct 41
14.0
Hans Christian 41
17.1
Offshore 41 Cheoy Lee
17.5
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Sea Wolf 40 ★
33.9 %
Ct 41
32.7 %
Hans Christian 41
Offshore 41 Cheoy Lee
42.1 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Sea Wolf 40 ★
44.8
Ct 41
43.8
Hans Christian 41
46.2
Offshore 41 Cheoy Lee
31.4
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Sea Wolf 40 ★
1.61
Ct 41
1.61
Hans Christian 41
1.62
Offshore 41 Cheoy Lee
1.85
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Sea Wolf 40 ★
381
Ct 41
357
Hans Christian 41
Offshore 41 Cheoy Lee
274
Hull Speed
Sea Wolf 40 ★
7.6 kts
Ct 41
7.6 kts
Hans Christian 41
8.1 kts
Offshore 41 Cheoy Lee
7.6 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Sea Wolf 40 ★
Ct 41
1.2
Hans Christian 41
Offshore 41 Cheoy Lee
1.9
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