The Passport 40: A Good Boat?

is a passport 40 a good boat

The Passport 40 is a masthead sloop sailboat designed by Robert Perry and built by Passport Yachts in Taiwan between 1980 and 1991. It is a well-regarded, high-performance bluewater boat ideal for long-distance sailing and cruising. The Passport 40 has a spacious interior with a sensible layout, offering a comfortable and elegant experience for sailors. With a swift speed, harmonious design, and gentle motion, the Passport 40 is a top-quality choice for those seeking a nimble yet sturdy vessel.

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The Passport 40 is a good boat for solo circumnavigation

The Passport 40 is a great choice for solo circumnavigation. It is a top-quality bluewater boat, designed by Robert Perry and built in Taiwan. It was launched in 1980 and remained in production until 1991, with 148 boats built, and many have since sailed extensively.

The Passport 40 is a nimble, easily handled boat that performs well in the trade winds for which it was designed. It has a traditional style deck with a modified fin and skeg underbody, a combination that has proven very successful for cruising boats. The boat is well-suited for ocean passages, with a comfortable seagoing cockpit and a standard sloop rig. The primary winches are positioned to allow the helmsman to trim the headsail without leaving the wheel, and all other sail controls are led aft through a beefy coaming. The side decks are fairly wide and secure, and the deck fittings are robust and top quality.

The interior of the Passport 40 is lovely, with superb woodwork and a rich teak finish. The layout can vary, with some boats featuring a head-forward design followed by a Pullman berth, while others have a traditional V-berth and a separate head and shower. The saloon typically has a U-shaped or L-shaped settee, and the galley is large and well-equipped, with two deep stainless sinks, a well-insulated icebox/refrigerator, and a propane stove and oven.

The Passport 40 is a sturdy and reliable boat, with good access to the engine for maintenance. Parts for the original Perkins 4108 diesel engine are still widely available. The boat handles exceptionally well, with owners boasting of its predictability, swiftness, and nimbleness. It sails well in light winds and thrives when the wind picks up. The Passport 40 is also known for its soft ride, making passages more comfortable for the crew.

In conclusion, the Passport 40 is an excellent choice for solo circumnavigation. It offers a comfortable and spacious living space, exceptional sailing performance, and ease of handling. With its sturdy construction and reliable engine, it will provide a safe and enjoyable platform for exploring any corner of the globe.

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The boat was designed by Robert Perry and built in Taiwan

The Passport 40 is a world-class cruising boat designed by Robert Perry and built in Taiwan. It was launched in 1980 and remained in production through 1991, with 148 boats built. The design includes a traditional style deck with a modified fin and skeg underbody, a combination that proved very successful for cruising boats.

The Passport 40 was designed by Robert Perry, a well-known designer of cruising boats. Perry's designs are known for their generous keels and robust skeg-hung rudders, as well as their sweet lines and sailing hulls. The Passport 40 is no exception, with its graceful lines and powerful fin keel.

The boat was built in Taiwan, contributing to the foundation of Taiwan's world-class boat-building industry. Wendell Renken commissioned Perry's design and was the original developer and distributor of the Passport line, which included models ranging from 37 to 52 feet in length. Renken was one of many Americans in Taiwan during the 1970s and 1980s, and his company, along with others, helped establish Taiwan's reputation for high-quality boat building.

The Passport 40 has a standard layout, with a forward cabin featuring a forward-facing double berth and a saloon with settees that can be used as sea berths. The L-shaped dining area offers space to tuck into, and the galley is designed for functionality at sea. The cockpit provides ample space for stretching out, and the overall design of the boat allows for easy handling and performance in the trade winds for which it was designed.

The construction of the Passport 40 is solid, with a hull made of heavily layered fiberglass, resin, and roving. The hull shape, though outdated, has proven its worth in thousands of offshore miles. The teak joiner work below deck is exceptional, and the boat has aged well, retaining its value over the years.

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It has a standard layout, with a forward-facing double berth in the port

The Passport 40 is a world-class cruising boat, designed by Robert Perry and built by Passport Yachts in Taiwan between 1980 and 1991. It has a standard layout, with a forward-facing double berth in the port, and an L-shaped dining area with a galley that works well at sea. The forward cabin has a double berth, and there are two saloon settees, which can be used as sea berths while underway. The interior plan of each boat is slightly different and somewhat customisable, with options for a head-forward layout with a Pullman berth, or a traditional V-berth with a separate shower. The saloon features either a U-shaped or L-shaped settee, with a teak table, and lockers and bookshelves above. The nav station can be forward, aft, or outboard-facing, and there is a double quarter cabin aft. The galley includes two deep stainless sinks, a top-loading icebox/refrigerator, and a propane stove and oven.

The Passport 40 has a near-ideal seagoing cockpit, with wide seats and teak-trimmed, angled coamings. The side decks are fairly wide, and the moulded bulwark adds security when moving forward. The mooring cleats are an impressive 10 inches, and most boats will have upgraded to an electric windlass. The standard layout works well, but some might prefer to scooch all the saloon furniture towards the centreline to create more storage space.

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The boat is well-suited for open-water sailing and has a nimble, easily handled design

The Passport 40 is a nimble, easily handled boat that performs well in the trade winds for which it was designed. Its traditional style deck with a modified fin and skeg underbody make it a very successful formula for cruising boats.

The Passport 40 is a monohull sailboat designed by Robert Perry and built by Passport Yachts in Taiwan between 1980 and 1991. It has a standard layout, with a forward cabin and an L-shaped dining area. The galley is well-equipped and functional, and the boat has ample storage space. The cockpit is ideal for seaward journeys, with wide seats and angled coamings trimmed in teak. The side decks are fairly wide and the moulded bulwark adds security when moving forward. The deck fittings are robust and top quality.

The Passport 40 is a heavy boat by today's standards, but it remains nimble and easily handled. Its performance in the trade winds is impressive, and it handles well in nasty conditions. One owner noted that he skirted deadly Hurricane Mitch offshore and came through unscathed. The boat does not make much leeway, and easing the traveller usually eliminates weather helm. For a cruising boat, the Passport 40 is reasonably close-winded.

The Passport 40 is a well-regarded bluewater boat that has maintained its value over the years. Its combination of performance, comfort, and durability make it a good choice for open-water sailing.

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The Passport 40 is a top-quality bluewater boat with a price range of $120,000 to $160,000

The Passport 40 has a sleek design, with a gently raking bow and a broad reverse transom. The beam is a moderate 12 feet, 8 inches, and the coachroof extends well forward, making the foredeck quite small. The portlights are distinctive, with two smaller bronze ports framing a longer one amidships. The hull is solid fiberglass, heavily layered with roving, mat, and polyester resin. The hull-and-deck joint is through-bolted on an inward flange and incorporates a raised bulwark. The interior is lovely, with superb woodwork and a rich teak finish coated in many layers of satin varnish, creating a dark and elegant space.

The Passport 40 has a standard layout, with a forward cabin and an L-shaped dining area. The galley is functional and offers plenty of brace points, making it ideal for use at sea. The cockpit is spacious and comfortable, with wide seats and angled coamings trimmed in teak. The side decks are fairly wide, and the moulded bulwark adds security when going forward. The deck fittings are robust and top quality, including handsome and practical bronze fairleads.

The Passport 40 is a well-regarded boat, known for its sweet sailing characteristics and ability to handle various conditions. Owners boast of its predictability, swiftness, and nimbleness. It is a rugged and elegant yacht, ideal for those seeking a vessel capable of bluewater cruising and world cruising.

Frequently asked questions

The Passport 40 is a 40'8" (12.4m) sailboat designed by Robert Perry and built by Passport Yachts in Taiwan between 1980 and 1991. It is a well-regarded boat for long-distance sailing and bluewater cruising, known for its harmonious design, swift speed, and gentle motion.

The Passport 40 has a hull material of GRP (fiberglass) and a displacement of 22,771lb (10,329kg). It has a sail area of 70.8 m² and a rig type of masthead sloop. The average cost of a secondhand Passport 40 can range from $79,253 to $174,995 USD, depending on factors such as year, condition, equipment, and location.

The Passport 40 offers a sensible interior layout with a spacious V-berth forward, followed by a head with a separate shower stall, and a hanging locker. The main saloon features a U-shaped settee that converts to a double berth, a straight settee, and a large drop-leaf table. The galley is well-equipped with ample counter space, a double sink, a three-burner stove, and a large refrigerator/freezer. There is also a navigation station with a chart table and an electrical panel, as well as a quarter berth that can sleep two.

The Passport 40 is known for its sailing performance, comfort, and safety. It handles well and is easy to manage by one or two people. The boat has good directional stability and a gentle motion that does not tire the crew. Additionally, the Passport 40 has a well-designed interior layout that provides a comfortable and functional living space. The boat has also aged well and maintained its value over the years.

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