Having already crossed the Atlantic three times, two as part of the ARC in my previous boat, a Westerly Oceanranger, I knew exactly what I needed for a round the world trip. This Pacific seacraft 40 fitted the bill exactly. It was big enough for comfort yet small enough to be easily handled by two people and very safe and comfortable on long passages. Developing family circumstances has put paid to this aspiration and I find it difficult to justify retaining such a classic Blue water cruiser for a mere five/six weeks sailing in a year.

She is a stunningly tough boat, safe in high winds and big seaway, with a comfortable and dampened motion. Her design is focused on comfort at sea as opposed to in a marina, something noticeable on passage. Yet. she covers distance at a deceptively fast rate, giving me 180 kn 24 hour run only last August, admittedly in perfect conditions. . The cutter rig, spinnaker, twin tracks for the headsail, extended mainsheet track, two reefs in the fully battened main and running backstays all offer a wide variety of sail configurations to suit all conditions. The long keel, while ensuring safe passage at sea, makes her temperamental in a Marina, justifying the fitting of the bow-thruster. 

With the round the world trip in mind, she has been maintained assiduously, particularly her engine, being lifted, serviced, winterised, and stored out of the water every winter. She is therefore an underused and very clean example of this class.

Note: The yacht has assigned to it all equipment necessary to its running, including three separate tool boxes, domestic crockery, crockery, pots/pans, various hoses, warps and a catalogue of spares etc.

“Outwardly, the Pacific Seacraft 40 closely resembles its larger and smaller sisters, but in fact each model in the line incorporates modifications to the shape and refinements aimed mostly at improved performance and safety. 

The 40 retains the general form of split underbody with ventral fin between keel and large skeg. As before, the primary aim throughout is ease of control by a small crew in bad conditions. I believe that in the 40 the beam proportion have come close to the practical limit. Balance and ease of handling are among the principal requirements of a cruising boat, and beam can be an enemy of balance; so we add it a little at a time to make sure that handling characteristics are not threatened. All reports indicate the 40 is a very well-balanced boat. My own belief is that one should not travel only to arrive; the passage itself should be relaxing and fun. We formed the underbody for this purpose, and we have had numerous reports from owners of other boats in the line of surfing down waves in heavy weather at speed/length ratios of over 2 with easy control. 

The deck is straightforward with most lines led aft, with a raised king plank for better footing on the foredeck and with tall bulwarks for their practical and psychological advantage. The lower shrouds are inboard for easier walking and sheeting and the watertight cockpit sole is easily removable for engine access. The 40 has a short bow platform; it allows a longer base for sail plan, permits the use of a longer waterline, and increases the work area for anchoring. It will be noticed that the Pacific Seacraft bow platform is of unusually strong construction. 

The accommodation is slanted towards offshore use. The settees have fairly tight corners rather than sweeping curves for greater comfort when the boat is heeled. On passage, I like the a galley which supports the cook without having to rely on straps and which, if possible, allows the cook to stand clear of any overturning pots. Separate stall shower space is well used for local cruising and the less fastidious can use the shower stall as an extra wet locker on passage which, with its overhead hatch, forms a giant dorade vent. 

The Pacific Seacraft 40 appears to be a moderate to heavy displacement boat, but one must remember that a boat with considerable overhangs will tend to have an artificially high ratio, and we also realise that the published figures for many boat are, shall we say, somewhat optimistic. I also believe that speed on passage is quite different from speed round the buoys, and that a small crew should be able to sail an offshore cruiser to its full potential without exhaustion.”

W.I.B Crealock

The hull is classically shaped without distortion for the sake of interior volume. The shape of the hull is driven by the dimensional proportions that have proven over the years to contribute to seaworthiness. The moderate beam results in an angle of positive stability greater than 141o, and reduced asymmetry at heel. The combination of moderate beam and the clean lines of the stem, keep the rudder immersed at higher heel angles, contributing to greater directional stability and easier steering. The low freeboard presents a lower profile and less surface area to breaking waves. The overhangs of the bow and stem contain reserve buoyancy to dampen pitch and lengthen waterline. A designer such as Bill Crealock can use the proportions necessary to achieve comfort and seaworthiness in a hull shape that can go to windward effectively, be driven easily by smaller increments of sail, and have the same proportions describe the shape of a beautiful yacht. 

On the Pacific Seacraft 40 just about everything has been thought through… A Yacht like this could be taken off the production line and confidently sailed straight off into the sunset without another thought. We understand what Bill Crealock means about getting there quickly, but comfortably. 

She’s no round-the-cans sprinter, but once she gets the scent she will chew through 150 miles a day easily. We can’t help feeling that he has got his sums just right with this boat.

Yachting Monthly – Feb 1998

RCD Status: The yacht conforms with the essential safety requirements of Directive 94/25EC (Recreational Craft Directive) and is categorised A – “Ocean”

Hull, Deck & Superstructure Construction:

·         The general skin laminate is clad in an isophthalic-npg gelcoat finish. Just inside of the gelcoat, a mat layer laminated with vinylester resin begins the hull skin laminate. The laminate continues with isophthalic resin laminated biaxial rovings. The hull bottom is solid fibreglass up to the design waterline.

·         The hull topsides are cored above the waterline with Baltek balsa core. While it is a costly process the balsa core augments panel stiffness, and increases thermal and sound insulation. The increased stiffness-to-weight ratio improves the payload carrying ability. The hull and deck flanges are bedded in polyurethane and through-bolted with stainless steel bolts. The joint is then sealed with a teak capping rail. 

·         Chain plates for the cap shrouds and intermediate shrouds are through-bolted into the hull, and the lowers bolted to the deck with backing plates. Primary bulkheads are bolted as well as bonded to the hull and deck, and internal mouldings bonded in with mat and woven rovings. 

·         Supplementary laminates are added in the area of Keel attachment, rudder post, centreline and chain place attachments using fabrics and weaves appropriate for the application: uni- directional rovings in the chain plate attachment area and bi-axial rovings elsewhere.

·         Dark blue sheer stripe and boot line.

·         Lightening ground system.

·         SSB radio copper ground system.

Keel & Rudder:

·         The ballast keel is cast of antimonial lead It is attached externally to provide the maximum righting moment for a given amount of ballast. Since it is mounted externally, the lead can also sustain impact and abrasion from grounding without damage to fibreglass surfaces. 

·         The ballast is attached with ten 1" keel bolts and bedded in epoxy at the joint with the solid fibrerglass keel boss. Each bolt is attached on the inside of the hull with a stainless steel backing plate bedded in epoxy, washers and nuts locked with epoxy.

·         The rudder skeg forms a protective foundation for rudder attachment and an aperture for the propeller and shaft to protect them from damage and fouling. There is a ½” steel spine inside the skeg encased in filled resin. A molded- in recess at the bottom of the skeg accepts the heavy bronze gudgeon that supports the lower end of the rudderstock. 

Engine & Gearboxes:

·         Yanmar 4J83F 56hp 4-cylinder naturally-aspirated marine diesel engine 50hp/41Kw.

·         Fresh water engine cooling via raw-water inlet and heat exchanger.

·         Conventional 2.62:1 reduction gearbox, right-hand rotation.

·         Connected to shaft drive via Buck Algonquin shaft seal.
Secondary Racor fuel filter, filters replaced, 2013.

·         Single lever throttle/gear control on steering pedestal.
Engine panel tachometer, oil pressure, cooling water temperature, volts, hour-meter.

Maintenance & Performance:

·         Engine Hours: approx. 1,600.

·         Engine serviced: annually.

·         Cruising speed – approx 5 knots @ 2,000rpm.

·         Maximum speed – approx 7 knots @ 3,000rpm.

Propulsion & Steering:

·         3-bladed fixed prop.

·         Side power 12vDC 95kgf bow thruster with control at helm, and radio remote control fob

·         Whitlock Cobra Rack & pinion steering system, with 36’bStainless steel wheel. 

·         Pedestal with housing for B&G instruments/Ritchie Globemaste compass and Navpod for chart plotter.

·         Side power 95 HP bow thruster, commissioned and professionally inserted 2007.

·         B&G hydraulic Autohelm and pilot.

Voltage Systems:

·         12vDC domestic system and 220v ring main from shore power.

Battery Banks:

·         1 x 60Ah 12vDC Victron engine start battery

·         3 x 110Ah 12vDC Victron gel batteries joined in parallel to supply 330AH @ 12v

·         1 x 105Ah 12vDC Victron bow - thruster battery.

·         All batteries new as of 2012. 

Battery Chargers:

·         Heart "Freedom 20'. Inverter/charger with integral “echo charger ". The Freedom 20 integrates a 100-amp battery charger, with a 2000-watt inverter system. 

·         Independent separate system for monitoring battery condition, charge rate, DC amperage load, remaining voltage, etc. 

Alternators:

·         Alternator: 80 amp.

Shore Power:

·         220vAC shore power with 50Hz 16amp input connection.

·         110vAC shore power connection. 

Other Electrical:

·         DC and AC switch panels with indicator gauges.

·         220vAC sockets internally and 12vDC sockets both internally and externally.

Fresh Water & Water Heating System:

·         Pressurised hot and cold fresh water via 12vDC pressure pump.

·         Hot water generated by engine-driven calorifier or via 220vAC immersion heater element in hot water storage tank.

·         Manual fresh water supplies at galley sink.

·         Hot & cold pressurised shower in cockpit with extended hose.

·         Fresh water manifold raised in bilge with direct access from behind saloon settee.

Bilge Pumps:

·         Jabsco 12vDC electric bilge pump.

·         Whale Titan 108lpm manual bilge pump. 

Grey & Black Water:

·         Grey discharged directly overboard manually or via 12vDC pump out

·         Blackwater discharges directly overboard or to holding tank.

·         Jabsco 12v macerator pump for discharging from holding tank. 

Fuel:

·         265 litres stainless steel fuel tank located under the centerline in the main saloon. 

Fresh water:

·         462 litres (101 gallons) in three water tanks (216 litres forward, 82 litres mid and 163 litres aft).

·         Tank selection may be made on the basis of flotation trim, and water usage may be monitored effectively. A valve manifold is located conveniently at the dinette to allow easy tank selection. 

Grey/Blackwater holding tanks:

·         72 litres (16 gallons) blackwater holding tank.

·         The holding tank may be evacuated through the deck or pumped through the hull using the 12v macerator pump. 

Gas System:

·         Gas bottle locker with overboard vent.

·         3 x Gas bottles.

·         2 x Separate safety control systems.

·         Gas alarm system.

·         Raymarine RL70RC radar/plotter at chart table with additional slave.

·         Secondary Raymarine RL70RC radar/plotter unit at helm.

·         B&G Network Pilot PLD Type II hydraulic autopilot system.

·         B&G Network Wind speed & direction display.

·         B&G Network Depth display.

·         B&G Network Speed/Log/MFD display.

·         B&G Network Tridata repeater at chart table.

·         Ritchie Globemaster SP-5 binnacle-mounted steering compass.

Communications Equipment:

·         Icom ic-m59 VHF radio.

·         Icom IC-M1euro hand held radio, with battery charger.

·         Iridium 9522P/TP- satellite phone.

Galley:

·         Force 10 3-burner gimbaled propane gas stove with thermostatically controlled oven.

·         Panasonic 220vAC microwave.

·         Alder – Barbour DC refrigeration with top loading storage.

·         Skandvik polished stainless steel sinks with pressurised and manual water supplies. 

Heads/Showers:

·         Groko Type K manual sea toilets.

·         Electric shower drain.

Skandvik polished stainless steel sink.

Heating & Ventilation:

·         Mikuni diesel-fired hot air cabin heating with 4 outlets.

·         Bomar opening deckhead hatches with mosquito screens.

Entertainment:

·         Stereo/Radio and 6-disc CD autochanger.

·         Stereo speakers in saloon and spare external speaker for cockpit.

·         Walker flat screen 20‘ TV/DVD player in saloon, with remote control. 

Lighting:

·         12v deckhead and reading lights throughout

Summary of Accommodation:

·         7 berths in 2 cabins plus the saloon.

·         The design seeks to ensure light, air, warmth, comfort and security are the requisite elements of a livable offshore interior.

·         Four overhead hatches, and fourteen opening ports and two dorade-type cowl vents provide light and ventilation.

·         The warmth is in the ambiance of the interior combination of matt finished hand crafted teak joinery work, light laminate surfaces, soft headlining, and a wide selection of interior fabrics.

·         Louvered locker doors and cabin doors.

·         Corian galley surfaces in Sierra/Sandstone finish with high Corian splashbacks.

·         Sierra/Sandstone Corian in heads. 

Note: Heads compartment to starboard of forward cabin.

Description of layout:

Forward Cabin:
A double berth in the forward cabin features a bank of drawers in its face. Shelves extend port and starboard over the berth. Locker to port with sink large hanging locker to starboard. Two opening ports and a Bomar reversible hatch bring light and ventilation into the forward cabin. Two bulkhead swivel lights, and two deckhead lights. The first owner had a small enclosed toilet installed which included Groko Type K manual sea toilet. The second, feeling it was inconsistent with the design and excluded light, had it taken out, yet retained the toilet now concealed now by a cover which seconds as an effective sea seat. 

Main Saloon:
A U-shaped settee converts to a double bunk sleeping area by lowering the dinette table on its pedestals. The space below and behind the settees is available for storage port and starboard. There are alcoves with removable fiddles, as well as enclosed lockers with louvered doors port and starboard. Four bulkhead swivel reading lights, deckhead light. TV in the saloon area. 

Galley:
Aft of the galley to starboard is the U-shaped galley. The galley layout is secure on either tack, with convenient "leaning" surfaces to free up hands; the inboard section of the galley counter locates the double sink over the centerline for the best possible drainage on either tack. The double sink is polished stainless steel. The stove is a “Force 10” 3-burner with a foldaway door, broiler and thermostatically controlled oven. DC refrigeration with top loading storage. Galley storage is plentiful with a bank of drawers that includes a cooking utensil storage drawer, top loading dry goods locker, outboard lockers and underside locker. A laminated cutting board to span the sink. 

Chart Table Area:
Large forward facing chart table and comfortable seating, beneath the slanted working surface there is a deep storage area, and a sturdy folding support will hold the lid in a “browse” position, or level for athwartship chart work, or an auxiliary serving area. An additional flexible navigation light is mounted above the table.

Aft Heads:
The head and shower compartments are at the base of the companionway allowing shedding of fowl weather gear before moving through the cabin. The head is mounted on a fiberglass pedestal with a drain for easy cleaning and maintenance. The vanity counter top is Corian and has a stainless steel sink. Two opening ports and one deck vent hatch allow effective ventilation under any conditions. Teak seat in the shower stall. 

Aft Cabin:
Quarter cabin with double berth, dressing area, hanging locker and two drawers beneath berth. Excellent lighting and ventilation with two port lights opening into the cockpit and one outboard. The window doubles as an escape hatch in an emergency.

Rig:

·         Forespar cream powder-coated aluminium alloy keel-stepped masthead cutter rigged spar with 2-sets of inline spreaders.

·         Forespar cream powder-coated aluminium alloy boom.

·         Rod vang adjustable from cockpit.

·         Harken genoa furlers for staysail (Unit 1.0) and yankee (Unit 2.0).

·         1 x 19 stainless steel wire standing rigging with bronze rigging screws (2000).

·         Checkstays for use with staysail.

·         Toerail mounted genoa tracks.

·         Storm trysail track on mast.

·         Spinlock rope clutches.

·         Harken Jib tracks on coachroof.

·         Harken blocks with halyards led aft to companionway.

·         Harken mainsheet system on coachroof with adjustable track.

·         Fully-battened mainsail system with Harken high-load batten-cars system.

·         Two reefs in mainsail.

·         Forespar lazyjack system.

·         Mast-mounted aluminium spinnaker pole with associated equipment.

·         Spinnaker lead blocks/Sheets.

Winches (from Harken, all 2-speed self-tailing manual units):

·         2 x 53.2 primary winches in cockpit.

·         1 x 44.2 mainsheet winch.

·         3 x 40.2 halyard & utility winches at companionway.

·         1 x 40.2 headsail halyard winch on mast.

·         1 x 32 staysail halyard winch on mast.

Sails:

·         Ullman Sails 9.0oz Dacron fully-battened mainsail (2000).

·         Ullman Sails 8.0oz Dacron 120% roller furling high-clew genoa/yankee with cover (2000).

·         Ullman Sails 9.0oz Dacron roller furling staysail with cover (2000).

·         Asymmetric spinnaker with associated sheets, blocks and halyard.

·         All sails serviced 2012. 

General:

·         Stainless steel pushpit.

·         Pushpit mounted stern navigation lamp.

·         Stainless steel pulpit with port and starboard navigation lamps.

·         Stainless steel wire guardrails and stanchions with side boarding gates.

·         Swim ladder with access from water.

·         Dorade boxes with dorades vents.

·         Stainless steel mast pulpits (granny bars).

·         Cockpit table.

·         Pushpit mounted outboard engine bracket.

Anchoring & Mooring Equipment:

·         Muir VRC1200 12v 1.2kw electric anchor windlass.

·         Electronic controls from foredeck.

·         Secondary control from radio remote controls fob.

·         Twin bow-rollers.

·         45lb CQR anchor with 60 m all chain rode.

·         45lb secondary anchor with 45 m all chain rode.

·         Connecting chain, allowing both forward anchors to act as one.

·         Danforth kedge anchor with chain pipe and Locker 40m warp and chain.

·         Flo-Jet 12vDC raw water anchor/deck wash.

·         Fenders and warps.

Covers, Canvas & Cushions:

·         Canvas sprayhood with side pockets.

·         Boom tent.

·         Mainsail boom-bag and cover.

·         Pedestal cover.

Safety Equipment:

·         EPIRB.

·         Viking 6-man coachroof mounted canister liferaft (serviced 2011)

·         2 x Horseshoe buoys, one with light.

·         MOB recovery system.

·         Radar reflector.

·         Fire extinguishers.

·         Fire blanket.

·         Gas alarm.