SO 40 Performance

[sihall]

Just in the process of purchasing a 2000 SO40, we are upgrading from a 34.2.
I have searched the web looking for reviews but would like to hear from any owners on their impressions on the boat. What are they like to sail, handling close quarters etc etc. This particular yacht does not have a Bow Thruster fitted, again is this something that is required? She will be moored on the West Coast of Scotland eventually.
Thanks

[gene]

Congratulations. We have a 1999 and love the boat. Perfect for 2. We upgraded the main last year to a full battened with an interfering roach. New genny on order. The boat sails great as well as motors great. Engine is a little over sized which is fine. No bow thruster and I don't think I would want one. Backs to port which can be an issue depending on the slip. You might find some usefull info on my web site.

santosha.info/index.html

Gene

[flightdeck]

Damm it Gene, what a great site you have made, not just did I spend too much time looking at your site, but now I want a SO40 ;D

Cheers

[hoppy]

I have a 2001 SO40 I bought last winter. Prior to it I had a gap of 25 years in my sailing so it is hard to compare it to anything. Regardless, I am very happy with it's sailing performance and with the 56hp motor it moves along nicely.

With assistance from the propwalk I can turn it clockwise almost on the spot. Originally I wanted a bow thruster but now I think I will happily do without and just learn how to survive without.

I just came back from 6 weeks in Greece and spent 4 of those going solo and not once did I start to regret not choosing a smaller yacht.

[touchngo]

It would seem that we, like many other SO40 owners, are very happy with our boat. As far as the OP's request for Performance feedback goes though, we'd find it hard to give "objective" data as obviously we have an element of bias.

Last month we sailed with friends and family in a motley flotilla with a Rival 32, a Parker 325 and a 2009 Bavaria 38. Going faster wasn't really the issue, so won't bother with that element of "performance". However, when taken overall, our lovely boat certainly performed well as the "entertainment center", "post sail cocktail center" and "lead boat". With 3 of us aboard, berthing and departures weren't an issue anyway, but many times this was done with only 2 of us (#1 son having more pressing things to do like sleeping in!). Our boat is still set up as a Charter Boat, so comfort on board is a given, but other than a 56HP Engine and a decent Lofrans Capstan, she's not really setup any different to our little race boat (a Limbo 6.6). We don't have a bow thruster, or electric winches, etc... and to be totally honest, are happier without them!

Like Hoppy, we have no qualms about singlehanding her, although he's a braver man than me to be Med Mooring her. I could see this being fine with Lazylines, but as our capstan is driven at the bow, Stern Mooring to an anchor in Datca for example, would be quite the challenge initially. The "performance" on other's boats whilst I attempted this would be well worth watching ;D

In all other respects, the SO 40 is a wonderful boat IMHO. But then, having chartered one before we bought, we already knew that they sail beautifully, and are an ideal boat for a couple such as us.

My only other bit to add would be to go look over whatever you're buying yourself, and look at things such as the bedding on the stanchion bases, the inspection hatches on the forward fresh water tanks, whether or not the holding tanks are going to need replacing, check out the state of the vinyl linings in the cabins as they usually start to fall away in the areas that you can only see while you're lying down, and get under the galley to see what condition the counter top is actually in. Oh, and check out the teak handrails and the molding where the main hatch stops when you close it. Somehow the surveyors don't seem to think these things are important. My bank account and I beg to differ!

I should add that we have fitted new North Sails, with a fully battened Main, and have scrapped the single line reefing setup in favour of the standard horn at the gooseneck, with the pennants led to the cockpit. This does necessitate a trip to the mast to throw a reef in, but it doesn't seem to take much effort (we pinch in to the wind, ease the mainsheet and kicker, pull on the topping lift, loose the main halyard, go forward hook the the reefing eye to the horn, back to the cockpit, winch on the main halyard, winch on the reefing pennant, loose the topping lift, in with the main, then the kicker and we're back at full speed in a few minutes (it's definitely not a 30 second affair though). Having already put a few rolls in the Genoa you don't really loose much boat speed.

My next project is to replace the TackTick with a Raymarine ST60+ Wind Instrument and then connect this to the auto pilot so we can do this singlehanded (The TackTick is constantly shutting itself down due to low batteries as the Bimini shades the solar panel on the display anyway, so it's headed to the other boat).

Hope this helps.

PT.

[sihall]

Thanks for the information, makes good reading. looking forward to sailing her on the West Coast of Scotland next year.