Cheoy Lee 41 (Offshore 40/41)

Description

The Cheoy Lee 41 (most commonly the Cheoy Lee Offshore 41, also referred to as Offshore 40 MkII in some contexts) is a classic bluewater cruising sailboat built by Cheoy Lee Shipyard Ltd. in Hong Kong from 1972 onward (with production in the 1970s, examples commonly dated 1972–1980s). It was designed by Ray Richards (Raymond H. Richards, American naval architect commissioned by Cheoy Lee to create a modern successor to earlier Rhodes designs like the Reliant 40). Production numbers reached about 100 hulls (per sailboatdata.com and owner resources; a limited run with many well-maintained survivors). Special features include its fin keel with skeg-hung rudder (cutaway forefoot for better maneuverability while retaining good tracking and protection); heavy-duty fiberglass construction (solid GRP hull/deck molded to high standards, with teak trim, laid teak decks overlay on fiberglass—maintenance-intensive but durable); availability in sloop, ketch, or yawl rigs (sloop often best performer); spacious, high-quality teak interior (good headroom, comfortable layout for couples/families); and a reputation as a rock-solid, comfortable offshore cruiser—innovative for its time with good speed potential, stiff handling ("stiff as a church" per designer), forgiving motion in waves, and proven capability for extended passages (many have logged ocean miles), though teak upkeep, potential metalwork corrosion, and rigging age are common older-boat concerns.