Hunter 40.5 Legend

Description

The Hunter Legend 40.5 (1991–1997, ~250 hulls) is widely regarded as one of the best-looking, best-sailing, and most refined 40-foot production cruisers Hunter ever built. Designed by the Hunter Design Team with input from the Swedish studio Design By C&C, it stretches 40 ft 8 in LOA (almost 42 ft with the sugar-scoop stern and bowsprit) and carries a generous 13 ft 5 in beam with a moderate displacement of 19,000 lbs (7,500 lbs ballast). Offered with a shoal wing keel (5 ft) or deep fin (6 ft 6 in), it features the signature backstay-less B&R fractional rig with sharply swept spreaders, a huge roachy fully battened mainsail (~420 sq ft), 135–150% roller-furling genoa (total upwind ~900–950 sq ft), and an optional asymmetrical spinnaker on a retractable carbon sprit—delivering genuinely quick performance (PHRF typically 108–120) and easy short-handed sailing. Stand-out features include a massive T-shaped cockpit with twin wheels on later boats, full walk-through reverse transom and swim platform, arch-mounted traveler that keeps the cockpit clear, and one of the most luxurious production interiors under 41 ft: enormous aft master stateroom with true centerline queen island berth and private en-suite head with separate shower stall, spacious forward guest cabin with its own en-suite head, huge U-shaped galley with Corian counters and double sinks, large nav station, and a bright saloon with over 6 ft 8 in headroom—genuinely sleeping seven in real comfort. Faster, stiffer, and noticeably better finished than the original Legend 40 it replaced, the 40.5 earned a reputation for excellent light-to-moderate-air speed and genuine bluewater capability (many have crossed oceans). Still highly sought-after from Florida to the Pacific Northwest, well-maintained examples command strong resale prices and remain a benchmark for spacious, user-friendly 1990s American cruisers.