Cheoy Lee Offshore 40 Sloop

Description

The Cheoy Lee Offshore 40 Sloop is a classic bluewater cruising sailboat built by Cheoy Lee Shipyard Ltd. in Hong Kong from 1964 to around 1976 (with most examples from the late 1960s to mid-1970s). It was designed by Philip Rhodes (renowned American naval architect; essentially a cost-reduced variant of his Rhodes Reliant 41, with modifications like iron ballast instead of lead and simplified construction to avoid royalties while using similar tooling). Production numbers are estimated at around 160 hulls built (across sloop and yawl rigs, per owner reports and Cruising World references; relatively limited for a classic, with surviving examples often well-maintained and sought-after). Special features include its full long keel for excellent tracking, directional stability, and protected rudder; heavy-duty fiberglass construction (hull, deck, and cabin trunk molded to Lloyd's specifications, with Burma teak trim, laid teak decks, and Sitka spruce spars originally); traditional masthead sloop rig (yawl option also common); elegant sheerline, low freeboard, and narrow beam for classic aesthetics and efficient upwind performance; spacious, high-quality teak interior; and a reputation as a sturdy, comfortable offshore cruiser with superb motion in waves, forgiving handling, and proven ocean-crossing capability—ideal for extended cruising or liveaboard use, though teak maintenance is a key consideration.