- Price: from 135,000 euros
- Built from 2003 to 2011 in 90 units
Be careful, this model has nothing to do with the Nautitech 40 Open! Launched in 2003, the 40 inaugurates the Nautitech brand - since then taken over by Bavaria. But this is not a real novelty because it inherits the hulls - slightly extended - and the accommodation grid of the Nautitech 395. On the other hand, it benefits from a new bridge mould. The specifications are to seduce the rental companies with its four cabins and its wise rigging, but also the owners. The advantage of this catamaran is its compact size, which makes manoeuvring easier. It is also a good way to limit costs - shipping costs, maintenance, equipment, etc.
A design that is always in tune with the times
The Nautitech 40 did not rely on volume. Its hulls, signed Mortain/Mavrikios, are even rather thin. Straight bows, consistent freeboard, they are in the thick of it despite a design that dates back to the mid-1990s. No fragile drifts under the hulls but strong fins with limited draught. There is a modest sail area - the sail-to-weight ratio of 12.27 m2/t of the Nautitech 395 increases to 11.76 m2/t.
New deck layout and rigid bimini
The new deck mould offers a more modern deckhouse with glazing well protected from vertical rays. It continues above all with the famous rigid bimini that provides very effective protection against rain, sea spray and... the sun. A first on catamarans of this size. Too bad it's so low; when you get out of the cockpit, the tall ones will be careful. While the deck layout is impeccable - smooth traffic, comfortable trampolines - some points are less convincing. In terms of weight centering, the 40 could do a better job: the anchor remains in position on the bow of the port hull. Then the helm stations. They are thrown back on each hull, with a satisfactory view of the sail plan and the edge on which we are standing. But beware of the blind spot of the deckhouse.
A limited sail area favourable to breeze
The collected rig does not ensure brilliant performance in light winds, but the 40 can be seen to be up to the task from 10 knots of wind. A mainsail with horn is therefore welcome to boost the boat. Above 15 knots, the Nautitech is able to flirt with the 10 knots at unbridled speed. A professional conveyor even reported a peak at 21 knots. The fittings are simple, easy to understand: the machine is easy to control even on its own. This is the real plus of this boat, accessible to the whole family without being boring under sail.
Race to the berth...
The Nautitech 40 generally follows the same accommodation pattern as the 395; it manages to accommodate four double cabins and two nose tips, i. e. ten people. The nacelle, despite its measured volume, manages to accommodate a saloon, a kitchen and a chart table. Counted floor area, of course, but a level access from the cockpit to the nacelle. Good workmanship and cleanly finished, the fittings age rather well.
The Nautitech 40.2, a new version launched in 2005
The yard took into account the defects noted on the 40: the 40.2 version, launched in 2005, offers some very useful steps to leave the cockpit. And it is possible to cut the bimini to facilitate the passage. Nautitech took advantage of its refit to launch an Owner version with three cabins. With only 10 copies distributed, it is logically very popular on the second-hand market. Other remarkable modifications on board the 40.2: the slightly larger galley includes a waste bin, the tilting helm seats become fixed on the engine hood and finally clever structural modifications allow the bunks to be lowered by 18 cm. In 2008, the yard changed its woodwork and opted for lighter wood.
The diagnosis of Bateaux.com
The Nautitech 40, designed from the outset for intensive use, is well built: no structural problems to worry about. The first models suffered from a leak between the deck and the deckhouse. Many of them have long been leased: many hours of navigation result in engines and rigging that are subjected to heavy loads. Check the condition of the appendages - the coral is not soft with polyester... Inside, some cooling units have not withstood intensive use.
The benefits include
- Robustness and quality of finish
- Maintains good resale value
- Sleeping capacity
The disadvantages
- Poorly centered wetting
- Bimini too low
- Small cabins
But what is it missing?
A little more bimini height, a bigger kitchen, more spacious rear skirts... in short, a few centimetres everywhere!
The equivalent today?
Its replacement for the Nautitech Open 40, of course... a very different concept that favours a saloon in the cockpit. The Lucia 40 and Leopard, of the same size, offer an identical program with more ease. The all-new Lagoon 40, on the other hand, offers much more volume.
