The Trewes Viscount 40 is a true classic 40ft steel centre-cockpit ketch, a serious offshore cruiser with traditional charm, robust build quality, and liveaboard capability. Built in 1968 by renowned Dutch yard Nordia Van Dam to a Van der Meer design. Constructed in 6mm Corten steel with solid spruce spars and teak decks, she combines timeless lines with serious offshore capability. Extensively refitted by long-term owners: recent engine rebuild, new rigging, lithium batteries, watermaker, solar and wind power, plus updated navigation. Comfortable six-berth interior with offshore-ready layout, galley, heads, and ample storage. Fully equipped for extended liveaboard cruising or ocean passage-making. This is a rare opportunity to own a proven, character-rich bluewater cruiser.
If you’re looking for a yacht to sail far, live aboard, or use as a long-term cruising home, she's an excellent choice
Mechanical
Cummins 4B3.9
80HP
Shaft drive with water cooled shaft seal
3 bladed fixed propellor
Ropecutter
Fuel consumption (approx) 3.0 ltr /hour at 5 knots
Engine spares
Engine rebuilt 2022 - 1238.3 hours since rebuild
Last serviced - Spring 2024
Annually serviced by owner
Electrical
3 x 200ah lithium battery bank - 2022 plus 12v storage battery
12v 220ah Engine starter battery - 2024
Balmar large-case 210A alternator - 2022
Battery charger, Sterling power international 40-400AC - 2022
3.5kw Sterling Power invertor
D400 Wind generator - not fitted
240 shore power and ring main with 3 pin sockets
Navigation
Radar - Raymarine RL80C
GPS - Furuno Navigator
Autopilot - Raymarine
Speed /Log - Raymarine ST40
Depth - Autohelm
Wind - Raymarine ST40
VHF DSC radio - Vertex VM 3500E with cockpit Mic
AIS class B transponder/receiver - Digital Yacht
Satellite phone system - 2022
Cestral compass
Navigation lights
Sails, Spars and Rigging
Ketch rigged
Nobel Masts Wood spars - 2008
Sika Spruce main and mizzen masts, booms
Standing rigging replaced 2018
Removeable inner forestay - 2022
The rigging was professionally checked Feb/March 2024
Running rigging halyards/sheets replaced 2021/2022
2 x Spinnaker poles wooden - 2008
Slab reefing main with stackpack
Furling headsail - Furlex 304s
Slab reefing mizzen with stackpack
1 x Anderson 28 ST mast winch
1 x Lewmar 16 ST mast winch
Sails
Mainsail - Fully Battened, 3 Reefs (tired)
Headsail Number 2 Genoa - Jeckells - 2022
Staysail with piston hanks - 2022
Mizzen - 2005
Cruising Chute and snuffer - 2005
Interior & Domestic
6 berths in 2 cabins plus saloon
2 x heads - one manual and one compostable
Pressurised hot and cold water system - Hot water cylinder - 2024
Water maker - Simple 60, new 2022, 120Lts per hour
1.9m headroom
Galley with Force 10 oven and 2 ring burner - 2022
12v fresh water cooled refrigerator - 2022
Deep freeze
Double sink
Fresh water ceramic filter
Deck
Wheel steering
Teak deck
Electric Lofrans Tigress 2018 windlass (with remote control)
27kg Manson supreme anchor with 60m chain
Danforth kedge anchor
2 Anderson ST 46 cockpit winches
2 x Meissner 23 winches
Lewmar 30 furling winch
Side gates
Davits
Cockpit table
Boarding ladder
Cockpit shower
Warps and fenders
Boathook
Safety
Emergency steering
2 bilge pumps (1 manual / 1 Electric)
LPG Detector
New gas system with alarm - 2022. Certificates are available
Canvas
Sprayhood
Cockpit enclosure
Sun awning
Sail cover
Cockpit cushions
Construction
Hull is 6mm Corten Steel, (last surveyed 2020 by Paul Faye, steel boat specialist surveyor, report available)
Steel hull with wooden masts and spars
Long keel
Painted hull
Keel blasted and repainted - 2024
Documentation
Evidence of 5 years clear title - Bill of Sale to current owners - 2003
Part One Registration certificates from 1994
UK marina letter confirming UK location 31/12/2020
Tonnage measurement certificate - 2968
Owners comments
She is a beautiful, classic yacht, with plenty of character! definitely a head turner! People regularly stop by to tell us what a beautiful yacht she is! …. She is recognised and remembered wherever she goes! We have literally had people swim out from a beach, as they recognised the boat from years gone by, and just want to say hello
She is the slightly smaller sister to Eric and Susan Hiscock’s ‘Wanderer IV’, (we have a copy of his book on board! Wanderer 4 is currently in New Zealand! Our yacht was built just after her, and of the same pedigree.
She has a very safe, comfortable deep centre cockpit! The ketch rig sail plan is very versatile, whether costal cruising or sailing blue water, she’s easy to handle, whatever the weather throws at you! We often sail under jib and jigger (genoa and mizzen), with her bespoke boom crutch a very sturdy and brilliant addition, which makes dropping the main sail in a blow (our go to squall plan) a doddle! Her ships wheel is from the 1943 RAF rescue launch ‘Jaymac’ and sits very well in her cockpit!. This cockpit is also a great entertaining space.
She is very well maintained! We invested a lot of time and effort keeping her in her current condition. She is currently live aboard ready and ocean ready to us, all systems work well onboard. She has been hauled out, and had her hull ultrasound scanned with all hull issues address annually since we’ve owned her. We spent 6 months on the hard in the USA 2024 where we sandblasted and then completely renewed her hull paint system, above and below the waterline. We replaced all anodes at this time and serviced all seacocks. Mast and spars were rebuilt 2008, re-rigged 2018, the engine was completely rebuilt in 2021/22 and has been very reliable for us.
We have sailed 10’s of 1000’s of mile including: Atlantic, West Indies, USA, Bahamas, Virgin Islands, African West Coast, Canaries and European coast, English Channel, North Sea and Baltic, and circumnavigated the UK. We have done oceans, canals, inland waterways and lochs, in all sorts of conditions.
She is great boat! Solid seaworthy and will go anywhere sort of a boat! We as owners would be very happy to take a new owner through the boat and all her systems including sharing our knowledge and experiences.
Measurements
LOA: 12.6 m
Beam: 3.45 m
Max Bridge Clearance: 14.5 m
Displacement: 13500 kg
Fuel Tanks Cap.: 700 L
Fresh Water Tanks Cap.: 600 L