wylie 40 sailboat

Professional BoatBuilder Magazine

Wyliecat 40: more than a facelift.

By Dieter Loibner , Jun 4, 2020

The Wyliecat 40 aims at the future of the recreational sailing market, which could well see a surge in multi-purpose boats

California designer Tom Wylie , 73 (PBB Nos. 75 and 152), can look back on a long line of seminal boats from his drafting table. Among them are successful ocean racers like American Express (the boat Norton Smith sailed to win the 1979 Mini Transat) and Ocean Planet (Bruce Schwab’s Vendée Globe racer), potent bluewater cruisers like Roxanne , Jade , and Convergence , the private yacht of West Marine founder Randy Repass, and the iconic Wylie Wabbit, a pocket-sized trailer yacht with trapeze. In the recreational market, he’s best known for the eponymous Wyliecat, a series of cat-rigged sloops and ketches with unstayed carbon masts and wishbone booms. These slender and unpretentious boats range from 17 ‘ to 66 ‘ (5.18m to 20.11m) and charmed judges with their simplicity and zippy performance, winning two Boat-of-the-Year awards.

I recently caught up with Wylie, whose mental acuity and elo­quence are as sharp as ever. He still prefers to work with time-honored tools like ducks and splines, so when he promises to send plans, there will be a thud when the UPS driver drops the package at the door.

Things are not as hectic while his business partner, builder Dave Wahle, recovers from a hip replacement, but there is a new boat sitting in their Watsonville, California, shop. It’s called the Wyliecat 40, a distillate of Wylie’s ideas for a future where boats will be shared by many rather than owned and operated by one.

A cursory look would mistake the new boat for a Wyliecat 39 like Warwick Tompkins’s custom cruising yacht Flash Girl . But a close inspection of the numbers and drawings reveals that the 40 traded the aft cabin for a large, open cockpit and garage space under the work deck. “It’s a spec boat,” Wylie said. “I wanted it to be versatile, fit for the corporate and the charter markets and for sharing among parties who have different use profiles.” He thinks this concept has enough inherent flexibility to work as a daysailer, as a charter boat for groups of a dozen-plus, or as a sustainably powered corporate yacht to take staff and clients out on the water for a head-clearing spin. Wylie’s sustainability vision puts the 40 to work in marine science, for instance at his nonprofit Ocean Planet Explorers, thus following the example of a much larger Wyliecat 65 (19.8m), the Derek M. Baylis , which earned her stripes doing research trips for the Monterey Bay Aquarium (see “Wylie’s Way,” PBB No. 165, page 70).

Large cockpit, modest accommodations and a simple sail plan: That always was and still is the Wylie Way.

To shape the hull of the new model, Wylie and Wahle, as consummate recyclers and reusers, altered the mold of the 39. It was industrial-strength surgery, cutting it open down the centerline 16 ‘ (4.87m) and using a wedge to pry apart the two halves at the transom by 13 “ (33cm). The result is a hull with more beam aft, up to 2 “ (51mm) more freeboard and headroom, and a steeper raked stem that adds 14 “ (35.6cm) of waterline.

Compared to the 39, this model has a shorter coach roof and an inverted layout. “We put the salon and the [convertible] settees into the bow and installed two 6 ‘ 6 “ [1.98m] quarter berths on either side of the engine box,” Wylie noted. “The 6 ‘ [1.82m] galley to port is a good size for a 40-footer, and we also have an enclosed head with a 25-gal [94.6-l] holding tank.” With the mast up in the bow, there was flexibility for this arrangement, bringing the companionway forward by about 4 ‘ (1.2m) and centering the weight of the engine to better balance the boat with the weight of passengers and/or cargo.

Wylie was never eager to follow the mainstream and design a boat around technology that might make some aspects of sailing more convenient while also adding complexity and cost. With this 40-footer he continues his concept of simple boats that perform well, are cost-effective to operate, and easy to maintain.

Wylie Cat 40 Particulars

LOA: 39 ‘ 7-5/8 “ (12.07m)

LWL: 34 ‘ 2 “ (10.4m)

Beam: 11 ‘ 3-1/4 “ (3.43m)

Draft: 6 ‘ (1.82m)

Displacement: 12,000 lbs (5,443 kg)

Ballast: 5,920 lbs (2,685 kg)

Sail area: 961 sq ft  (89.3m²)

Wylie Design Group, P.O. Box 86, Canyon, CA 94516 USA, tel. 925–376–7338, fax 925–376–7982.

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HOME | ABOUT | PORTFOLIO | ADVENTURES | SUSTAINABILITY | PRESS | CONTACT

W YLIE D ESIGN G ROUP

I NNOVATING SINCE 1968

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RESEARCH CLIENTS

RACES & AWARDS

Sailing’s John Muir

The Art of Diminished Resistance

Wylie has been called the “John Muir of the sea,” and he can talk nonstop about how he hopes to slow global warming by greening watercraft worldwide. His quest centers on the concept of diminished resistance, which is key to making boats that knife through the water.

Jorgensen listed off the things that impress him most about the Baylis: its customizable deck, its strong but ultralight construction, its "slippery" hull design, its minimalist rigging. "It's a real honor to be a part of this," he said, waving an arm to encompass the entirety of the ship. “It’s revolutionary.” Read More  

-Steve Hawk, Sierra Magazine

WYLIE CHARTERS

DARE TO DREAM

AMAZING WOOD WORK

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

164’ Sailing Research Vessel for the National Science Foundation

Come Sailing with us                         Wylie Charters

Chris Gibbs takes on the high seas aboard his wheelchair accessible Wyliecat 39’

Check out our Wooden Boat Portfolio Wylie Wooden Boats

Learn about the scientific research conducted aboard the Derek M. Baylis

Read about Bruce Schwab, the first American to complete the Vendee Globe

Photo by Mitch Tobia s

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Still Wylie After All These Years

Tom Wylie has pulled off an extraordinary achievement. We’re not just talking about his boats, which are marvelous in their own right and diverse in appearance, materials and rigging, but always connected by the common thread of sleek, refined elegance. Warwick ‘Commodore’ Tompkins, who owns the Wylie 39 Flash Girl , said of the new Wylie-designed C3 , “A lovely but wicked boat,” referring to the speed that seemingly permeates from the low freeboard and sheerline.

But it is Tom Wylie’s longevity that has separated him from the pack. He has designed two new boats that are being built on the West Coast — an extraordinary achievement unto itself. “Both boats are repeat business,” Wylie told us from his East Bay home in July. “That doesn’t happen much in our culture, but it used to happen all the time when I started.” The 60-ft C3 (pronounced “C cubed”) was launched on June 21 at Betts Boats in Anacortes, Washington, for owner Charlie Ray, a renowned sculptor. Ray has owned the Wylie 44 C2 (“C squared”) for almost 20 years. Wylie’s other new boat is the 80-ft Global Voyager , being built for Dave Raney, the current owner of the Wylie 70 Rage . The well-known Rage was built at Schooner Creek Boat Works in Portland, Oregon, some 30 years ago.

In 2004, Wylie told Latitude , “I may not have been the best at business, but of all the people I’ve worked with over the years, I can’t think of one who I couldn’t go up to and shake hands with. To me, that’s every bit as important as the career.” During our recent conversation, Wylie said, “It was probably a bad comment — that I’m a bad businessman. Some people will say to me, ‘Oh, you’re still in business? Everyone else has gone out of business.'” Wylie’s relationships with his clients run deep and are often predicated on a fidelity to the sport and lifestyle. “One side of my owners that’s unique is that they’re addicted to sailing. They are so in love with it, they’re not going to quit. I’m kind of like that in some ways.”

Charles Ray’s work has been called “difficult to classify; style, materials, subject, presence, and scale are all variable.” The same could be said for Tom Wylie. “He defies stereotyping; variety has been the spice of [his then] 40-year career in boat design and construction,” we wrote in the 2004 article. “Consider the four projects in which he’s currently engaged: a 21-ft singlehanded ocean racer, a 60-ft aluminum cruiser, a 30-ft production fiberglass catboat and a 52-ft wood-composite cruiser.” Wylie told us recently, “There’s a large amount of similarity between Charlie and me. He views boats and sailing as moving sculpture,” Wylie said of Ray. “He is doing black-and-white photography with his boat: a black sail, white hull and the wishbone — it’s a stunning statement. The boats he’s ordered for me are not something that you can mass produce. In every way, they’re a custom design.” Ray was similarly effusive of Wylie’s work. “Charlie was there for the launch of C3 ,” Wylie explained. “He said, ‘Tom, I can’t wait to see you when you see this boat, because you’ll be as happy with your masterpiece as I am.'”

Continue reading at Latitude38.com .

There are a lot of really great men and women in the sailing industry, and Tom is one of the best. Kind, innovative, environmentally conscious, and an artist. We’re all better for having him participate in our sport.

Here, here Chuck … right on!

One of that unique class of sailors from the 60s that epitomized the era: Skip Allan , Dave Wahle, Doug Peterson, Ron Holland and many more. I worked with Tom on several projects and was always a fun and rewarding experience. A gentle and talented man.

Love his cat boats. I’ve sailed everything! The cat ketch is my favorite type of boat!

GENIUS and can communicate with us normals – Steve Jobs in a different skin – he came, he changed our world and he left … thank Gawd we still have Tom’s magic!!

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34' Wylie for fun

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N, Go to sailing anarchy and look up 'Ishtar's Dog'. He used to own a modified sistership. I'm sure he'll be able to give you some good input.  

A friend owns a W 34 - it's a quick boat with a smallish interior; this one has a small section rig that probably relies somewhat on staying on the ball with the runners.... which can be a pain if shorthanded.. but they do cruise on it too with a couple of kids so there you go.  

Looks like a great boat for the money. It would be a lot more fun to sail than most of today's production boats.  

They are a neat boat, and a performer too - I'll go out on a limb and say that Jeff H might even approve! But I'll also venture that the cockpit is not that short-crew friendly with a cross-cockpit traveler, runner winches aft and sheet winches well forward and inboard to boot. The other odd thing... in the pictures the layout/furniture etc looks great... in person it's all 3/4 height so it's kind of like trying to live in "dollhouse" - not that extreme, of course, but galley counters and nav cabinet, etc are lower than standard. (at least in the one we've been aboard.. this one looks the same to me) Coupled with limited headroom it's not the most comfortable cruiser - though it was never meant to be one, anyway.....  

Faster said: But I'll also venture that the cockpit is not that short-crew friendly with a cross-cockpit traveler, runner winches aft and sheet winches well forward and inboard to boot. Click to expand...

all good, keep it coming guys. Faster, I'll have to look at the photos again to orientate myself with the position of the winches, traveller, etc,,,cheers for that.  

Bit of a VDS34 look about it. If I was looking for a fun boat to get back into the swing of things I reckon I'd be going even sportier than that.  

If I was looking for sporty, something to have fun in.......... probably a Laser SB3, mumm/farr 30, rocket 22 or some equal to those types of sport boats. I'd skip a fast race cruise model. Granted Wylies in general are fast boats. I really doubt there are any slugs by that designer per say. Signature in Seattle, has a Fist 310 they are taking in trade or equal on a new first 35. IIRC mid $40K. So a bit more.... Marty  

blt2ski said: If I was looking for sporty, something to have fun in.......... probably a Laser SB3, mumm/farr 30, rocket 22 or some equal to those types of sport boats. I'd skip a fast race cruise model. Granted Wylies in general are fast boats. I really doubt there are any slugs by that designer per say. Marty Click to expand...

In that case.......that first 310 I mentioned in seattle might be a good boat. Or the wylie or other boats like it. I should probably go read you comprimise thread and see what that is about too eh!  

Wylie Can't comment on this specific boat, but I've owned a Wylie 34 for 10 years and have nothing but good memories of its sailing qualities. Be careful to examine port side chainplate attachment, which may need to be reinforced. There was some problem with the port side attachment "oilcanning" the hull if it hasn't been reinforced with glass tubes or something similar (a very simple owner installation). My Wylie is a J-killer on the race course. Very simple, mechanical systems. I singlehand to Maine coast each year, with great success.  

Envirocom, Thanks for the post on your Wylie 34. It's currently on my short list.  

A few others to look at if you're thinking 33-34': Olson 34, Express 34, j-33, Frers 33. All great sailing boats, cruisible, and faster than the Wiley, though may cost more. A little smaller, and an Olson 911s or se would also be a great boat that performs well and cruises comfortably.  

Andy, IIRC the Cal 9.2 is a Jeanneau Rush, but built here in the states. "IF" you see one of these around, take a look at it also. I also believe the J29 and 30 have the same hulls, different cabin, rig etc. May be more SH doable vs a 30. Pudding may have a better feel on that than I do. There are also some Jeanneau Attalia's floating around a bit more modern version of the Rush/C9.2, about the same to slightly faster, ie less than 10-15 secs faster......Looking up phrf, the Attalia is 144-174, 9.2 derivatives 155-174, the Rush is not listed at USSA. Must not be enough to get a listing in the rating list. The Attalia is probably a better handling boat with a slightly wider stern than the 9.2/Rush. If you like the Kirby 30, a San Juan 30 is really similar if not the same. Or the SJ is based on the K30, but slightly different due to a few odds and ends. It is an IOR Halfton the Kirby designed IIRC. Or Kirby's Laser 28 might work, altho probably not quite as nice an interior as the others on the list. THere are a few of those around here too. about a 145 rating. Marty  

blt2ski said: If you like the Kirby 30, a San Juan 30 is really similar if not the same. Or the SJ is based on the K30, but slightly different due to a few odds and ends. It is an IOR Halfton the Kirby designed IIRC. Or Kirby's Laser 28 might work, altho probably not quite as nice an interior as the others on the list. THere are a few of those around here too. about a 145 rating. Marty Click to expand...

grrrrr or is that ARRRRRRG.... I knew the laser was a farr, but put Kirby down......oh well, he did design the small on, Tony castro who designed my boat did the SB3 version....... yes it is a bit tender to a degree based on coments from an owner here in Edmonds both David and I know who recently sold his. But still a fun boat, and barren to a degree too. About the same length etc as my Arcadia, but half the wt, along with 40-50 secs faster. I did not realize the K30 was a newer design, thought it was the Kirby half ton that Clarks initially speced, then declined, Kirby had built and a few others bought, the Clarks built later as the SJ30, with a bit more sail/ballast to make the half ton rule or some such thing...... then again, sometimes the brain fogs up, and confuses facts from facts. The SJ is still a quick boat for around here. A farr 1020 if one can find one is another I like, but not many around. A boat along with the L28 the Farr used to sail IIRC with his family cruising etc. But all good boats for around here. I would also take a fractional J29 over the MH 29 or 30 personally. Probably a bit easier to SH/DH. Likewise if setup right, the L28 might be too. The Attalia I mentioned, altho an MH rig, about 32' OA, 30'ish on deck should be easy to SH< or set up to do so also. The Cal9.2/Rush, with the pinched stern to me would be a tough SH rig. Must less with a crew. marty  

A little amplification regarding the J/29 vs J/30: Although they were laid up in the same mold the J/29 has about one foot less freeboard than the J/30. The J/30 was wildly successful; as I recall Tillotson-Pearson built about 700 in the three year production run. When the Olson 30 destroyed the market for the J/30,the mold was trimmed to make the J/29. The J/29 is a availble in two configurations: masthead rig with a diesel and fractional with outboard power. Needless to say, shaving a foot of freeboard severely reduces the accomodation found on the J/30. The J/30 is easy to single hand with a fractional rig and a bendy mast. Commonly it is cruised with a #2 or #2 on roller furling although that might be underpowered in light air.  

Puddinglegs, Thanks for your input. I agree the list has grown and become a little diverse. It's a mixture of what I want and what is currently available locally. Your post has given me some more info though, so thanks for that.  

Does anyone know if the hull is cored or not? If it is cored, would it be safe to guess that it is balsa?  

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3 hospitalized after knife attack on boat in New York City, along East River in Brooklyn

NEW YORK (AP) — A knife attack on a boat at a New York City pier Saturday resulted in the hospitalization of three people, police said.

A 911 call came in around 5 p.m. reporting the assault along the East River near 58th Street and the Brooklyn Army Terminal warehouse, Detective Sophia Mason said.

The victims were said to be a 32-year-old man with a stab wound to the torso, a 40-year-old man with stab wounds to the chest and abdomen and a 28-year-old man who was hit in the head with a bottle.

They were taken to the NYU Langone Hospital and were in stable condition, Mason said. There were no arrests as of Saturday evening, and the investigation was ongoing.

Police did not immediately say publicly what kind of boat was involved.

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