Lidgard 40 ~ Excellent Offshore Inventory

Don’t let her year of manufacture sway your thoughts – to say this Lidgard 40 is maintained impeccably really is an understatement. Considering her current owner has sailed her approx 30,000 nautical miles over a 36 year period, she looks just a few years old. She comes with an extensive inventory, service and maintenance history. I would feel very confident setting her sails and heading off on a world cruise today on this magnificently crafted sloop.

The Lidgard designs are known to be excellent cruising yachts however they can also hold their own in a race environment. This was certainly apparent as we headed out for the photo shoot recently. A brisk offshore breeze saw us scooting along at up to 8 knots with a reef in the main and headsails.

‘Impostor’ was the third of what was then the 40′ ‘I series’. It was built for Bob Coggan, John Lidgard’s shipwright foreman. According to Bob, as told to the current owner, the design was intended to be a fast cruiser, and it turned out to more than meet that criterion. Bob wanted a boat for ocean racing and family cruising. He persuaded John to add an extra half metre to both the mast and the boom.

On first impressions you would think ‘Imposter 1’ is a fibreglass boat. Her dynel sheathed, highly polished low maintenance two-pack painted surfaces absolutely gleam. It’s not until you step below deck that you realise she is in fact a timber boat.

She was built in Lidgard’s yard in Auckland New Zealand, and Bob did the interior finishing. The hull is built of composite construction using cold moulded Kauri and Kahikatea in a double diagonal. The planks were fixed using resorcinol and epoxy. Heart Kauri stringers run the length of the boat under laminated Kauri ribs. The entire construction is finished with bronze thru bolts. The dry weight is about 7 tonnes and a substantial part of that consists of the cast lead keel, attached with monel bolts. The boat is strong but light, and quick. It is a proven ocean sailer. Purchased in 1988, the current owner sailed Impostor more than 30,000 double handed ocean miles, in all conditions, in the South Pacific and south east Asia before settling in Fremantle.

Although Canadian registered (for administrative convenience while cruising off shore) Impostor was imported into Australia with the duty paid. It currently has both Canadian registry and Western Australian DOT registry. The Canadian registry can be cancelled or allowed to lapse at no cost.

Impostor was repowered with a new Yanmar 3YM 30 in 1995. A 70 amp Balmar alternator together with external regulator were fitted at the same time. The engine has just 405 hours, and has been regularly serviced.

Since 2013 Impostor has been subject to an ongoing and extensive refit. In that year, the rig was removed, the boat was placed in a shed, and Impostor underwent a complete renewal of external coatings and paint systems, with a multi layer finish coat of Awlgrip. External teak is treated with Awlwood. The paint condition is still excellent. The mast was removed and a new conduit, vhf cable and halyards were fitted by Yacht Rigging Solutions. A Bimini was also fitted at this time, over a stainless steel frame.

In 2014
A new roller furling genoa was supplied by Taskers at a cost of $3357. It was removed from the boat and serviced in 2020.
The fridge freezer compartment was refurbished, and a new Ozefridge 12v Eutectic refrigeration system $2651- invoice sighted) was then professionally fitted in early 2015.

In 2015
The electrical system underwent renewal, with new AGM house batteries, solar panels, and smart Blue Power charging systems for both solar and shore power. A BEP battery monitor and Balmar multi stage regulator were added in early 2016 at a cost of $1527.

In 2016-
The Navtec hydraulic/gas strut vang was replaced at a cost of $3380 (invoice sighted). The vang, backstay and inner forestay are controlled by Navtec hydraulics. The navigation electronics were upgraded with a new Garmin GPSMAP 7408 together with Chirp Sonar transducer at a cost of $3161. An AIS receiver was fitted. The Furuno GPS-31 is now effectively a backup. The upholstery in the main saloon was replaced at a cost $3784 (invoice sighted), plus shipwrights costs. The existing Quad Cycle regulator was replaced with Balmar 612 with shunts and alternator and battery temperature sensors. A BEP battery monitor system was fitted (Adina Electrical).

In 2017-
When Impostor was slipped, the rudder was removed, refurbished and resealed. The Rudder stock head was re-machined. The shaft and P bracket were removed, and the drive train was renewed from the motor bracket aft, with a new shaft, bracket bushing and Seahawk three bladed feathering
propeller. A new stainless steel stern ladder was fitted. A new bonding system for the prevention of electrical corrosion was fitted. Total costs were in excess of $15,000, including the new propeller and shaft. The rig was surveyed and the intermediate and lower shrouds replaced. A new Spectra main halyard was fitted. The topping lift was replaced with Spectra. Taskers supplied a new 8.52 high aspect Fibrecon Dacron mainsail, with Rutgerson high load roller
slides and batten boxes and battens, at a cost of $7800. A Fusion AV650 stereo/radio system was installed at a cost of $682 plus installation.

In 2018-
North Sails supplied a new Gennaker, at a cost of $5200 (invoice sighted). The port quarter berth was reupholstered to match the saloon fabric at a cost of $900, completing reupholstering. The upholstery shows as near new. A new pressure water system was installed together with a 22l Sigmar hot water system. A shower was fitted in the head (with appropriate modifications to receive and drain water) and in the cockpit. A mixer tap was installed in the galley. The total costs of these improvements, with parts and labour exceed $4500. The original coach roof genoa halyard winches were replaced with self-tailing Andersen 34 winches at a cost in excess of $2100. At the time of writing, all winches have now been replaced with Andersen self tailing winches.

In 2019
All antifouling was stripped to the epoxy. Two coats of primer were applied before antifouling. The thru hulls and keel boats were checked by the shipwright, and new packing was put in the stuffing box gland. The main water tank and fuel tank were drained and professionally inspected (and rated ‘very good’). Tank senders were fitted and wired to the BEP monitor. The two forward water tanks were removed and replaced with new 316SS tanks. Incandescent and fluorescent lights in the saloon were replaced with LED strips (Adina Electrical).
The boom was replaced with a new Selden single line reefing boom (Yacht Rigging Solutions) together with new reefing lines. The rig was surveyed and a fork on the back stay tensioner replaced with a toggle. The last four winches were replaced with Andersen self tailers.

In 2020
The forestay was replaced, the screws in the self furling foil were checked and tightened as necessary. The bearings were checked and found to be good (YRS). A new 15kg Vulcan anchor was fitted together with 150′ of 8mm chain and 100′ of 14mm multiplait. The engine had a major service and the exhaust riser was replaced with a Yanmar SS riser (Gavin Brown).
At the December haul out the anti-foul was sanded off and replaced with 3 coats of Hempel Globic 9000.
All deck fittings were checked for bedding and 4 bolts were re- bedded (Paul Masters). The cutlass bearing was pulled and replaced. Propeller pitch checked and adjusted (Max O’Grady, Steve).

In 2022-
Batteries replaced with Full River 120Ah AGMS (Adina). Boat hauled, bottom prepped. Globic 9000.

In 2023-
Major engine service (Stem to Stern Marine) Rig inspected and two intermediate turnbuckles replaced (YRS). Replace boom bag (Fremantle Ocean Canvas)

Registered length 11.9m

You would have to agree it’s rare to find a cruising yacht presented and maintained as well as Imposter.

Details of this vessel are offered in good faith but cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of this information nor warrant the condition of the vessel. Some photos may be of the same model boats. A buyer should instruct his agents, or his surveyors, to investigate such details as the buyer desires validated. This vessel is offered subject to prior sale, price change, or withdrawal without notice