1987 Marine Trader 40 LaBelle Sun Deck

Step aboard and you’ll notice how the raised sun deck becomes the social heart of this LaBelle. There’s enough room for proper chairs, a grill, and a couple of loungers without feeling crowded, and the hardtop and rail heights give a real sense of security under way. Wide side decks with solid handholds make line-handling less of a dance, and the aft boarding options simplify stepping on from a floating dock or tender. The classic semi-displacement hull gives you a comfortable, economical cruise, yet still has the bite to track straight in a cross-sea. Large windows and opening ports keep the interior bright and ventilated so you’re not running air conditioning all day.

A 40-foot LaBelle is right in the sweet spot for these waters: big enough for a couple to live aboard with guests, yet compact enough to tuck into smaller marinas and mooring fields that larger yachts can’t access. The trawler hull, with its efficient cruising speed and generous fuel capacity, suits longer hops between harbors without constantly hunting for fuel docks. High bulwarks and the covered aft deck help in the sudden squalls and afternoon chop common here, while the flybridge and sun deck give excellent visibility for threading narrow channels and busy anchorages. With her practical layout and economical operation, this model lets you explore the region comfortably season after season.