Vanquish VQ40 Video Review: Triple V10s and a Floating Carbon Hardtop
By the YachtWay editorial deskUpdated October 2026Video walkthrough7 min read
The Vanquish VQ40 is the smallest Vanquish, built in the Netherlands with European comfort and American-style performance. Vanquish dropped a brand new one off with us in Miami to test for a day. She runs on three Mercury V10 400 outboards and has a Seakeeper, a passerelle that hides in the stern, a summer kitchen, a carbon hardtop held up by just two columns, a bow lounge and a small cabin.
A Porsche GT3 Touring on the water
If we had to compare the VQ40 to a car, it would be a Porsche GT3 Touring: comfortable, but with real punch. The finish matches the 115 ft flagship, from the jewel-like latches made in house to the tool backpack every Vanquish comes with. The carbon hardtop rests on two rear columns only, and it did not move at all at 100 km/h. Below there is a cabin for a nap or a change.
What stood out on board
- A hardtop that seems to floatCarbon fibre on two rear columns only, with no front pillars. Solid enough for pull-ups.
- A passerelle that disappearsIt folds into the stern, works as a gangway and lowers into the water.
- A Seakeeper on a 40 footerIt sits under the aft sunbed and steadies the boat at anchor.
- A stepped hull that tracksPoint it and it goes, skipping over chop. The bow stayed dry jumping waves.
- Details made in houseLatches, carbon poles and a padded tool backpack, all by Vanquish.
- 12 cup holders outsidePlenty for an American crowd, from a European yard.
Spec sheet at a glance
| Feature | What you get | The benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Length overall | 38 ft 2 in (11.64 m) | Easy to handle and berth |
| Beam | 12 ft 7 in (3.83 m) | Wide, deep walkaround decks |
| Draft | 3 ft 4 in (1 m) | Shallow enough for sandbars |
| Dry weight | 7.3 t (16,094 lb) | Light for 1,200 hp |
| Fuel | 211 gal (800 L) | A full day of fast running |
| Power (as tested) | 3x Mercury V10 400 outboards, 1,200 hp | Volvo D6 sterndrives are also offered |
| Speed (our test) | Over 54 kn (100 km/h) | Measured off Miami, dry in the chop |
| Stabiliser | Seakeeper | Calm at anchor |
| Layout | Small cabin with a head | A place to change, wash up or nap |
| Helm | Two 16 in Garmin screens, joystick, Skyhook | Easy docking |
| Summer kitchen | Two sinks, two Isotherm fridge drawers | A grill can replace one sink |
| Hardtop | Carbon fibre with sky windows | No front pillars in the view |
Step inside: interactive 3D virtual walkthrough
Drag to look around. Tap the hotspots to move through the boat.
Stern and aft sunbed
Three Mercury V10 400s sit at the stern, and Volvo D6 sterndrives are also offered. Either way, a passerelle folds out from the stern as a gangway or lowers into the water.
- Boarding.Two extension poles to hold on to.
- Sunbed.Angled, with armrests, wide enough to lie across.
- Storage.Space for toys under the sunbed, lost with inboards.
- Cooler.A hidden ice box under the cushions.
Storage and systems
The space under the aft sunbed holds toys and the Seakeeper, which steadies the boat so much it feels like land.
- Seakeeper.Stabilises the boat at anchor.
- Bins.Sized for snorkel gear and water toys.
- Tool kit.A padded backpack with every tool you need.
Summer kitchen
Under the hardtop there is a summer kitchen behind a lid, with spotlights above and deck lighting all around.
- Sinks.Two, or one sink and a grill.
- Fridges.Two Isotherm drawers.
- Dishes.A drawer with dishes, cutlery pouches and foam-held glasses.
- Latches.Hexagonal, with a V, made in house.
Helm and hardtop
The helm has a vent to cool or warm your hands, and the bolster flips up so you can lean. The windshield is low but enough at 100 km/h, and a taller one is offered.
- Screens.Two 16 in Garmin displays that run the lights.
- Docking.A joystick, Skyhook and a bow thruster.
- Storage.A hidden cubby in the helm seat.
- Hardtop.Carbon fibre with sky windows and no front pillars.
Bow and cabin
A deep walkaround with grab rails leads to the bow lounge. Below deck there is a small cabin with a place to wash up.
- Bow lounge.Converts into a sunbed for four or five.
- Bench.Forward-facing, with armrests and cup holders.
- Shade.Carbon poles made by Vanquish.
- Anchor.Fully integrated stainless steel, with the chain counter on the helm screen.
- Cabin.For a change of clothes or a quick nap.
Sea trial off Miami
We had the VQ40 out for a full day off Miami, in a light chop.
- Speed.Over 54 knots (100 km/h) on our run.
- Tracking.The stepped hull goes exactly where you point it.
- Ride.It skips over waves, and the bow stayed dry.
- Hardtop.It did not shake at speed.
The VQ40 does two things well. At speed she tracks like a train on her stepped hull, skips over chop and keeps the bow dry, and we ran past 100 km/h with the hardtop rock solid. At anchor the Seakeeper, the aft sunbed and the bow lounge make her calm and comfortable. The finish is up to the standard of the biggest Vanquish, and the small cabin is enough for a nap. As a dayboat or a superyacht chase boat, she is a lot of fun.
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