Although branded a motor sailer because of her deckhouse, the Salar 40 was probably one of the first production boats that gave good performance under sail and power.  She was also regarded by many as the definitive blue water cruiser of her generation.

Salmo Salar; the wooden prototype exhibited in 1966 at Earls Court by A H Moody was constructed with a carvel planked hull in the conventional way as were five further Salars. Later, Salterns Yacht Agency marketed the fiberglass reinforced plastic yachts built by Essex Yacht Builders Ltd,.

Laurent Giles Archive has record of fifty five of these of which nine were sold from the yard as mouldings only and completed by the owners. The first G.R.P Salar was delivered in 1966 and named Solent Salar.