38 sailboat data

• Types of Sailboats
• Parts of a Sailboat
• Cruising Boats
• Small Sailboats
• Design Basics
• Sailboats under 30'
• Sailboats 30'-35
• Sailboats 35'-40'
• Sailboats 40'-45'
• Sailboats 45'-50'
• Sailboats 50'-55'
• Sailboats over 55'
• Masts & Spars
• Knots, Bends & Hitches
• The 12v Energy Equation
• Electronics & Instrumentation
• Build Your Own Boat
• Buying a Used Boat
• Choosing Accessories
• Living on a Boat
• Cruising Offshore
• Sailing in the Caribbean
• Anchoring Skills
• Sailing Authors & Their Writings
• Mary's Journal
• Nautical Terms
• Cruising Sailboats for Sale
• List your Boat for Sale Here!
• Used Sailing Equipment for Sale
• Sell Your Unwanted Gear
• Sailing eBooks: Download them here!
• Your Sailboats
• Your Sailing Stories
• Your Fishing Stories
• Advertising
• What's New?
• Chartering a Sailboat
• Cruising Yachts 35' to 40'
• Hood 38 Specs

The Hood 38 Specs & Key Performance Indicators

The Hood 38 sailboat, designed by American naval architect Ted Hood, was built by Wauquiez, a shipyard located in France. First constructed in 1978, the Hood 38 features a fiberglass hull, a stub keel with a centerboard, and a spade rudder.

Published Specification for the Hood 38

Keel & Rudder Configuration: Stub keel with centerboard and spade rudder Hull Material: Fiberglass Length Overall: 11.6m (38'0") Waterline Length: 9.3m (30'5") Beam: 3.6m (11'10") Draft: Centreboard up - 1.4m (4'6"), Centreboard down - 3.3m (10'10") Rig Type: Masthead Sloop Displacement: 10,590 kilograms (23,348 pounds) Ballast: 5,000 kilograms (11,023 pounds) Hull Speed: 7.2 knots Designer: Ted Hood Builder: Wauquiez Year First Built: 1978 Year Last Built: 1989 Number Built: 179

Options & Alternatives

• Mark I: This was the original version produced from 1978. It featured the standard layout and design elements initially conceived by Ted Hood.
• Mark II: Introduced around 1985, the Mark II version included several modifications. The most notable changes were direct access to the companionway steps from the cockpit and a slightly different interior layout.

Additionally, the same hull design was later offered in the US as the Little Harbor 38 and the Bristol 38.8.

Sail Areas & Rig Dimensions

I: 15.5 meters (51 feet) J: 4.7 meters (15.5 feet) P: 13.6 meters (44.5 feet) E: 4.3 meters (14 feet) Total Sail Area: 65.7m 2 (707 ft 2 ) Mainsail Area: 28.9 m 2 (311.5 ft 2 ) Foresail Area: 36.7 m 2 (395.25 ft 2 ).

Published Design Ratios The Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Sail Area/Displacement Ratio (SA/D): 17.4 Ballast/Displacement Ratio (B/D): 47.2% Displacement/Length Ratio (D/L): 385.3 Comfort Ratio: 41.5 Capsize Screening Formula:  1.66

Based on the these ratios, the theoretical sailing characteristics of the Hood 38 sailboat are:

• Sail Area/Displacement Ratio (SA/D) 17.4:  This ratio indicates that the Hood 38 has reasonably good performance potential. It is not underpowered (below 16) but also not in the high-performance range (above 20). This suggests that the sailboat will perform well under various sailing conditions, offering a good balance between speed and power.
• Ballast/Displacement Ratio (B/D) 47.2%:  With a B/D ratio of 47.2%, the Hood 38 is considered a stiff boat. Such a high ballast percentage indicates that the sailboat is better able to stand up to the wind, providing stability and making it more capable of handling stronger winds without excessive heeling.
• Displacement/Length Ratio (D/L) 385.3:  The D/L ratio places the Hood 38 in the "Ultraheavy Displacement" category. This means the boat is quite heavy relative to its length. Sailboats in this category require more sail area to reach their hull speed, meaning the Hood 38 will not accelerate as quickly and will have a slower response to wind changes but will provide a smoother ride in heavy seas.
• Comfort Ratio 41.5:  The Comfort Ratio indicates very comfortable motion characteristics, aligning with what you'd expect from a heavy bluewater cruising boat. With a value of 41.5, the Hood 38 is designed to provide a stable and comfortable experience, especially suited for ocean passages where motion comfort is crucial for longer trips.
• Capsize Screening Formula 1.66:  A Capsize Screening Formula value of 1.66 suggests that the Hood 38 is well-suited for ocean passages. Since the value is well below the threshold of 2.0, it indicates a lower susceptibility to capsizing in rough seas, making it a safer choice for bluewater sailing.

Summary: The Hood 38 sailboat, with its reasonably good SA/D ratio, high B/D ratio, ultraheavy displacement, high comfort ratio, and low capsize screening value, is well-suited for bluewater cruising. Its design emphasizes stability, comfort in motion, and safety, making it a good choice for sailors planning extended offshore voyages or ocean passages. While it may not be the fastest boat in moderate winds compared to lighter designs, it offers excellent handling in heavy weather and a comfortable ride over long distances.

Here's how to calculate the KPIs yourself -  without having to wrestle with the mathematics...

Design Ratios: Notes of Caution...

• The Sail Area/Displacement Ratio (SA/D): This ratio provides an estimate of the sail power relative to the boat's weight, which can indicate potential speed in various wind conditions.  But i t doesn't account for the efficiency of the sail plan, the rigging, or the skill of the crew. Real-world performance can vary significantly based on these factors.
• The Ballast/Displacement Ratio (B/D): This ratio gives an idea of the boat's stability and stiffness, which is crucial for handling and safety.  But  it doesn't consider the distribution of the ballast or the hull shape, both of which can greatly affect stability. A high B/D ratio alone doesn't guarantee a stable boat if the ballast is poorly distributed.
• The Displacement/Length Ratio (D/L): This ratio helps predict the boat's speed potential and its behaviour in different sea conditions.  But  it doesn't account for the hull design or the boat's overall weight distribution. Two boats with the same D/L ratio can perform very differently if their hull shapes are different.
• The Comfort Ratio (CR): This ratio estimates the boat's motion comfort in a seaway, which is important for long passages.  But  it doesn't consider the boat's interior layout, which can also affect comfort. Additionally, personal tolerance to motion varies, so a boat that is comfortable for one person might not be for another.
• The Capsize Screening Formula (CSF): This formula assesses the likelihood of a boat capsizing in heavy seas, which is critical for offshore safety.  But  it doesn't take into account the boat's handling characteristics or the skill of the crew. A boat with a low CSF can still capsize if poorly handled in severe conditions.

General Limitations

• Static Nature: These ratios are static measurements and don't account for dynamic factors like wave action, wind gusts, or crew actions.
• Simplification: They simplify complex interactions into single numbers, which can be misleading. Real-world performance is influenced by a multitude of factors that these ratios can't fully capture.
• Context: The context in which the boat is used (e.g., coastal cruising vs. offshore racing) can greatly affect how these ratios should be interpreted.

In summary, while these ratios provide valuable insights into the theoretical performance characteristics of a sailboat, they should be used as part of a broader assessment that includes practical experience, sea trials, and expert advice.

The above text was drafted by sailboat-cruising.com using GPT-4 (OpenAI’s large-scale language-generation model) as a research assistant to develop source material; we believe it to be accurate to the best of our knowledge.

Recent Articles

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 40 Specs

Aug 23, 24 04:18 AM

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 409 Specs

Aug 22, 24 11:02 AM

Slocum 43 Specs & Other Info

Aug 22, 24 02:31 AM

Here's where to:

• Find  Used Sailboats for Sale...
• Find Used Sailing Gear for Sale...
• List your Sailboat for Sale...
• List your Used Sailing Gear...

Our eBooks...

A few of our Most Popular Pages...

Copyright © 2024  Dick McClary  Sailboat-Cruising.com

Island Packet 38

This proven offshore cruiser is built for comfort, not speed

B ring up the Island Packet 38 as a topic of discussion and you're likely to hear opinions that range from amazing offshore cruising yacht to sit back and get comfortable, it's going to be a

When the 38 rolled off the assembly line in 1986, it offered few surprises from a boat builder known for staying close to the same design despite variations in hull length.

On the up side, buyers expecting a safe, heavy, solidly built, full-keel yacht got exactly that. The boat's relatively high price tag of $128,000 put off some potential buyers. Sailors in the market for a pre-owned boat have since found the 38 holds its value remarkably well, and in some cases the current used price is about the same as it was in the showroom.

First impressions

Sound construction, utilitarian layout and voluminous storage capacity are the prime virtues of the Island Packet 38. With a chopped-off transom, high freeboard, uninspiring sheer and slablike sprit, this cutter-rig sloop has a somewhat ungainly appearance when viewed from abeam. But belowdecks the roominess and overall comforts are likely to catch the eye of liveaboards, couples cruising with guests and sailors planning an extended journey. Teak trim above deck and generous wood panels below add a traditional nautical luster.

Construction

The first 38 was built in 1986, and the 188 were build by 193. Bob Johnson, founder and chief executive officer of Island Packet Yachts designed the 38-footer with a protruding bowsprit that pushed its overall length to nearly 42 feet.

An MIT graduate with a master's degree in naval architecture, Johnson worked in California designing missile systems for McDonnell Douglas and later, using aerospace materials, made surfboards for a company he started under the Hollow Wave brand. As his career progressed, he joined Irwin Yachts as a designer, eventually taking those skills to Endeavor Yachts before striking out to build boats on his own.

The 38, with its distinctive beige hull and deck, boasted 100% hand-laid fiberglass construction. The hull was molded in one piece with strong triaxial glass that was unified with a molded, interior grid structure. The laminated deck was cored with a synthetic material nearly impervious to rot. All deck hardware was through-bolted with aluminum backing plates. The deck was attached to the hull flange with bolts, lock nuts and adhesives. Ballast was integrated into the full keel.

What to look for

Like any boat that has been in use for nearly three decades, condition of the standing and running rigging, all sails and the engine are key factors that must be taken into consideration. The deck should be inspected for delamination, although Island Packet claims the core of its sandwich construction doesn't take in moisture like balsa or other fillers.

Engine maintenance, or lack of it, can often be verified by the presence of fluid leaks, cracked hoses and worn belts. Closely sight along the hull and feel for smoothness to determine if repairs to cracks, crazing or blisters have been made. Such repairs are easier to spot because of the hull's beige color. The chainplates are embedded in the fiberglass hull rather than to the exterior and so cannot be inspected without removing built-in furniture, followed by chiseling and grinding.

Since the oldest 38s came off the assembly line 28 years ago, it could be time for new roller furling. Many owners already have replaced the mainsail with a full-batten version and a Dutchman flaking system.

The 38 has a roomy cockpit with shower, folding swim ladder and cavernous lockers. The engine control panel has a protective cover. Nonskid decking, double lifelines and full-length cabintop rails suggest safety, while teak coamings and caprail add touches of elegance.

Deck hardware and equipment includes cutter-style standing rigging with twin backstays, self-tailing Lewmar winches, a mainsheet traveler, a boom vang with preventer package, spring line cleats and a single-line reefing system.

Spaciousness is a key word aboard the 38. Headroom tops out at 6 feet 4 inches. Large staterooms are located fore and aft, flanking the saloon. There are two heads, but owners have maximized the space by keeping the forward head and transforming the aft head into a dedicated navigation station instead of a cramped navigation nook.

Bill and Amy Betts of Florida, who spent 12 years circumnavigating aboard their 38, Estrellita , gutted the forward head and turned it into a sail locker, but say the boat has plenty of storage.

"This boat swallows tools and spare parts, along with three months worth of groceries," he said. "We have all kinds of storage, especially behind the settees. We call it our hardware store."

Belowdecks there are oversized hanging lockers, a bureau with chest of drawers, large settees, retractable table and a pull-out double berth. The U-shaped galley has an LPG range with oven, double deep sinks, 14-cubic-foot icebox, teak dish rack, cutlery drawers, hot and cold water pressure in the galley and both heads, and lots of natural light via overhead hatches and opening ports. Four dorade vents assist ventilation. The boat can carry 157 gallons of water.

The yacht is equipped with a reliable 44-horsepower, freshwater-cooled Yanmar diesel engine. Access to the engine compartment is excellent, via matching side panels and from behind the companionway ladder. The fuel tank holds 57 gallons and a supplemental, flexible fuel tank can be added.

If your dream is to win races around the buoys, this probably isn't your boat. The full keel hull is relatively slow and the boat is not particularly responsive in light or moderate air.

"This boat isn't a racer, but if you want to go places, it's great," said Florida yacht broker Alan Both. "It's comfortable, and in heavy air it doesn't get knocked around in a following sea like boats with fin keels."

He noted the owners of an upgraded 38 have sailed it without incident along the East Coast, to the Bahamas and on to Central America.

Bill Betts offered a different view, noting Island Packet yachts often participate in the Newport-to-Bermuda Race and other prestigious offshore competitions.

"We cruised around the world for 12 years and just got back in the fall. We had a 110% genoa and a large drifter. The latter makes all the difference in light air," Betts said, adding the boat is seakindly and has never been swamped by a following sea. "The rear end lifts up for a dry and comfortably ride, not a sloshy one."

Blaine Parks wrote about his family adventures aboard their Island Packet in an online journal.

"We agree that our boat doesn't move as well in light air, but we're going around the world, not just around the racing buoys," he wrote. "The ability to take the heavier air is more important to us than the lighter air sailing."

Parks added that a quality cruising chute kept their boat moving in most conditions.

Built for comfort, not for speed, the spacious and stable 38 is an ideal yacht for a family planning to coastal cruise, sail offshore to the Bahamas, hang out indefinitely in the Caribbean, and maybe even go around the world.

PRICE: When the Island Packet 38 entered the market in 1986, the standard model was offered for $128,950, slightly more than the average used model sells for today.

DESIGN QUALITY: The 38 is a full keel, cutter-rig sloop designed by naval architect Bob Johnson. Ballast is integrated into the keel and its design does not offer the performance of a fin-keel boat but most IP-38 owners are not racers.

CONSTRUCTION QUALITY: The 38 is solidly constructed of hand-laid fiberglass and the deck is securely fastened to the hull. Teak handrails and trim enhance the deck while exotic wood panels warm the interior. High-quality Island Packet workmanship is exhibited throughout.

USER-FRIENDLINESS: The full-keel design lessens the need to worry about snagging fishing nets while providing plenty of living and storage space below deck. The cutter rig allows for easier sail handling. The 38 is, however, a weighty vessel and that typically translates to needing more sail area to get her going.

SAFETY: The 38 was designed with generous freeboard that keeps its passengers high above the water where it's easier to stay dry. The boat has a Category A offshore rating. From the helm, views across the cabintop and deck surface are unobstructed.

TYPICAL CONDITION : Most Island Packet owners take pride in, and care of, their boats, so finding a used 38 in good-to-excellent condition is more the norm than the exception.

REFITTING: The 38s are often upgraded with refrigeration, electric winches, electric windlass, full-batten mainsail, larger genoa to replace the standard 110% genoa, and three-blade propeller instead of the stock two-blade version.

SUPPORT: Island Packet Yachts in Largo, Florida, ( www.ipy.com) maintains an active customer-service department. Support is available from Island Packet Yacht Owners' Association at www.ipyoa.com and at www.iphomeport.com .

AVAILABILITY: At least 10 38s were on the market in late 2013 in Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida and Alabama. Brokers report the boats tend to get snapped up quickly.

INVESTMENT AND RESALE: The 38 holds its value and can even sell for more than its original price when new. A cultlike following ensures the resale value remains high.

Also in Used Boat Notebook

• Hunter Passage 42
• Pearson Rhodes 41
• Santa Cruz 52
• Allied Princess 36
• Kelly-Peterson 46

Also from David Liscio

• Chasing a dream
• The wide, wide world of multihulls
• Flares are expired. Now what?
• Saved from the scrap heap
• Pedal to the Medal

• BOAT OF THE YEAR
• Newsletters
• Sailboat Reviews
• Boating Safety
• Sails and Rigging
• Maintenance
• Sailing Totem
• Sailor & Galley
• Living Aboard
• Destinations
• Gear & Electronics
• Charter Resources
• Ultimate Boat Giveaway

Classic Plastic: Catalina 38

• By Michael Robertson
• Updated: June 12, 2014

Catalina 38

In 1978, Catalina Yachts was a young company with a Midas touch, enjoying brisk sales of its sailboats from 22 to 30 feet, all of them designed and built in house. And then company owner Frank Butler tried something different. He bought the mold for the Yankee 38, designed by Sparkman & Stephens and descended from a successful one-off IOR aluminum raceboat, from the bankrupt Yankee Boat Co. Butler saw this competitive racer as a flagship that would raise the profile of the Catalina fleet. He was right. In 1980, the Catalina 38 was selected for the prestigious Congressional Cup. The company went on to build 366 Catalina 38s over the next 14 years.

Butler made significant changes to the S&S design. He replaced the skeg-hung rudder with a balanced spade rudder and created a high-aspect-ratio rig with a taller mast and shorter boom. He redesigned the interior for weekender livability and the deck and trunk cabin to match Catalina aesthetics.

Other aspects of the dated racing design — long overhangs, generous tumblehome and a pert little reverse transom — give the Catalina 38 its pleasing lines. Butler’s redesigned deck gives it a sleek, low profile but narrow side decks are a result of those changes. Passage from the cockpit to the foredeck can be tricky, especially if a wide dodger is fitted.

With its pedigree, it’s no surprise that owners report the Catalina 38 sails to windward like it’s on rails and also sails beautifully in light air. That superior upwind performance comes with a draft that approaches 7 feet, a limiting factor for some cruising sailors.

Boats designed to the IOR have a reputation for poor manners and instability downwind. But that reputation was earned under race conditions when boats were intentionally overpowered and driven hard. A cruising couple is unlikely to push any boat to the brink of broaching, and many find the IOR warhorses, including the Catalina 38, in fact make fine cruising boats.

Down below, the major interior components are incorporated into a molded hull liner. Teak trim and veneer are used for doors, drawer facings and bulkheads. In early models the cabin sole was fiberglass, but in later models it was covered with teak and holly veneer.

The keel-stepped mast abuts the bulkhead forward of the main saloon. Forward of the bulkhead are the head to port, lockers to starboard and the V-berth, which easily accommodates two adults.

A U-shaped dinette to port (that converts to a double berth) is the main feature in the saloon. Aft of the dinette is a snug U-shaped galley.

On the starboard side of the saloon is a long settee with stowage behind and beneath it. A nav station backs up to a quarter berth that extends under the cockpit.

Owners with cruising plans might find the tankage limiting, but they should avoid adding weight in the bow and stern of this fine-ended boat.

The Atomic 4 gasoline engine was fitted in very early boats but many have been replaced. The 24-horsepower Universal diesel in later ones reportedly lacks the power to push the boat at hull speed in moderate wind and chop. Engine access is adequate.

The Catalina 38 enjoys a loyal following, and owners praise its design, build quality and performance. Rare for boats of this vintage, the builder is still in business, and provides design and parts support. Asking prices range from $25,000 to $75,000, with older boats at the lower end of the bracket.

This article first appeared in the February 2014 issue of Cruising World. Click here to see more sailboats from Catalina .

• More: 31 - 40 ft , before 2000 , catalina , Coastal Cruising , monohull , Sailboat Reviews , Sailboats , sailboats classic plastic
• More Sailboats

For Sale: 1984 Camper & Nicholsons 58

Alubat Updates OVNI Models

For Sale: Little Harbor 63 Ketch

Sailboat Review: Fountaine Pajot Aura 51

​​Options To Explore

Cruising Tahiti: A Party in Paradise

• Digital Edition
• Customer Service
• Privacy Policy
• Terms of Use
• Email Newsletters
• Cruising World
• Sailing World
• Salt Water Sportsman
• Sport Fishing
• Wakeboarding

IT'S ALL IN THE DETAILS

The 38 LS is the reinterpretation of luxury sport yachting, a fusion of sophistication against the demands of day yachting. Featuring walk-around capabilities and wrap-around bow seating above deck, an elegant cabin with berth and private head awaits below. The signature Lounge Module rotates 180 degrees, transforming the cockpit and expanding access to the swim platform. Or option your vessel with the Adventure Module, which features fold-down seating, a coil-wrapped freezer tank, livewell and other fishing amenities needed for a memorable day on the water.

PERFORMANCE

Power to perform.

Optioned with Mercury® propulsion packages, experience the joy of motion aboard the 38 LS. Integrated Garmin® Marine navigation systems and joystick piloting provide ease of use for Captain.

VIRTUAL TOUR

Welcome aboard.

Experience luxury amplified and explore the 38 LS from bow to stern with our virtual tour.

Media Gallery

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

L.o.a w/ intergrated platform.

38'1"

12'6"

HEIGHT: WATERLINE TO STANDARD HARDTOP

9'2"

HEIGHT: WATERLINE TO GARMIN® RADAR

10'4"

3'6"

FUEL CAPACITY

331 gallons

WATER CAPACITY

Holding tank capacity, deadrise at transom.

A PASSION FOR PAINT

Recognizable from a distance, the hallmark of each Tiara Yacht is its iconic hull shape. Your custom selection of hull paint creates the largest visual impact on your vessel, making your boat stand out from every other boat on the water.

A passion for paint

Request info, connect with us.

To request 38 LS product information & contact your local dealer, please complete the form. Your factory-authorized Tiara Yachts dealer will be in touch with more information.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply

By submitting your contact information, you agree to be contacted by Tiara Yachts and/or your local-authorized Tiara Yachts Dealer.

NEWS & ARTICLES

Tiara Yachts Announces Return To Fishing

October 2023

EXPLORE THE ENTIRE LUXURY SPORT LINEUP