Downeaster 38
Cutter · Long Keel · 1974–1981
A 1974-era cutter with a 35.4 comfort ratio, built for stable, long-distance voyaging on a heavy-displacement hull
Designed by Henry Morschladt & Bob Poole, built by Down East Yachts.
- LOA
- Beam
- Draft (max)
- Displacement
- Ballast
- Hull type
- Long Keel
See her sail
The Downeaster 38, on the water
The fleet's own footage — the truest look at how she really moves.
Footage from Practical Sailor
Is it for you?
Character
Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.
LivelyComfort 35Sea-kindly
CoastalCapsize 1.76Bluewater
LightD/L 357Heavy
EasygoingSA/D 16.3Powered-up
TenderBallast 41%Stiff
A capable cruiser that sits just inside the offshore line — coastal work with real passages in her.
The living fleet
Sailed by the fleet
Where the fleet has filmed this boat.
Seen once across one channel of the fleet.
On the water
The Downeaster 38 on video
What they go for
Market signal
Where the fleet has seen this model come up for sale.
1seen for sale
1channel looked into buying
The video discusses the current market price range for this model and advises on what to look for when considering a purchase
from Practical Sailorseen June 20265:58
From the fleet's own footage — our observed signal, not broker listings.
The record
Full specifications
The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.
Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
41.0%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Cutter
Ratios
SA / displacement
16.3
Displacement / length
356.9
Comfort ratio
35.4
Capsize screening
1.76
Hull speed
7.2 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
1226
Hull
Hull type
Long Keel
Construction
Fiberglass
Production
Years built
1974–1981
Units built
230
Designer
Henry Morschladt, Bob Poole
Builder
Down East Yachts
Boats like this, on the water
More boats like her, on the water
Comparable boats the fleet has on camera: same type, within a quarter of her length. Open the boat, or watch the video — a timestamp means she only appears in passing.
Chris-Craft Sail Yacht 3510.67 mSame hull family0.9 m shorterA long-keeled masthead sloop from the boards of Sparkman & Stephens, featuring a hull shared with the Caribbean 35
Shannon Yachts 38 PH11.51 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA long-keeled cutter designed by Stadel for offshore stability, offering a comfortable motion and steady passage-making
Cabo Rico 3811.58 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthAn aft-cockpit evolution of the Tiburon 36, offering a heavy-displacement cutter platform for stable blue-water sailing
Hans Christian 339.98 mSame hull family1.6 m shorterA heavy-displacement cutter with a long keel, designed by Harwood Ives for comfortable, steady offshore passage-making
Bristol Yachts 3911.89 mSame hull family0.3 m longerA 1966 masthead sloop with a long keel, built for five years as a precursor to the long-running Bristol 40
Nauticat 3310.11 mSame hull family1.5 m shorterSiltala's inaugural production model, this long-keeled ketch offers a stable, high-comfort platform for extended cruising
The family
Related models
The designs closest to hers — usually the rest of the builder's range, sometimes the same hull sold under another name.
Downeaster 41A rare masthead sloop derived from the Downeaster 38, featuring a long keel and a heavy-displacement hull for steady cruisingDowneaster 32A heavy-displacement Bob Poole cutter with a long keel, designed for stable, comfortable offshore cruisingDowneaster 45A 13.7-metre staysail ketch with a long keel and high comfort ratio, built for stable, heavy-displacement voyagingDickerson Boatbuilders 37 CCA George Hazen-designed center cockpit cutter or ketch built for stable, shoal-draft cruising with a skeg-mounted rudderDurbeck 38A 1977 cutter with a heavy-displacement hull and a high comfort ratio of 45.31, built for steady, long-distance cruisingSeafarer Yachts 38CA versatile cruiser available in multiple rig configurations and often sold in kit form for owner completion
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