BoatsHans Christian 38T

Hans Christian 38T

Cutter · Long Keel · 1976–1989

A traditional cutter with a long keel and high comfort ratio, built between 1976 and 1989 for steady offshore cruising

Designed by Harwood Ives, built by Anderson Yachts Ltd. (Taiwan).

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Long Keel

See her sail

The Hans Christian 38T, on the water

The fleet's own footage — the truest look at how she really moves.

Footage from Lady K Sailing

Is it for you?

Character

Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.

LivelySea-kindly

Her heavy displacement on a moderate beam gives 42 — a heavy, notably soft motion offshore.

Comfort ratio 42
CoastalBluewater

At 1.66 she sits well under the 2.0 line — a solidly ocean-capable hull for her size.

Capsize screening 1.66
LightHeavy

329 — heavy for her waterline, built to carry stores and ride steadily.

Displacement / length 329
EasygoingPowered-up

16.0 — moderate power for her weight; steady, all-round performance.

Sail area / displacement 16.0
TenderStiff

37% of her weight is ballast — moderately stiff, a middle-of-the-road stability.

Ballast 37%

Built heavy and sea-kindly — a boat made to cross oceans and forgive a rough night.

  • Heavier than ~85% of boats her size on file
  • Draws more than ~90% of boats her size on file
  • Beamier than ~82% of boats her size on file

Compared with 412 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

What the fleet has seen

The Hans Christian 38T, as the fleet has seen it

Derived from the videos the fleet has analysed of this model. ▶ marks open the moment aboard.

The Hans CHRISTIAN 38T is a cutter-rigged, long-keel sailboat designed by Harwood Ives and built by Anderson Yachts Ltd. and Hans Christian Yachts between 1976 and 1989.1:21 Around 210 Hans CHRISTIAN 38s were built in total, with the 38T being one of three versions. This heavy-displacement, double-ended hull boat measures 11.6 meters LOA, has a 3.8-meter beam, a 1.8-meter draft, and displaces 12020 kg.2:19 A new underbody with a separate rudder on a skeg, called the 'telstar keel', became available on the HC 38T in 1984. Aboard *Lady K Sailing*, a 1976 Hans CHRISTIAN 38T listed for $37,000 in California showed extensive deferred maintenance, including degraded teak decking, potential stress cracks, and a missing compass, with an estimated $50,000 needed for engine, rigging, and sails alone.4:32 The double-ender hull design limits the installation of modern amenities like dinghy davits and solar arrays.14:03 The Hans CHRISTIAN 38T is considered a robust option for offshore passages, though it often requires new sails.10:58

The living fleet

Sailed by the fleet

Where the fleet has filmed this boat.

Seen 2 times across one channel of the fleet.

Basemap © Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

On the water

The Hans Christian 38T on video

What broke, what changed

Gear aboard, as the crews told it

Moments from individual boats of this model that the fleet has filmed — one crew, one piece of kit, one day on the water. Not a review of the class, and not a count of anything.

  • ComparedHarkenweighed against original wooden blocks

    The speaker suggests replacing the boats original wooden mainsheet blocks with Harken blocks for reliability.

    aboard Lady K Sailingseen July 20236:21

  • WorkingSunbrella

    The boat has Sunbrella covers on deck, which are in good condition.

    aboard Lady K Sailingseen July 202313:49

Each line is one crew's account of their own boat. Another Hans Christian 38T may be fitted out entirely differently.

What they go for

Market signal

Where the fleet has seen this model for sale, and the asking prices that came with it.

1seen for sale
1channel looked into buying
$37,000Median asking

  • A specific Hans Christian 38T listed for $37,000 in California, which the creator reviewed for potential purchase and restoration

    from Lady K Sailingseen July 202310:52

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
37.0%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Cutter
Ratios
SA / displacement
16.0
Displacement / length
329.2
Comfort ratio
41.9
Capsize screening
1.66
Hull speed
7.7 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
1454
Hull
Hull type
Long Keel
Construction
Fiberglass
Ballast type
Lead
Production
Years built
1976–1989
Designer
Harwood Ives
Builder
Anderson Yachts Ltd. (TAIWAN), Hans Christian 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.

Baba 4012.14 mSame hull family0.6 m longerA 13-ton cutter with a 41.5 comfort ratio, built between 1980 and 1982 for steady, long-distance passage making
Full SAILBOAT TOUR [Baba 40, Bluewater, Deep Draft, Around the World Ocean Sailing Monohull]0:05from Adventureman Dan
Cape George 3610.97 mSame hull family0.6 m shorterA heavy-displacement cutter with a long keel, designed by Atkin and Monk for offshore stability and steady passage-making
Kirsten Neuschäfer: The Golden Globe Story.2:14from Sailing Magic Carpet
Cape George 3811.58 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 1985 cutter with a 1.58-meter draft and high comfort ratio, designed by Atkin and Lange for steady offshore work
The Next Magic Carpet Project (bonus ep)0:53from Sailing Magic Carpet
Tayana 3711.18 mSame hull family0.4 m shorterA Robert Perry-designed long-keel cutter with a heavy displacement and a production run of nearly 600 hulls
This $59,900 Sailboat Is READY to Sail Away Today! - Ep 359 - Lady K Sailing0:48from Lady K Sailing
Tashiba 3610.97 mSame hull family0.6 m shorterA 1986 cutter with a 43% ballast ratio, engineered for heavy-displacement stability and offshore passage-ready motion
Guy deBoer’s 4,000 Mile GGR Qualifier onboard his 1986 Tashiba 36 Spirit 🌊⛵️4:10from Golden Globe Race Official
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
A Sailboat With No Keel? Shannon Shoalsailer 351:37from Lady K Sailing

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.

Hans Christian 38 MKIIA beamier evolution of the 38T featuring a taller, aft-stepped mast and increased sail area for improved performanceHans Christian 38T (Telstar Keel)A heavy-displacement cutter featuring a 1984 Telstar keel design with a separate rudder on a skeg for improved handlingHans Christian 39 PilothouseA Harwood Ives-designed cutter with a long keel and pilothouse, sharing the proven hull of the HC 38 MKIIHans Christian 48A 14.5-meter cutter with a long keel and high comfort ratio, later produced as the Traditional 48 in ThailandHans Christian 43A 12.99-meter staysail ketch with a long keel and high comfort ratio, built from 1974 to 1992 for steady offshore workHans Christian 41A heavy-displacement cutter designed by Scott Sprague, later produced as the Traditional 41 in Thailand

Keep asking

The fleet has more to say

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