BoatsHughes 38-2

Hughes 38-2

Masthead Sloop · Fin With Rudder On Skeg · 1970–1971

A T-shaped cockpit update to the Hughes 38-1, later marketed as the North Star 38

Designed by Sparkman & Stephens.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Hull type
Fin With Rudder On Skeg

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 narrow beam gives 29 — a moderate, middle-of-the-road motion.

Comfort ratio 29
CoastalBluewater

1.75 — just under the 2.0 offshore line; her beam is modest for her weight.

Capsize screening 1.75
LightHeavy

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

Displacement / length 288
EasygoingPowered-up

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

Sail area / displacement 17.2

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

  • Narrower than ~83% of boats her size on file

Compared with 2907 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

The record

Full specifications

The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.

Dimensions
Weights
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
17.2
Displacement / length
288.1
Comfort ratio
29.5
Capsize screening
1.75
Hull speed
7.0 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
981
Hull
Hull type
Fin with rudder on skeg
Construction
Fiberglass
Production
Years built
1970–1971
Designer
Sparkman, Stephens
Builder
Hughes Boat Works Ltd

Boats like this, on the water

Nobody has filmed this one — but these are close.

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.

Hughes 38-111.53 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Sparkman & Stephens design #1903 masthead sloop with hulls shared with the Hinckley 38
Catalina Yachts 3811.61 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Sparkman & Stephens hull updated with a taller rig and balanced spade rudder for improved coastal performance
Morgan Yachts 38211.68 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Ted Brewer-designed masthead sloop built for offshore stability, featuring a skeg-hung rudder and a stiff displacement
Ericson Yachts 3811.48 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Bruce King-designed masthead sloop with a high sail area-to-displacement ratio for spirited performance
Warrior 3811.58 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA short-run 1980s cruiser featuring a shallow 1.52m draft and a heavy ballast-to-displacement ratio for steady offshore work
Westerly Yachts Ltd. Oceanranger 3811.58 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthAn Ed Dubois-designed center cockpit cruiser, evolved from the Corsair II to offer a spacious, stable platform for passage

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.

Keep looking

Nothing filmed of this one yet

Two ways to keep looking — both search what the fleet has actually recorded.

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