BoatsAlerion 38

Alerion 38

Masthead Sloop · Fin With Rudder On Skeg · First built 1969

A semi-custom masthead sloop by Halsey C. Herreshoff featuring a fin keel and skeg-mounted rudder

Designed by Halsey C. Herreshoff, built by Bristol Yachts.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
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 35 — a sea-kindly motion in a seaway.

Comfort ratio 35
CoastalBluewater

At 1.68 she sits well under the 2.0 line — a solidly ocean-capable hull for her size.

Capsize screening 1.68
LightHeavy

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

Displacement / length 296
EasygoingPowered-up

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

Sail area / displacement 15.2
TenderStiff

43% of her weight is ballast — stiff, standing up well to her sails.

Ballast 43%

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

The record

Full specifications

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

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
42.6%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
15.2
Displacement / length
295.6
Comfort ratio
34.7
Capsize screening
1.68
Hull speed
7.3 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
1133
Hull
Hull type
Fin with rudder on skeg
Construction
FG w/cored deck
Ballast type
Lead
Production
Years built
First built 1969
Designer
Halsey C. Herreshoff
Builder
Bristol Yachts

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.

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
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
Aragosa Yachts 3811.61 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 1988 masthead sloop with a 35% ballast ratio, designed by Ted Brewer for balanced offshore performance
Moody 37611.53 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Bill Dixon-designed center-cockpit cruiser featuring a skeg-hung rudder and a stable, comfortable hull form
Grampian Marine Ltd. Walton 3711.38 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterA Sparkman & Stephens design from 1964, this masthead sloop features a fin keel and a high comfort ratio for offshore cruising
Sabre Yachts 3811.53 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA masthead sloop designed for performance, featuring a fin keel and spade rudder for responsive handling

The family

Boats like this

Nearby designs by size, type, and era — worth a look alongside her.

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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