BoatsCatalina Yachts 38

Catalina Yachts 38

Masthead Sloop · Fin keel, spade rudder · 1978–1990

A Sparkman & Stephens hull updated with a taller rig and balanced spade rudder for improved coastal performance

Designed by Sparkman, Stephens, Butler & Frank W. Butler.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Fin w/spade Rudder

See her sail

The Catalina Yachts 38, on the water

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

Footage from Sailing Solé

Is it for you?

Character

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

LivelySea-kindly

Her moderate displacement on a moderate beam gives 28 — a moderate, middle-of-the-road motion.

Comfort ratio 28
CoastalBluewater

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

Capsize screening 1.89
LightHeavy

256 — moderately heavy for her waterline, a balanced cruising weight.

Displacement / length 256
EasygoingPowered-up

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

Sail area / displacement 16.2
TenderStiff

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

Ballast 43%

A capable cruiser that sits just inside the offshore line — coastal work with real passages in her.

  • Draws more than ~81% of boats her size on file

Compared with 2895 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

What the fleet has seen

The Catalina Yachts 38, as the fleet has seen it

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

The Catalina Yachts 38 is a masthead sloop designed by Sparkman & Stephens and Frank W. Butler, built by Catalina Yachts from 1978 to 1990.3:39 It is based on the earlier Yankee 38 design, with Catalina purchasing the molds and modifying the deck, coach roof, rig, and rudder.3:39 The boat has an LOA of 11.6 meters, a beam of 3.6 meters, a draft of 2.1 meters, and displaces 7212 kg. A shoal draft version with a 1.49-meter draft was also available.2:22 The Catalina 38's IOR-inspired design leads to aggressive heeling and limited interior space due to a pinched stern, which some consider unsuitable for offshore cruising.4:53 Aboard *Lady K Sailing*, a 1982 Catalina 38 in Wisconsin featured a heavy-displacement design, a 20-year-old Yanmar 3G engine, and high-quality interior woodwork.3:05 A 1978 Catalina 38 sold for $500 at a Long Beach boat auction with a $1,279 lien.15:18

The living fleet

Sailed by the fleet

Where the fleet has filmed this boat.

Seen once across one channel of the fleet.

Basemap © Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

On the water

The Catalina Yachts 38 on video

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
1seen sold
US$500Median asking

For sale

  • A 1982 model in Wisconsin, noted for its good condition and recent engine repower, offered for under $30,000

    from Lady K Sailingseen October 2024watch

Sold

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
43.1%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
16.2
Displacement / length
256.4
Comfort ratio
28.1
Capsize screening
1.89
Hull speed
7.4 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
1279
Hull
Hull type
Fin w/spade rudder
Construction
Fiberglass
Production
Years built
1978–1990
Units built
365
Designer
Sparkman, Stephens, Butler, Frank W. Butler
Builder
Catalina 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.

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
Aquastar Oceanranger 38 (FURIE), with Hugh Rayner - Yacht for Sale - Berthon International0:52from Berthon International
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
Selling it All for Waves: The Quest for Our Dream Sailboat Throughout Asia3:26from Stella Overboard
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
Morgan 382 - The $30K Boat Nobody Talks Aboutfrom Practical Sailor
Sabre Yachts 3811.53 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA masthead sloop designed for performance, featuring a fin keel and spade rudder for responsive handling
Sabre 38's Cored Hull - Excellent sailboat, or one to stay away from? - Lady K Sailing - ep 330from Lady K Sailing
Feeling 3911.70 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Philippe Briand-designed masthead sloop with a high sail area-to-displacement ratio built for performance cruising
Spearfishing Bounty of Off-Grid Sailboat Living (Days 83 to 95/100 Water World Challenge)0:45from Adventureman Dan
Hallberg-Rassy 3811.57 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 1970s masthead cruiser featuring a skeg-hung rudder and a substantial 43% ballast ratio for heavy-weather stability
HOW TO SAIL AROUND THE WORLD WITH A SOUTH AFRICAN PASSPORT | Strip Searches and Locked up Abroad8:55from The Paper Boat Project (Stefan Heiberg)

The family

Boats like this

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

Catalina Yachts Morgan 38A 1993-2005 production masthead sloop featuring a deep 1.98-meter draft and a performance-oriented fin keelCatalina Yachts 380A 1997-era masthead sloop derived from the Morgan-Catalina 381, offering optional shoal draft and tall rig configurationsYankee 38A Sparkman & Stephens IOR One Ton racer derived from Lightnin, later serving as the foundation for the Catalina 38Catalina Yachts 36A versatile coastal cruiser offering optional tall rig and wing keel configurations to suit varying water depthsCatalina Yachts 390A masthead sloop featuring an updated interior and a tall rig, built on the proven hull lineage of the 380 and 387Catalina Yachts 34A high-volume production cruiser with 1,438 hulls built, featuring a fin keel and spade rudder for coastal performance

Keep asking

The fleet has more to say

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