BoatsC&C Yachts 38-1

C&C Yachts 38-1

Masthead Sloop · Fin keel, spade rudder · 1973–1975

A performance-oriented masthead sloop from the early C&C era, featuring a light displacement hull for her length

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

See her sail

The C&C Yachts 38-1, 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.

LivelySea-kindly

Her moderate displacement on a moderate beam gives 26 — a moderate, middle-of-the-road motion.

Comfort ratio 26
CoastalBluewater

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

Capsize screening 1.99
LightHeavy

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

Displacement / length 260
EasygoingPowered-up

18.0 — plenty of sail for her weight; lively and quick to respond.

Sail area / displacement 18.0
TenderStiff

30% of her weight is ballast — on the tender side; she'll heel readily and want a reef sooner.

Ballast 30%

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

What the fleet has seen

The C&C Yachts 38-1, as the fleet has seen it

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

The C&C Yachts 38-1 is a 1973–1975 masthead sloop designed by C&C Design and built by C&C Yachts, known for its performance-oriented production. It features a fin keel with a spade rudder, measures 11.4 meters LOA with a 3.7-meter beam, 2.0-meter draft, and displaces 6667 kg.8:33 C&C Yachts built a reputation for integrating lightweight fiberglass construction with competitive racing designs, using balsa-cored hulls to increase stiffness and reduce weight in models like the 38-1.8:06 Prospective buyers of vintage C&C models should prioritize professional surveys to inspect for water intrusion in cored hulls, particularly around poorly bedded hardware.9:31

The living fleet

Sailed by the fleet

Where the fleet has filmed this boat.

Basemap © Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

The record

Full specifications

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

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
29.9%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
18.0
Displacement / length
260.1
Comfort ratio
25.6
Capsize screening
1.99
Hull speed
7.3 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
1276
Hull
Hull type
Fin w/spade rudder
Construction
Fiberglass
Production
Years built
1973–1975
Designer
C&C
Builder
C&C 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.

Ericson Yachts 38111.43 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthAn evolution of the Ericson 38, this 11.4-metre masthead sloop features a 1.98-metre draft and a fin-keel hull
Why We Sail--"Rehabilitation in Winter"3:16from Christian Williams
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
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
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
Update: Sailing After the Palisades Firefrom Christian Williams
Hunter Marine 37611.35 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA spacious cruiser featuring a B&R rig and wing keel, sharing a proven hull design with the later 380 and 386 models
Hunter 376 - The Aegean Tragedy: What Really Happened in the Newport–Ensenada Race0:47from Practical Sailor
Hunter Marine 38011.35 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthOffered with a deep 1.98m keel option, this high-volume cruiser features a spade rudder and a B&R rig
The Cheapest Modern Sailboats You Can Actually Live On3:18from Lady K Sailing

The family

Boats like this

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

C&C Yachts 38-2An IOR-optimized masthead sloop from 1975 featuring a fin keel and spade rudder for competitive coastal performanceC&C Yachts 38-3A 1985 redesign offering three distinct keel configurations to suit shoal, wing, or deep-draft requirementsC&C Yachts 36-1A performance-oriented masthead sloop from 1977 featuring a fin keel and spade rudder for responsive handlingC&C Yachts 39A 1971-1974 production masthead sloop with a moderate displacement-to-length ratio, balanced for coastal cruisingC&C Yachts 37A George Cuthbertson-designed masthead sloop built for performance with a stiff 42% ballast ratio

Keep asking

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