BoatsChallenger 38 (Alden)

Challenger 38 (Alden)

Masthead Yawl · Keel/centreboard · 1960–1965

A 1960 John G. Alden yawl featuring a fiberglass hull molded by Halmatic and finished with traditional wood decks

Designed by John G. Alden, built by Halmatic Ltd.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Hull type
Keel/Cbrd.

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 33 — a sea-kindly motion in a seaway.

Comfort ratio 33
CoastalBluewater

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

Capsize screening 1.75
LightHeavy

353 — very heavy for her waterline, a serious load-carrying cruiser.

Displacement / length 353
EasygoingPowered-up

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

Sail area / displacement 15.8

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
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Yawl
Ratios
SA / displacement
15.8
Displacement / length
353.0
Comfort ratio
33.1
Capsize screening
1.75
Hull speed
7.0 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
1071
Hull
Hull type
Keel/Cbrd.
Construction
FG hull
Production
Years built
1960–1965
Units built
50
Designer
John G. Alden
Builder
Halmatic 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.

Pearson Yachts 3510.67 mSame hull family1.1 m shorterBoasting the longest production run of any Pearson model, this keel/centerboard sloop remained largely unchanged for 14 years
Southerly 11010.82 mSame hull family0.9 m shorterA Rob Humphreys-designed fractional sloop with a swing keel that allows for shallow-water exploration and drying out
Pearson Yachts 4012.17 mSame hull family0.4 m longerA 12-metre masthead sloop with a deep 2.87-metre draft and high ballast ratio, built for stability and speed
Tartan Marine 34 C10.49 mSame hull family1.2 m shorterA Sparkman & Stephens masthead sloop featuring a keel-centerboard hull designed for shoal water and IOR competition
Bristol Yachts 41.112.54 mSame hull family0.8 m longerA masthead sloop with a deep 3.05-metre keel-centreboard draft, bridging the gap between the 411 and 43.3 models
Ovni 4012.60 mSame hull family0.9 m longerA 12.6-metre cutter with a high 25.21 sail-area-to-displacement ratio, built for agile performance during her 1984-1987

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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