BoatsDowneaster 38

Downeaster 38

Cutter · Long Keel · 1974–1981

A 1974-era cutter with a 35.4 comfort ratio, built for stable, long-distance voyaging on a heavy-displacement hull

Designed by Henry Morschladt & Bob Poole, built by Down East Yachts.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Long Keel

See her sail

The Downeaster 38, 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 heavy displacement on a moderate beam gives 35 — a sea-kindly motion in a seaway.

Comfort ratio 35
CoastalBluewater

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

Capsize screening 1.76
LightHeavy

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

Displacement / length 357
EasygoingPowered-up

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

Sail area / displacement 16.3
TenderStiff

41% of her weight is ballast — moderately stiff, a middle-of-the-road stability.

Ballast 41%

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

What the fleet has seen

The Downeaster 38, as the fleet has seen it

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

The Downeaster 38 is a 38-foot full-keel cutter-rigged cruiser produced from 1974 to 1981, designed by Henry Morschladt and Bob Poole.2:23 It features an 11.6 m LOA, 3.6 m beam, 1.5 m draft, and 8845 kg displacement.3:31 The boat's heavy displacement and modest sail area-to-displacement ratio contribute to sluggish light-air performance.4:57 Its full keel and hull shape provide stable, predictable tracking in heavy seas.4:12 Market prices range from $25,000 to $50,000.5:58 Buyers should prioritize a thorough survey of the cored deck, hull-to-deck joints, and chain plates for moisture.7:21 Many original 24-horsepower Farymann diesels have been replaced, requiring evaluation of the engine's condition.7:49 The Downeaster 38 offers a robust platform for long-distance cruising, but a comprehensive refit can incur significant costs.

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 Downeaster 38 on video

The record

Full specifications

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

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
41.0%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Cutter
Ratios
SA / displacement
16.3
Displacement / length
356.9
Comfort ratio
35.4
Capsize screening
1.76
Hull speed
7.2 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
1226
Hull
Hull type
Long Keel
Construction
Fiberglass
Production
Years built
1974–1981
Units built
230
Designer
Henry Morschladt, Bob Poole
Builder
Down East 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.

Shannon Yachts 38 PH11.51 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA long-keeled cutter designed by Stadel for offshore stability, offering a comfortable motion and steady passage-making
A Sailboat With No Keel? Shannon Shoalsailer 351:37from Lady K Sailing
Cabo Rico 3811.58 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthAn aft-cockpit evolution of the Tiburon 36, offering a heavy-displacement cutter platform for stable blue-water sailing
S/V SeaSprite Refit Update Late May 2026from Hold Fast!
Bristol Yachts 3911.89 mSame hull family0.3 m longerA 1966 masthead sloop with a long keel, built for five years as a precursor to the long-running Bristol 40
Bristol 40 for $40,000 - Can You Make it Work?from Practical Sailor
Seafarer Yachts 38C11.51 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA versatile cruiser available in multiple rig configurations and often sold in kit form for owner completion
#273 ⛵️ 'Must Watch' ⛵️Insiders Guide To Owning a Sailboat!1:47from Sailing Nervous- Starting Over!
Tayana 3711.18 mSame hull family0.4 m shorterA Robert Perry-designed long-keel cutter with a heavy displacement and a production run of nearly 600 hulls
This $59,900 Sailboat Is READY to Sail Away Today! - Ep 359 - Lady K Sailing0:48from Lady K Sailing
Cape Dory 3611.01 mSame hull family0.6 m shorterProduced from 1978 to 1990, this long-keeled cutter was later marketed as the Robinhood 36
Cape Dory 36 Sailboat Refit Part 10:25from Atom Voyager

The family

Boats like this

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

Downeaster 41A rare masthead sloop derived from the Downeaster 38, featuring a long keel and a heavy-displacement hull for steady cruisingDowneaster 32A heavy-displacement Bob Poole cutter with a long keel, designed for stable, comfortable offshore cruisingDowneaster 45A 13.7-metre staysail ketch with a long keel and high comfort ratio, built for stable, heavy-displacement voyagingDickerson Boatbuilders 37 CCA George Hazen-designed center cockpit cutter or ketch built for stable, shoal-draft cruising with a skeg-mounted rudderDurbeck 38A 1977 cutter with a heavy-displacement hull and a high comfort ratio of 45.31, built for steady, long-distance cruisingSeafarer Yachts 38CA versatile cruiser available in multiple rig configurations and often sold in kit form for owner completion

Keep asking

The fleet has more to say

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