BoatsHallberg-Rassy 38

Hallberg-Rassy 38

Masthead Sloop · Fin With Rudder On Skeg · 1977–1986

A 1970s masthead cruiser featuring a skeg-hung rudder and a substantial 43% ballast ratio for heavy-weather stability

Designed by Olle Enderlein.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Fin With Rudder On Skeg

See her sail

The Hallberg-Rassy 38, on the water

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

Footage from Velero Regina

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 34 — a sea-kindly motion in a seaway.

Comfort ratio 34
CoastalBluewater

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

Capsize screening 1.72
LightHeavy

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

Displacement / length 276
EasygoingPowered-up

14.8 — modest power for her weight; easygoing rather than lively, and happier with a breeze.

Sail area / displacement 14.8
TenderStiff

44% of her weight is ballast — stiff, standing up well to her sails.

Ballast 44%

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

  • Heavier than ~75% of boats her size on file

Compared with 2907 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

What the fleet has seen

The Hallberg-Rassy 38, as the fleet has seen it

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

The Hallberg-Rassy 38 is a masthead sloop designed by Olle Enderlein and built by Hallberg-Rassy from 1977 to 1986. It has a fin keel with a rudder on a skeg, measures 11.6 meters LOA, 3.5 meters in beam, and draws 1.8 meters, displacing 8499 kg. A Hallberg-Rassy 38 was among the vessels damaged by Hurricane Beryl in Tyrell Bay, Carriacou, sustaining severe structural damage after being driven ashore or colliding with other craft.12:42

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
43.5%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
14.8
Displacement / length
276.2
Comfort ratio
34.0
Capsize screening
1.72
Hull speed
7.5 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
1272
Hull
Hull type
Fin with rudder on skeg
Construction
Fiberglass
Ballast type
Iron
Production
Years built
1977–1986
Units built
202
Designer
Olle Enderlein
Builder
Hallberg-Rassy

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.

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
Sail Life - Gijon to A Coruna ⛵ Spain is awesome!0:03from Sail Life
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
DIY furniturefrom Velero Regina
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
C&C Yachts Landfall 3811.45 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA cruising-focused variant of the C&C 38-2 hull, featuring a shallower keel and shorter rig for versatile coastal work
My Pick for the BEST Offshore Boat at $80K3:55from Be The Captain
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
Pearson Yachts 38511.66 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA William Shaw-designed center-cockpit cutter built for stability and comfort with a skeg-mounted rudder
Hate Heeling? These Sailboats Stay More Upright2:20from Practical Sailor

The family

Boats like this

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

Hallberg-Rassy 37A German Frers-designed masthead sloop built for offshore comfort with a stiff, stable hull and balanced performanceHallberg-Rassy 382A masthead sloop with a 43% ballast ratio, designed for offshore stability and a comfortable, stiff motion at seaHallberg-Rassy 41A masthead ketch designed by Olle Enderlein, offering a split-rig configuration for balanced handling on long passagesHallberg-Rassy 35A shallow-draught fin-keeler with a 1.3-metre draught, built for coastal cruising and ease of access to shoal anchoragesHallberg-Rassy 40A German Frers-designed masthead sloop built for offshore stability with a high comfort ratio and a partial skeg rudderHallberg-Rassy 29An Olle Enderlein-designed masthead sloop with a high ballast ratio, built for offshore stability and cruising comfort

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