BoatsKoala 39/38

Koala 39/38

Masthead Sloop · Fin keel, spade rudder · First built 1970

A Michel Bigoin-designed masthead sloop with a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio for spirited performance

Designed by Michel Bigoin, built by Nordcantieri.

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

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 26 — a moderate, middle-of-the-road motion.

Comfort ratio 26
CoastalBluewater

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

Capsize screening 1.98
LightHeavy

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

Displacement / length 292
EasygoingPowered-up

23.6 — a lot of sail for her weight; powered-up and eager, a real performer.

Sail area / displacement 23.6
TenderStiff

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

Ballast 44%

Powered-up and quick to accelerate — this one likes to sail.

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
23.6
Displacement / length
291.5
Comfort ratio
25.6
Capsize screening
1.98
Hull speed
7.0 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
1163
Hull
Hull type
Fin w/spade rudder
Construction
Fiberglass
Production
Years built
First built 1970
Designer
Michel Bigoin
Builder
Nordcantieri

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.

RM Yachts 118011.80 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Marc Lombard-designed performance cruiser featuring a wide beam, dual rudders, and a powerful cutter rig
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
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
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
Cal 3911.79 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthIntroduced just before the IOR rule shift, this masthead sloop features a fin keel and rudder on a skeg
Sadler Yachts 3811.79 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Stephen Jones-designed masthead sloop with a fin keel and spade rudder, built for performance cruising.

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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