BoatsShannon Yachts 38

Shannon Yachts 38

Cutter · Long Keel · 1975–1988

The inaugural model from Shannon Yachts, this long-keeled cutter was produced with optional pilot house configurations

Designed by G, H. Stadel, Son, Schultz, Assoc & George H. Stadel Jr.

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

See her sail

The Shannon Yachts 38, on the water

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

Footage from Lady K Sailing

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

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

Capsize screening 1.74
LightHeavy

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

Displacement / length 282
EasygoingPowered-up

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

Sail area / displacement 15.3
TenderStiff

35% of her weight is ballast — moderately stiff, a middle-of-the-road stability.

Ballast 35%

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

What the fleet has seen

The Shannon Yachts 38, as the fleet has seen it

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

The Shannon Yachts 38 is a long-keel cutter, designed by G, H. Stadel, Son, Schultz, Assoc., and George H. Stadel Jr., built by Shannon Yachts from 1975 to 1988. It was the first model produced by Shannon Yachts, which aimed to build durable, high-quality offshore cruising vessels.1:02 The 11.5-meter sailboat features a full keel, a keel-hung rudder, and a true cutter rig, with options for a centerboard or a pilothouse.1:48 The Shannon 38 has a displacement of 8391 kg, a beam of 3.5 meters, and a draft of 1.5 meters.4:54 It is considered a proven circumnavigator with a cult following, known for its robust construction suitable for long-distance passage-making.6:20 Shannon construction techniques include internally flanged, through-bolted hull-to-deck joints and extensive tabbing where bulkheads meet the hull.4:45 Maintenance-focused design includes three removable, independent freshwater tanks.4:11

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 Shannon Yachts 38 on video

What they go for

Market signal

Where the fleet has seen this model for sale, and the asking prices that came with it.

1seen for sale
US$75,000Median asking

  • Shannon 38 listed for $75,000, noted for its famous cruising history and robust cockpit design

    from Be The Captainseen April 20257:27

From the fleet's own footage — our observed signal, not broker listings.

The record

Full specifications

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

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
35.1%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Cutter
Ratios
SA / displacement
15.3
Displacement / length
281.8
Comfort ratio
33.6
Capsize screening
1.74
Hull speed
7.4 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
1267
Hull
Hull type
Long Keel
Construction
Fiberglass
Ballast type
Lead
Production
Years built
1975–1988
Units built
100
Designer
G, H. Stadel, Son, Schultz, Assoc, George H. Stadel Jr
Builder
Shannon 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.

Bayfield 3610.97 mSame hull family0.5 m shorterA Haydn Gozzard-designed cutter with a long keel, built for steady, comfortable passage-making.
Bayfield 36 – A Cheap Bluewater Sailboatfrom Practical Sailor
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
Tashiba 3610.97 mSame hull family0.5 m shorterA 1986 cutter with a 43% ballast ratio, engineered for heavy-displacement stability and offshore passage-ready motion
Guy deBoer’s 4,000 Mile GGR Qualifier onboard his 1986 Tashiba 36 Spirit 🌊⛵️4:10from Golden Globe Race Official
Downeaster 3811.58 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 1974-era cutter with a 35.4 comfort ratio, built for stable, long-distance voyaging on a heavy-displacement hull
Why Sailors Still Want This Slow Old Cruiser – Down East 38from Practical Sailor
Morgan Yachts Out Island 3610.92 mSame hull family0.6 m shorterA 1970s production cruiser featuring a 1.14-metre draft and a heavy ballast ratio for stability in shallow waters
AMAZING MACHINES! How They Make Sailboat Sails12:02from Practical Sailor
Bristol Yachts 3911.89 mSame hull family0.4 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

The family

Boats like this

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

Shannon Yachts 38 PHA long-keeled cutter designed by Stadel for offshore stability, offering a comfortable motion and steady passage-makingShannon Yachts 37A masthead ketch featuring a keel-centerboard hull, refined from the Shannon 38 for offshore versatilityShannon Yachts 39A versatile Walter Schulz design offering multiple rig configurations including the unique Scutter and Sketch optionsShannon Yachts 28A fin-keeled cutter with a transom-hung rudder, built for coastal cruising with a stiff 38% ballast ratioShannon Yachts 43A staysail ketch with a keel-centerboard hull, offering extensive interior layout customization since 1986Shannon Yachts 50A keel-centerboard staysail ketch with a 1.68 capsize screening value, built for offshore stability and shoal-water access

Keep asking

The fleet has more to say

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