Catalina Yachts 38

The Catalina Yachts 38 is a 11.6-meter masthead sloop designed by Sparkman, Stephens, and Frank W. Butler, built by Catalina Yachts from 1978 to 1990. It features a fin keel with a spade rudder and displaces 7212 kg. The design originated from the Sparkman & Stephens Yankee 38, with Catalina Yachts acquiring the molds and modifying the deck, coach roof, and rig, and adding a balanced spade rudder. A shoal draft version with a 1.49-meter draft was also available. The Catalina 38's design reflects the International Offshore Rule (IOR) era, which prioritized racing handicaps, leading to hull shapes with short waterlines, wide beams, and significant tumblehome. These IOR-influenced designs, like the 35-foot Lady K, often require a constant heel to achieve optimal performance and can be challenging for modern cruising due to compromised stability in heavy seas and limited storage capacity.