Hi JuanMarcos & Hi Stirling,
Congrats to you both on the First 38 purchases. We have a 1984 First 38 which we purchased in 2013 and have no regrets. We are in Chicago and are on the water sailing 2 or 3 days every week when weather permits between May 1 and end of October
We have been working on catching up on deferred maintenance. We work on major projects every winter when she is stored in a warehouse. In Chicago all boats must be out of the harbors by the last day of October before winter arrives.
So far, we have done the following:
- Rudder restoration
- Replacement of all thru-hulls (7)
- Replacement of instruments/electronics
- Replacement of keel bolts
- Removal of rotted wood mast step base and replacement with GRP (Glass Reinforced Polyester) mast step base
- Replacement of fixed portals
- Removal & rebuilding of Perkins 4108 diesel engine
- Removal of sagging, vinyl liner from interior
We have done all of the above ourselves, except for the rudder restoration and the engine rebuilding.
Do not hesitate to contact us for advice on what we have done.
We have the following which we can forward:
- BENETEAU First 38 Brochure (ca. 1983)
- BENETEAU First 38 Magazine Advertisement (ca. 1983)
- Perkins 4108 manuals
- ISOMAT Spar Catalog
Also, I too would be very grateful to get a copy of a complete First 38 Owner’s Manual.
However, I noted that the manual uploaded to the BENETEAU Owners Facebook group earlier today is for the BENETEAU First 38s5 (Co-designed by Jean Berret & Phillippe Starck) which was first offered in ~ 1989.