I am attepmting to gather information on Catalina 38's. I am a potential buyer and am interested in owner's opinions of the boat, its sailing abilities and maintaince issues.
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Gary Jensen
38 OR the 380
Saw your post on wanting info on the 38 Catalina. Are you after the older 38 or the newer 380 model? What year models are you interested in????????
Saw your post on wanting info on the 38 Catalina. Are you after the older 38 or the newer 380 model? What year models are you interested in????????
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George Barton
Looking for the older 38
It is the older 38 that I am having difficulty finding information on. Thanks for your interest
It is the older 38 that I am having difficulty finding information on. Thanks for your interest
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Bob Robeson
The good ol' 38
This is the old Sparks and Stevenson designed boat. Catalina bought the molds in the 70's I think. I heard it is the only non-Catalina designed boat in Catalina’s fleet. I have never owned one, but I hear it is a real nice sailing boat with good performance. Not much room down below compared to other Catalina's. Good luck on your search. Bob Emerald Odyssea C-36
This is the old Sparks and Stevenson designed boat. Catalina bought the molds in the 70's I think. I heard it is the only non-Catalina designed boat in Catalina’s fleet. I have never owned one, but I hear it is a real nice sailing boat with good performance. Not much room down below compared to other Catalina's. Good luck on your search. Bob Emerald Odyssea C-36
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Keith Fullenwider
My Three Sense (sic) Worth
I have had my 38 for over a year now. It's a 1982 in very, very good condition. I've cruised and raced on these boats for some time. My previous boat was a Morgan 27 that I raced extensively, but I also cruised it for up to 10 days at a time to San Clemente, Catalina and Santa Barbara Islands. The 38 is a very sea-kindly boat with good motion (I've been in some good stuff with these boats) and is a pleasure to just day-sail. Room is very adequate, storage OK, engine a little underpowered going into big swells, chop and wind; but in those conditions I just sail, after all it's a sail boat. The boat is initially tender, but then stiffens once the heel angle gets to about 15 degrees. It punches through nasty seas very well. All in all it's a good boat for the money, and the best looking Catalina made...and the best built. Good luck in your search. KF2
I have had my 38 for over a year now. It's a 1982 in very, very good condition. I've cruised and raced on these boats for some time. My previous boat was a Morgan 27 that I raced extensively, but I also cruised it for up to 10 days at a time to San Clemente, Catalina and Santa Barbara Islands. The 38 is a very sea-kindly boat with good motion (I've been in some good stuff with these boats) and is a pleasure to just day-sail. Room is very adequate, storage OK, engine a little underpowered going into big swells, chop and wind; but in those conditions I just sail, after all it's a sail boat. The boat is initially tender, but then stiffens once the heel angle gets to about 15 degrees. It punches through nasty seas very well. All in all it's a good boat for the money, and the best looking Catalina made...and the best built. Good luck in your search. KF2
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Dave McCarthy
Catalina 38
A brief history of the 'original' Catalina 38 as relayed to me by a boat builder. The S&S Catalina 38 was originally designed and built as a 1-ton IOR racing hull for Ted Turner .. Yankee Yachts then acquired the molds and built the Yankee 38 for a short time. Frank Butler then acquired them, added his signature deck and cabin profile and built 365 hulls. The boat was used for the Congressional cup for a number of years before being replaced by the Catalina-37. While I was checking into the boat, my boat builder friends said that it is one of the best-built production boats ever! My rigger says that the rig is as bullet-proof as they come!! Virtually indestructable!! So I bought one !!! The earlier models had the 3cyl universal diesel and are a bit under-powered. If the engine has been maintained it should last 'forever' !! just dont expect to go water-skiing !! Be sure You have a good survey done and 'accept no substitutes' !! My experience has been that C-38 owners are fiercely loyal to their boats! I had been sailing a 30 ft light racer cruiser .. The C-38 points higher, is very dry and feels strong and rigid in the water. She is a bit squirly downwind in a swell, You learn to 'drive' her through it !! As for strength durability; A local C-38 broke from a mooring and went up on the rocks in a large swell. The rig was undamaged!! She sustained some hull delamination a bent rudder post and some keel damage. One of the local boat-builders bought her from the insurance company and is rebuilding her! He says there are very few boats that are worth putting that kind of effort into! If You like the IOR design with the wine-stem stern, then You'll not find bigger Hips or more tumblehome anywhere !!! Good Luck !!!
A brief history of the 'original' Catalina 38 as relayed to me by a boat builder. The S&S Catalina 38 was originally designed and built as a 1-ton IOR racing hull for Ted Turner .. Yankee Yachts then acquired the molds and built the Yankee 38 for a short time. Frank Butler then acquired them, added his signature deck and cabin profile and built 365 hulls. The boat was used for the Congressional cup for a number of years before being replaced by the Catalina-37. While I was checking into the boat, my boat builder friends said that it is one of the best-built production boats ever! My rigger says that the rig is as bullet-proof as they come!! Virtually indestructable!! So I bought one !!! The earlier models had the 3cyl universal diesel and are a bit under-powered. If the engine has been maintained it should last 'forever' !! just dont expect to go water-skiing !! Be sure You have a good survey done and 'accept no substitutes' !! My experience has been that C-38 owners are fiercely loyal to their boats! I had been sailing a 30 ft light racer cruiser .. The C-38 points higher, is very dry and feels strong and rigid in the water. She is a bit squirly downwind in a swell, You learn to 'drive' her through it !! As for strength durability; A local C-38 broke from a mooring and went up on the rocks in a large swell. The rig was undamaged!! She sustained some hull delamination a bent rudder post and some keel damage. One of the local boat-builders bought her from the insurance company and is rebuilding her! He says there are very few boats that are worth putting that kind of effort into! If You like the IOR design with the wine-stem stern, then You'll not find bigger Hips or more tumblehome anywhere !!! Good Luck !!!
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George Barton
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Lansing
Catalina 38
This is our third season with our '83 C38. We love it and are constantly complimented on it's lines. It sails faster and points better than most boats in the area. We use it for cruising and day sails and find it plenty roomy below (though if there is another boat on the water - we're racing). Our fin keel draws almost 7 feet so keep that in mind in relation to the area you'll be sailing. I agree that the engine is underpowered. We too will sail before using the engine considering it sails so fast. Handles great in rough water - very comfortable; no 'pounding'. Can't say enough good things. Sails and handles better than any boat we know. The tumblehull reduces the amount of heel. Stays pretty flat. We average 7 knots in about 10 knots of wind.
This is our third season with our '83 C38. We love it and are constantly complimented on it's lines. It sails faster and points better than most boats in the area. We use it for cruising and day sails and find it plenty roomy below (though if there is another boat on the water - we're racing). Our fin keel draws almost 7 feet so keep that in mind in relation to the area you'll be sailing. I agree that the engine is underpowered. We too will sail before using the engine considering it sails so fast. Handles great in rough water - very comfortable; no 'pounding'. Can't say enough good things. Sails and handles better than any boat we know. The tumblehull reduces the amount of heel. Stays pretty flat. We average 7 knots in about 10 knots of wind.
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