Alerion Express 38 Information, Review, Specs

Boat drawing
Make
Alerion
Model
Express 38
Number Built
8
Production Year(s)
1997 - ??

The search results provide good information.

  • Designer: Carl Schumacher, with inspiration from Nathanael Herreshoff. Garry Hoyt also mentioned. Let's clarify. Sailboatdata lists Carl Schumacher. Other sources mention Carl Schumacher as the designer. One source mentions Garry Hoyt. Another refers to the inspiration from Nathanael Herreshoff. It's most accurate to credit Carl Schumacher as the designer, building on Herreshoff's "daysailer" concept.
  • Production: Started in 1997. Number built: 8 (from). Production end year is null, but some listings go up to 2006 or 2009. The number built (8) suggests a limited production run.
  • Design Philosophy/Goals: "gentleman's cruiser that's easy to single-hand, great to look at, well-built". Combines traditional good looks with modern rig and sail-handling gear. Designed to excel in light air. Focus on "thrilling sailing experience" and "performance cruiser". Herreshoff's 1912 Alerion was a fast daysailer.
  • Variations: "Also available with fractional sloop rig." and "The 38-2 has significant differences beyond the sloop rig.". This indicates there were at least two versions, potentially MkI and MkII, with changes beyond just the rig. One forum mentions the yawl version.
  • Handling: "tracked beautifully," "no problem taking hands off the wheel". "Quick and agile". "Better handling characteristics than fatsos". "all sail controls" contribute to handling. "easy to single-hand". "responsive" and "stable". "excels in light air". "easy to keep at correct heel angles".
  • Interior: "comfortable accommodations for up to four guests". "warm, rich cherry wood" finish. "feels warm and cozy". Max headroom is 6'0.5" according to one owner. Some owners had the nav table positioned differently.
  • Owner's Perspectives: "well-built". "solid construction" (implied by TPI). "comfortable motion" (implied by "gentleman's cruiser"). "Owners consistently praise its solid construction and comfortable motion in a seaway." (This phrase is from the LLM instructions, I need to synthesize from search results). The "well-built" and "great to look at" aspects are recurring. "Easy to single-hand" is a strength. "A bit small for long-term voyaging" is a limitation. No specific "common problems" were strongly highlighted beyond a general mention of the original deck fittings (which was from the LLM instructions, not a search result here). One forum mentioned a "problem fixed" but didn't specify what. Limited production means fewer forum discussions on common problems compared to high-volume boats. One person mentioned the yawl version sold at a "deep discount".

I have enough information to construct the article sections. I will ensure to use citations for all factual information drawn from the search results.


Final check on D/L ratio calculation: Displacement: 13,000 lbs LWL: 30.08 ft Standard D/L ratio = (Displacement in lbs / 2240) / (LWL in ft / 100)^3 = (13000 / 2240) / (30.08 / 100)^3 = 5.80357 / (0.3008)^3 = 5.80357 / 0.027192 = 213.43 (rounded) This fits the interpretive range well.

One more check for the designer. Sailboatdata.com and multiple articles state Carl Schumacher. One article mentions Garry Hoyt but in the context of the rig, not the overall design. The Herreshoff inspiration is for the concept, not the specific modern design. So Carl Schumacher is the primary designer.

Number built is 8, which is a very low production number. This should be reflected in the "History and Design" section.

InfoView listings

Measurements

Construction & Hull

Construction Material
Fiberglass (Solid)
Hull Type
Monohull Sailboat
Keel Type
Bulb
Rudder
1x Spade
Ballast
6000 lbs (Lead)
Displacement
13000 lbs
Water Capacity
45 gal
Fuel Capacity
26 gal

Engine

Engine Make
Volvo Penta
Engine Model
Engine Type
Engine HP
40
Engine Count
1
Drive Type
Saildrive
Fuel Type
Diesel
Hover over a measurement
IJPE FS LOALWL

Rig & Sails

Rig Type
Yawl
P (Main Luff)
44.4 ft
E (Main Foot)
15.7 ft
I (Foretriangle Height)
43.4 ft
J (Foretriangle Base)
14 ft
Forestay Length (est)
45.6 ft
Main Sail Area
348.54 sqft
Foretriangle Sail Area
303.8 sqft
Total Sail Area (Reported)
810 sqft
Total Sail Area (Calc)
652.34 sqft

Dimensions

LOA
38.25 ft
LWL
30.08 ft
Beam
10.75 ft
Draft
5.92 ft
Max Headroom
-
Air Draft
56.25 ft

Calculations

Hull Speed
7.35 kn
Pounds per Inch Immersion
1