Bruce Roberts Offshore 38 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the used Bruce Roberts Offshore 38 means stepping into a design that was sold as plans for several build materials rather than as a single factory product, so the brokerage boat you inspect may be fiberglass, wood-epoxy, steel, or aluminum depending on the original builder's choice. That variety is the first thing a buyer must internalize: two 38-foot Roberts offshore hulls can share the name yet differ fundamentally in structure and upkeep profile.
Layouts on the Used Market
Owner three-cabin arrangements are the more common layout seen in the brokerage pool, though both three-cabin and other configurations appear. Ex-charter examples are common, which means a buyer should expect some boats to show the wear patterns of fleet use rather than single-owner care. Because the design was also offered as an owner-builder project in steel or aluminum, some used boats will be one-off constructions.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Used Offshore 38s commonly carry serious passage-making equipment. Power and energy clusters typically include a watermaker, solar panels, and a wind generator, which together tell a buyer the boat was rigged for extended off-grid cruising. Navigation and safety commonly feature radar, AIS, autopilot, chartplotter, and a life raft. Sail handling and comfort upgrades frequently seen are an asymmetric spinnaker, a bimini, and dinghy davits, and many boats are offered with a circumnavigation history or outfitting that reflects bluewater intent.
What to Inspect
Confirm the as-built material against the plan, since each demands different survey methods available in multiple construction media. Check the shaft drive transmission on either the Yanmar 3QM30 or Perkins 4.108 installations, and confirm the engine alternative present. With a wetted surface near 441 square feet and a load immersion of about 1,373 pounds per inch, assess load and bottom condition carefully, as a fouled or overloaded hull will erode the 6 to 7.9 knot speed range.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These boats typically appear in Malaysia, the United States, and Portugal. A buyer's short checklist: confirm construction material and survey it accordingly; verify engine and shaft drive; inspect for ex-charter wear; confirm passage equipment is operational; validate rig type and sheet geometry. The Offshore 38 rewards a buyer who matches the specific build and outfit to his own cruising plan rather than assuming uniformity across the name.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Bruce Roberts Offshore 38. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 4 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 25 | 1 | $22,000 | — |
| Aug 25 | 1 | $63,000 | +186.4% |
| Apr 26 | 1 | $24,471 | -61.2% |
| Aug 26 | 1 | $55,000 | +124.8% |
Where they're listed
Bruce Roberts Offshore 38 listings appear across 2 countries. Malaysia has the most listings with 1 (50.0%), followed by Portugal.
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
6 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bavaria Yachts Ocean 38 | 39.04' | $ 102,436 | 30 | 7 |
| Hallberg-Rassy 38 | 37.96' | $ 96,737 | 30 | 7 |
| Laurent Giles 38 | 38.83' | $ 51,122 | 11 | 4 |
| Morgan 38 | 37.67' | $ 69,000 | 5 | 1 |
| Endurance 38 | 37' | $ 87,338 | 4 | 0 |
| Bruce Roberts Offshore 38You are here | — | $ 39,727 | 2 | 1 |