Introduced in November 1992, the Catalina/Morgan 38 was the first completely new Morgan model in more than ten years. Rather than Charlie Morgan, Catalina’s in-house staff under Gerry Douglas drew the boat. Also known as the Morgan 38 CC or Morgan 381, it is a center-cockpit, aft-cabin cruiser weighing nearly 18,000 pounds. Fewer than 100 hulls were completed through the remainder of the 1990s.
Design and Construction
The hull and deck use a conventional fiberglass construction for the era: cloth, resin, and localized core material add stiffness, while components are bonded by cloth, resin, structural adhesives, or both.
The deck fits over the hull in shoebox fashion, a method Catalina had long used to improve rigidity and resist leaks. An aluminum rub rail with a vinyl insert finishes the joint outside. The rail is small for a boat of this mass, however, and the review record notes that minor docking incidents can damage it easily. The same survey found a higher-than-typical rate of stubborn leaks around hardware, windows, and ports.
Rig, Deck, and Sailing Performance
The winches are arranged with the helmsman in mind. The mainsheet and genoa-sheet winches are within easy reach, while the halyard winches sit to each side of the companionway.
Most boats left the factory with in-mast furling mainsails, which the period review considered less efficient than a conventional rig. That setup, combined with a conservative sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 16.6 and the shoal or deep fin keel options, gives the boat less-than-impressive light-air and weatherly performance. Even so, compared with other cruising boats of this style, most sailors are likely to be satisfied with how the 38 performs to windward and off the breeze. The manufacturer’s literature offered a deep-draft 6-foot-6-inch fin as an option alongside the shoaler keel.
For a center-cockpit, aft-cabin boat, the 38 retains generous side-deck width. Crew can walk from bow to stern without stepping up on the cabin trunk. The cockpit is long but narrow, a trade-off that preserves headroom in the galley and head below.
A large aft deck adds useful outdoor space for a boat with a 38-foot LOA. Molded steps to port and starboard lead down to a sugar-scoop swim platform.
Accommodations
The companionway, at the forward end of the cockpit, leads into a main saloon arranged for four. To starboard is a small but adequate navigation station and a settee with a center section that lifts to desk height, dividing the seat into forward and aft halves. To port, the settee and dining table require a couple of folding chairs to seat four for dinner.
The forward V-berth has a small head with an integral shower to port and a hanging locker to starboard. The foredeck anchor locker was kept small to maximize that cabin’s volume. Owners who prefer more stowage to a second toilet can easily convert the forward head into storage.
The galley runs aft along the port side and is remarkably roomy. The stove, icebox, and freezer are outboard, with the sink inboard. Counter space is excellent, and storage is adequate.
Opposite the galley is the master head and separate shower, accessible from either the saloon or the aft stateroom. In the stateroom, a centerline queen berth sits between upholstered seats, with a chest of drawers to port and a hanging locker to starboard. Drawers, a fuel tank, and top-loading bins occupy the remaining aft storage. Two large opening hatches provide ventilation and an emergency exit.
Writing in the used-boat review, the tester called the interior arrangement about as good as it gets for a 38-foot live-aboard coastal cruiser.
Machinery and Maintenance
The boat has a Westerbeke diesel or, on a few hulls, a Yanmar. The engine sits beneath the cockpit deck and galley counter. Removable panels, doors, and access ports placed at service points help with routine maintenance, but access to the engine’s starboard side remains limited.
Known Issues
Along with the vulnerable rub rail and persistent leaks around deck hardware, windows, and ports, the transom-mounted hatch often leaks in heavy rain. Apparently, its designers never intended it for vertical mounting.
Engine access is the other notable concern. Although the removable panels and ports make routine service easier, reaching the starboard side of the engine is difficult.
The Verdict
The Catalina Morgan 38 is a practical, livable coastal cruiser. Its center-cockpit layout, generous galley, and aft stateroom remain well suited to live-aboard use. It trades outright sailing performance for comfort and volume, while its known leak points and restricted engine access call for a careful survey and thoughtful ownership.
Pros
- Thoughtful four-person layout with a roomy galley and versatile aft stateroom
- Wide side decks and a large aft deck with molded steps to the swim platform
- Practical center-cockpit, aft-cabin arrangement appreciated by live-aboards
Cons
- Persistent leaks around hardware, windows, and ports; the transom hatch can leak in heavy rain
- Small rub rail that is easily damaged during minor docking incidents
- Limited access to the engine’s starboard side
- Modest light-air and weatherly performance
