Design and Construction
The Comet 38 has the hallmarks of a Finot cruising design from an era when Comar had already established fiberglass production. She measures 11.90 meters overall, with a 9.50-meter waterline, a 3.74-meter beam, and a displacement of 6800 kg, and carries a fixed keel with a standard draft of 2.10 meters.
Those dimensions place her firmly among mid-size cruisers. Her relatively broad beam provides volume, while the 9.50-meter waterline gives her plenty of effective cruising length within the 11.90-meter hull. The fixed keel has a standard draft of 2.10 meters, which suits open-water cruising better than shoal-water gunkholing.
Rig, Handling, and Auxiliary Power
The Comet 38’s sloop rig keeps sail handling straightforward. A mainsail and headsail carry a total sail area of 82 square meters, avoiding the added complexity of a cutter or ketch rig. That is a substantial sail plan for a hull displacing 6800 kg, yet it remains manageable for a couple or small crew.
Auxiliary power comes from a Lombardini LDW 1204 M engine rated at 33 cv, providing power for maneuvering and calm conditions. Together, the fixed keel and long waterline define the boat’s cruising geometry.
Accommodations
Comar offered three interior layouts for the Comet 38:
- Standard version: Three cabins, one toilet, and sleeping space for ten.
- Owner version: Two cabins, one toilet, and six berths—a quieter arrangement for a private cruising couple or family.
- Charter version: Three cabins and two toilets. The record lists no berth count, but the layout is plainly aimed at the bareboat trade.
The range from ten berths in the standard version to six in the owner version shows how extensively Comar could reconfigure the same hull for different uses.
The Verdict
The Comet 38 is a Finot-designed fiberglass sloop built by Comar Yachts as a straightforward cruiser. Its long waterline and generous sloop rig define the sailing package, while three interior arrangements allow the same hull to serve standard, owner, and charter roles. The 33 cv Lombardini provides modest auxiliary power.
The datasheet records no ballast, tankage, or individual sail-plan dimensions, leaving parts of the specification open. Even so, the boat’s core cruising geometry is clear.
Pros
- Long 9.50 m waterline within an 11.90 m hull
- Three distinct interior layouts for standard, owner, and charter use
- Simple sloop rig with 82 m² of sail area on a 6800 kg hull
Cons
- Datasheet records zero ballast, zero tankage, and no individual sail-plan dimensions
- Fixed 2.10 m keel limits shallow-water access
