Poole’s aim was to create a classic cruising yacht that used modern materials where they belonged while retaining the traditional features of early Down East cruisers. The result is a 38-foot boat with a 29-foot waterline and a beam just shy of 12 feet. It displaces 19,500 pounds, carries 8,000 pounds of encapsulated lead ballast, and draws just under five feet.
Design and Construction
The Downeaster 38 is built in fiberglass, with the laminate specified to Lloyd’s requirements. Both hull and deck are solid fiberglass. The lead ballast is encapsulated inside the hull rather than secured externally with bolts.
All through-hull fittings below the waterline have seacocks. The rudder incorporates a steel backbone for structural continuity. Instead of the usual molded patterns, the nonskid deck surfaces use sand set in a polyurethane adhesive, providing secure footing without the maintenance traps of textured gelcoat.
With a ballast-displacement ratio of 41 percent, a beam near 12 feet, and a 29-foot waterline, the hull form favors stability and load-carrying ability over racing length.
Rig, Engine, and Handling
Three rigs were available: cutter, ketch, and schooner. The cutter carries 665 square feet of sail and serves as the standard against which the other rigs are measured.
The schooner offers the greatest scope for adding sail. It can set a 498-square-foot gollywobbler between the masts or, when conditions invite more canvas, a 727-square-foot gollyaker—a balloon jib flown from the main masthead.
Wheel steering is standard. So are two independent batteries and a provision for hand-starting the engine in an emergency, useful redundancy for offshore sailing. The standard engine is a 24-horsepower Farymann diesel; a 32-horsepower option was offered for owners wanting more speed under power.
Accommodations and Tankage
The forward cabin has a double berth. In the main cabin, the fixed starboard arrangement consists of a settee with a pilot berth outboard. To port, owners could choose the same layout or a settee that converts into a double berth, with a shelf above.
The galley centers on a double sink near the boat’s midline. Opposite are a fixed chart table and a quarter berth, keeping the navigation station separate from the main lounging areas.
Tankage reflects the boat’s cruising purpose. It includes an aluminum fuel tank and a stainless-steel water tank. Water capacity is 50 gallons, with an optional 100-gallon arrangement for longer stretches between ports. Fuel-capacity documentation is internally inconsistent, with 90 gallons noted and 75 gallons given as a correction.
Verdict
The Downeaster 38 is a thoughtfully specified cruiser that wears its traditional influences without apology. Its Lloyd’s-requirement laminate, seacocks on every below-waterline through-hull, and encapsulated lead ballast point to a boat intended for serious sailing rather than dockside admiration.
The choice of three rigs and the convertible port berth allowed owners to tailor the boat to their preferences. Twin batteries and the emergency hand-start provision are the kinds of practical details that can matter a thousand miles from help.
Pros
- Laminate specified to Lloyd’s requirements
- Seacocks on all below-waterline through-hulls
- Encapsulated lead ballast inside the hull
- Three rig options, including a schooner capable of carrying large auxiliary sails
- Practical cruising details, including hand-start provision, twin batteries, and wheel steering
Cons
- Shoal draft of under five feet limits windward bite compared with deeper-draft rivals
- Fuel-capacity documentation is internally inconsistent, listing 90 gallons with a correction to 75 gallons
