Design and Construction
Valentijn's hull form is a study in moderate-displacement cruising theory. The forward sections carry a soft "V" that flattens into an almost level bottom amidships, a shape he used to widen the platform for stability and give the keel more span to work with anchor. Aft, the sections remain flat and full with straight diagonals, and the keel profiles themselves came out of systematic tank testing done on America's Cup contenders. That research lineage is unusual in a production boat of this size and speaks to a designer using serious hydrodynamic tools rather than rule-of-thumb proportions.
The hull is built from fiberglass with a 3/4-inch Klegecell core, and the inner and outer skins each measure at least 1/4-inch solid glass in the bottom anchor. Interior bulkheads are glassed in as structural members, and a large steel grid is bonded into the hull. Keel roots, mast step, chainplates, and engine beds get a special steel structure for stiffness under load. The Klegecell core keeps the hull light, stiff, and strong while holding the center of gravity low. The rudder is a single molded piece of high-density foam with a fiberglass skin, its post solid stainless steel welded to an internal steel blade.
Rig and Handling
The 38 CC carries a masthead sloop rig with extruded 6061-T6 aluminum spars and anodized coatings. The mast steps through the cabin top onto the steel grid's compression frame, which is bonded and bolted to the keel — a direct load path from rig to keel. All halyards run internally in the mast as pre-stretched jacketed Dacron. The foretriangle and mainsail aspect ratios were chosen for maximum performance per square foot of area, and the sail plan totals just over 700 square feet. A high-lift skeg-mounted rudder gives hands-off tracking and easy steering through a pedestal system driving stainless cables and a radial quadrant on the post.
On the numbers, the boat's displacement-length ratio of 239.78 places her among moderate racers rather than heavy cruisers, while a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 16.71 (rising to 20.2 with a 135% genoa) and a capsize screening value of 1.92 describe a vessel with plenty of canvas for her weight. Writing in YachtDatabase, reviewers noted her rig exceeds 85% of similar sailboats, calling her significantly overrigged for her class.
Accommodations
Below, the center-cockpit layout uses a teak-and-holly sole and six-foot-four headroom. Descending into the main cabin, the galley sits to starboard with a large settee forward; the salon came in two forms, a typical rectangular settee with table or a round version. Forward of the main bulkhead is a large head with a separate shower stall. Aft of the salon the galley runs along the starboard side and leads to a large private aft cabin with its own head. Eleven opening ports with screens, five opening hatches, and two fixed salon windows provide light and air, and six berths make her a capable liveaboard or family cruiser.
Known Issues
The builder's own chief engineer, Lon Sey, described the Endeavour as built to last at least 12 to 15 years, a period benchmark rather than a lifetime guarantee. The steel grid and bonded structural members are sound in concept, but any center-cockpit hull now well beyond that original window deserves a close look at the areas where steel meets glass and where water can reach the core. The two keel options — a documented shallow-long 4'11" original and a deeper-narrower 5'7" variant — mean a buyer must confirm which underwater profile a given boat carries, since the deeper fin changes windward behavior and grounding exposure.
The Verdict
The Endeavour 38 CC is a thoughtfully engineered mid-1980s cruiser whose Dutch-designed hull and America's-Cup-derived keel sections gave it a serious performance foundation wrapped in a roomy center-cockpit package. Its cored hull, structural bulkheads, and keel-to-mast compression path reflect a builder using then-modern methods, though the original 12-to-15-year design life means age-related inspection is non-negotiable on today's market.
Pros
- First American production design by Johan Valentijn, with keel sections from America's Cup testing
- Stiff, light cored hull with structural bulkheads and a full-length steel grid
- Roomy center-cockpit layout with two heads, separate shower, and six berths
- Overrigged by class standards, giving strong light-to-moderate air performance
Cons
- Original engineering life cited at only 12–15 years; steel-in-hull details need scrutiny with age
- Two different keel drafts offered, requiring verification of which a boat actually has
- Cored construction demands vigilant moisture and bonding checks
