Design and Construction
Ibold gave the Endurance 38 his signature look: a semi-flush deck, traditional cabintrunk, and his own version of a clipper bow. A long bow overhang and sweet, pronounced sheerline complete the profile. The ends are highly shaped, while a deep bulwark that rises toward the bow gives the boat more presence than its 37-foot length alone might suggest.
Colvic built the hull in hand-laid fiberglass, which period reviewers noted required only minimal upkeep during the sailing season. The lead fin keel draws roughly 5.6 to 5.9 feet, depending on load. Its modern lines contrast with the classic topsides, an old-and-new combination welcomed by the same reviewer.
Dimensions and Performance
With a displacement-to-length ratio of about 309, the Endurance 38 falls into the heavy-cruiser category, although only 31 percent of comparable designs are heavier. Its ballast ratio is 37 percent—higher than that of 34 percent of similar boats—and its length-to-beam ratio is 3.16. Against most rivals, it is reasonably beamy and roomy without being extreme.
The rudder and keel treatment is credited with helping the boat move in moderate air. A tester estimated the sail-area-to-displacement ratio at nearly 17.5.
The capsize screening value of 1.82 would, by that formula alone, qualify the Endurance 38 for ocean racing. Its Motion Comfort Ratio of 31.5 places it among the more comfortable similar sailboat designs, a meaningful measure for a cruising couple considering passage-making comfort.
Rig and Sail Plan
The drawings and completed boats tell slightly different stories aloft. Fundamentally, the Endurance 38 is a masthead sloop with the mast stepped well aft, though it was also offered as a cutter and more than one rig configuration exists.
The drawings show a babystay with in-line lowers. Photographs of completed boats, however, show fore-and-aft lowers and no babystay, so the arrangement is worth confirming on any particular hull.
One masthead rig carries 640 square feet of mainsail and jib combined. The sheet specifications are generous: the mainsheet is about 92 feet long, while the jib and genoa sheets are near 37 feet.
Accommodations
Below, the Endurance 38 has three cabins and between five and six berths, with the interior finished in mahogany. Forward, tight V-berths can be reached only by passing through a full-beam head. It’s an unusual arrangement that trades privacy for volume, and the V-berths are tight.
Amidships is a comfortable Pullman-style double, with the galley alongside it. On deck, the wide, flush foredeck has an exaggerated crown. It was noted as a place for sunbathing, provided no one minds the curve.
Cockpit and Deck
One reviewer found the cockpit possibly small, with no seat long enough for a person to stretch out comfortably. It’s a minor concession on a boat otherwise oriented toward traditional cruising comfort rather than lounging.
Verdict
The Endurance 38 is a thoughtfully resolved cruiser, combining Ibold’s classic profile with a capable, modern fin-keel hull. It is stable and comfortably proportioned for its length, while the available rig configurations gave owners some flexibility. The forward-berth access through the head and the snug cockpit are genuine compromises.
Kit-built examples require individual scrutiny because completion quality varied.
Pros
- Modern underbody and traditional topsides, with rudder and keel treatment credited with aiding moderate-air performance
- High Motion Comfort Ratio and an ocean-race-level capsize screening value
- Lead fin keel and hand-laid fiberglass hull with low seasonal maintenance
- Amidships Pullman double and a beamy, three-cabin layout
Cons
- Full-beam head blocks direct access to the forward V-berths
- Cockpit may be too small for occupants to stretch out comfortably
- Kit completion means build quality varies between boats
