Design and Construction
Enderlein's hull combines the traditional long-keel form with the modern fin-keel type, paired with a separate skeg and rudder. The hull itself is solid fiberglass, and the keel is encapsulated iron set in a deep bilge — a configuration that places the 8,160 lb of ballast low without external keel bolts. The deck is also fiberglass, and the finish throughout reflects traditional craftsmanship, with interiors executed as a masterpiece in mahogany and teak. The high freeboard with low superstructure yields good volume below and a large deck. At 38 feet on the waterline-rest length of 31' 2" and beam of 11' 5", with displacement of 18,740 lbs, the 38 sits among heavy cruisers by displacement-length measure.
Rig and Handling
As a masthead sloop the 38 carries 651 sq ft of sail area with the jib and 76.8 m² with the genoa, on a mast rising 14.0 m above the water. The manufacturer's claim of being perfectly balanced under all conditions is supported by the boat's ballast ratio of 44% and a motion comfort ratio measured in the 33.8–39.7 range. Under power, the Volvo Penta MD 21 — a 55 HP four-cylinder diesel turning a direct drive — pushes the hull to a recorded 8.3 knots, beyond the theoretical 7.5-knot displacement maximum for a boat of this length. The wetted surface of roughly 398 sq ft and an immersion rate of about 1,240 lbs per inch speak to a substantial, load-carrying hull.
Accommodations
The interior is well laid out and finished in mahogany, with a saloon headroom of 6' 1" that review sources describe as above average for the class. The boat provides two cabins and seven berths, a galley, and a toilet facility. High freeboard and the low coachroof profile generate the volume below, while the manufacturer emphasizes plenty of stowage for stores and personal belongings plus a large water capacity of 400 litres. The 38 has the displacement and volume to carry everything a fair-sized crew needs for sea passages, a point the builder makes explicitly in describing the design's purpose.
Refits and Ownership
With 202 boats built between 1977 and 1986, the HR 38 (as it is also known) represents a discrete generation within the marque's Enderlein-era output. Owners acquiring an example inherit a solid-glass hull and encapsulated-iron keel that simplify inspection and repair relative to cored structures. The traditional mahogany and teak interior rewards careful maintenance but is otherwise a known, stable commodity among cruising sailors.
The Verdict
The Hallberg-Rassy 38 is a purposeful Enderlein cruiser that trades outright speed for sea-kindly motion, volume, and traditional joinery. Its encapsulated iron keel and solid hull are straightforward to own; the 55 HP Volvo Penta gives a useful power margin. Buyers should recognize the heavy-displacement personality and plan sail inventories accordingly.
Pros
- First Hallberg-Rassy with the blue hull stripe; clear marque lineage
- Solid fiberglass hull with encapsulated iron ballast in deep bilge
- Well-laid-out mahogany and teak interior with 6' 1" saloon headroom
- 44% ballast ratio and comfort-range motion metrics for offshore use
- 400 L water and 350 L diesel capacity for long passages
Cons
- Heavy-cruiser displacement-length ratio limits light-air acceleration
- Few hundred built; a closed, older generation with period systems
