Construction was split between two countries. Hughes Boat Works in Centralia, Ontario, molded the bare hulls and shipped them to Hinckley Yachts in Southwest Harbor, Maine. Hinckley then added the decks, finished the interiors, and applied the wood trim. That binational lineage and small production run make the Hinckley 38 a particularly scarce Sparkman & Stephens design among American fiberglass yachts of the late 1960s.
Design and Construction
The Hinckley 38 is a monohull with a fixed, swept fin keel and a skeg-mounted rudder controlled by a wheel. The hulls are predominantly fiberglass with wood trim, while the solid-fiberglass deck was added and finished by Hinckley in Maine.
The hull has a raked stem and a raised counter with a reverse transom. It measures 37.5 feet overall, 27.5 feet on the waterline, and 10.5 feet in beam. That puts it at the compact end of the 38-foot class, though its beam and ballast give it the character of a purposeful coastal cruiser rather than a bare racer.
Displacement is 13,920 pounds, including 6,000 pounds of lead ballast. That gives the boat a ballast-displacement ratio near 43 percent and a moderate displacement-length ratio in the 250 to 300 range.
Rig and Handling
The boat carries a Bermuda masthead sloop rig with a keel-stepped mast. Period specifications give an I foretriangle height of 45 feet and a J base of 40 feet. The mainsail has a luff of around 43 feet and a foot near 13.3 feet, for an area of roughly 288 square feet. Total sail area is about 618 square feet.
Upwind, the Hinckley 38 may carry a selection of jibs or genoas. The largest genoas reach 150 percent overlap and more than 540 square feet. Downwind, it may carry a symmetrical spinnaker of about 1,109 square feet.
The fixed fin keel draws 5.67 feet. Its skeg-hung rudder gives the helm a measured feel through the wheel. With a hull speed of 7.03 knots, the Hinckley 38 is intended for settled coastal passages rather than surf-breaking pace.
Accommodations
Below, the teak-finished interior sleeps six. A double V-berth fills the bow cabin, while the main cabin has two straight settees and two pilot berths.
The L-shaped galley is to port, just forward of the companionway ladder. It includes a three-burner stove, an ice box, and a sink. The navigation station sits opposite to starboard. The head is on the port side, just aft of the bow cabin.
It’s a straightforward six-person cruising layout of its era, with the main working stations grouped around the companionway for short-handed watch-keeping.
Known Issues and Ownership Considerations
The Hinckley 38’s known constraints concern its specification and scarcity rather than systemic faults. Because construction was divided between two yards, each boat’s origins should be confirmed. The molded shell is a Hughes product, while the deck-to-hull joint and interior finishing are Hinckley’s Maine work.
With only 28 hulls completed, each surviving boat should be assessed as an individual example. That limited production also restricts parts availability and comparable-market data. Wood trim appears throughout and needs ongoing maintenance that a solid-glass hull alone wouldn’t require.
The small production run has left ownership in the hands of a correspondingly small group of keepers. A well-maintained boat should show consistent varnish and dry joinery; although the teak interior and exterior wood trim respond well to careful refinishing, they punish neglect.
The inboard diesel was fitted for docking and maneuvering rather than sustained motoring. Any repower must respect the original direct-drive layout. The cruiser-racer’s modest 618-square-foot rig should make its basic sail inventory manageable, while the symmetrical spinnaker adds downwind range for those who venture offshore.
The Verdict
The Hinckley 38 is a rare, finely finished Sparkman & Stephens cruiser-racer. Its Canadian-molded hull, Maine-finished deck and interior, and 28-boat production run place it among the more uncommon American fiberglass keelboats of its era.
It combines a practical six-berth layout with a balanced fin-keel and skeg-rudder hull of moderate displacement. Its scarcity and extensive wood trim, however, make it best suited to an owner who values provenance and is prepared for careful upkeep.
Pros
- Sparkman & Stephens design number 1903 cruiser-racer lineage
- Solid-fiberglass construction with 6,000 pounds of lead ballast and a ballast ratio near 43 percent
- Six-berth teak interior with an L-shaped galley and an opposing navigation station
- Skeg-mounted rudder, wheel steering, and a fixed, swept fin keel
Cons
- Only 28 built, limiting parts availability and comparable-market data
- Wood trim requires continuous maintenance
- Binational construction calls for verification of both the Hughes hull and Hinckley finishing
