Hinckley 38 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the brokerage market for a Hinckley 38 means chasing a small fleet: only 28 were built between 1968 and 1970 as Sparkman & Stephens design #1903 cruiser-racers, with hulls molded in Canada and decks finished in Maine. That scarcity shapes every buying decision, from layout choice to spare-parts realism, and a prospective owner should approach each boat as a unique hull rather than a commodity model.
Layouts on the Used Market
Charter four-cabin layouts appear more often on the used market, though both layout types can be found, and ex-charter examples are common. Either way the boat sleeps six, with a double V-berth forward, two settees and two pilot berths in the main cabin, an L-shaped port galley with three-burner stove, ice box, and sink, a starboard nav station, and a head just aft of the bow cabin on the port side. An ex-charter history warrants closer scrutiny of interior wear, but the underlying footprint is the same proven six-person cruiser plan.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Autopilots, radar, and chartplotters are commonly fitted and form the modern navigation core a buyer should expect to rely on. Electric winches, hot water, and a dodger are often seen, easing sail handling and cockpit comfort. Less common owner upgrades include heating, an inverter, and a spinnaker; the spinnaker adds downwind range to the masthead sloop rig but is not a standard inventory item. A buyer should confirm which of these clusters a specific hull carries rather than assume a full cruising fit.
What to Inspect
The Hinckley 38 hull is a Hughes-molded shell with Hinckley-added deck and finishing, so verify that split on a specific boat since the binational construction determines who built what. Inspect the wood trim and teak interior for active rot or failed varnish, as the fiberglass hull with wood trim demands ongoing care that neglect will reveal as soft joinery or stained sole. Confirm the inboard engine is the original-style docking and maneuvering unit on a direct drive, and check the keel-stepped mast partner and skeg-hung rudder stock for wear consistent with a 1968 to 1970 build.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These boats are typically found in the United States. A short used-market checklist for the Hinckley 38:
- Confirm hull provenance with Hughes and Hinckley build records.
- Check teak trim and sole for rot or peeling varnish.
- Test the inboard engine and direct-drive coupling.
- Inspect keel-step mast partner for compression.
- Verify whether a spinnaker and electric winches are fitted.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Hinckley 38. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 7 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 26 | 2 | $38,000 | — |
| Feb 26 | 1 | $49,500 | +30.3% |
| Apr 26 | 1 | $38,000 | -23.2% |
| Jun 26 | 2 | $85,000 | +123.7% |
| Jul 26 | 4 | $85,000 | 0.0% |
| Sep 26 | 1 | $68,500 | -19.4% |
| Oct 26 | 2 | $68,500 | 0.0% |
Where they're listed
Hinckley 38 listings appear across 1 country. United States has the most listings with 13.
Country view
13 listings · 1 country| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $68,500 | 13 | 4 | 100.0% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
5 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sabre 38 | 37.83' | $ 49,999 | 48 | 21 |
| Beneteau First 38 | 40.2' | $ 33,581 | 33 | 6 |
| Swanson 38 S&S | 38.25' | $ 72,152 | 16 | 4 |
| Hinckley Yachts 38You are here | — | $ 68,500 | 13 | 4 |
| Ericson 38 | 37.67' | $ 43,658 | 10 | 1 |