Design and Construction
The Hunter 38 weighs 17,342 pounds and carries 6,128 pounds of lead in a fin keel, paired with a spade rudder. Its 12.92-foot beam extends well aft, while a 34.67-foot waterline gives the boat a theoretical hull speed of 7.89 knots.
Henderson distributed the hull volumes to even out water-movement pressures. He also described the rudder as a major lift component working alongside the keel to balance the boat when heeled. Replacing a heavier fiberglass headliner with vinyl lowered the center of gravity and removed 350 pounds from the structure.
Construction is solid fiberglass, with a 1-1/2-inch toerail running from bow to stern. Diamond-pattern nonskid provides footing on a wet deck. Flush-mounted, tinted plexiglass ports measuring 16 by 28 inches are fitted in the trunk.
The teak cabinetry and hull surfaces show better fit and finish than Hunter products from five years earlier. The builder credited the improvement to computerized cutting, closer attention to detail, and tighter quality control. Below, the saloon sole is finished in low-maintenance Everwear laminate, and solid wood handrails span the cabintop.
Rig, Handling, and Performance
The Hunter 38 has a seven-eighths fractional sloop rig, with an anodized B&R double-spreader Selden mast supported by struts. There’s no backstay, allowing the mainsail to carry a powerful roach. Most of the boat’s drive comes from this large main rather than the foresail, and the J measurement is a short 12 feet 1 inch.
A stainless-steel arch carries the Harken track and traveler above the cockpit, keeping the mainsheet clear of the crew. Primary Lewmar 40 self-tailers and cabintop rope clutches handle the controls. The standard Furlex 200S furler sits 16 inches above the deck. According to the builder’s literature, the optional in-mast furling main reduces sail area by 148 square feet.
During testing on the Chesapeake in five to ten knots of breeze, the boat made 5 to 5.5 knots under full main and a 105% headsail in five knots. With the sheets eased in ten knots, speed rose to 7.5 knots. The boat heeled only about ten degrees and tacked through 85 to 90 degrees.
Cockpit and Deck
Cockpit seating is generous. The settees are six feet long and 20 inches wide, arranged around a 36-inch footwell. Two pod seats are fitted at the stern, and the helm seat rotates aft to close the stern steps and form an entrance.
Storage is the cockpit’s main weakness. There’s a small port locker for the holding tank, another locker for two propane bottles, and an emergency hatch beneath the starboard seat, but little practical space for general cruising gear.
Accommodations
Practical Sailor judged the Owner’s Version aft stateroom the most commodious and well laid out it had seen on a boat of this size. Its berth measures 78 by 60 inches. A tri-cabin version divides the stern into two aft cabins instead.
The saloon has 6-foot-6 headroom and two 70-inch settees with 15-inch backs, spaced nine feet apart. A 36-by-42-inch dining table fills the center. The Everwear sole should be straightforward to maintain, while the overhead solid wood handrails provide secure handholds.
To starboard, the L-shaped galley includes Corian counters, dual stainless-steel sinks, a two-burner stove-oven, and a rail for the cook. Opposite is a port-side navigation station with a 20-by-18-inch chart table and a forward bulkhead for instruments. However, the chart table extends so far aft that the navigator’s seat can’t be raised fully, creating a genuine ergonomic limitation during passage work.
The forward stateroom berth measures 86 inches along the centerline and 80 inches across the head. Cedar-lined lockers provide clothing storage. A single head serves both the saloon and aft cabin and includes a 24-by-45-inch enclosed shower.
Access, Maintenance, and Ownership
Hunter designed several features to make owner maintenance more manageable. The headliner panels lift out with a Hunter-supplied tool, providing access to wiring and deck hardware and simplifying electrical refits.
The engine box also serves as a fiddled vanity. When pulled out, it exposes both sides and the back of the Yanmar, improving service access. A folding Edson wheel and deep companionway bins further reflect the boat’s focus on manageable single-owner upkeep.
The Verdict
The Hunter 38 is a comfort-driven cruiser that favors creature comforts over outright performance. It combines light heel, straightforward cockpit systems, forgiving handling, and an outstanding Owner’s Version aft cabin. Its main compromises are limited cockpit stowage and a navigation seat obstructed by the oversized chart table.
It should suit couples who put living space and easy short-handed sailing ahead of a racing edge.
Pros
- Exceptionally roomy aft stateroom in the Owner’s Version
- Stable, light-heeling hull with rudder-assisted lift
- Short-handed rig made easier by the arch-mounted traveler and furling options
- Improved joinery and finish compared with earlier Hunters
Cons
- Cockpit lacks practical storage
- Oversized chart table obstructs the navigator’s seat
- Mainsail-dominated rig limits light-air foresail options
