Hunter 38 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

Henderson’s hull volumes were distributed to even out water-movement pressures, and he described the rudder as a major lift component working alongside the keel anchor to balance the boat when heeled. The center of gravity was lowered by substituting a vinyl headliner for heavier fiberglass, stripping 350 pounds from the structure. Construction is solid fiberglass, with a 1-1/2-inch toerail running bow to stern and a diamond nonskid deck that holds footing when wet. The fit and finish of the teak cabinetry and hull surfaces read better than Hunter products from five years earlier, a change the builder credited to computerized cutting, tighter detail work, and quality control. Flush-mounted tinted plexiglass ports measuring 16 by 28 inches sit in the trunk, and the saloon sole is a low-maintenance Everwear laminate under solid wood handrails that span the cabintop.

Rig and Handling

The 38 carries a seven-eighths fractional sloop rig on an anodized B&R double-spreader Selden mast with support struts and no backstay, which lets the mainsail carry a powerful roach. Most of her drive comes from that large main rather than the foresail, and the J measurement is a short 12 feet 1 inch. A stainless arch supports a Harken track and traveler at the cockpit, keeping the mainsheet clear of crew, while primary Lewmar 40 self-tailers and cabintop rope clutches manage the controls. In testing on the Chesapeake in five to ten knots of breeze, the boat sailed at 5 to 5.5 knots under full main and 105% headsail in five knots, rose to 7.5 knots when sheets were eased in ten, heeled only about ten degrees, and tacked through 85 to 90 degrees. The optional in-mast furling main reduces sail area by 148 square feet per the builder’s own literature, and the standard Furlex 200S furler rides 16 inches above the deck.

Accommodations

Practical Sailor judged the Owner’s Version aft stateroom the most commodious and well-laid-out seen on a boat this size, with a 78-by-60-inch berth, while a tri-cabin version splits the stern into two aft cabins. The saloon offers 6-foot-6 headroom, 70-inch settees with 15-inch backs spaced nine feet apart, and a 36-by-42-inch dining table. The L-shaped galley to starboard carries Corian counters, dual stainless sinks, a two-burner stove-oven, and a rail for the cook; a port nav station with a 20-by-18-inch chart table and a forward bulkhead for instruments sits opposite. The forward stateroom berth runs 86 inches on centerline and 80 at the head, with cedar-lined lockers. A single head serves both saloon and aft cabin with a 24-by-45-inch enclosed shower. Cockpit seating is generous: six-foot-long, 20-inch-wide settees around a 36-inch footwell, two stern pod seats, and a helm seat that rotates aft to close the stern steps into an entrance.

Known Issues

The cockpit’s major shortcoming is a lack of storage space, despite a small port locker for the holding tank, a second for two propane bottles, and an emergency hatch under the starboard seat. Below, the chart table extends so far aft that the navigator’s seat cannot be fully raised, a real ergonomic limit for passage work. These are layout compromises rather than structural faults.

Refits and Ownership

The headliner panels lift out with a Hunter-supplied tool to reach wiring and deck hardware, simplifying electrical refits. The engine box doubles as a fiddled vanity that exposes both sides and the back of the Yanmar when pulled, aiding service. The folding Edson wheel and deep companionway bins show the boat was conceived for manageable single-owner upkeep.

The Verdict

The Hunter 38 is a comfort-driven cruiser with a light heel, easy cockpit systems, and an outstanding owner’s aft cabin, let down by thin cockpit stowage and a compromised nav seat. She suits couples who prioritize living space and forgiving handling over racing edge.

Pros