Design and Construction
The 38 carries a 37-foot-4-inch waterline inside a 12-foot beam, with a displacement reported anywhere from 18,600 to 26,400 pounds and a displacement-to-length ratio near 422, giving it the bone-deep heft of a voyaging hull. The keel is the literal conception of a full keel, and the hull is solid fiberglass with, as period reviews noted, a great deal of it. The low-aspect ketch rig carries just 567 square feet of sail on that 30-foot-4-inch waterline, with a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of about 10.7—modest by any performance measure, but consistent with a boat built for steadiness rather than speed. Wooden spars were fitted, and the deck carries a wide 3-1/2-inch caprail of unvarnished teak that owners found subject to abrasion, along with protruding chainplates mounted on the outside of the hull.
Rig and Handling
Owners consistently rate the 37/38 as slow upwind and only average off the wind, and one owner put it more directly by warning that the boat is very slow. The tradeoff is comfort: the easy motion and the very stiff, solid, dry and stable platform drew praise, and most owners say the boat balances well, with one 1982 owner reporting four hours to windward without helm adjustment. Given the ketch rig and long keel, the design should be hard to knock off a course, and under power owners report good maneuverability with the standard three-blade prop. Late-1970s boats used a Volvo MD3B diesel, while later models moved to the Yanmar 3QM30H, with owners indicating slightly higher satisfaction on reliability and access.
Accommodations
Below, the 38 makes use of its 12-foot beam with a V-berth forward, a head with shower, a convertible dinette and extension berth in the saloon, an aft galley to port and a quarter berth to starboard. Headroom runs from 6 feet 4 inches to an astonishing 6 feet 8 inches. The Taiwanese build style is everywhere in the joinery, with doors, louvers and knick-knacks in plenty, plus interior teak carvings of five-clawed Chinese dragons, poppy flowers and Dr. Fu Manchu. Ventilation is good, with seven portlights and two skylights. One owner noted the icebox is too big, tough to reach into, and does not drain well.
Known Issues
Practical Sailor's owner surveys recorded several systemic problems. Some models built in the 1970s used plywood cabins that rotted, which gave the builder a bad name. The boats used gate valves instead of proper sea cocks, and the turnbuckles were poor quality. The cable steering system relied on poor-quality sheaves, and the rudder stock had inadequate support. Wiring drew complaints, including the engine starter connected directly to a single battery. The exhaust system was poorly designed in a way that could lead to engine damage. The wide unvarnished teak caprail and exterior chainplates were both vulnerable to abrasion over time.
The Verdict
The Island Trader 38 is a heavily built, traditionally styled cruiser that trades speed for a calm, stable, self-steering motion suited to long passages and liveaboard use. Its faults are concentrated in aging systems and fittings rather than the hull itself, and a careful buyer can address most through targeted upgrades.
Pros
- Solid, dry, very stiff and stable platform with easy motion
- Balances well and holds course without frequent helm input
- Generous headroom and stowage for the length
- Traditional ketch rig and full keel for voyaging character
Cons
- Very slow, especially upwind
- Gate valves rather than sea cocks; weak steering and rudder support
- Plywood cabins on some 1970s hulls rotted
- Poor-quality turnbuckles, sheaves, wiring and exhaust design
