Jeanneau Gin Fizz 38 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

The Gin Fizz stretches 11.4 meters overall on a 32-foot waterline, and at the beam she is generous — 12 feet, 6 inches — holding that width well forward and especially well aft. That volume comes at the cost of headroom: the sleek profile is a result of relatively low freeboard and an almost flush deck, which limit standing room to just about six feet below. The hull itself is solid fiberglass laminate, while the deck is balsa cored, and Jeanneau did a good job of using end-grain balsa and isolating potential delamination with resin edges. Hull and deck meet on a flange, and in addition to bolts and chemical bonding agents the joint was also fiberglassed, while bulkheads are tabbed to the hull and furniture facings. Floors were wood, glassed over, and the hull support system is robust. The keel was an iron section, coated with epoxy and externally fastened, though the exposed keel bolts in the bilge were slathered in fiberglass, making them inaccessible. The rudder is wood sheathed in a thin layer of glass, carried on a beefy stainless steel stock, with a molded skeg supporting the shaft strut.

Rig and Handling

Early Gin Fizz boats were almost all ketches, and later models were sloops, with the ketch carrying slightly more sail area but not enough to warrant the clutter in the cockpit. The original, deck-stepped Isomat spar may show spider cracks at the base, and the cabintop may be a tad depressed, so the maststep area deserves a careful look. The mainsheet and traveler run across the cockpit along the main companionway bridgedeck, while the primary winches are a good stretch from the helm — a layout that leaves the boat not well set up for singlehanded sailing. On ketch versions the mizzenmast sits just in front of the helm, reducing the excellent visibility that the low-slung deckhouse otherwise gives. With its almost high-aspect rig the Gin Fizz is fairly close-winded, but it makes a lot of leeway, negating any advantage of pinching up. The hull shape will definitely pound when beating, especially in a seaway, yet it feels solid in the water and the helm is well balanced. The ketch rig provides more options in heavy weather, and with a reefed mizzen and storm jib the boat can stand up to dirty weather; owners report one example averaged 120 miles a day on a four-year circumnavigation, making 5 knots day in and day out.

Accommodations

The most striking feature is the cockpit — huge, yet working for both coastal and offshore cruising, and dry despite the modest freeboard. The helm station includes a good-sized wheel, and the seat doubles as the bridgedeck for the aft cabin companionway. The tiny aft cabin is only reached from the cockpit and consists of a double berth, a hanging locker and a few shelves; the berth is comfortable in a position where the motion is easy, with the off watch a moment away from the cockpit. Below, the main companionway is wide with broad steps. The relatively small galley to starboard features two absurdly small sinks, a good-sized stove and oven, and a poorly insulated ice box. Opposite sits a large navigation desk big enough to lay an unfolded chart on. The saloon has a centerline table with fold-up leaves making a C-shaped dinette to port, though the settees lack cushion backs, using only small upper rests. The head is to port and can be expanded across the cabin for elbowroom, while the forward V-berth is not overly large. Interior joinerwork is average, usually flat mahogany, and can seem a bit dark below.

Known Issues

The main bulkhead may show delamination and should be carefully sounded. Keel bolts should be inspected, or better yet X-rayed, given their inaccessibility under fiberglass. The rudder should be checked for water and delamination, and the original nylon rudder bearings tended to swell when the boat was left out of the water for a long time. Hull blisters appear random — some boats have them, others never. The interior fabric used for headliners and locker faces gives a clean look but does not hold up well. The original Perkins 4108 or 4107 engine was seawater-cooled and will likely be a rusted remnant by now.

Refits and Ownership

Molded pieces were not used in the interior; fabric was used for headliners and locker covers, and the original floorboards were glassed-over plywood with carpeting above. The water tank is usually a bladder under the quarterberth, and two opening hatches provide just adequate ventilation. Engine access is decent behind the large companionway steps, but moving those steps is a challenge, and the stuffing box is tough to reach from the limited quarter-berth side access. The large external chain locker houses considerable ground tackle. Jeanneau's molded nonskid has held up well on old boats still inspected.

The Verdict

The Gin Fizz is a thoughtfully built cruiser that trades headroom and solo-handling ease for volume, seakeeping, and a cockpit that works. Its construction details — flanged and glassed hull-deck joint, isolated balsa deck, robust floors — speak to a serious offshore intent, while the ketch option and reaching performance suit long passages. Buyers should budget for engine replacement, fabric refresh, and careful structural sounding.

Pros