Design Brief & Intent
The primary design brief of the Admiral 38 was to offer a liveaboard catamaran that felt and operated like a much larger vessel. When compared to major European production catamarans of the era, the Admiral 38 stood out for its structural solidity and rich interior finish. Lavranos designed the hulls to be relatively full in cross-section to maximize interior volume and load-carrying capacity, a critical factor for long-term cruisers who tend to overload lighter hulls. Despite this volume, the design retains a sleek, low-profile cabin trunk and exceptionally smooth hull lines that minimize windage.
Step inside, and the vessel's liveaboard focus becomes immediately apparent. Unlike the sterile, mass-produced fiberglass and thin-veneer interiors of some competitors, the Admiral 38 features robust hand-finished wood joinery, solid timber accents, and polyurethane painted interior surfaces rather than cheap laminates. The "galley-up" layout in the saloon is highly functional, placing the cook on an equal social footing with the rest of the crew while providing panoramic views. The saloon offers over six feet of headroom and connects seamlessly to a well-protected cockpit, creating an expansive social space that benefits from the boat’s beam.
Variations & Configurations
The Admiral 38 was offered in two primary configurations: the Owner’s (or Executive) version and the Charter version. The Executive version is highly prized by cruising couples, featuring a three-stateroom, two-head layout. In this configuration, the starboard hull is entirely dedicated to the owner’s suite, boasting a massive fore-and-aft double berth that eliminates the need to climb over a partner to exit. The port hull contains two guest staterooms sharing a central head. The Charter version utilizes a symmetrical four-cabin, two-head layout, maximizing berths for commercial operations.
In terms of propulsion, the boats were equipped with dual inboard diesel engines—typically Yanmar or Volvo Penta units ranging from 18 to 40 horsepower—coupled to sail drives tucked into the aft cabins. Rig options consist of a powerful fractional sloop configuration. While the standard sail plan relies on a fully-battened mainsail and a roller-furling genoa, many offshore owners opt for a bowsprit setup to fly a screecher or an asymmetric spinnaker for improved downwind performance. The boat's draft is remarkably shallow, utilizing low-aspect-ratio twin mini-keels that draw between two feet nine inches and three feet seven inches depending on load, allowing the boat to navigate shallow reefs that would turn back deep-draft monohulls and heavier catamarans 1.
Sailing Performance & Handling
The sailing dynamics of the Admiral 38 are defined by a high-power fractional rig and an easily driven hull shape. With a sail area to displacement ratio of 25.56, the vessel is notably responsive in light to moderate winds, defying the sluggish reputation of many similarly sized cruising catamarans. Off-the-wind performance is impressive, with the boat capable of reaching speeds well into the double digits under spinnaker, yet it remains easily manageable single-handed, with lines led aft to a centralized cockpit helm station.
A displacement to length ratio of 173.44 places the Admiral 38 in the light-to-moderate displacement category, which translates to quick acceleration and high-velocity surfing down ocean swells. At the helm, the boat feels balanced and predictable. Its capsize screening ratio of 3.69 reflects a wide beam that provides immense initial stability, ensuring the boat remains stiff and level even when pressed hard. The motion in a seaway is characterized by a comfort ratio of 10.41, which, while typical of catamarans in this size class, can feel quick or jerky compared to a heavy displacement monohull. However, the boat’s high bridgedeck clearance—measuring over two feet—substantially reduces the under-wing pounding and wave slamming that plagues many smaller, low-clearance cruisers.
Market Snapshot & Economics
On the brokerage market, the Admiral 38 occupies a unique niche as a high-value, blue-water capable catamaran that often trades at a relative discount compared to more widely known brands. Because Admiral Yachts was a lower-volume builder compared to industry giants, many buyers overlook the model, allowing astute sailors to purchase a high-quality, hand-built South African cruiser at a sensible price point.
The economics of buying an Admiral 38 generally favor the buyer, but the age of these vessels means refit costs must be factored in. Because the boat was built to high standards, the structural bones are typically solid, meaning capital is better spent on modernizing systems rather than rebuilding structural components. A buyer should budget for sail drive servicing, rigging replacement, and electronics modernization, but they will likely end up with a highly capable ocean voyager for a fraction of the cost of a modern production catamaran.
Known Issues & Triage
While the hulls of the Admiral 38 are robustly constructed with solid hand-laid fiberglass laminate below the waterline to resist impacts, the decks and topsides utilize a vacuum-bagged 19mm end-grain balsa core. The core provides excellent thermal insulation and structural stiffness, but it represents the primary structural risk for this model. Over time, deck hardware, stanchion bases, cleats, and the windlass can suffer from compromised bedding. If water penetrates the fiberglass skin, it can rot the underlying balsa core, leading to soft spots and delamination. A meticulous marine survey using a hammer sounding test and moisture meter is mandatory. Remedying wet balsa involves drilling out the affected area, scraping away the compromised wood, and filling it with epoxy or recoring the section.
Additionally, the sail drives must be scrutinized. Like all aluminum sail drives, they are highly vulnerable to galvanic corrosion if the sacrificial anodes are neglected, or if there is stray electrical current in the marina. The rubber hull-penetration diaphragms have a manufacturer-recommended lifespan of seven years, and replacing them requires splitting the engine from the drive leg, a task that demands significant mechanical expertise and labor.
Early models also exhibited minor rigging and commissioning issues. The main halyard routing and masthead sheaves can be prone to excessive friction and chafe, especially when hoisting a large, fully-roached mainsail. Upgrading to low-friction ball-bearing blocks and high-modulus Dyneema halyards resolves this issue.
Modernization & Upgrades
Modern owners of the Admiral 38 have focused heavily on electrical self-sufficiency. The expansive cockpit hardtop bimini and wide, flat aft deck sections provide an ideal platform for high-output solar arrays. It is common to see retrofitted setups boasting between 1000W and 2000W of marine-grade solar panels. This massive solar generation is typically paired with a modern lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) battery bank of 400Ah to 800Ah, allowing owners to run high-load appliances like watermakers, induction cooktops, and even localized air conditioning units directly from the inverter without relying on a diesel generator.
Other popular upgrades include replacing older, complex refrigeration systems with efficient 12V direct-expansion units and swapping aging halogen lighting for LEDs to reduce parasitic electrical draw. Auxiliary propulsion systems have also seen upgrades; many owners choose to replace original fixed propellers with folding or feathering props, which significantly reduces drag while sailing and improves astern thrust and maneuverability under power in tight marinas.
The Verdict
The Admiral 38 remains an exceptional choice for cruising families or couples seeking a blue-water capable, comfortable, and well-designed multihull without paying the premium commanded by modern luxury brands. Designed by Angelo Lavranos and built to withstand the rigors of the South Atlantic, it balances ocean-going safety with liveability in a way few modern production catamarans under 40 feet can match. While the balsa-cored decks require careful inspection, a well-maintained or properly refitted Admiral 38 is an outstanding value-for-money cruiser ready to take its crew anywhere in the world.
Pros:
- Exceptional bridge deck clearance minimizes under-wing pounding in head seas.
- Highly stable and secure in offshore conditions due to a wide beam and generous hulls.
- Responsive sailing performance with an excellent sail area to displacement ratio.
- Beautiful, robust hand-crafted South African joinery and finish quality.
- Extremely shallow draft ideal for navigating reef-strewn and shallow cruising grounds.
- Generous saloon and galley headroom of six feet four inches.
Cons:
- Balsa-cored decks are vulnerable to core rot and delamination if hardware bedding is neglected.
- Complex sail drive maintenance and susceptibility to galvanic corrosion.
- Motion can feel quick and active compared to traditional heavy displacement monohulls.
- Limited brand recognition can make parts sourcing or model-specific support more challenging than for mass-market brands.
- Interior and rigging systems on early models may require significant updating to meet modern cruising standards.
