Design Brief & Intent
The Globemaster 39 was built for the sailor who prioritized comfortable destination living over the journey itself. The interior joinery and fit-out reflect the practical, low-maintenance aesthetic of the 1970s, making heavy use of fiberglass liners interspersed with teak trim. While it lacks the hand-crafted, all-teak luxury of fine offshore yachts from the same era, it compensates with an incredibly open layout. The main cabin provides over six feet of headroom, a major selling point for liveaboards. The interior's design brief clearly targeted couples who wanted a permanent or semi-permanent winter home in the subtropics. The hull's construction is incredibly thick, laid up during an era when fiberglass was cheap and builders over-engineered laminate schedules out of caution.
Variations & Configurations
While primarily configured as a ketch-rigged center cockpit, the Globemaster 39's interior layout was highly progressive. The boat utilizes a hybrid walk-over and walk-through arrangement connecting the main salon to the master stateroom aft. This layout includes a private head for each stateroom, an expansive engine compartment situated directly beneath the cockpit floor, and a dedicated galley containing domestic-sized refrigeration and cooking appliances. To support its dual identity as a motorsailer, the builder installed oversized fuel tanks holding up to three hundred gallons of diesel, alongside a freshwater capacity of one hundred and sixty gallons. Propulsion configurations varied based on original owner specifications, ranging from standard Perkins or Lehman diesels delivering between 78 and 130 horsepower, which stood in stark contrast to the modest auxiliary engines found on standard 39-foot sailboats of the era.
Sailing Performance & Handling
From a sailing perspective, the Globemaster 39 must be evaluated through the lens of a motorsailer rather than a pure sailing yacht. Its Sail Area-to-Displacement ratio of 12.94 indicates a significantly underpowered sail plan that struggles to produce meaningful boat speed in light air without the assistance of its auxiliary diesel. The boat relies on its ketch rig to balance the helm and manage heel, but with a full keel and a draft of only 3.5 feet, it lacks the lateral resistance to point efficiently into the wind. Its Displacement-to-Length ratio of 164.7 indicates a relatively light displacement for a full-keeled boat of its overall length, meaning it does not carry the massive, momentum-driven inertia of heavier traditional cruisers. The Motion Comfort Ratio of 23.93 offers a reasonably stable ride in coastal chops, while its Capsize Screening value of 1.92 technically qualifies it for offshore passages, though its true strength lies in its ability to motor reliably through head seas and slide effortlessly over shallow sandbars.
Market Snapshot & Economics
Today, the Lindsey Globemaster 39 operates on the affordable margins of the brokerage market, appealing primarily to budget-conscious liveaboards, DIY restorers, and those seeking a comfortable pocket-trawler equivalent. Because of its vintage and the relatively small production run, hulls are scarce and rarely command a premium. Buyers should expect that purchase prices represent only an entry fee; the economics of refitting a boat of this age—specifically addressing old fuel tanks, aging engines, and deck delamination—will easily exceed the initial acquisition cost. However, for an owner prioritizing interior volume and shallow-draft capability, a well-surveyed Globemaster 39 represents excellent relative value compared to contemporary center-cockpit cruisers of the same era.
Known Issues & Triage
As with many production boats from the early 1970s, the Globemaster 39 is subject to age-related structural degradation. The primary concern during a pre-purchase survey is the deck, which utilizes a balsa core prone to water intrusion and rot around stanchion bases, chainplates, and the cockpit coaming. Additionally, the massive diesel fuel tanks are typically constructed of black iron or aluminum and are frequently glassed into the bilge or cockpit structure; replacing these corroded tanks is a labor-intensive project that often requires cutting out cabin sole sections. The Perkins and Lehman engines are legendary for their longevity, but potential buyers must inspect the cooling systems, exhaust risers, and engine mounts, which are prone to severe corrosion in damp, poorly ventilated engine bays. Finally, the steering system, which often relies on hydraulic runs or long mechanical linkages to bridge the center cockpit to the rudder, must be thoroughly inspected for wear and hydraulic seal failures.
The Verdict
The Lindsey Globemaster 39 is a classic example of a 1970s Florida-built motorsailer. It is not a boat for the performance-oriented purist, nor is it designed to beat to windward in an ocean gale. However, as a stable, shallow-draft liveaboard platform capable of crawling through the shallowest Bahamian anchorages with three hundred gallons of fuel on board, it offers a unique combination of utility and interior space that is difficult to find in more conventional designs.
Pros:
- Extremely shallow draft of 3.5 feet is perfect for Bahamas and coastal cruising.
- Massive fuel and water capacities provide incredible motoring range and liveaboard independence.
- Commodious center-cockpit layout features two private cabins, each with its own dedicated head.
- Solid, heavily built fiberglass hull withstands minor groundings and wear.
- Excellent engine room access beneath the cockpit for servicing large auxiliary diesels.
Cons:
- Poor sailing performance, particularly when pointing windward in light-to-moderate air.
- High risk of deck core rot around aging deck hardware and stanchion bases.
- Extremely difficult and invasive fuel tank replacement process.
- Sluggish maneuvering in tight marinas due to the long keel design and windage.
