Maine Cat 38 Ls-E Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

The Maine Cat 38 is built around a thermo-formed Core-Cell PH foam core, with hull and deck laminates infused using 100 percent vinylester resin. Before infusion, the yard heats the Core-Cell to 165 degrees Fahrenheit in an infrared oven. This allows a tighter, more accurate fit for the laminate while avoiding the excess resin weight typical of a PVC-core build.

The hulls have sharp, tumblehome bows and a dramatic reverse sheer. Each hull reaches a maximum beam of 6 feet but measures just 3 feet 2 inches at the waterline. Kept light, the boat maintains a 12:1 length-to-beam ratio. The fine entry and narrow hull form give it an easy, predictable motion in light chop, while flared chines and radiused topsides provide reserve buoyancy if the boat is overloaded. Even so, the narrow hulls limit capacity for heavy equipment and large tanks.

An “LS” version reduces weight by 600 pounds by removing some woodwork. Both hulls have daggerboards, and the chainplates are mounted outboard of the arched side decks, leaving a clear path along the foredeck.

Rig, Handling, and Sailing Performance

The rig consists of a double-spreader Seldén aluminum mast with wire rigging and a self-tacking jib on a Seldén furler. The mainsheet traveler spans the aft end of the cockpit, placing the sheet controls beside the helm.

All sail controls lead to a single inside helm station aft of the saloon’s forward bulkhead. A pair of winches and a bank of clutches keep the halyards, headsail controls, and daggerboard lines within easy reach. An optional removable sprit carries an A-sail, and owners can add a screacher or code zero for off-wind sailing.

Under working sail in 12 knots true, with the wind just aft of abeam, test sailors easily reached 7.8 knots. A 14-knot gust pushed the boat past 8 knots, while another trial produced typical reaching speeds of 9 to 10 knots. She tacked easily with the main, roller-furling headsail, and both daggerboards down, although she struggled to tack under main alone.

During a New Jersey delivery with the wind aft in the 20s, the designer recorded a peak of 16.4 knots and a steady 11–14 knots SOG under jib and reefed main.

Cockpit and Accommodations

The boat has an open bridgedeck design that combines the cockpit and saloon into one space. Large saloon windows bring in plenty of light, supplemented by hull windows above the sheerline. Opening hatches forward and aft provide ventilation, and a pair of sliding hatchways lead down into the hulls.

All living spaces sit in the two hulls. To port, an inline galley has a three-burner stove but no oven. Each hull has an aft double berth, while a narrow double berth sits forward of the galley. The single head is forward of the amidships open space in the starboard hull.

The layout is intended for no more than five people. Drapes rather than doors divide the cabins, reinforcing the boat’s emphasis on low weight and simplicity over privacy. One reviewer praised the combination of white gelcoat and cherry veneer used throughout.

Power and Propulsion

Standard auxiliary power comes from twin 9.9hp long-shaft outboards mounted in wells. Power trim and tilt are controlled from the helm throttles, and the engines retract when not in use, reducing drag. Torqeedo electric pod drives are also available.

With optional 15hp outboards, the test boat reached 7.3 knots at 3,700 rpm and more than 8 knots at 4,400 rpm. In flat water, the standard 9.9hp engines easily produced 6 to 7 knots. Their limitations became clear in rougher conditions: motoring into 25 knots of wind and a steep 3-foot chop at 80 percent throttle, they managed just over 3 knots and lost thrust on every third wave.

Verdict

The Maine Cat 38 Ls-E is a purpose-built fast cruising catamaran that trades creature comforts and heavy equipment for low weight, narrow-hull speed, and simple short-handed operation. Its thermo-formed core and infused construction keep the structure light, while the daggerboards, self-tacking jib, and helm-centered controls make 9- to 10-knot reaching routine for a couple or solo sailor.

Those priorities come with clear compromises. Payload buoyancy is limited, accommodation partitions are minimal, and the standard outboards provide modest power in a seaway.

Pros

Slender 12:1 hulls and Core-Cell/vinylester construction support light, fast cruising
Self-tacking jib and helm-centered controls suit short-handed sailing
Open bridgedeck offers abundant natural light and ventilation
Daggerboards and retracting outboards reduce drag under sail

Cons