Maine Cat 38 Ls-E Buyer's Guide
The Maine Cat 38 Ls-E on the used market is a 38-foot cruising catamaran from Maine Cat, designed by Dick Vermeulen around slender daggerboard hulls and a simple, short-handed ethos. Built from 2013 onward, these boats appeal to buyers who want flat, fast sailing without the genset-and-air-conditioning load of heavier cruising cats. Shopping one means weighing the light-build virtues against the narrow-hull limits on tankage and gear.
Layouts on the Used Market
Every example places all accommodations and the galley down in the two hulls, with an open bridgedeck merging cockpit and saloon. The port hull holds an inline galley with a three-burner stove and no oven; a double berth sits aft in each hull, a narrow double forward of the galley, and a single head in one hull. The design is not intended to sleep more than five, and cabin spaces are separated by drapes rather than doors. The saloon has huge windows and the hulls carry large windows above the sheerline for ambient light, with fore-and-aft hatches for ventilation. Access is via a pair of sliding hatchways.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Power and energy systems are a key buyer consideration: solar panels and lithium batteries are commonly fitted, backed by an inverter and often a heating system, while a code zero or screacher is a common off-wind sail addition and a self-tacking jib is standard. Navigation and autopilot gear including radar and AIS are commonly fitted, and dinghy davits appear commonly as well. Often-seen upgrades include electric winches, hot water, a swim platform, trampoline, and a chartplotter. The standard rig takes a removable sprit for an A-sail, and the single helm with Edson wheel keeps controls close.
What to Inspect
Inspection should focus on the known design limits. The narrow hulls lack the buoyancy to carry heavy equipment or big tankage, so verify any added weight against the boat's reserve lack the buoyancy to carry heavy equipment. The standard twin 9.9hp outboards mount in wells and tilt up; in a 25-knot steep chop at 80 percent throttle they made barely over 3 knots and broke free on every third crest, so test the motors in a seaway if possible. Daggerboard trunks and retract mechanisms, plus the Core-Cell/vinylester hull and deck, should be checked for previous impact or repair.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These boats are typically found in the United States. For a buyer, the checklist is short: confirm the hulls are unmodified and lightly loaded, exercise the daggerboards and outboard tilt, verify the solar and lithium energy setup if living aboard, and sail her with main and jib plus boards down since she tacks poorly under main alone. A well-kept Ls-E rewards the sailor who values speed and simplicity over capacity.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Maine Cat 38 Ls-E. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 5 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 25 | 2 | $492,000 | — |
| Aug 25 | 1 | $535,000 | +8.7% |
| Sep 25 | 1 | $295,000 | -44.9% |
| Jan 26 | 1 | $449,000 | +52.2% |
| Apr 26 | 1 | $295,000 | -34.3% |
Where they're listed
Maine Cat 38 Ls-E listings appear across 1 country. United States has the most listings with 2.
Country view
2 listings · 1 country| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $372,000 | 2 | 0 | 100.0% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
7 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Excess 11 | 37.17' | $ 462,222 | 132 | 33 |
| Robertson and Caine 38 | 37.5' | $ 219,000 | 47 | 16 |
| Fountaine Pajot Mahe 36 | 36.19' | $ 195,000 | 37 | 3 |
| FP Athena 38 | 38.05' | $ 141,910 | 31 | 2 |
| Catana Catamarans 47 | 47' | $ 575,000 | 27 | 10 |
| Freedom 38 | 37.92' | $ 71,150 | 18 | 7 |
| Maine Cat 38 Ls-EYou are here | — | $ 295,000 | 3 | 0 |