Design and Construction
The S38 has a pronounced sheer and high topsides, which help keep the decks dry. Compared with the centre-cockpit Moody 38, the beam was carried farther aft. This increased form stability and created room for a decent aft cabin. Despite its more streamlined profile, the hull was also slightly beamier than the 38CC.
Below the waterline, the S38 used a lighter build, shallower bilges, fine underwater lines and a lengthy 32.5-foot waterline. Together, these features gave it moderate performance rather than outright speed. The yard offered deep- and shoal-fin keel options, both paired with a high-aspect, semi-balanced rudder supported by a sturdy half skeg. Every hull was built to Lloyd’s specifications and Moody’s usual standards.
Rig, Performance and Handling
The standard masthead rig provided a reasonably generous sail area. It carried a 130% furling genoa, while the coachroof-mounted mainsheet was easy to reach around the smallish wheel. The primary winches were also well within reach of the helm, and all reefing controls and the kicker led aft to coachroof winches and clutches, making the boat reasonably easy to sail single-handed.
Test sailors found the S38 responsive and powerful, yet still manageable hard on the wind with 24 knots over the decks. The steering felt positive, though not especially light until the boat found its groove. Off the wind, she was moderately quick by modern cruising standards and held her course with few helm changes.
The Sport version had a taller, fractionally rigged double-spreader mast and additional sail area. That was what it took to put the S38 firmly into the sports-cruiser class. A displacement-to-waterline ratio of 242 and sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 15.4 placed the standard boat in the moderate-performance band. She was a step ahead of the older Moody 38, but even with the tall rig carried less sail than the sportier Sweden Yachts 390 and Finngulf 38.
Accommodation
The aft-cockpit layout allowed the saloon to sit farther aft than it did in the 38CC. Buyers could choose either a large aft owner’s suite or twin double cabins. In the owner’s layout, an emergency escape hatch opened into the cockpit above the far side of the aft berth.
In the main cabin, a U-shaped dinette to starboard converts into a double berth. Opposite is a straight settee measuring 1.94m, including the trotter box. Headroom is a healthy 1.90m.
The wraparound galley was equipped for long-term cruising, with a full-size cooker, deep twin sinks and a deep fridge. A forward-facing chart table sits to port, with a smallish wet locker beside the engine room. Two heads were a real boon for owners of a 38-footer.
The main compromise is access below. The high bridge deck results in very steep companionway steps—almost a ladder—so care is needed when going below.
Known Issues
Some early hulls suffered delamination, cracking and bulging on the coachroof above the forward heads-compartment bulkhead. Similar problems appeared over the aft bulkheads, where the bulkhead itself did not seem to fit properly.
The same early boats also showed delamination or bulging around the anchor-locker drain and on the topsides below the stanchion bases. These were teething problems, quickly corrected as the production run progressed.
Verdict
The Moody S38 succeeded as the marque’s first aft-cockpit performance cruiser. Dixon gave Moody a lighter, drier and more athletic 38-footer, with aft-cabin volume that earlier centre-cockpit Moodys couldn’t match within the same hull length.
It remains a moderate-performance cruiser rather than a racer. It’s manageable for a short-handed crew, but buyers should be aware of the bulkhead, deck and topside defects found on early boats, which were resolved mid-run.
Pros
- Aft-carried beam provides form stability and a roomy aft cabin
- High topsides and pronounced sheer help keep the decks dry
- Rig and controls are well arranged for single-handed sailing
- Lloyd’s-specification construction
- Choice of deep- or shoal-fin keel
Cons
- Some early hulls suffered coachroof and topside delamination around bulkheads and fittings
- High bridge deck creates a steep, ladder-like companionway
- Sail plan is modest compared with the true sports cruisers of its era
