Northeast 38-1 Buyer's Guide
Shopping for a Northeast 38-1 on the used market means chasing one of the rarer early-Tripp cruisers: only 20 were built between 1962 and 1965 by Le Comte in the Netherlands, as the fin-keel first edition of a line that later ran through Mk II and Mk III revisions. The boat you find will be a masthead sloop of 38.25 feet overall with a 26.67-foot waterline, 10.92-foot beam, and 16,000-pound displacement carried on 6,000 pounds of lead ballast — a medium-weight cruiser by the numbers, with a reported 590 square feet of sail and a practical, varnished interior.
Layouts on the Used Market
The 38-1 keeps to the period Tripp arrangement: a V-berth forward, a main cabin with a drop-leaf table and settees to either side, and the navigation table and galley placed at the foot of the companionway. Owners have described the cockpit as large and the interior as warm, and the classic varnished finish is a defining used-market trait rather than a refit anomaly. Because the 38-1 predates the Mk II and Mk III changes to hull, transom angle, and keel shape, the boat you inspect should show the original fin-keel hull rather than the later long-keel Mk III form.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Heating is commonly fitted on these boats, a reflection of their use as nostalgic cruisers in cooler climates. A spinnaker is sometimes seen or appears as an owner upgrade rather than standard equipment, consistent with the boat's masthead-sloop rig and 590 square feet of baseline sail area. Beyond those qualitative tiers, expect the period galley and nav-station footprint at the companionway and the original Airex-cored deck over a solid fiberglass hull.
What to Inspect
Documented series evolution shows that minor changes in the hull and transom angle occurred across the Northeast 38 versions, so confirm the 38-1 you examine matches its own fin-keel specification rather than a later altered keel shape. The keel shape was altered between generations and different rudders were offered, meaning a 38-1 should retain its original fin keel and not a Mk II or Mk III rudder swap unless clearly disclosed as a refit. LeComte-Holland built about 60 of the Northeast 38 boats across all marks, but only 20 of the 38-1 specifically, so verify hull identity against the 1962–1965 build window and the fin-keel Type record before assuming parts commonality with later models.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
The typical market for the Northeast 38-1 is the United States. Given the 20-unit production and 1962–1965 span, this is a boat you locate through persistence rather than volume.
- Confirm fin-keel hull matches the 38-1 spec, not later Mk II/Mk III alterations
- Verify build year (1962–1965) and Le Comte in the Netherlands builder identity
- Expect heating as a common fit; treat spinnaker as an occasional or owner upgrade
- Budget for period varnished-interior upkeep and Airex-cored deck inspection
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Northeast 38-1. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 4 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 25 | 1 | $49,200 | — |
| Sep 25 | 1 | $42,900 | -12.8% |
| Apr 26 | 1 | $42,900 | 0.0% |
| May 26 | 1 | $42,900 | 0.0% |
Where they're listed
Northeast 38-1 listings appear across 1 country. United States has the most listings with 3.
Country view
3 listings · 1 country| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $42,900 | 3 | 0 | 100.0% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
4 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Downeast 38 | 38' | $ 30,000 | 15 | 1 |
| Shannon 38 | 37.75' | $ 73,674 | 12 | 1 |
| Morgan 38 | 37.67' | $ 69,000 | 5 | 1 |
| LeComte 38-1You are here | — | $ 42,900 | 3 | 0 |