Design and Construction
The hull shares its fundamental keel pattern with the smaller Northshore 33, though the 38 benefits from a lead filling rather than the iron ballast used in its sibling. Build quality reflects a yard attentive to longevity. Post-1984 hulls were moulded using vinyl ester resin in the first layer or received a full vinyl ester lay-up, a detail that helps explain why these boats are noted for their resistance to osmosis. The hull-to-deck join is FRP strapped with 12-ounce cloth run from stem to stern, while interior moulds and bulkheads are tabbed to the hull with eight-ounce cloth. All plywood specified is marine grade or structural ‘A’, and the keel bolts, nuts, and washers are fabricated from 316L stainless steel. The builder claims that all 110 Northshore 38s and 380s produced since 1983 are still sailing, a statement that speaks to the robustness of the original engineering.
Rig and Handling
The standard cruising configuration employs a deck-stepped, single-spreader, 3/4–7/8 rig with anodised spars sourced from Yachtspars in Brisbane. Most boats feature end-boom mainsail sheeting with the traveler positioned just ahead of the wheel. One tester remarked that the hull and keel shapes make the boat very easy to steer in heavy conditions, adding that getting one to broach isn’t easy. One tester found the taller-rigged boats somewhat tender in stiff breezes, though a ‘shoe’ fitted to the keel of some examples stiffened them up quite a bit. For those seeking a sharper edge, the NSX38 sporting variant was built using the same hull moulds but with the shallow skeg blanked off to reduce wetted surface, and it carries a keel-stepped, double-spreader mast, a slimmer-profile 2.25m-draft keel, a spade rudder, and tiller steering. The reviewer found the NSX38 best handled by experienced crew, while the standard NS38 was an easy boat to sail two-handed.
Accommodations
The interior arrangement has proven remarkably enduring, carrying over fundamentally unchanged from the NS38 to the subsequent Northshore 380. The layout runs a forward double vee-berth, a port-side dinette, a shower and head compartment, and a galley, with a starboard navigation station and an aft quarter berth completing the plan. A full headliner moulding runs through the cabin, joined by teak strip trims, while natural light enters through a forward deck hatch, a head hatch, and two cabin windows—three cabin windows are standard on the 380, and later model boats also incorporate a hull prism on each side. An aft double berth option became available from 1990 until 1995, though only four or five boats were built with it, making the configuration a rare find. The absence of a port-side quarter berth on the standard layout creates a huge cockpit locker, and the cockpit itself is large enough to accommodate six people in comfort, with many boats adding stern seats on the pushpit for two more. One tester found there is plenty of room for a family of four.
Known Issues and Refits
Osmosis concerns are mitigated by the widespread use of vinyl ester resins, and post-1995 boats were sold with a five-year warranty against osmotic blistering. All Sydney Yachting Centre examples have an epoxy primer beneath the original anti-fouling as an additional barrier. On the mechanical side, auxiliary power evolved across the production run: standard fitment from 1983 to 1986 was a 20hp Bukh with a shaft-mounted folding propeller, upgraded to a Bukh 24hp in 1987, then succeeded by a Volvo 28hp with either a shaft or saildrive from 1988 to 1994. A ready supply of parts remains available, including the possibility of having hull sections specially formed to facilitate rapid damage repair. Owners of earlier plain-transom boats can retrofit the post-1989 boarding ladder stern by ordering an infill from the factory and cutting out a section of the transom.
The Verdict
The Northshore 38 is a capable coastal cruiser with the build integrity to stretch its legs on longer journeys, and its sea-keeping ability makes it ideal for such work. The evolution into the 380C and 380 Sports after the moulds were bought by Sydney Yachting Centre in 1995 retained the original concept while revising specifications and expanding the equipment list. The 380C, which the builder describes as more of a cruiser that is more easily handled by a couple, detunes the rig slightly with a shorter, deck-stepped mast and a higher boom, while the 380 Sports retains the NSX38’s underwater profile and a twin-spreader, keel-stepped mast, though the builder claims it is less tender than the NSX38.
Pros
- Seakindly, easily driven hull that resists broaching and steers well in heavy conditions
- High standard of construction with vinyl ester resin, 316L stainless steel keel bolts, and robust FRP tabbing
- Practical, enduring interior layout with a large cockpit and excellent locker space
- Parts availability remains good, including factory support for hull repairs and stern modifications
Cons
- Taller-rigged standard boats can feel tender in stiff breezes without a keel shoe modification
- The NSX38 sporting variant demands an experienced crew to unlock its potential
- The desirable aft double berth layout is extremely scarce, appearing on only a handful of hulls
