Design and Construction
Crown Marine built the OE 38 with a solid-fiberglass hull and deck. The underwater profile combines a fin keel with a skeg-hung rudder.
Overall length is 38 feet 2 inches, while the 10-foot-8-inch beam gives a length-to-beam ratio of 3.58. Displacement is 14,330 pounds, with roughly 6,173 pounds of lead ballast and a ballast ratio of 43 percent. Wetted surface is about 365 square feet. A displacement-length ratio of 248 places the OE 38 among moderate racers.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
The fractional sloop rig carries 656 square feet of sail, producing a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 17.79. The original specification lists uniform sheet dimensions: jib and genoa sheets run 38.2 feet at 14 mm diameter, the mainsheet stretches to 95.6 feet, and spinnaker sheets to 84.1 feet, all at 0.55-inch diameter.
The fin keel draws between 5.91 and 6.21 feet, depending on load, restricting the boat to major marinas. The theoretical hull speed is 7.3 knots.
A capsize screening value of 1.76 and a Motion Comfort Ratio of 29.3 describe a stable, reasonably easy boat in a seaway.
Known Issues
The load-dependent draft of 5.91 to 6.21 feet has put lesser harbors out of reach. That’s a marina-access limitation rather than a defect. No structural defects or systems faults appear in the available material.
The Verdict
The OE 38 is a quietly competent Enderlein design. Its published metrics—including a 43 percent ballast ratio, a 17.79 SA/D, and a 1.76 capsize screen—point to a stable cruiser-racer, built by Crown Marine in solid fiberglass. The scarcity of hulls remains the defining fact of ownership.
Pros
- Solid-fiberglass hull and deck construction
- Stable offshore profile according to capsize-screen and comfort-ratio metrics
- Moderate-racer displacement-length ratio suited to lively handling
Cons
- Load-dependent draft limits the boat to major marinas
- Only a few hulls exist, complicating parts sourcing and knowledge sharing
