Design and Construction
Jones laid down the Prima 38 in the late nineties as a light racer, and the numbers bear that out: her displacement-length ratio of 146 places her among light racers, with 88% of comparable sailboat designs heavier than she is anchor. The hull and deck are hand-laid fiberglass, solid rather than cored, and the interior is finished in teak. With a length-to-beam ratio of 3.04 she is beamier than 73% of similar designs, which gives her more room below than most rivals of her size. Her ballast-to-displacement ratio sits at 44.26% with 5,952 pounds of lead on the bulb, and the wetted surface runs about 538 square feet. The immersion rate of roughly 1,496 pounds per inch means she settles noticeably under load, and that load sensitivity shows up directly in her draft, which varies about 8.2 to 8.5 feet depending on what she is carrying.
Rig and Handling
The 9/10 fractional carbon rig drives a sail plan of roughly 956 square feet, and the standing and running dimensions are generous: mainsail, jib-genoa, and spinnaker halyards all run about 130 feet of 1/2-inch line, while sheets are 14 mm, with the mainsheet alone at 95 feet. The deep draft and light displacement give her a theoretical hull speed of 7.9 knots and a logged engine speed of 7.0 knots under the Yanmar diesel through a saildrive. She carries a capsize screening value of 2.10, which by the review's standard would bar her from ocean racing anchor, yet she also holds CE Class A Ocean certification when few are aboard. Her motion comfort ratio of about 19.6 to 20.1 is more comfortable than only 14% of similar designs, so she is a lively rather than a soft-riding hull.
Accommodations
Below, the teak interior takes advantage of the beamy hull, and the three-cabin owner layout and four-cabin charter version both appeared in the series. The 53-gallon water capacity and 16-gallon diesel tank reflect the racer-cruiser compromise: enough to cruise, not enough to wander far without attention to replenishment. The deep draft limits her to major marinas, which is a real constraint for the cruising she is otherwise certified to attempt.
Known Issues
The most concrete limitation is the capsize screening value of 2.10, which the review states would not be accepted for ocean racing anchor. The known facts center on performance classification rather than physical failure.
Refits and Ownership
With only 25 built and a carbon rig, the Prima 38 is a low-volume boat whose owners tend to keep her well. The saildrive transmission and deep bulb keel are the two items that will dominate any major service conversation, and the variable draft under load means rig tuning and load planning matter more than on a heavier cruiser.
The Verdict
The Prima 38 is a specialist's boat: a light, beamy, carbon-rigged cruiser-racer with ocean certification but a screening value that bars her from sanctioned ocean racing. She rewards a knowledgeable owner with space and speed, and punishes carelessness with draft and load sensitivity.
Pros
- Beamier and roomier than most similar 38-foot designs
- Light racer hull with carbon 9/10 rig and 956 sq ft of sail
- CE Class A Ocean certification for extended voyages
Cons
- Capsize screening value of 2.10 excludes her from ocean racing
- Deep 8.2-8.5 foot draft limits marina access
- Motion comfort ratio better than only 14% of similar designs
