Salona 38 Buyer's Guide
The Salona 38 has been on the brokerage market since its 2011 launch as the replacement for the Salona 37, built by AD Boats in Split, Croatia. A performance cruiser with a strong structural grid and IRC-oriented hull, it rewards buyers who want a stiff, light-air-capable 38-footer with a configurable interior. Shopping the used fleet means weighing layout history, common equipment, and a few construction details worth a close look before purchase.
Layouts on the Used Market
Owner three-cabin layouts are the more common on the used market, but both two- and three-cabin versions are available, and ex-charter examples are common. The original offerings were a two-cabin single-head, a two-cabin two-head, and a three-cabin single-head arrangement; the short cabintrunk and narrow coach house mean headroom is slightly reduced forward and at the saloon sides, so a buyer who stands tall should sit in each variant. The interior is a light wood space with a portside galley, opposite nav station, and a forward vee-berth that lifts for sail stowage.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Spinnaker, autopilot, and chartplotter are commonly fitted to used Salona 38s, supporting the boat’s performance-cruise brief. For power and energy, the standard 30 hp Yanmar saildrive with two-blade folding prop is usual, and a furling jib with below-deck drum is standard; a stubby bowsprit for a cruising gennaker appeared on test boats and is a sensible short-handed addition. Navigation is centered on the chartplotter and autopilot pair at the nav station. Comfort items center on the cockpit: twin wheels, a removable transom beam for water access, and a teak panel over the sole traveler that drops in for an unobstructed floor when cruising.
What to Inspect
The Salona 38 uses a stainless steel lattice integrated with the hull inner moulding to tie the shroud base, keel, and mast step, with massive keel bolts and a handlaid FRP monolithic-and-sandwich hull. Check the clear gelcoat below the waterline for laminate defects since it was applied for visual inspection. Note the single-skin slamming zone, which avoids core shear under heavy loads. The test boat showed oversized hinges and latches suggesting durability, but panel fit was variable, so inspect interior joinery closely.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These yachts typically appear in the United States, Croatia, Australia, Slovenia, and Türkiye. For a buyer, the checklist is simple: confirm the layout matches intended use (three-cabin ex-charter versus two-cabin owner), verify the keel-bolt and grid structure are sound, confirm the spinnaker and autopilot gear are operational, and inspect the below-water laminate through the clear gelcoat. A clean example offers a rare blend of race-oriented structure and cruising flexibility.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Salona 38. 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. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 25 | 3 | $86,767 | — |
| Jan 26 | 1 | $155,738 | +79.5% |
| May 26 | 1 | $133,043 | -14.6% |
| Aug 26 | 1 | $146,460 | +10.1% |
Where they're listed
Salona 38 listings appear across 5 countries. Australia has the most listings with 1 (20.0%), followed by Croatia and Slovenia.
Country view
5 listings · 5 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | $155,738 | 1 | 0 | 20.0% |
| Croatia | $69,298 | 1 | 0 | 20.0% |
| Slovenia | $86,767 | 1 | 0 | 20.0% |
| Turkey | $133,043 | 1 | 1 | 20.0% |
| United States | $146,460 | 1 | 1 | 20.0% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
6 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freedom 38 | 37.92' | $ 70,564 | 18 | 8 |
| Seaquest Yachts 38 | 38.06' | $ 81,106 | 12 | 5 |
| Northshore 38 | 37.99' | $ 51,323 | 11 | 0 |
| Salona 40 | 39.34' | $ 109,905 | 9 | 2 |
| Salona 41 | 41.01' | $ 164,033 | 8 | 1 |
| Salona 38You are here | — | $ 124,361 | 6 | 2 |