Design and Construction
The hull is a fiberglass monohull with wood trim, built on a fixed modified long keel with a cutaway forefoot and a keel-mounted rudder steered by a wheel anchor. The topsides carry a clipper bow and a raised counter with an angled transom, a profile that signals her designer's pedigree more than any specification sheet could. She draws 4 feet 6 inches, which keeps her manageable in shallow anchorages without sacrificing the directional stability a long-keel cruiser is expected to deliver. The 33-percent ballast-to-displacement ratio and 1.65 capsize screening value put her in the steady, seakindly class of coastal and offshore cruisers.
Rig and Handling
Although the model title names her a ketch, the underlying design was offered with a masthead sloop rig as standard, and either a cutter or ketch rig as options, with short or tall masts available and a bowsprit offered on the cutter anchor. The sloop sail plan shows a total area of about 489 square feet, split between a 218-square-foot mainsail and a 270-square-foot jib or genoa, on a foretriangle of 36.8 feet hoist by 14.7 feet base. A hull speed of 7 knots frames her as a boat that reaches her stride under moderate canvas rather than screaming offwind. The wheel-steered, keel-rudder arrangement and the cutaway forefoot give her a predictable, forgiving helm in the close-quarters maneuvering that defines day-to-day cruising.
Accommodations
Below, the Seafarer 38 sleeps six. A double V-berth occupies the bow cabin, while the main cabin holds a U-shaped settee around a drop-down table for meals and lounging. Two single berths fill the aft cabin, giving a cruising family or couple with guests clear separation of sleeping spaces. The galley sits to starboard just forward of the companionway ladder and is fitted with a three-burner stove, an ice box, and a double sink; opposite it on the starboard side is the navigation station. The head is placed just aft of the bow cabin on the port side and includes a shower, a layout that keeps wet gear and daytime traffic away from the forepeak sleeping area.
Tankage and Power
The boat carries 60 U.S. gallons of fuel and 150 U.S. gallons of fresh water, generous capacity that supports extended stays away from shore. Propulsion comes from a Perkins Engines 108 diesel, a robust unit suited to the boat's displacement and tankage for long passages or extended gunkholing.
The Verdict
The Seafarer 38 is a thoughtfully laid-out cruiser that pairs traditional long-keel manners with practical accommodation for six and serious tankage for her size. The variety of rig options means no two boats are identically equipped, but the core design is a steady, comfortable passagemaker.
Pros
- Clipper bow and raised counter profile
- Sleeps six with separated bow, main, and aft berths
- Large water and fuel capacity for a 38-foot cruiser
- Forgiving keel-and-wheel steering with cutaway forefoot
Cons
- Fixed modified long keel limits shallow-water access versus fin-keel rivals
- Rig configuration varies widely by individual boat, complicating comparisons
