Seafarer 38 Ketch Buyer's Guide
The Seafarer 38 Ketch on the used market is a Philip L. Rhodes–designed cruiser first built in 1971 by Seafarer Yachts in the United States, offered over its production life also as the Rhodes 38, Seafarer 38 Ketch, and Seafarer 38C. These are traditional fiberglass monohulls of about 16,500 pounds displacement with a fixed modified long keel, a wheel-steered keel-mounted rudder, and a clipper bow with raised counter. Shopping one means understanding both the layout variety and the rig permutations that individual owners selected.
Layouts on the Used Market
Most boats accommodate six, with a double V-berth forward, a U-shaped settee around a drop-down table in the main cabin, and two single berths aft. The starboard-side galley just forward of the companionway ladder carries a three-burner stove, ice box, and double sink, with the navigation station opposite. The head sits aft of the bow cabin to port and includes a shower. Because the design was sold with optional sloop, cutter, or ketch rigs and short or tall mast options, the same hull can present very differently above the deckhouse.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
A short-handed setup is commonly fitted on these boats, meaning buyers should expect simplified sail-handling arrangements as a baseline rather than a rare retrofit. Beyond that, the most consequential inventory for a cruising buyer is the Perkins Engines 108 diesel, which provides the propulsion these heavy hulls need, and the generous factory tankage of 60 gallons fuel and 150 gallons water that supports off-grid living.
What to Inspect
The hull is a fiberglass construction with wood trim, and the keel is a fixed modified long type with a cutaway forefoot and keel-mounted rudder anchor. Prospective buyers should closely examine the wood trim where it meets fiberglass, especially around the clipper bow and raised counter transom, since those are the traditional decay points on a 1970s fiberglass cruiser with interior teak. Verify the rudder stock and hull-keel joint on the modified long keel, and confirm the specific rig configuration matches what the seller claims, as mast option and rig type varied by order.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These boats are typically found in the United States. For a shopper, the practical checklist is: confirm the actual rig and mast option, inspect wood trim and keel-rudder union, verify the Perkins diesel and tankage, and assess the short-handed sail-handling setup already in place.
- Confirm rig type and mast option before comparing boats
- Inspect wood trim at bow and transom for decay
- Check keel-mounted rudder and modified long keel joint
- Verify Perkins 108 diesel condition and 60/150 tank capacities
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Seafarer 38 Ketch. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 2 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 25 | 3 | $22,000 | — |
| Apr 26 | 1 | $22,000 | 0.0% |
Where they're listed
Seafarer 38 Ketch listings appear across 1 country. United States has the most listings with 1.
Country view
1 listings · 1 country| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $22,000 | 1 | 0 | 100.0% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
2 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nicholson 38 | 37.83' | $ 32,626 | 13 | 4 |
| Seafarer 38 KetchYou are here | — | $ 22,000 | 1 | 0 |