Shannon 38 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the used brokerage market for a Shannon 38 means weighing a traditional full-keel offshore cruiser that 99 Shannon 38s were built between 1975 and 1984, with most carrying a cutter-ketch rig and a heavily built, semi-custom interior. These are not performance hulls but steady passagemakers, and the smart buyer focuses on the age-related weaknesses the design carries rather than cosmetic teak.
Layouts on the Used Market
Most Shannon 38s come in one of two interior plans with only minor variation, so the practical difference is stern volume: the 11-foot-6 beam does not carry far aft, trimming space in the rear cabins. Older boats typically show matched teak throughout with a standard teak-and-holly sole, and the galley sinks sit deep and close to centerline so they hold water when heeled. The fresh water stowage lies beneath the settee berths and the diesel tank beneath the quarterberth, with batteries also under the quarterberth; large cockpit lockers appear under one or both seats depending on the chosen layout. The bridgedeck is high enough to exit without pulling hatchboards in heavy weather.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Commonly fitted gear on the used fleet includes solar, bimini, dodger, heating, autopilot, chartplotter, teak decks, and radar. For buyer consequence, the power-and-energy cluster often pairs solar with an inverter and sometimes a wind generator, meaning you should verify house-battery capacity under the quarterberth. Canvas and sail-handling commonfits are bimini and dodger, while often-seen upgrades include bow thruster and dinghy davits for shorthanded docking and stern storage. Navigation is typically chartplotter and radar, with AIS only a less-common owner upgrade. Comfort upgrades often seen are air conditioning and a life raft, but a swim platform or spinnaker are infrequent additions.
What to Inspect
Over time the period-style teak hatches with frosted Plexiglas tops begin to seep, and the sea-hood leaks on older boats needing gasket rebuild anchor. The solid-teak toerail traps water while side-deck scuppers struggle in a big sea or heavy rain. The large cockpit needs better green-water drainage, and on some boats the diesel tank breather exits the cockpit seat side, flood-vulnerable if pooped. Cockpit lockers sealed with hollow-tubing gaskets still admit water occasionally. Above-waterline scupper through-hulls are PVC or nylon and brittle with age; the fuel tank sump collects contaminants pumped only via inspection hatch; engine access needs three teak pieces removed plus cockpit-locker rear entry. Parallel headstays chafe furling sails and can crack masthead welds.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
The Shannon 38 appears in the United States and Mexico. Check the sea-hood and hatch leaks, confirm scupper and cockpit drainage, test masthead welds and headstay chafe, verify bronze below-water through-hulls versus brittle PVC scuppers, and inspect fuel sump and engine-access teak.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Shannon 38. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 9 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 25 | 2 | $59,550 | — |
| May 25 | 2 | $39,000 | -34.5% |
| Aug 25 | 2 | $72,500 | +85.9% |
| Sep 25 | 4 | $78,725 | +8.6% |
| Jan 26 | 3 | $87,500 | +11.1% |
| Feb 26 | 2 | $39,900 | -54.4% |
| Mar 26 | 1 | $45,000 | +12.8% |
| Apr 26 | 1 | $45,000 | 0.0% |
| Aug 26 | 1 | $82,398 | +83.1% |
Where they're listed
Shannon 38 listings appear across 2 countries. United States has the most listings with 9 (81.8%), followed by Mexico.
Country view
11 listings · 2 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $59,000 | 9 | 0 | 81.8% |
| Mexico | $87,500 | 2 | 0 | 18.2% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
7 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Island Packet 38 | 38' | $ 99,000 | 56 | 22 |
| Cabo Rico 38 | 38' | $ 89,000 | 25 | 7 |
| Downeast 38 | 38' | $ 30,000 | 15 | 1 |
| Nicholson 38 | 37.83' | $ 32,633 | 13 | 4 |
| Shannon 38You are here | — | $ 73,674 | 12 | 1 |
| Kadey-Krogen 38 | 38.16' | $ 74,900 | 9 | 1 |
| Morgan 38 | 37.67' | $ 69,000 | 5 | 1 |