Design and Construction
Northshore Yachts built the Southerly 38 as a solid-fiberglass hull and deck cruiser with an iron ballast keel of the wing type, carrying 8,381 pounds of ballast against a 21,872-pound displacement for a ballast-displacement ratio near 38 percent. The beam measures 13 feet on a 39-foot-3-inch overall length, with a 36-foot waterline that supports a hull speed around 8 knots. The swing-keel arrangement gives a maximum draft of 8.5 feet and a raised minimum of 2.67 feet, the mechanism behind the boat's claimed deep-draft sailing and shallow harbor access. Jones gave the 38 twin rudders and twin helms, a deliberate configuration for the modern Stephen Jones–era airfoil swing-keel models.
Rig and Handling
The fractional sloop rig carries 770 square feet of sail area, enough for a sail-area-displacement ratio of 15.75 and a lively response under canvas. Self-tacking jib geometry simplifies the business of sailing, and the mainsheet traveler tag lines are led to both of the twin helms so the driver works the main from either wheel without leaving the quarter. The twin-rudder footprint, combined with the deep keel when lowered, gives the boat dependable directional control when heeled, while the raised keel and 2.67-foot draft let her lie in places a fixed-keel 38 cannot reach.
Accommodations
Belowdecks the raised saloon delivers a panoramic view of the outside to those inside, and the saloon itself is full of natural light, a direct consequence of the elevated deckhouse structure. Northshore offers a choice of wood trim and allows some modifications to the basic layout, so no two owner boats read identically below. The plan places a V-berth cabin forward and another double cabin aft, with the galley positioned to port of the companionway and Southerly's trademark elevated nav desk to starboard. The settees are set up to be sea berths, making the main cabin usable in a seaway rather than only at anchor.
Refits and Ownership
The builder's offered layout modifications mean a used boat may show owner- or factory-driven changes to the basic plan, and the choice of wood trim lets each boat present a different interior tone. The swing-keel hydraulics and twin-rudder steering represent the systems most likely to reward proactive owner attention over an ownership span, given their central role in the boat's defining shallow-draft capability.
The Verdict
The Southerly 38 is a considered answer to a specific brief: a 38-foot cruiser that sails like a deep-draft boat yet tucks into shallow harbors, wrapped around a bright raised saloon and a twin-helm, self-tacking rig that short-handed crews can manage. Jones's twin-rudder hull and Northshore's niche experience give it a coherent identity rather than a compromise hull.
Pros
- Swing keel delivers deep-draft performance and 2.67-foot raised draft for harbor access
- Twin rudders and twin helms with mainsheet led to both wheels
- Raised saloon with panoramic view and naturally bright interior
- Self-tacking jib and sea-berth settees suit short-handed cruising
Cons
- Swing-keel and twin-rudder systems add mechanical complexity absent on fixed-keel cruisers
- Layout modifications mean used boats vary from the basic plan
