Southerly 38 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the brokerage market for a Southerly 38 means looking at a Stephen Jones–designed swing-keel cruiser built by Northshore Yachts from 2008 onward, a raised-saloon 38-footer that trades fixed-keel simplicity for shallow-draft reach and twin-helm handling. These boats surface in the United Kingdom market, and the right example rewards a buyer who understands the swing-keel mechanism and the raised-saloon layout before committing.
Layouts on the Used Market
The Southerly 38 carries a V-berth cabin forward and a double cabin aft, with the cooking area set to port just inside the companionway and an elevated nav desk to starboard, a layout Northshore allowed some owners to modify from the basic plan. The raised saloon fills with natural light and gives those below a panoramic view outside, while the settees double as sea berths. Buyers will see variation in wood trim and minor layout changes, so judge each boat on its own configuration rather than a single spec sheet.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Most boats on the market carry a chartplotter, autopilot, and electric winches as standard cruising kit, often paired with a short-handed setup that suits single- or couple-owned boats. Canvas typically includes a dodger and bimini, with teak decks and a cockpit shower commonly fitted. For power and energy, a wind generator and watermaker appear on many boats, and a bow thruster is a common aid given the twin-helm maneuvering profile. Sail handling usually shows a furling main, self-tacking jib, and an asymmetric spinnaker or code zero for light-air range, with a bow thruster rounding out close-quarters control.
What to Inspect
The defining systems are the swing keel and the twin rudders, since the boat's shallow-draft access depends on a keel that raises to 2.67 feet and lowers to 8.5 feet without binding or leakage. Northshore built the hull and deck in solid fiberglass with iron wing ballast, so inspect the keel pivot and hydraulic actuation for wear. The twin-rudder hangings and the steering leads to both helms should be cycled to confirm free movement.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
Southerly 38s are found in the United Kingdom market. A buyer's checklist: confirm keel raise/lower function and check rudder bearings; verify the self-tacking jib and furling main operate cleanly; assess layout modifications against your own cruising plan; confirm electric winches, autopilot, and chartplotter are operational; and inspect teak decks and canvas for wear. The right boat offers deep-draft sailing with shallow harbor access in a bright, twin-helm package.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Southerly 38. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 6 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 25 | 1 | $304,862 | — |
| Sep 25 | 2 | $308,142 | +1.1% |
| Oct 25 | 2 | $337,664 | +9.6% |
| Nov 25 | 2 | $294,921 | -12.7% |
| Jan 26 | 1 | $287,620 | -2.5% |
| May 26 | 1 | $324,744 | +12.9% |
Where they're listed
Southerly 38 listings appear across 1 country. United Kingdom has the most listings with 5.
Country view
5 listings · 1 country| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | $304,862 | 5 | 0 | 100.0% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
11 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bavaria Yachts C38 | 37.34' | $ 299,000 | 84 | 15 |
| Beneteau Oceanis 38 | 37.73' | $ 160,000 | 74 | 22 |
| Dehler 38 | 38.71' | $ 235,170 | 57 | 17 |
| Moody S38 | 39' | $ 91,459 | 33 | 8 |
| SOUTHERLY 100 | 33.75' | $ 34,883 | 16 | 2 |
| X-Yachts Xc XC 38 | 37.99' | $ 302,362 | 13 | 4 |
| Southerly 32 | 32.71' | $ 161,676 | 12 | 5 |
| Northshore 38 | 37.99' | $ 50,629 | 11 | 5 |
| Southerly 35 RS | 35.5' | $ 139,176 | 9 | 2 |
| Endeavour 38 | 38.25' | $ 46,125 | 8 | 4 |
| Southerly 38You are here | — | $ 304,862 | 5 | 0 |