Design and Construction
The hull and deck are fiberglass, and both are of sandwich construction, a method the builder used to improve the indoor climate below sandwich construction. The interior is mahogany, consistent with many production yachts of the period. Two keel alternatives were offered: a lead fin keel drawing about 7.4 to 7.7 feet depending on load, and an iron wing keel that reduces draft to roughly 5.7 to 6.0 feet. The fin-keel version is restricted to major marinas by her draft, while the wing-keel variant can enter most marinas. The boat carries a 43% ballast ratio and a displacement-to-length ratio of 241, which places her among what one reference categorizes as "moderate racers." Her capsize screening value is 1.99 and her motion comfort ratio is 25.5, with an immersion rate of about 245 kg/cm (1,372 lb/inch).
Rig and Handling
The 38 is a masthead sloop with a sail area of 741 square feet on the ISO 8666 reference sail, yielding a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 18.4; with a 135% genoa that figure rises to 22.1. The wetted surface is about 462 square feet. Under power she makes 7.0 knots, driven through a Volvo Penta MD2003 diesel of 28 horsepower via a saildrive transmission. Her relative speed performance is listed at 62. The standing and running rigging follow period masthead proportions: halyards run about 120 feet at 1/2-inch diameter, the mainsheet is roughly 97 feet of 9/16-inch line, and genoa sheets are about 39 feet of 9/16-inch.
Accommodations
Below, the mahogany interior carries the finish language of a Scandinavian cruiser of the early Norlin years. The coachroof and deck are fiberglass; the cabin is framed in wood rather than molded liner styling. The sandwich hull and deck construction contributes to a steadier interior temperature. The 12-foot-8-inch beam and 38-foot-7-inch length provide a volume typical of a three- or four-cabin cruiser of the era.
The Verdict
The Sweden Yachts 38 is a thoughtfully engineered Norlin design that balances cruiser comfort with moderate-racer performance. The availability of fin or wing keels lets a buyer choose between offshore stability and marina access, and the sandwich construction was a deliberate choice for livability. She is not a lightweight, nor a dedicated racer, but her numbers describe a capable, well-balanced 38-foot cruiser.
Pros
- Sandwich hull and deck construction for improved interior climate
- Choice of lead fin keel or shallow iron wing keel
- Strong sail-area-to-displacement with 135% genoa (22.1)
- Mahogany interior consistent with quality Scandinavian build
Cons
- Fin-keel draft limits her to major marinas
- Moderate displacement and 241 D/L put her on the heavier side of "moderate racer"
