Sweden 38 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the brokerage market for a Sweden Yachts 38 means choosing between two accommodation layouts, as charter four-cabin versions are the more common on the used market while both layouts remain available, and ex-charter examples are common. Built by Sweden Yachts from 1983 to 1990 with 85 hulls, the Norlin-designed 38 is a fiberglass masthead sloop whose keel choice — lead fin or iron wing — will shape every marina plan you make.
Layouts on the Used Market
The charter four-cabin configuration predominates among used Sweden Yachts 38s, a reflection of the ex-charter fleet that circulates in this model's brokerage pool, though the alternative layout is also to be found. The interior is made of mahogany across the range, and the sandwich hull-deck construction that improves indoor climate is common to all examples regardless of cabin count. Because the recorded sources do not detail berth plans, the practical distinction for a buyer is the four-cabin charter legacy versus the other layout's unknown arrangement, not a documented spec differential.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
On the used market, heating, spinnaker, radar, autopilot, chartplotter, teak decks, AIS, and life raft are commonly fitted to the Sweden Yachts 38. Less universal but seen as owner upgrades or less frequent fittings are solar, inverter, self-tacking jib, gennaker, asymmetric spinnaker, bow thruster, hot water, and cockpit shower. The boat's own specification includes a Volvo Penta MD2003 diesel of 28 hp on a saildrive and a masthead rig with documented halyard and sheet lengths, so any listed autopilot or chartplotter sits atop an already complete mechanical and rigging baseline.
What to Inspect
The Sweden Yachts 38 has been built with different keel alternatives, and the fin keel is made of lead while the wing keel is made of iron — verify which is fitted and inspect the solid-laminate keel-to-hull interface the builder used in high-stress areas. The hull and deck are of sandwich construction with balsa core from toe rail to below waterline, so the through-bolted aluminum toe rail and its sealing material deserve close attention for core exposure. No documented recurring defects beyond these construction-method consequences appear in the record, and the saildrive transmission should be surveyed as a matter of course for a 1980s installation.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
Typical markets for the Sweden Yachts 38 are the United States, Canada, Portugal, and Finland. For a buyer, the checklist is short and sourced: confirm keel type and draft against intended marinas; inspect the toe-rail core termination and keel-hull laminate; survey the Volvo Penta saildrive; and decide whether a common ex-charter four-cabin example or the less common alternative layout suits the intended use.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Sweden 38. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 5 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 25 | 1 | $ 35,900 | — |
| Nov 25 | 1 | $ 100 | -99.7% |
| Apr 26 | 1 | $ 21,785 | +21685.0% |
| May 26 | 2 | $ 69,717 | +220.0% |
| Jun 26 | 2 | $ 93,648 | +34.3% |
Where they're listed
Sweden 38 listings appear across 4 countries. United States has the most listings with 2 (40.0%), followed by Canada and Finland.
Country view
5 listings · 4 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $ 18,000 | 2 | 0 | 40.0% |
| Canada | $ 96,140 | 1 | 1 | 20.0% |
| Finland | $ 91,155 | 1 | 1 | 20.0% |
| Portugal | $ 21,785 | 1 | 0 | 20.0% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sabre 38 | 37.83' | $ 49,900 | 45 | 15 |
| Hallberg-Rassy 38 | 37.96' | $ 77,613 | 28 | 5 |
| Swanson 38 S&S | 38.25' | $ 75,131 | 16 | 6 |
| Ohlson 38 | 37.06' | $ 52,665 | 12 | 7 |
| Baltic 38 DP | 38.08' | $ 108,000 | 11 | 2 |
| Sweden Yachts 36 | 36.1' | $ 71,496 | 10 | 5 |
| Sweden Yachts 38You are here | — | $ 35,900 | 7 | 4 |