Trintella 38 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the used Trintella 38 means looking at a van de Stadt–designed, limited-production fiberglass sloop from the mid 1970s, with under 100 built. These are not common boats, so a buyer is choosing a specific example rather than comparing dozens, and the design's heavy-cruiser character should guide what you check and what you expect aboard.
Layouts on the Used Market
Every Trintella 38 shares the same fundamental plan: two cabins, six berths, and above-average headroom. The hull's length-beam ratio of 3.12 makes the interior roomier than most similar 38-foot designs, and the fixed tankage is generous at 264 gallons of fresh water and 92 gallons of fuel. Because production was small, you will not find multiple layout variants — what changes between boats is equipment and condition, not the accommodation footprint.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
On the used market these yachts commonly carry heating, solar, an inverter, bow thruster, freezer, hot water, radar, autopilot, and chartplotter — a suite that signals owners fitted them for independent cruising. For a buyer, that cluster means a boat already prepared for living aboard: power from solar and inverter, thrust for tight marina work, and navigation ready for passage planning. Less commonly seen are owner-added items beyond that baseline, so judge each boat on the condition of those systems rather than expecting exotic gear.
What to Inspect
Confirm the draft of 6.23 to 6.53 feet dependent on load, since that range affects where she can berth. Check the shaft-drive diesel installation and the 38 hp rating, and inspect the solid fiberglass hull for the wear expected on a 1970s molded boat. The fin keel attachment and skeg-hung rudder are points worth close survey attention given the draft and wetted surface of about 409 square feet.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
Trintella 38s typically appear in Croatia, Germany, and the Netherlands. For a buyer, the short list is: verify the draft and tankage, survey the keel and rudder, confirm the common cruising equipment is operational, and accept the ultra-heavy cruiser profile (displacement-length 401, comfort above 95 percent of peers) as the boat's true character rather than a deficit.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Trintella 38. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 2 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 25 | 2 | $99,566 | — |
| Apr 26 | 2 | $47,969 | -51.8% |
Where they're listed
Trintella 38 listings appear across 3 countries. Croatia has the most listings with 2 (50.0%), followed by Germany and Netherlands.
Country view
4 listings · 3 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Croatia | $47,969 | 2 | 0 | 50.0% |
| Germany | $107,717 | 1 | 0 | 25.0% |
| Netherlands | $91,414 | 1 | 0 | 25.0% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
3 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hallberg-Rassy 38 | 37.96' | $ 96,742 | 30 | 7 |
| Laurent Giles 38 | 38.83' | $ 51,122 | 11 | 4 |
| Trintella 38You are here | — | $ 89,085 | 4 | 0 |