Design and Construction
Trident Marine built the Warrior 38 as a solid fiberglass hull with a fin keel of iron, and the boat's 13-foot beam gives her an l/b ratio of 2.92 — a relatively broad section for a 38-footer that keeps interior volume generous. With 8,250 pounds of steel ballast in an 18,750-pound displacement, the 44% ballast ratio and 1.96 capsize screening value place her firmly in the coastal-cruiser safety band. The wetted surface runs about 430 square feet, and the immersion rate of 1,720 pounds per inch means she settles meaningfully under load — a fact worth weighing against the 4.99-to-5.29-foot draft that the builder quotes as load-dependent and marina-friendly.
Rig and Handling
The cutter rig defines the boat's sail plan, and the specified sheet dimensions are unusually uniform: jib and genoa sheets both run 38 feet at 14 mm diameter, the mainsheet stretches to 95 feet at the same diameter, and the spinnaker sheet comes in at 83.6 feet. That consistency suggests a deck layout planned around shared winch and clutch sizing rather than bespoke leads for each sail. With a hull speed of 7.46 knots and a comfort ratio of 28.76, she is built to carry a cruising load at moderate pace.
Accommodations
The Warrior 38 is equipped with 8 berths, a count that implies a three-cabin-style interior with convertible saloon settees rather than a minimalist offshore bunk plan. Paired with 180 gallons of water and 50 gallons of diesel, the berth count and tankage sketch a boat intended for weeks aboard with a full crew rather than short-handed passage work. The 31-foot waterline under the 38-foot LOA gives a long-bodied hull that supports that volume without excessive overhang.
The Verdict
The Warrior 38 is a limited-production British cruiser with a sensible ballast-and-beam package and a practical cutter rig, but her short build run and load-sensitive draft mean a buyer is shopping a small, specific population of boats. She rewards the cruiser who wants volume and a proven sheet plan over the rareboat collector or the offshore purist.
Pros
- Broad 13-foot beam with 44% ballast ratio for stable cruising posture
- Cutter rig with standardized 14 mm sheet sizing across all sails
- 8 berths with 180 gal water and 50 gal diesel for extended crewed trips
- Load-dependent draft under 5.3 ft eases marina access
Cons
- Only 49 built across 1985–1987 limits fleet size and spares commonality
- 1,720 lbs/inch immersion means noticeable settle under cruising load
- Iron fin keel invites corrosion scrutiny absent in lead-keel peers
