Design and Construction
The IMX 38 carries a fiberglass hull as built by X-Yachts, though her hull is actually a Divinycell-cored sandwich laid up by the Danish yard, which the builder's own spec notes as improving the cabin's indoor climate while keeping seasonal maintenance to a minimum hull is a sandwich construction. At 11,795 pounds displacement with 6,173 pounds of lead in the bulb, her 52% ballast ratio is higher than 96% of comparable sailboat designs, and her displacement-length ratio of 176 places her firmly among "light racers," with 82% of similar designs weighing more. The length-beam ratio of 3.09 makes her roomier than 66% of her peers, a consequence of a 12-foot-1-inch beam spread over a 31-foot-1-inch waterline. A wet-surface area of about 430 square feet and an immersion rate near 1,311 pounds per inch round out a hull that is slender in proportion yet voluminous inside.
Rig and Handling
She is built with a masthead rig carrying an estimated 37.3-foot jib and genoa sheet run at half-inch diameter, a 93.3-foot mainsheet, and an 82.1-foot spinnaker sheet, all sized for a 910.95-square-foot sail plan driven by a 28-horsepower Volvo Penta diesel. Under power the calculated maximum is about 6.3 knots, while her theoretical hull-speed maximum as a displacement hull of this length is 7.5 knots. The capsize screening value of 2.11 indicates she would not be accepted to participate in ocean races, and her Motion Comfort Ratio of 19.9 to 20.3 is more comfortable than only 14% of similar designs — a stiff, quick platform biased toward sheltered-water performance rather than offshore passage-making.
Accommodations
The IMX 38 is equipped with a galley and a toilet facility, consistent with her cruiser-racer brief. The sandwich hull's climate benefit and the beam-driven interior volume give her livability above the median for a 38-foot performance design, though the sources quantify the space in comparative ratios rather than berth counts or cabin plans.
Keel Options
The IMX 38 was built with different keel alternatives. One draws 6.53 to 6.83 feet depending on load, while the fin keel with bulb variant draws 6.96 to 7.26 feet; both restrict her to major marinas. The bulb fin and high ballast fraction define her righting character and her draft profile for any prospective berth.
The Verdict
The IMX 38 is a Jeppesen-designed light racer with a cored hull, a high ballast ratio, and a roomy beam for her length, built in small numbers by X-Yachts before 2000. She rewards a sailor who wants stiffness and space over ocean-race eligibility or soft motion.
Pros
- Ballast ratio higher than 96% of similar designs
- Roomier than 66% of comparable 38-foot designs
- Divinycell sandwich hull with low seasonal maintenance
- Multiple keel options including a bulb fin
Cons
- Capsize screening value excludes ocean-race acceptance
- Comfort ratio better than only 14% of similar boats
- Deep draft limits her to major marinas
- Fewer than 100 built, so sparse brokerage availability
