Yankee 38 Sailboats for Sale

Drawing Diagram

Builder drawing

Hull Type

Monohull · fin

Rig

Masthead Sloop

LOA

38.17' · 11.63 m

Disp.

16,000 lbs · 7,257 kg

First year

1972

The Yankee 38 stands as the sophisticated, highperformance zenith of Yankee Yachts’ brief but illustrious history. Designed by the legendary firm Sparkman & Stephens (Design 2050), the boat was conceived during the height of the International Offshore Rule (IOR) era as a competitive OneTonner. While many IOR designs of the early 1970s were criticized for being "rulebeaters" with eccentric handling, the Yankee 38 was celebrated for balancing racing prowess with the robust, highquality construction that founder John Schumaker demanded. It is a vessel that captures a specific moment in American yachting: the transition from traditional craftsmanship to the performancedriven geometries of modern ocean racing. After Yankee Yachts shuttered in 1975, the molds for this hull were famously acquired by Frank Butler of Catalina Yachts, where it was rebranded as the Catalina 38 and enjoyed a prolific production run, though purists often argue that the Yankeebuilt hulls featured superior fiberglass work and more opulent interior joinery.