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Bently 38
Designer: Colin Archer/William Atkin  ·  Builder: Emerald Bay Trading Co (Taiwan)  ·  First built: 1977
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About the Bently 38

Based on the classic Colin Archer design and refined by William Atkin, this 38-footer represents traditional offshore cruising at its finest. Built by Emerald Bay Trading Company in Taiwan starting in 1977, the Bently 38 embodies the seaworthy characteristics that made Archer's Norwegian rescue boats legendary for their ability to handle heavy weather. The boat's substantial displacement of 28,000 pounds and long keel configuration with transom-hung rudder create exceptional tracking and directional stability, making it an ideal choice for serious offshore passages. With 10,000 pounds of ballast providing a solid foundation, the cutter rig offers versatile sail handling options crucial for extended cruising. The generous beam of 11.50 feet ensures comfortable accommodations below while maintaining the hull's sea-kindly motion. The impressive comfort ratio of 48.91 reflects the boat's motion characteristics in a seaway, while the capsize screening formula of 1.52 indicates good stability for offshore work. This is a yacht designed for sailors who prioritize seaworthiness and comfort over speed, perfectly suited for coastal cruising and ocean passages where reliability matters more than racing performance. The Bently 38 continues the proud tradition of full-keel cruising boats built for serious sailors.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 38.00 ft / 11.58 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 32.58 ft / 9.93 m
Beam 11.50 ft / 3.51 m
Max Draft 5.60 ft / 1.71 m
Displacement 28,000.00 lb / 12,701 kg
Ballast 10,000.00 lb / 4,536 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 838.00 ft² / 77.85 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Long keel w/trans. hung rudder
Rigging Type Cutter
Construction FG
Designer Colin Archer/William Atkin
Builder Emerald Bay Trading Co (TAIWAN)
First Built 1977
Related Sailboats Cabo Rico 38 · Ingrid 38 · Island Packet 38 · Downeaster 38 · Cape George 38
Owner Reviews

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Performance Ratios
SA/Displacement Sail Area to Displacement ratio measures how much sail power a boat has relative to its weight. Higher values mean more performance and speed.
Under 14 — Heavy cruiser, slow14–18 — Cruising sailboat18–22 — Cruiser/racerOver 22 — Performance racer
 14.6
Ballast/Displacement Ballast to Displacement ratio shows what percentage of the boat's total weight is ballast. Higher values generally mean better initial stability and stiffer sail carrying.
30–35% — Typical cruiser35–45% — Stiff performance boatOver 45% — Racing oriented
 35.71
Displacement/Length Displacement to Length ratio measures how heavy a boat is relative to its waterline length. Lower values mean a lighter, faster boat.
Under 100 — Ultralight racer100–200 — Light cruiser/racer200–300 — Moderate cruiser300–400 — Heavy cruiserOver 400 — Very heavy
 361.46
Comfort Ratio Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio predicts how comfortable a boat will feel in offshore conditions. Higher values mean a steadier, more comfortable motion in a seaway.
Under 20 — Uncomfortably rough20–30 — Acceptable coastal30–40 — Good offshore comfortOver 40 — Very comfortable offshore
 48.91
Capsize Screening Formula The USHS Capsize Screening Formula estimates offshore capsize risk. Lower is safer — values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing.
Under 2.0 — Safe for offshore2.0–2.2 — Borderline offshoreOver 2.2 — Coastal use recommended
 1.52
Hull Speed Hull Speed is the theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull, calculated from waterline length. Most cruising sailboats reach this speed in moderate conditions. 7.65 kn
S# (Speed Number) The Speed Number (S#) is a quick performance index. Higher values indicate a faster, more powerful design relative to its size.
Under 3.0 — Slow cruiser3.0–5.0 — Average cruiser5.0–7.0 — Performance cruiserOver 7.0 — Racer
 1.19
Pounds/Inch Immersion Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline. 1,338.74 pounds/inch
SA/Displacement (Calc) Calculated Sail Area to Displacement ratio using actual measured sail dimensions rather than reported values. More precise than the reported SA/Disp figure. 14.6
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 47.90 ft / 14.60 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 19.70 ft / 6.00 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 41.60 ft / 12.68 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 17.60 ft / 5.36 m
SA Fore 471.82 ft² / 43.83 m²
SA Main 366.08 ft² / 34.01 m²
SA Total (100%) 837.90 ft² / 77.84 m²
Est. Forestay Length 51.79 ft / 15.79 m
How It Compares

vs. Cabo Rico 38, Cape George 38, Downeaster 38, Ingrid 38, Island Packet 38

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Bently 38 ★
38.0 ft
Cabo Rico 38
38.0 ft
Cape George 38
38.0 ft
Downeaster 38
38.0 ft
Ingrid 38
38.0 ft
Island Packet 38
38.0 ft
LWL
Bently 38 ★
32.6 ft
Cabo Rico 38
29.3 ft
Cape George 38
35.0 ft
Downeaster 38
29.0 ft
Ingrid 38
32.0 ft
Island Packet 38
33.0 ft
Beam
Bently 38 ★
11.5 ft
Cabo Rico 38
11.5 ft
Cape George 38
11.6 ft
Downeaster 38
11.8 ft
Ingrid 38
11.3 ft
Island Packet 38
12.7 ft
Displacement
Bently 38 ★
28 lbs
Cabo Rico 38
21 lbs
Cape George 38
30 lbs
Downeaster 38
19 lbs
Ingrid 38
26 lbs
Island Packet 38
21 lbs
Ballast
Bently 38 ★
10 lbs
Cabo Rico 38
7 lbs
Cape George 38
10 lbs
Downeaster 38
8 lbs
Ingrid 38
8 lbs
Island Packet 38
10 lbs
Sail Area
Bently 38 ★
838 sq ft
Cabo Rico 38
—
Cape George 38
820 sq ft
Downeaster 38
735 sq ft
Ingrid 38
815 sq ft
Island Packet 38
870 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Bently 38 ★
—
Cabo Rico 38
180 s/nm
Cape George 38
159 s/nm
Downeaster 38
—
Ingrid 38
213 s/nm
Island Packet 38
162 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Bently 38 ★
14.6
Cabo Rico 38
—
Cape George 38
13.6
Downeaster 38
16.3
Ingrid 38
14.9
Island Packet 38
18.1
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Bently 38 ★
35.7 %
Cabo Rico 38
37.1 %
Cape George 38
35.0 %
Downeaster 38
—
Ingrid 38
30.8 %
Island Packet 38
46.5 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Bently 38 ★
48.9
Cabo Rico 38
—
Cape George 38
49.5
Downeaster 38
35.4
Ingrid 38
46.9
Island Packet 38
32.7
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Bently 38 ★
1.52
Cabo Rico 38
—
Cape George 38
1.49
Downeaster 38
1.76
Ingrid 38
1.53
Island Packet 38
1.83
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Bently 38 ★
361
Cabo Rico 38
374
Cape George 38
312
Downeaster 38
—
Ingrid 38
354
Island Packet 38
267
Hull Speed
Bently 38 ★
7.7 kts
Cabo Rico 38
—
Cape George 38
7.9 kts
Downeaster 38
7.2 kts
Ingrid 38
7.6 kts
Island Packet 38
7.7 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Bently 38 ★
1.2
Cabo Rico 38
—
Cape George 38
1.4
Downeaster 38
1.3
Ingrid 38
—
Island Packet 38
1.9
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