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Br 38
Designer: Bergstrom & Ridder  ·  Builder: Trinity Marine (Swe)  ·  First built: 1994
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About the Br 38

Designed by the renowned Swedish firm Bergstrom & Ridder and built by Trinity Marine in 1994, this unique 38-footer represents an intriguing one-off project that showcases innovative Scandinavian yacht design. The swing keel configuration makes this boat particularly appealing for sailors seeking versatility in their cruising grounds, allowing access to shallow anchorages and beachable options that traditional deep-draft boats cannot reach. With its fractional sloop rig and fiberglass construction, the Br 38 balances performance with practical cruising capabilities. The generous beam of 12.63 feet provides excellent interior volume and stability, while the substantial ballast-to-displacement ratio ensures good sailing characteristics even with the retractable keel system. The boat's comfort ratio of 10.46 suggests a motion that falls into the ultralight category, indicating lively performance in lighter conditions. This design appears well-suited for coastal cruising and gunkholing, where the swing keel's versatility truly shines. The moderate sail area and reasonable displacement suggest civilized handling characteristics, making it appropriate for both experienced sailors and those looking to explore diverse cruising grounds. As a one-off build, this represents a rare opportunity to own a distinctive yacht with Swedish pedigree and practical shallow-water capabilities.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 38.42 ft / 11.71 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 36.74 ft / 11.20 m
Beam 12.63 ft / 3.85 m
Max Draft 8.86 ft / 2.70 m
Min Draft 3.77 ft / 1.15 m
Displacement 7,385.00 lb / 3,350 kg
Ballast 3,770.00 lb / 1,710 kg
Ballast Type water + lead
Sail Area (Reported) 790.00 ft² / 73.39 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Swing Keel
Rigging Type Fractional Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Bergstrom & Ridder
Builder Trinity Marine (SWE)
First Built 1994
Number Built 1
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
33.44
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
51.05
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
66.48
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
10.46
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
2.6
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. 8.12 kn
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. 1,658.02 pounds/inch
How It Compares

vs. Catalina 385, First 38S5 Beneteau, X 382

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Br 38 ★
38.4 ft
Catalina 385
38.5 ft
First 38S5 Beneteau
38.3 ft
X 382
38.5 ft
LWL
Br 38 ★
36.7 ft
Catalina 385
33.5 ft
First 38S5 Beneteau
31.3 ft
X 382
31.8 ft
Beam
Br 38 ★
12.6 ft
Catalina 385
13.3 ft
First 38S5 Beneteau
12.3 ft
X 382
12.3 ft
Displacement
Br 38 ★
7 lbs
Catalina 385
17 lbs
First 38S5 Beneteau
14 lbs
X 382
14 lbs
Ballast
Br 38 ★
3 lbs
Catalina 385
6 lbs
First 38S5 Beneteau
4 lbs
X 382
6 lbs
Sail Area
Br 38 ★
790 sq ft
Catalina 385
720 sq ft
First 38S5 Beneteau
670 sq ft
X 382
702 sq ft
Performance
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Br 38 ★
33.4
Catalina 385
17.4
First 38S5 Beneteau
18.1
X 382
19.1
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Br 38 ★
51.1 %
Catalina 385
40.0 %
First 38S5 Beneteau
33.4 %
X 382
43.1 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Br 38 ★
10.5
Catalina 385
First 38S5 Beneteau
23.7
X 382
23.3
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Br 38 ★
2.60
Catalina 385
First 38S5 Beneteau
2.03
X 382
2.02
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Br 38 ★
66
Catalina 385
201
First 38S5 Beneteau
210
X 382
198
Hull Speed
Br 38 ★
8.1 kts
Catalina 385
First 38S5 Beneteau
7.5 kts
X 382
7.6 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Br 38 ★
Catalina 385
First 38S5 Beneteau
2.7
X 382
3.0
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