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Cape George 38
Designer: William Atkin/Cecil Lange  ·  Builder: Cecil Lange & Son (Usa)  ·  First built: 1985
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About the Cape George 38

Built from 1985 by Cecil Lange & Son, this traditional cruising sailboat represents a thoughtful interpretation of classic William Atkin design principles adapted for modern fiberglass construction. The Cape George 38 embodies the timeless appeal of full-keel cruising boats, offering sailors a blend of seaworthiness and comfort that has made it a respected choice among serious cruisers. The boat's long keel configuration and substantial 30,000-pound displacement create exceptional directional stability and sea-kindly motion in challenging conditions. With a ballast-to-displacement ratio providing excellent stability, the Cape George 38 tracks beautifully and maintains course with minimal helm attention. The cutter rig configuration offers versatile sail handling options, particularly valuable for offshore passages and heavy weather sailing. Notable for its impressive comfort ratio of 49.47, this design prioritizes motion comfort over pure speed, making extended passages more pleasant for crew. The conservative capsize screening formula of 1.49 reflects the boat's inherent stability and suitability for offshore work. While not a speed demon with its traditional underbody, the Cape George 38 delivers reliable performance and the confidence-inspiring characteristics that long-distance cruisers value most.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 38.00 ft / 11.58 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 35.00 ft / 10.67 m
Beam 11.58 ft / 3.53 m
Max Draft 5.17 ft / 1.58 m
Displacement 30,000.00 lb / 13,608 kg
Ballast 10,500.00 lb / 4,763 kg
Ballast Type Lead
Sail Area (Reported) 820.00 ft² / 76.18 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Long Keel
Rigging Type Cutter
Construction FG
Designer William Atkin/Cecil Lange
Builder Cecil Lange & Son (USA)
First Built 1985
Related Sailboats ["Cabo Rico 38" · "Island Packet 38" · "Ingrid 38" · "Little Harbor 38" · "Caliber 38"]
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Performance Ratios
PHRF Rating PHRF (Performance Handicap Racing Fleet) is a national racing handicap measured in seconds per nautical mile. Lower values indicate faster boats. Ratings are sourced from US Sailing's national database (median across 60+ regional fleets).
Under 0 — Ultralight racer0–90 — Performance racer90–150 — Cruiser/racer150–210 — Typical cruiserOver 210 — Heavy/slow cruiser
 159
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
 13.64
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
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
 312.37
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
 49.47
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
 1.49
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. 7.93 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
 1.39
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. 1,448.18 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. 13.64
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 47.00 ft / 14.33 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 19.00 ft / 5.79 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 43.25 ft / 13.18 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 17.25 ft / 5.26 m
SA Fore 446.50 ft² / 41.48 m²
SA Main 373.03 ft² / 34.66 m²
SA Total (100%) 819.53 ft² / 76.14 m²
Est. Forestay Length 50.70 ft / 15.45 m
Engine & Accommodations
Fuel Capacity 140 gals / 530 L
Water Capacity 135 gals / 511 L
How It Compares

vs. Ingrid 38, Island Packet 38, Little Harbor 38

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Cape George 38 ★
38.0 ft
Ingrid 38
38.0 ft
Island Packet 38
38.0 ft
Little Harbor 38
38.0 ft
LWL
Cape George 38 ★
35.0 ft
Ingrid 38
32.0 ft
Island Packet 38
33.0 ft
Little Harbor 38
31.0 ft
Beam
Cape George 38 ★
11.6 ft
Ingrid 38
11.3 ft
Island Packet 38
12.7 ft
Little Harbor 38
11.8 ft
Displacement
Cape George 38 ★
30 lbs
Ingrid 38
26 lbs
Island Packet 38
21 lbs
Little Harbor 38
20 lbs
Ballast
Cape George 38 ★
10 lbs
Ingrid 38
8 lbs
Island Packet 38
10 lbs
Little Harbor 38
8 lbs
Sail Area
Cape George 38 ★
820 sq ft
Ingrid 38
815 sq ft
Island Packet 38
870 sq ft
Little Harbor 38
739 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Cape George 38 ★
159 s/nm
Ingrid 38
213 s/nm
Island Packet 38
162 s/nm
Little Harbor 38
126 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Cape George 38 ★
13.6
Ingrid 38
14.9
Island Packet 38
18.1
Little Harbor 38
15.8
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Cape George 38 ★
35.0 %
Ingrid 38
30.8 %
Island Packet 38
46.5 %
Little Harbor 38
—
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Cape George 38 ★
49.5
Ingrid 38
46.9
Island Packet 38
32.7
Little Harbor 38
35.8
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Cape George 38 ★
1.49
Ingrid 38
1.53
Island Packet 38
1.83
Little Harbor 38
1.73
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Cape George 38 ★
312
Ingrid 38
354
Island Packet 38
267
Little Harbor 38
—
Hull Speed
Cape George 38 ★
7.9 kts
Ingrid 38
7.6 kts
Island Packet 38
7.7 kts
Little Harbor 38
7.5 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Cape George 38 ★
1.4
Ingrid 38
—
Island Packet 38
1.9
Little Harbor 38
1.6
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