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Performance

Cross 38 Performance

How the Cross 38 performs on the water — racing handicap, sail-carrying power, stability and comfort.

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The Cross 38 is with a quick, snappy motion best suited to day sailing.

Hull Speed

The theoretical displacement-mode speed limit — determined by waterline length, not engine or sail power.

8.0 kts
A displacement hull pushes a bow wave whose speed is limited by the waterline length. With a waterline of 35.3′, the Cross 38 tops out around 8.0 knots in displacement mode — after that, the bow wave outruns the hull and resistance climbs steeply.
1.34 × √35.3′ LWL = 8.0 kts

Performance Ratios

Racing handicap, sail-carrying power, stability and comfort — and what each one actually tells you about a day on the water.

Displacement / Length
106
Ultralight — responsive and fast, but carries less stores.
Comfort Ratio
7.3
Quick, snappy motion — better for day sails and racing than long passages.
Capsize Screening
3.99
Above the 2.0 offshore threshold — best suited for coastal and protected waters.
Hull Speed
8.0kts
Pounds/Inch Immersion
17lbs
Weight needed to sink the hull one inch — loading sensitivity.

Motion & Offshore Suitability

Two ratios that matter most when you're planning passages — how the boat feels in a seaway, and whether the hull geometry is suitable for open ocean.

Comfort Ratio
7.3
Quick, snappy motion — better for day sails and racing than long passages.
Under 20 — Snappy, racing motion
20–30 — Acceptable coastal
30–40 — Good offshore comfort
Over 40 — Very comfortable offshore
Capsize Screening Formula
3.99
Above the 2.0 offshore threshold — best suited for coastal and protected waters.
Under 2.0 — Acceptable for offshore
Over 2.0 — Coastal / protected waters

PHRF Fleet Position

Where the Cross 38 sits on the PHRF handicap spectrum — lower numbers mean faster boats.

Racer 0–90
Cruiser/Racer 90–150
Cruiser 150–210
X 382 78s/nm
Catalina 380 120s/nm
Island Packet 37 168s/nm
Pearson 385 180s/nm

How It Compares

Side-by-side with the boats most often cross-shopped against the Cross 38.

Cross 38 Catalina 380 Catalina 385 Island Packet 37 Pearson 385 X 382
Dimensions
LOA 38.4 38.4 38.5 38.6 38.3 38.5
LWL 35.3 32.4 33.5 31.0 30.0 31.8
Beam 21.8 12.3 13.3 12.2 11.6 12.3
Displacement 10 19 17 18 20 14
Ballast 6 6 8 9 6
Sail Area 723 720 800 615 702
Performance
PHRF 120 168 180 78
SA/Disp 16.3 17.4 18.4 13.2 19.1
Bal/Disp 35.8 40.0 44.3 43.1
Comfort 7.3 30.2 30.9 37.5 23.3
Capsize 3.99 1.85 1.84 1.69 2.02
Hull Speed 8.0 7.6 7.5 7.3 7.6