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Hallberg Rassy 38
Designer: Olle Enderlein  ·  Builder: Hallberg-Rassy  ·  First built: 1977
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About the Hallberg Rassy 38

Swedish craftsmanship meets serious cruising capability in this well-regarded offshore sailboat from the renowned Hallberg-Rassy yard. Designed by Olle Enderlein and built from 1977 to 1986, this 38-footer earned its reputation as a go-anywhere cruiser with exceptional build quality and seaworthiness. With a displacement of 18,739 pounds and substantial ballast ratio, the HR38 delivers the stability and comfort expected from a true bluewater cruiser. The fin keel with rudder on skeg configuration provides excellent tracking and directional stability, while the masthead sloop rig offers versatile sail handling options. A comfort ratio of 34.03 indicates this yacht prioritizes seakindly motion over pure speed, making extended passages more pleasant for crew. The design philosophy emphasizes safety and reliability over racing performance, evident in conservative proportions and robust fiberglass construction. Hallberg-Rassy's attention to detail and premium hardware became legendary during this era, contributing to strong resale values. Only 202 hulls were produced, making this a relatively exclusive choice among serious cruising sailors. This yacht excels at coastal and offshore cruising, with the strength and accommodations needed for extended voyaging while remaining manageable for couples or small crews.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 37.96 ft / 11.57 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 31.17 ft / 9.50 m
Beam 11.42 ft / 3.48 m
Max Draft 5.75 ft / 1.75 m
Displacement 18,739.00 lb / 8,500 kg
Ballast 8,157.00 lb / 3,700 kg
Ballast Type Iron
Sail Area (Reported) 651.20 ft² / 60.50 m²
Headroom 6.08 ft / 1.85 m
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin with rudder on skeg
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Olle Enderlein
Builder Hallberg-Rassy
First Built 1977
Last Built 1986
Number Built 202
Related Sailboats Nantucket Island 38 · Chinook 37 · Najad 371 · Passport 40 · Sigma 36 Ss
Owner Reviews

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Known Issues & What to Watch For
High Hull/Deck
The teak deck overlay, fitted on many HR 38s, is prone to leaking where the bungs and caulking compound deteriorate with age. Water tracks down through the teak into the fiberglass subdeck and surrounding core, causing delamination and rot in any balsa-cored sections near stanchion bases and chainplates.
Medium Hull/Deck
Hallberg-Rassy used a distinctive hull-to-deck joint with an external aluminum toerail bolted through both flanges. Bedding compound between the rail and the joint fails over time, allowing water ingress into the joint. Inspect the interior liner at the hull-deck junction for staining or soft spots.
High Keel
The fin keel on early HR 38s is attached with a relatively small number of large-diameter steel keel bolts that are prone to corrosion in the wet bilge environment typical of this era of construction. Keel bolt inspection should include probing for rust weeping at the base of the bolts inside the bilge and checking for any movement or cracking in the keel-to-hull joint fillet.
High Hull/Deck
Chainplate knees are glassed to the hull liner and not always accessible for full inspection. Compression cracks or staining around the chainplate deck exit plates are common on heavily sailed examples and indicate potential water intrusion into the structural laminate.
Medium Accommodations
The interior teak and holly sole and the structural interior liner on this generation of HR 38 can develop soft spots where the bonding between the molded liner and the hull has failed, particularly under the saloon settees and in the forward cabin sole, due to long-term moisture accumulation.
High Rigging
The skeg-hung rudder bearing at the base of the skeg is a known wear point; the lower gudgeon and pintle arrangement can develop significant play after years of use. Lift the rudder slightly at the trailing edge to check for slop — excessive movement indicates worn or corroded fittings that must be replaced before offshore use.
Medium Engine
Boats from this era were typically fitted with Volvo Penta MD17C or MD2 series diesel engines. Engine mounts on these installations deteriorate and were sometimes mounted in poorly ventilated, damp compartments, accelerating corrosion on the engine beds and raw-water cooling system components. Inspect the fiberglass engine beds for cracking or softness.
High Electrical
Original wiring looms from late 1970s and early 1980s production are now 40+ years old and the insulation on many HR 38s has become brittle and cracked, particularly near the engine compartment. The original Skandinavian-standard wiring colors do not match modern ABYC standards, creating confusion during any repair or upgrade work. A full rewire is often warranted.
1977–1983 models

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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
 14.82
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
 43.53
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
 276.24
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
 34.03
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
 1.72
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. 7.48 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. 1,271.89 pounds/inch
Rig Dimensions
Mast Height (DWL) 51.67 ft / 15.75 m
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make Volvo Penta
Engine Model MD 21
Engine Type Diesel
Horsepower 55
Fuel Capacity 93 gals / 350 L
Water Capacity 106 gals / 400 L
How It Compares

vs. Chinook 37, Najad 371, Nantucket Island 38, Passport 40, Sigma 36 Ss

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Hallberg Rassy 38 ★
38.0 ft
Chinook 37
37.0 ft
Najad 371
37.7 ft
Nantucket Island 38
37.6 ft
Passport 40
39.4 ft
Sigma 36 Ss
36.0 ft
LWL
Hallberg Rassy 38 ★
31.2 ft
Chinook 37
31.3 ft
Najad 371
31.8 ft
Nantucket Island 38
31.8 ft
Passport 40
33.4 ft
Sigma 36 Ss
29.0 ft
Beam
Hallberg Rassy 38 ★
11.4 ft
Chinook 37
11.7 ft
Najad 371
11.5 ft
Nantucket Island 38
12.1 ft
Passport 40
12.7 ft
Sigma 36 Ss
10.3 ft
Displacement
Hallberg Rassy 38 ★
18 lbs
Chinook 37
18 lbs
Najad 371
19 lbs
Nantucket Island 38
20 lbs
Passport 40
22 lbs
Sigma 36 Ss
15 lbs
Ballast
Hallberg Rassy 38 ★
8 lbs
Chinook 37
8 lbs
Najad 371
8 lbs
Nantucket Island 38
8 lbs
Passport 40
8 lbs
Sigma 36 Ss
7 lbs
Sail Area
Hallberg Rassy 38 ★
651 sq ft
Chinook 37
641 sq ft
Najad 371
600 sq ft
Nantucket Island 38
681 sq ft
Passport 40
762 sq ft
Sigma 36 Ss
545 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Hallberg Rassy 38 ★
—
Chinook 37
—
Najad 371
—
Nantucket Island 38
171 s/nm
Passport 40
141 s/nm
Sigma 36 Ss
—
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Hallberg Rassy 38 ★
14.8
Chinook 37
14.7
Najad 371
13.2
Nantucket Island 38
14.8
Passport 40
15.2
Sigma 36 Ss
14.4
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Hallberg Rassy 38 ★
43.5 %
Chinook 37
43.0 %
Najad 371
41.1 %
Nantucket Island 38
41.5 %
Passport 40
37.3 %
Sigma 36 Ss
52.0 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Hallberg Rassy 38 ★
34.0
Chinook 37
33.1
Najad 371
35.4
Nantucket Island 38
33.3
Passport 40
34.0
Sigma 36 Ss
33.6
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Hallberg Rassy 38 ★
1.72
Chinook 37
1.77
Najad 371
1.70
Nantucket Island 38
1.79
Passport 40
1.79
Sigma 36 Ss
1.67
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Hallberg Rassy 38 ★
276
Chinook 37
272
Najad 371
274
Nantucket Island 38
278
Passport 40
272
Sigma 36 Ss
274
Hull Speed
Hallberg Rassy 38 ★
7.5 kts
Chinook 37
7.5 kts
Najad 371
7.6 kts
Nantucket Island 38
7.6 kts
Passport 40
7.8 kts
Sigma 36 Ss
7.2 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Hallberg Rassy 38 ★
—
Chinook 37
—
Najad 371
1.6
Nantucket Island 38
1.7
Passport 40
1.9
Sigma 36 Ss
—
Resources & Community
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