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Island Trader 38
Designer: Hugh Angleman  ·  Builder: United Ocean Industries (Taiwan)  ·  First built: 1975
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About the Island Trader 38

Designed by Hugh Angleman and built by United Ocean Industries in Taiwan from 1975 to 1988, this traditional cruising sailboat represents the era when solidly-built offshore cruisers prioritized seaworthiness over speed. With 200 hulls produced during its 13-year production run, the Island Trader 38 developed a reputation as a capable blue-water cruiser among sailors seeking traditional sailing characteristics. The masthead ketch rig configuration provides versatility in sail handling, particularly valuable for short-handed sailing or challenging weather conditions. The long keel design delivers predictable tracking and self-steering capabilities that offshore cruisers appreciate, though at the expense of windward performance compared to more modern fin keel designs. At 26,400 pounds displacement with 7,000 pounds of ballast, this is a substantial boat that carries its way well through seas. The impressive comfort ratio of 45.97 indicates exceptional motion comfort in rough conditions, while the conservative capsize screening formula of 1.62 suggests good stability for offshore passages. Hull speed reaches 7.38 knots, typical for displacement cruisers of this era. This fiberglass construction boat appeals to sailors planning extended coastal cruising or ocean passages who value traditional sailing characteristics over racing performance.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 37.33 ft / 11.38 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 30.33 ft / 9.24 m
Beam 12.00 ft / 3.66 m
Max Draft 4.50 ft / 1.37 m
Displacement 26,400.00 lb / 11,975 kg
Ballast 7,000.00 lb / 3,175 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 567.00 ft² / 52.68 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Long Keel
Rigging Type Masthead Ketch
Construction FG
Designer Hugh Angleman
Builder United Ocean Industries (TAIWAN)
First Built 1975
Last Built 1988
Number Built 200
Related Sailboats ["Ct 38" · "Csy 37" · "Tartan 38" · "Alberg 37" · "Hunter 37"]
Owner Reviews

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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
 219
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
 10.27
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
 26.52
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
 422.41
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
 45.97
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
 1.62
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. 7.38 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. 1,300.47 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. 9.31
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 38.50 ft / 11.73 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 15.80 ft / 4.82 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 31.50 ft / 9.60 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 13.30 ft / 4.05 m
SA Fore 304.15 ft² / 28.26 m²
SA Main 209.48 ft² / 19.46 m²
SA Total (100%) 513.63 ft² / 47.72 m²
Est. Forestay Length 41.62 ft / 12.69 m
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make Volvo
Engine Model MD17C
Engine Type Diesel
How It Compares

vs. Alberg 37, Csy 37, Tartan 38

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Island Trader 38 ★
37.3 ft
Alberg 37
37.2 ft
Csy 37
37.3 ft
Tartan 38
37.3 ft
LWL
Island Trader 38 ★
30.3 ft
Alberg 37
26.5 ft
Csy 37
29.2 ft
Tartan 38
28.5 ft
Beam
Island Trader 38 ★
12.0 ft
Alberg 37
10.2 ft
Csy 37
12.0 ft
Tartan 38
11.8 ft
Displacement
Island Trader 38 ★
26 lbs
Alberg 37
16 lbs
Csy 37
22 lbs
Tartan 38
15 lbs
Ballast
Island Trader 38 ★
7 lbs
Alberg 37
6 lbs
Csy 37
8 lbs
Tartan 38
7 lbs
Sail Area
Island Trader 38 ★
567 sq ft
Alberg 37
—
Csy 37
610 sq ft
Tartan 38
667 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Island Trader 38 ★
219 s/nm
Alberg 37
162 s/nm
Csy 37
186 s/nm
Tartan 38
114 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Island Trader 38 ★
10.3
Alberg 37
—
Csy 37
12.5
Tartan 38
17.5
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Island Trader 38 ★
26.5 %
Alberg 37
38.7 %
Csy 37
—
Tartan 38
—
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Island Trader 38 ★
46.0
Alberg 37
—
Csy 37
39.3
Tartan 38
28.4
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Island Trader 38 ★
1.62
Alberg 37
—
Csy 37
1.72
Tartan 38
1.90
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Island Trader 38 ★
422
Alberg 37
403
Csy 37
—
Tartan 38
—
Hull Speed
Island Trader 38 ★
7.4 kts
Alberg 37
—
Csy 37
7.2 kts
Tartan 38
7.2 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Island Trader 38 ★
—
Alberg 37
—
Csy 37
0.9
Tartan 38
1.8
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