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Islander 38 C

Designer: Robert Perry  ·  Builder: Islander Yachts (Usa)  ·  First built: 1983
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About the Islander 38 C

Designed by renowned naval architect Robert Perry and built by Islander Yachts in 1983, this 38-footer represents a thoughtful approach to mid-sized cruising sailboats from the early 1980s. With only 22 hulls produced, the Islander 38 C remains a relatively rare find in today's used boat market. Perry's design showcases his signature blend of performance and comfort, featuring a fin keel with rudder on skeg configuration that provides reliable tracking and manageable helm characteristics. The boat's substantial 17,000-pound displacement, with nearly half carried as ballast, creates a stable platform well-suited for coastal cruising and extended passages. The masthead sloop rig delivers respectable performance with 673 square feet of sail area, while the moderate beam of 12 feet ensures comfortable accommodations without sacrificing docking flexibility. Her 5.25-foot draft strikes a practical balance between shoal water access and sailing efficiency. Built during Islander's quality-focused era, these boats are known for solid fiberglass construction and thoughtful interior layouts. The comfortable motion at sea, combined with adequate performance under sail, makes the Islander 38 C an appealing choice for cruising couples seeking a capable, well-mannered yacht for coastal exploration and occasional offshore passages.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 38.00 ft / 11.58 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 27.50 ft / 8.38 m
Beam 12.00 ft / 3.66 m
Max Draft 5.25 ft / 1.60 m
Displacement 17,000.00 lb / 7,711 kg
Ballast 7,700.00 lb / 3,493 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 673.00 ft² / 62.52 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin with rudder on skeg
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Robert Perry
Builder Islander Yachts (USA)
First Built 1983
Number Built 22
Related Sailboats Catalina 38 · Hunter 38 · C&C 38 · Ericson 38 · Tartan 3800
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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
 16.35
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
 45.29
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
 364.92
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
 31.32
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
 1.87
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. 7.03 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
 1.28
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. 1,179.13 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. 16.36
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 46.75 ft / 14.25 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 15.50 ft / 4.72 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 41.50 ft / 12.65 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 15.00 ft / 4.57 m
SA Fore 362.31 ft² / 33.66 m²
SA Main 311.25 ft² / 28.92 m²
SA Total (100%) 673.56 ft² / 62.58 m²
Est. Forestay Length 49.25 ft / 15.01 m
Mast Height (DWL) 53.00 ft / 16.15 m
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make Pathfinder
Engine Model 50
Engine Type Diesel
Horsepower 42
Fuel Capacity 55 gals / 208 L
Water Capacity 100 gals / 379 L
How It Compares

vs. C&C 38, Catalina 38, Ericson 38, Hunter 38, Tartan 3800

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Islander 38 C ★
38.0 ft
C&C 38
38.0 ft
Catalina 38
38.0 ft
Ericson 38
37.7 ft
Hunter 38
38.0 ft
Tartan 3800
38.0 ft
LWL
Islander 38 C ★
27.5 ft
C&C 38
—
Catalina 38
31.5 ft
Ericson 38
30.5 ft
Hunter 38
—
Tartan 3800
31.0 ft
Beam
Islander 38 C ★
12.0 ft
C&C 38
—
Catalina 38
12.2 ft
Ericson 38
12.0 ft
Hunter 38
—
Tartan 3800
12.4 ft
Displacement
Islander 38 C ★
17 lbs
C&C 38
—
Catalina 38
16 lbs
Ericson 38
14 lbs
Hunter 38
—
Tartan 3800
16 lbs
Ballast
Islander 38 C ★
7 lbs
C&C 38
—
Catalina 38
6 lbs
Ericson 38
5 lbs
Hunter 38
—
Tartan 3800
7 lbs
Sail Area
Islander 38 C ★
673 sq ft
C&C 38
—
Catalina 38
665 sq ft
Ericson 38
709 sq ft
Hunter 38
—
Tartan 3800
665 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Islander 38 C ★
—
C&C 38
111 s/nm
Catalina 38
114 s/nm
Ericson 38
126 s/nm
Hunter 38
123 s/nm
Tartan 3800
114 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Islander 38 C ★
16.4
C&C 38
—
Catalina 38
16.7
Ericson 38
19.6
Hunter 38
—
Tartan 3800
16.8
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Islander 38 C ★
45.3 %
C&C 38
—
Catalina 38
42.8 %
Ericson 38
—
Hunter 38
—
Tartan 3800
43.8 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Islander 38 C ★
31.3
C&C 38
—
Catalina 38
26.3
Ericson 38
24.2
Hunter 38
—
Tartan 3800
26.1
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Islander 38 C ★
1.87
C&C 38
—
Catalina 38
1.94
Ericson 38
2.00
Hunter 38
—
Tartan 3800
1.98
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Islander 38 C ★
364
C&C 38
—
Catalina 38
228
Ericson 38
—
Hunter 38
—
Tartan 3800
239
Hull Speed
Islander 38 C ★
7.0 kts
C&C 38
—
Catalina 38
7.5 kts
Ericson 38
7.4 kts
Hunter 38
—
Tartan 3800
7.5 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Islander 38 C ★
1.3
C&C 38
—
Catalina 38
—
Ericson 38
2.7
Hunter 38
—
Tartan 3800
2.3
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