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Morris 38
Designer: Chuck Paine & Associates  ·  Builder: Morris Yachts (Usa)  ·  First built: 1985
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About the Morris 38

Designed by Chuck Paine & Associates and built by the renowned Morris Yachts beginning in 1985, this 37-foot sailboat exemplifies the Maine builder's commitment to quality construction and seaworthy design. The Morris 38 features a thoughtfully balanced hull with moderate displacement of 15,602 pounds and a substantial ballast-to-displacement ratio that contributes to excellent stability and predictable handling characteristics. With its masthead sloop rig and fin keel configuration offering a shoal draft of 5.5 feet, this yacht strikes an appealing balance between performance and accessibility to shallow anchorages. The beam of 11.58 feet provides comfortable interior volume while maintaining elegant proportions. Chuck Paine's design philosophy shines through in the boat's seakindly motion and capability in varied conditions. The Morris 38's comfort ratio of 28.98 indicates a boat well-suited for extended coastal cruising and offshore passages, while the capsize screening value of 1.86 reflects good stability margins. Morris Yachts' reputation for meticulous fiberglass construction and attention to detail makes these boats highly sought after in the used market. Hull speed calculations suggest efficient passage-making capability, making this an excellent choice for serious cruisers seeking a proven, well-built vessel for both coastal exploration and longer voyages.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 37.42 ft / 11.41 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 29.50 ft / 8.99 m
Beam 11.58 ft / 3.53 m
Max Draft 5.50 ft / 1.68 m
Displacement 15,602.00 lb / 7,077 kg
Ballast 6,000.00 lb / 2,722 kg
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin (shoal draft)
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Chuck Paine & Associates
Builder Morris Yachts (USA)
First Built 1985
Related Sailboats ["Pearson 37 2" · "Tartan 38" · "Ericson 381" · "Pearson 38" · "Cc 38 3"]
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
 144
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
 38.46
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
 271.31
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
 28.98
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
 1.86
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. 7.28 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. 1,220.61 pounds/inch
How It Compares

vs. Ericson 381, Pearson 38, Tartan 38

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Morris 38 ★
37.4 ft
Ericson 381
37.5 ft
Pearson 38
37.5 ft
Tartan 38
37.3 ft
LWL
Morris 38 ★
29.5 ft
Ericson 381
30.5 ft
Pearson 38
29.6 ft
Tartan 38
28.5 ft
Beam
Morris 38 ★
11.6 ft
Ericson 381
12.0 ft
Pearson 38
12.3 ft
Tartan 38
11.8 ft
Displacement
Morris 38 ★
15 lbs
Ericson 381
14 lbs
Pearson 38
15 lbs
Tartan 38
15 lbs
Ballast
Morris 38 ★
6 lbs
Ericson 381
6 lbs
Pearson 38
6 lbs
Tartan 38
7 lbs
Sail Area
Morris 38 ★
—
Ericson 381
678 sq ft
Pearson 38
655 sq ft
Tartan 38
667 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Morris 38 ★
144 s/nm
Ericson 381
114 s/nm
Pearson 38
—
Tartan 38
114 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Morris 38 ★
—
Ericson 381
18.4
Pearson 38
17.2
Tartan 38
17.5
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Morris 38 ★
38.5 %
Ericson 381
43.8 %
Pearson 38
—
Tartan 38
—
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Morris 38 ★
29.0
Ericson 381
24.9
Pearson 38
25.9
Tartan 38
28.4
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Morris 38 ★
1.86
Ericson 381
1.98
Pearson 38
2.00
Tartan 38
1.90
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Morris 38 ★
271
Ericson 381
226
Pearson 38
—
Tartan 38
—
Hull Speed
Morris 38 ★
7.3 kts
Ericson 381
7.4 kts
Pearson 38
7.3 kts
Tartan 38
7.2 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Morris 38 ★
—
Ericson 381
2.6
Pearson 38
—
Tartan 38
1.8
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