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Offshore 38 Cheoy Lee
Designer: Ray Richards  ·  Builder: Cheoy Lee Shipyard Ltd.  ·  First built: 1975
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About the Offshore 38 Cheoy Lee

Built by the respected Hong Kong yard Cheoy Lee Shipyards, the Offshore 38 is a classic bluewater cruising sailboat that earned a solid reputation during the golden era of production fiberglass cruisers. Cheoy Lee developed a strong following among serious offshore sailors for delivering well-constructed, sea-kindly hulls at competitive prices, and the Offshore 38 sits comfortably within that tradition. Designed with long-distance voyaging in mind, this boat appeals to sailors who prioritize seaworthiness and durability over racing performance. Cheoy Lee's build quality was frequently praised for its robust construction and attention to detail, making their vessels particularly well-regarded for passagemaking and extended blue water cruising. The Offshore 38 offers enough interior volume and range to serve as a capable liveaboard platform for those planning extended coastal or offshore passages. For buyers researching this model, the Cheoy Lee name itself carries weight in the used boat market as a signal of quality craftsmanship. Prospective owners should focus pre-purchase surveys on the condition of the deck hardware, rigging, and hull-to-deck joint, areas common to boats of this vintage that benefit from careful inspection before committing to a purchase.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 37.92 ft / 11.56 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 30.67 ft / 9.35 m
Beam 12.00 ft / 3.66 m
Max Draft 5.67 ft / 1.73 m
Displacement 18,800.00 lb / 8,528 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 684.00 ft² / 63.55 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Long Keel
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Ray Richards
Builder Cheoy Lee Shipyard Ltd.
First Built 1975
Related Sailboats ["Hallberg Rassy 38" · "Contest 38" · "Islander 38 C" · "Caliber 38" · "Island Packet 38"]
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Known Issues & What to Watch For

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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
 15.54
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
 32.32
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
 1.81
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. 7.42
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
 1.7
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. 1.0
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 48.0
J (Foretriangle Base) 16.3
P (Mainsail Luff) 42.8
E (Mainsail Foot) 13.7
SA Fore 391.2
SA Main 293.18
How It Compares

vs. Caliber 38, Contest 38, Islander 38 C

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Offshore 38 Cheoy Lee ★
37.9 ft
Caliber 38
38.0 ft
Contest 38
38.0 ft
Islander 38 C
38.0 ft
LWL
Offshore 38 Cheoy Lee ★
30.7 ft
Caliber 38
32.0 ft
Contest 38
27.8 ft
Islander 38 C
27.5 ft
Beam
Offshore 38 Cheoy Lee ★
12.0 ft
Caliber 38
12.7 ft
Contest 38
11.2 ft
Islander 38 C
12.0 ft
Displacement
Offshore 38 Cheoy Lee ★
18 lbs
Caliber 38
18 lbs
Contest 38
16 lbs
Islander 38 C
17 lbs
Ballast
Offshore 38 Cheoy Lee ★
—
Caliber 38
9 lbs
Contest 38
7 lbs
Islander 38 C
7 lbs
Sail Area
Offshore 38 Cheoy Lee ★
684 sq ft
Caliber 38
708 sq ft
Contest 38
647 sq ft
Islander 38 C
673 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Offshore 38 Cheoy Lee ★
—
Caliber 38
150 s/nm
Contest 38
156 s/nm
Islander 38 C
—
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Offshore 38 Cheoy Lee ★
15.5
Caliber 38
16.3
Contest 38
15.8
Islander 38 C
16.4
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Offshore 38 Cheoy Lee ★
—
Caliber 38
48.7 %
Contest 38
43.1 %
Islander 38 C
45.3 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Offshore 38 Cheoy Lee ★
32.3
Caliber 38
28.8
Contest 38
33.8
Islander 38 C
31.3
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Offshore 38 Cheoy Lee ★
1.81
Caliber 38
1.92
Contest 38
1.75
Islander 38 C
1.87
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Offshore 38 Cheoy Lee ★
—
Caliber 38
252
Contest 38
350
Islander 38 C
364
Hull Speed
Offshore 38 Cheoy Lee ★
7.4 kts
Caliber 38
7.6 kts
Contest 38
7.1 kts
Islander 38 C
7.0 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Offshore 38 Cheoy Lee ★
1.7
Caliber 38
2.1
Contest 38
—
Islander 38 C
1.3
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