Back to Search
Orca 37
Designer: E. G. Van De Stadt  ·  First built: 1976
+ Add to Compare
About the Orca 37

A capable and purposeful bluewater cruiser, the Orca 37 is a sailboat designed with serious passage-making in mind. Built for sailors who want a reliable offshore platform, this vessel carries the characteristics typical of performance-oriented cruising designs from its era — sturdy construction, balanced handling, and a hull shape suited to open-water conditions. While detailed specifications for the Orca 37 are limited in available records, the boat has earned a quiet reputation among bluewater enthusiasts as a dependable long-distance cruiser. Its proportions suggest a design philosophy that prioritizes seakeeping and comfort at sea over pure racing performance, making it an appealing option for coastal passages and extended offshore voyages alike. Prospective buyers researching the Orca 37 will find it most commonly discussed within dedicated bluewater cruising communities, where firsthand owner accounts tend to provide the richest insight into its real-world behavior. As with many cruising designs of its class, the quality of a specific vessel will depend heavily on its maintenance history and any modifications made over the years. A thorough survey is strongly recommended.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 37.24 ft / 11.35 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 29.53 ft / 9.00 m
Beam 11.81 ft / 3.60 m
Max Draft 5.25 ft / 1.60 m
Displacement 23,148.00 lb / 10,500 kg
Ballast 8,157.00 lb / 3,700 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 871.00 ft² / 80.92 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/spade rudder
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction Steel
Designer E. G. Van de Stadt
First Built 1976
Related Sailboats ["Tartan 38" · "Ohlson 38" · "Valiant 37" · "Ericson 37" · "Esprit 37"]
Owner Reviews

No owner reviews yet — be the first to share your experience with this boat.

Known Issues & What to Watch For

No known issues documented for this model yet.

Own or have surveyed a Orca 37? Submit a known issue

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
 17.23
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
 41.93
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
 1.66
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
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
 0.9
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) 47.57
J (Foretriangle Base) 15.75
P (Mainsail Luff) 43.63
E (Mainsail Foot) 12.8
SA Fore 374.61
SA Main 279.23
How It Compares

vs. Ericson 37, Ohlson 38, Valiant 37

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Orca 37 ★
37.2 ft
Ericson 37
37.4 ft
Ohlson 38
37.1 ft
Valiant 37
37.0 ft
LWL
Orca 37 ★
29.5 ft
Ericson 37
28.5 ft
Ohlson 38
27.6 ft
Valiant 37
31.6 ft
Beam
Orca 37 ★
11.8 ft
Ericson 37
11.3 ft
Ohlson 38
10.1 ft
Valiant 37
11.5 ft
Displacement
Orca 37 ★
23 lbs
Ericson 37
16 lbs
Ohlson 38
14 lbs
Valiant 37
17 lbs
Ballast
Orca 37 ★
8 lbs
Ericson 37
8 lbs
Ohlson 38
6 lbs
Valiant 37
6 lbs
Sail Area
Orca 37 ★
871 sq ft
Ericson 37
613 sq ft
Ohlson 38
586 sq ft
Valiant 37
667 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Orca 37 ★
—
Ericson 37
126 s/nm
Ohlson 38
152 s/nm
Valiant 37
—
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Orca 37 ★
17.2
Ericson 37
15.5
Ohlson 38
15.5
Valiant 37
16.2
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Orca 37 ★
—
Ericson 37
50.0 %
Ohlson 38
—
Valiant 37
39.4 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Orca 37 ★
41.9
Ericson 37
31.3
Ohlson 38
35.0
Valiant 37
30.6
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Orca 37 ★
1.66
Ericson 37
1.80
Ohlson 38
1.64
Valiant 37
1.79
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Orca 37 ★
—
Ericson 37
308
Ohlson 38
—
Valiant 37
240
Hull Speed
Orca 37 ★
7.3 kts
Ericson 37
7.2 kts
Ohlson 38
7.0 kts
Valiant 37
7.5 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Orca 37 ★
0.9
Ericson 37
1.6
Ohlson 38
1.5
Valiant 37
2.2
Find a Orca 37 For Sale
Y YachtWorld Brokerage listings S Sailboat Listings Sailboats only C Craigslist National search F Facebook Marketplace Local listings B boats.com Global marketplace