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Soverel 38
Designer: Bill Soverel & Mccarthy  ·  Builder: Soverel Marine  ·  First built: 1968
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About the Soverel 38

Designed by Mark Soverel, the Soverel 38 emerges from a lineage of performance-oriented sailboats that earned a strong following among racing sailors during the latter half of the twentieth century. Soverel was known for producing fast, responsive designs that could hold their own on the racecourse while remaining capable enough for serious offshore passages, and the 38 reflects that philosophy. With a hull shaped for speed and efficiency, this boat appeals to sailors who want more than a comfortable cruiser — those who appreciate a lively helm and a boat that rewards attentive sailing. The Soverel 38 is well suited to both competitive club racing and coastal bluewater passages, offering the kind of performance envelope that keeps experienced sailors engaged on longer passages without sacrificing seaworthiness. For anyone researching a used performance sailboat in this size range, the Soverel 38 represents an interesting option with a respected pedigree. Prospective buyers are encouraged to seek out class association resources and connect with current owners, as community knowledge can be invaluable when evaluating a boat with limited widely published specification data.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 38.00 ft / 11.58 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 30.42 ft / 9.27 m
Beam 11.00 ft / 3.35 m
Max Draft 10.00 ft / 3.05 m
Min Draft 4.50 ft / 1.37 m
Displacement 18,000.00 lb / 8,165 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 636.00 ft² / 59.09 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Keel/Cbrd.
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Bill Soverel & McCarthy
Builder Soverel Marine
First Built 1968
Last Built 1970
Related Sailboats ["C&C 38" · "Ericson 38" · "Catalina 38" · "Islander 38 C" · "Tripp 38"]
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Known Issues & What to Watch For

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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
 156
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
 14.87
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
 34.9
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
 1.68
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. 7.39
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
 1.68
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) 46.5
J (Foretriangle Base) 16.5
P (Mainsail Luff) 42.0
E (Mainsail Foot) 12.0
SA Fore 383.63
SA Main 252.0
How It Compares

vs. Catalina 38, Ericson 38, Islander 38 C

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Soverel 38 ★
38.0 ft
Catalina 38
38.0 ft
Ericson 38
37.7 ft
Islander 38 C
38.0 ft
LWL
Soverel 38 ★
30.4 ft
Catalina 38
31.5 ft
Ericson 38
30.5 ft
Islander 38 C
27.5 ft
Beam
Soverel 38 ★
11.0 ft
Catalina 38
12.2 ft
Ericson 38
12.0 ft
Islander 38 C
12.0 ft
Displacement
Soverel 38 ★
18 lbs
Catalina 38
16 lbs
Ericson 38
14 lbs
Islander 38 C
17 lbs
Ballast
Soverel 38 ★
—
Catalina 38
6 lbs
Ericson 38
5 lbs
Islander 38 C
7 lbs
Sail Area
Soverel 38 ★
636 sq ft
Catalina 38
665 sq ft
Ericson 38
709 sq ft
Islander 38 C
673 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Soverel 38 ★
156 s/nm
Catalina 38
114 s/nm
Ericson 38
126 s/nm
Islander 38 C
—
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Soverel 38 ★
14.9
Catalina 38
16.7
Ericson 38
19.6
Islander 38 C
16.4
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Soverel 38 ★
—
Catalina 38
42.8 %
Ericson 38
—
Islander 38 C
45.3 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Soverel 38 ★
34.9
Catalina 38
26.3
Ericson 38
24.2
Islander 38 C
31.3
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Soverel 38 ★
1.68
Catalina 38
1.94
Ericson 38
2.00
Islander 38 C
1.87
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Soverel 38 ★
—
Catalina 38
228
Ericson 38
—
Islander 38 C
364
Hull Speed
Soverel 38 ★
7.4 kts
Catalina 38
7.5 kts
Ericson 38
7.4 kts
Islander 38 C
7.0 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Soverel 38 ★
1.7
Catalina 38
—
Ericson 38
2.7
Islander 38 C
1.3
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