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Soverel 39
Designer: Mark Soverel  ·  Builder: Soverel Marine (Usa)  ·  First built: 1984
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About the Soverel 39

Designed by Mark Soverel and built by Soverel Marine from 1984 to 1988, this 38-foot sailboat represents the designer's focus on performance-oriented cruising yachts. With its fin keel and spade rudder configuration, the Soverel 39 delivers responsive handling and solid upwind performance, making it well-suited for both coastal cruising and club racing. The boat's impressive sail area to displacement ratio of 23.57 indicates spirited sailing performance, while the substantial ballast-to-displacement ratio provides excellent stability. The fiberglass construction features balsa coring in both hull and deck, creating a strong yet lightweight structure that enhances performance without sacrificing durability. At 12.5 feet of beam, the Soverel 39 offers comfortable accommodations for extended cruising, while the deep 7.67-foot draft provides exceptional upwind ability. The fractional sloop rig contributes to balanced sail handling and versatility across varying wind conditions. With a low comfort ratio of 17.58, this yacht favors performance over heavy-weather comfort, making it ideal for sailors who prioritize sailing dynamics. The moderate capsize screening value of 2.2 suggests reasonable offshore capability, though the boat truly excels in coastal waters where its speed and agility can be fully appreciated by performance-minded sailors.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 38.42 ft / 11.71 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 34.75 ft / 10.59 m
Beam 12.50 ft / 3.81 m
Max Draft 7.67 ft / 2.34 m
Displacement 11,783.00 lb / 5,345 kg
Ballast 6,500.00 lb / 2,948 kg
Ballast Type Lead
Sail Area (Reported) 760.00 ft² / 70.61 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/spade rudder
Rigging Type Fractional Sloop
Construction FG w/balsa cored hull & deck
Designer Mark Soverel
Builder Soverel Marine (USA)
First Built 1984
Last Built 1988
Related Sailboats ["Frers 38" · "Wylie 38" · "X 382" · "Sydney 38" · "First 38S5 Beneteau"]
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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
 72
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
 23.57
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
 55.16
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
 125.36
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
 17.58
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
 2.2
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. 7.90 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
 4.65
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. 1,552.07 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. 23.06
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 51.00 ft / 15.54 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 14.75 ft / 4.50 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 49.00 ft / 14.94 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 15.00 ft / 4.57 m
SA Fore 376.13 ft² / 34.94 m²
SA Main 367.50 ft² / 34.14 m²
SA Total (100%) 743.63 ft² / 69.09 m²
Est. Forestay Length 53.09 ft / 16.18 m
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make Yanmar
Engine Model 3GMF
Engine Type Diesel
Horsepower 27
Fuel Capacity 15 gals / 57 L
Water Capacity 25 gals / 95 L
How It Compares

vs. Sydney 38, Wylie 38, X 382

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Soverel 39 ★
38.4 ft
Sydney 38
38.5 ft
Wylie 38
38.3 ft
X 382
38.5 ft
LWL
Soverel 39 ★
34.8 ft
Sydney 38
35.3 ft
Wylie 38
31.7 ft
X 382
31.8 ft
Beam
Soverel 39 ★
12.5 ft
Sydney 38
12.3 ft
Wylie 38
11.4 ft
X 382
12.3 ft
Displacement
Soverel 39 ★
11 lbs
Sydney 38
12 lbs
Wylie 38
9 lbs
X 382
14 lbs
Ballast
Soverel 39 ★
6 lbs
Sydney 38
4 lbs
Wylie 38
5 lbs
X 382
6 lbs
Sail Area
Soverel 39 ★
760 sq ft
Sydney 38
842 sq ft
Wylie 38
667 sq ft
X 382
702 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Soverel 39 ★
72 s/nm
Sydney 38
29 s/nm
Wylie 38
69 s/nm
X 382
78 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Soverel 39 ★
23.6
Sydney 38
25.4
Wylie 38
23.9
X 382
19.1
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Soverel 39 ★
55.2 %
Sydney 38
—
Wylie 38
53.7 %
X 382
43.1 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Soverel 39 ★
17.6
Sydney 38
18.4
Wylie 38
17.0
X 382
23.3
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Soverel 39 ★
2.20
Sydney 38
2.14
Wylie 38
2.16
X 382
2.02
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Soverel 39 ★
125
Sydney 38
—
Wylie 38
133
X 382
198
Hull Speed
Soverel 39 ★
7.9 kts
Sydney 38
8.0 kts
Wylie 38
7.5 kts
X 382
7.6 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Soverel 39 ★
4.7
Sydney 38
5.0
Wylie 38
4.6
X 382
3.0
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