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Taylor 38
Designer: Jim Taylor  ·  Builder: Wiggers Custom Yachts (Can)  ·  First built: 1984
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About the Taylor 38

Built by Canadian yard Wiggers Custom Yachts starting in 1984, this Jim Taylor design represents a thoughtful approach to performance cruising from the mid-1980s era. The Taylor 38 strikes an appealing balance between comfort and sailing ability, making it well-suited for coastal cruising and weekend adventures with occasional offshore passages. Taylor's design features a modern fin keel and spade rudder configuration that delivers responsive handling and good upwind performance. The boat's substantial displacement of 11,300 pounds, paired with 6,250 pounds of ballast, provides reassuring stability and sea-kindly motion in a variety of conditions. The masthead sloop rig offers straightforward sail handling with adequate power from 658 square feet of working sail. Construction quality reflects Wiggers' reputation for solid craftsmanship, utilizing fiberglass with PVC core hull construction and balsa-cored decking for optimal strength-to-weight ratio. With a comfort ratio of 19.96, the Taylor 38 leans toward the sportier side while maintaining cruising amenities. The low capsize screening value of 2.13 indicates good stability characteristics for extended coastal cruising. Hull speed potential of 7.34 knots suggests respectable passage-making ability for a boat of this size and vintage.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 37.50 ft / 11.43 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 30.00 ft / 9.14 m
Beam 11.92 ft / 3.63 m
Max Draft 6.92 ft / 2.11 m
Displacement 11,300.00 lb / 5,126 kg
Ballast 6,250.00 lb / 2,835 kg
Ballast Type Lead
Sail Area (Reported) 658.00 ft² / 61.13 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/spade rudder
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG w/PVC hull and balsa deck
Designer Jim Taylor
Builder Wiggers Custom Yachts (CAN)
First Built 1984
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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
 93
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
 20.98
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
 55.31
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
 186.84
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
 19.96
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
 2.13
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. 7.34 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
 3.33
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. 1,277.74 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. 20.97
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 50.00 ft / 15.24 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 14.60 ft / 4.45 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 44.00 ft / 13.41 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 13.30 ft / 4.05 m
SA Fore 365.00 ft² / 33.91 m²
SA Main 292.60 ft² / 27.18 m²
SA Total (100%) 657.60 ft² / 61.09 m²
Est. Forestay Length 52.09 ft / 15.88 m
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