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Tripp 38
Designer: William Tripp Iii  ·  Builder: Holby Marine/Mark Lindsay  ·  First built: 1989
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About the Tripp 38

Designed by renowned naval architect William Tripp III and first launched in 1989, this 38-footer represents a thoughtful balance between performance and comfort for serious coastal cruising. Built by Holby Marine and Mark Lindsay, the Tripp 38 features a modern fin keel with bulb and spade rudder configuration that delivers excellent sailing characteristics while maintaining reasonable draft for accessing popular cruising destinations. With its masthead sloop rig and generous sail area of 672 square feet, this yacht offers spirited performance in light to moderate conditions. The SA/Displacement ratio of 22.5 indicates a boat that will move well in lighter winds while remaining manageable for couples or small crews. The hull's moderate displacement of 10,500 pounds, combined with 5,800 pounds of ballast, provides good stability without sacrificing speed. The comfort ratio of 16.83 suggests relatively quick motion at sea, making this design better suited for coastal cruising and weekend sailing rather than extended offshore passages. However, the capsize screening formula of 2.26 indicates adequate stability for coastal waters and occasional offshore ventures. Fiberglass construction ensures durability, while the fin keel design maximizes interior volume and sailing efficiency. This yacht appeals to sailors seeking performance-oriented coastal cruising with the ability to handle moderate offshore conditions.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 38.00 ft / 11.58 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 32.25 ft / 9.83 m
Beam 12.33 ft / 3.76 m
Max Draft 7.08 ft / 2.16 m
Displacement 10,500.00 lb / 4,763 kg
Ballast 5,800.00 lb / 2,631 kg
Ballast Type Lead
Sail Area (Reported) 672.00 ft² / 62.43 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/bulb & spade rudder
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer William Tripp III
Builder Holby Marine/Mark Lindsay
First Built 1989
Related Sailboats ["Imx 38" · "Tartan 3800" · "C&C 38" · "Gambler 38" · "Soverel 38"]
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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
 65
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
 22.5
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
 55.24
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
 139.75
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
 16.83
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
 2.26
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. 7.61 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
 4.3
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. 1,420.82 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. 22.49
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 50.00 ft / 15.24 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 14.20 ft / 4.33 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 44.00 ft / 13.41 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 14.40 ft / 4.39 m
SA Fore 355.00 ft² / 32.98 m²
SA Main 316.80 ft² / 29.43 m²
SA Total (100%) 671.80 ft² / 62.41 m²
Est. Forestay Length 51.98 ft / 15.84 m
How It Compares

vs. C&C 38, Gambler 38, Tartan 3800

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Tripp 38 ★
38.0 ft
C&C 38
38.0 ft
Gambler 38
38.0 ft
Tartan 3800
38.0 ft
LWL
Tripp 38 ★
32.3 ft
C&C 38
—
Gambler 38
28.0 ft
Tartan 3800
31.0 ft
Beam
Tripp 38 ★
12.3 ft
C&C 38
—
Gambler 38
11.9 ft
Tartan 3800
12.4 ft
Displacement
Tripp 38 ★
10 lbs
C&C 38
—
Gambler 38
11 lbs
Tartan 3800
16 lbs
Ballast
Tripp 38 ★
5 lbs
C&C 38
—
Gambler 38
5 lbs
Tartan 3800
7 lbs
Sail Area
Tripp 38 ★
672 sq ft
C&C 38
—
Gambler 38
—
Tartan 3800
665 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Tripp 38 ★
65 s/nm
C&C 38
111 s/nm
Gambler 38
—
Tartan 3800
114 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Tripp 38 ★
22.5
C&C 38
—
Gambler 38
—
Tartan 3800
16.8
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Tripp 38 ★
55.2 %
C&C 38
—
Gambler 38
47.5 %
Tartan 3800
43.8 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Tripp 38 ★
16.8
C&C 38
—
Gambler 38
—
Tartan 3800
26.1
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Tripp 38 ★
2.26
C&C 38
—
Gambler 38
—
Tartan 3800
1.98
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Tripp 38 ★
139
C&C 38
—
Gambler 38
239
Tartan 3800
239
Hull Speed
Tripp 38 ★
7.6 kts
C&C 38
—
Gambler 38
—
Tartan 3800
7.5 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Tripp 38 ★
4.3
C&C 38
—
Gambler 38
—
Tartan 3800
2.3
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