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West Indies 38 Morgan
Designer: Charles Morgan  ·  Builder: Heritage Yacht Corp. (Usa)  ·  First built: 1976
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About the West Indies 38 Morgan

Designed during the height of the fiberglass revolution, this 38-footer represents Morgan's commitment to building sturdy, affordable cruising sailboats for the growing recreational sailing market. The West Indies 38 emerged as part of Morgan's popular lineup during an era when the company was establishing itself as a leading producer of production sailboats. Built with a traditional full keel configuration, this vessel prioritizes stability and tracking ability over pure speed, making it well-suited for coastal cruising and extended passages. The design philosophy emphasizes seaworthiness and comfort, characteristics that made Morgan boats popular among families and cruising couples seeking reliable offshore capability without breaking the bank. The spacious cockpit and generous beam provide excellent deck space for handling lines and relaxing while underway. Below decks, the layout typically features comfortable accommodations befitting a boat of this size, with emphasis on livability during extended cruising. While not a racing thoroughbred, the West Indies 38 offers dependable performance in varied conditions. Its conservative design approach appeals to sailors who value predictable handling characteristics and proven offshore capability over cutting-edge speed. This makes it particularly attractive to cruisers planning longer passages or those seeking a reliable platform for coastal exploration.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 38.00 ft / 11.58 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 32.50 ft / 9.91 m
Beam 12.00 ft / 3.66 m
Max Draft 4.00 ft / 1.22 m
Displacement 17,000.00 lb / 7,711 kg
Ballast 7,500.00 lb / 3,402 kg
Design & Construction
Hull Type Long Keel
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Charles Morgan
Builder Heritage Yacht Corp. (USA)
First Built 1976
Owner Reviews

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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
152
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
44.12
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
221.08
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. 8.36 pounds/inch
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 16.91
J (Foretriangle Base) 15.50 ft / 4.72 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 696.00 ft² / 64.66 m²
E (Mainsail Foot) Perkins
Engine & Accommodations
Fuel Capacity 55 gals / 208 L
Water Capacity 55 gals / 208 L
How It Compares

vs. Downeaster 38, Ingrid 38, Islander 38 C

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
West Indies 38 Morgan ★
38.0 ft
Downeaster 38
38.0 ft
Ingrid 38
38.0 ft
Islander 38 C
38.0 ft
LWL
West Indies 38 Morgan ★
32.5 ft
Downeaster 38
29.0 ft
Ingrid 38
32.0 ft
Islander 38 C
27.5 ft
Beam
West Indies 38 Morgan ★
12.0 ft
Downeaster 38
11.8 ft
Ingrid 38
11.3 ft
Islander 38 C
12.0 ft
Displacement
West Indies 38 Morgan ★
17 lbs
Downeaster 38
19 lbs
Ingrid 38
26 lbs
Islander 38 C
17 lbs
Ballast
West Indies 38 Morgan ★
7 lbs
Downeaster 38
8 lbs
Ingrid 38
8 lbs
Islander 38 C
7 lbs
Sail Area
West Indies 38 Morgan ★
Downeaster 38
735 sq ft
Ingrid 38
815 sq ft
Islander 38 C
673 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
West Indies 38 Morgan ★
152 s/nm
Downeaster 38
Ingrid 38
213 s/nm
Islander 38 C
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
West Indies 38 Morgan ★
Downeaster 38
16.3
Ingrid 38
14.9
Islander 38 C
16.4
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
West Indies 38 Morgan ★
44.1 %
Downeaster 38
Ingrid 38
30.8 %
Islander 38 C
45.3 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
West Indies 38 Morgan ★
Downeaster 38
35.4
Ingrid 38
46.9
Islander 38 C
31.3
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
West Indies 38 Morgan ★
Downeaster 38
1.76
Ingrid 38
1.53
Islander 38 C
1.87
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
West Indies 38 Morgan ★
221
Downeaster 38
Ingrid 38
354
Islander 38 C
364
Hull Speed
West Indies 38 Morgan ★
Downeaster 38
7.2 kts
Ingrid 38
7.6 kts
Islander 38 C
7.0 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
West Indies 38 Morgan ★
Downeaster 38
1.3
Ingrid 38
Islander 38 C
1.3
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