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Yankee 38
Designer: Sparkman & Stephens  ·  Builder: Yankee Yachts Inc. (Usa)  ·  First built: 1972
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About the Yankee 38

Designed by the legendary Sparkman & Stephens naval architecture firm, this classic 38-footer represents refined sailing from the early 1970s golden era of fiberglass yacht construction. Built by Yankee Yachts between 1972 and 1975, only thirty hulls were completed, making this a relatively rare find in today's used boat market. The yacht's moderate displacement of 16,000 pounds and substantial ballast ratio create excellent stability and seakindly motion in challenging conditions. Her fin keel with skeg-mounted rudder configuration offers a good balance between performance and directional stability, while the masthead sloop rig provides straightforward sail handling. With a comfort ratio of 29.42, she falls into the moderate range ideal for coastal cruising and limited offshore passages. The Sparkman & Stephens pedigree ensures proven seaworthiness and time-tested proportions that have stood the test of decades. Her modest sail area and conservative design make her well-suited for cruising couples or small families seeking a manageable yet capable coastal cruiser. The yacht's capsize screening value of 1.87 indicates good stability characteristics for serious cruising applications, while her hull speed of 7.18 knots provides respectable passage-making ability under sail or power.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 38.17 ft / 11.63 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 28.75 ft / 8.76 m
Beam 11.75 ft / 3.58 m
Max Draft 6.25 ft / 1.91 m
Displacement 16,000.00 lb / 7,257 kg
Ballast 7,327.00 lb / 3,323 kg
Ballast Type Lead
Sail Area (Reported) 638.00 ft² / 59.27 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin with rudder on skeg
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Sparkman & Stephens
Builder Yankee Yachts Inc. (USA)
First Built 1972
Last Built 1975
Number Built 30
Associations One Ton Class
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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
 120
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
 16.14
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
 45.79
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
 300.58
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
 29.42
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
 1.87
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. 7.18 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
 1.67
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. 1,207.04 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. 16.12
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 48.50 ft / 14.78 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 15.70 ft / 4.79 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 42.80 ft / 13.05 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 12.00 ft / 3.66 m
SA Fore 380.73 ft² / 35.37 m²
SA Main 256.80 ft² / 23.86 m²
SA Total (100%) 637.53 ft² / 59.23 m²
Est. Forestay Length 50.98 ft / 15.54 m
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make Westerbeke
Engine Model 491
Engine Type Diesel
Horsepower 30
Fuel Capacity 30 gals / 114 L
Water Capacity 60 gals / 227 L
Find a Yankee 38 For Sale
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