| Main features | First 38 Deep draft | First 38 Shoal draft | First 38 S |
Model | First 38 | First 38 | First 38 |
Version | Deep draft | Shoal draft | S |
Hull type | Monohull | Monohull | Monohull |
Category | Cruiser-racer sailboat | Cruiser-racer sailboat | Cruiser-racer sailboat |
Sailboat builder | Bénéteau | Bénéteau | Bénéteau |
Sailboat designer | |||
Sailboat range | |||
Country | France | France | France |
Construction | GRP (glass reinforced polyester): - Hull: Single skin fiberglass polyester - Deck: Sandwich balsa fiberglass polyester | GRP (glass reinforced polyester): - Hull: Single skin fiberglass polyester - Deck: Sandwich balsa fiberglass polyester | GRP (glass reinforced polyester): - Hull: Single skin fiberglass polyester - Deck: Sandwich balsa fiberglass polyester |
Number of hulls built | 566 | 566 | 566 |
First built hull | 1982 | 1982 | 1982 |
Last built hull | 1985 | 1985 | 1985 |
Appendages | Keel : fin without bulb | Keel : fin without bulb | Keel : fin without bulb |
Helm | Single helm wheel | Single helm wheel | Single helm wheel |
Rudder | Single spade rudder | Single spade rudder | Single spade rudder |
Unsinkable | No | No | No |
Trailerable | No | No | No |
Former French navigation category | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Main dimensions | First 38 Deep draft | First 38 Shoal draft | First 38 S |
Overall length | 40’ 2”12.25 m | 40’ 2”12.25 m | 40’ 2”12.25 m |
Hull length | 38’ 6”11.75 m | 38’ 6”11.75 m | 38’ 6”11.75 m |
Waterline length | 33’ 11”10.32 m | 33’ 11”10.32 m | 33’ 11”10.32 m |
Beam (width) | 12’ 10”3.9 m | 12’ 10”3.9 m | 12’ 10”3.9 m |
Draft | 6’ 11”2.1 m | 4’ 11”1.5 m | 6’ 11”2.1 m |
Mast height from DWL | 52’ 6”16 m | 52’ 6”16 m | 52’ 6”16 m |
Light displacement (MLC) | 15653 lb7100 kg | 15653 lb7100 kg | 15653 lb7100 kg |
Ballast weight | 6614 lb3000 kg | 6614 lb3000 kg | 6614 lb3000 kg |
French customs tonnage | 14.00 Tx | 14.00 Tx | 14.00 Tx |
| Rig and sails | First 38 Deep draft | First 38 Shoal draft | First 38 S |
Upwind sail area | 845 ft²78.5 m² | 845 ft²78.5 m² | 893 ft²83 m² |
Downwind sail area | 1496 ft²139 m² | 1496 ft²139 m² | 1582 ft²147 m² |
Mainsail area | 323 ft²30 m² | 323 ft²30 m² | 355 ft²33 m² |
Genoa area | 522 ft²48.5 m² | 522 ft²48.5 m² | 538 ft²50 m² |
Jib area | 301 ft²28 m² | 301 ft²28 m² | 355 ft²33 m² |
Stormjib area | 83 ft²7.69 m² | 83 ft²7.69 m² | 83 ft²7.69 m² |
Symmetric spinnaker area | 1173 ft²109 m² | 1173 ft²109 m² | 1227 ft²114 m² |
Rigging type | Sloop Marconi masthead | Sloop Marconi masthead | Sloop Marconi masthead |
Mast configuration | Keel stepped mast | Keel stepped mast | Keel stepped mast |
Rotating spars | No | No | No |
Number of levels of spreaders | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Spreaders angle | 0 ° | 0 ° | 0 ° |
Running backstays | 1 set(s) | ||
Spars construction | Aluminum spars | Aluminum spars | Aluminum spars |
Standing rigging | 1x19 strand wire | 1x19 strand wire | 1x19 strand wire |
| Performances | First 38 Deep draft | First 38 Shoal draft | First 38 S |
Upwind sail area to displacement iThe ratio sail area to displacement is obtained by dividing the sail area by the boat's displaced volume to the power two-thirds.The ratio sail area to displacement can be used to compare the relative sail plan of different sailboats no matter what their size. Upwind: under 18 the ratio indicates a cruise oriented sailboat with limited performances especially in light wind, while over 25 it indicates a fast sailboat. | 229 ft²/T21.25 m²/T | 229 ft²/T21.25 m²/T | 242 ft²/T22.47 m²/T |
Downwind sail area to displacement iThe ratio sail area to displacement is obtained by dividing the sail area by the boat's displaced volume to the power two-thirds.The ratio sail area to displacement can be used to compare the relative sail plan of different sailboats no matter what their size. | 405 ft²/T37.63 m²/T | 405 ft²/T37.63 m²/T | 428 ft²/T39.79 m²/T |
Displacement-length ratio (DLR) iThe Displacement Length Ratio (DLR) is a figure that points out the boat's weight compared to its waterline length. The DLR is obtained by dividing the boat's displacement in tons by the cube of one one-hundredth of the waterline length (in feet).The DLR can be used to compare the relative mass of different sailboats no matter what their length: a DLR less than 180 is indicative of a really light sailboat (race boat made for planning), while a DLR greater than 300 is indicative of a heavy cruising sailboat. | 183 | 183 | 183 |
Ballast ratio iThe Ballast ratio is an indicator of stability; it is obtained by dividing the boat's displacement by the mass of the ballast. Since the stability depends also of the hull shapes and the position of the center of gravity, only the boats with similar ballast arrangements and hull shapes should be compared.The higher the ballast ratio is, the greater is the stability. | 42 % | 42 % | 42 % |
Critical hull speed iAs a ship moves in the water, it creates standing waves that oppose its movement. This effect increases dramatically the resistance when the boat reaches a speed-length ratio (speed-length ratio is the ratio between the speed in knots and the square root of the waterline length in feet) of about 1.2 (corresponding to a Froude Number of 0.35) . This very sharp rise in resistance, between speed-length ratio of 1.2 to 1.5, is insurmountable for heavy sailboats and so becomes an apparent barrier. This leads to the concept of "hull speed".The hull speed is obtained by multiplying the square root of the waterline length (in feet) by 1.34. | 7.80 knots | 7.80 knots | 7.80 knots |
| Auxiliary engine | First 38 Deep draft | First 38 Shoal draft | First 38 S |
Engine(s) | 1 inboard engine | 1 inboard engine | 1 inboard engine |
Engine(s) power (min./max.) | 40 HP / 60 HP | 40 HP / 60 HP | 40 HP / 60 HP |
Fuel type | Diesel | Diesel | Diesel |
Fuel tank capacity | 34.3 gal130 liters | 34.3 gal130 liters | 34.3 gal130 liters |
| Accommodations and layout | First 38 Deep draft | First 38 Shoal draft | First 38 S |
Cockpit | Closed aft cockpit | Closed aft cockpit | Closed aft cockpit |
Cabin(s) | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Berth(s) (min./max.) | 6 / 10 | 6 / 10 | 6 / 10 |
Head(s) (min./max.) | / 2 | 2 | 2 |
Freshwater tank capacity | 105.7 gal400 liters | 105.7 gal400 liters | 105.7 gal400 liters |
Maximum headroom | 6’ 4”1.93 m | 6’ 4”1.93 m | 6’ 4”1.93 m |