Designed by the renowned Halsey Herreshoff and built by Bristol Yachts beginning in 1969, this elegant 38-footer represents classic American yacht design at its finest. The Alerion 38 embodies the Herreshoff legacy of creating boats that blend performance with timeless aesthetics, making it a sought-after vessel among discerning sailors who appreciate traditional craftsmanship. With its moderate displacement of 17,000 pounds and substantial ballast ratio, the Alerion 38 offers excellent stability and seaworthiness for coastal cruising and weekend adventures. The fin keel with rudder on skeg configuration provides good tracking and maneuverability, while the masthead sloop rig delivers respectable performance with 627 square feet of sail area. Bristol's quality fiberglass construction with a cored deck ensures durability and longevity. The boat's comfort ratio of 34.67 indicates a relatively stiff, quick motion that favors performance over ultimate comfort, while the low capsize screening value of 1.68 suggests good stability characteristics. Capable of hull speeds up to 7.28 knots, the Alerion 38 strikes an appealing balance between cruising comfort and sailing performance, making it ideal for sailors seeking a classic design with proven seagoing capabilities.
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What is the Alerion 38's sail area to displacement ratio?
The Alerion 38 has a Sail Area to Displacement ratio (SA/D) of 15.23. Values between 14–18 are typical cruising sailboats; 18–22 is cruiser/racer; over 22 is performance racing.
What is the Alerion 38's comfort ratio?
The Alerion 38 has a Ted Brewer Comfort Ratio of 34.67. A ratio over 30 indicates good offshore comfort; over 40 is very comfortable offshore.
Is the Alerion 38 safe for offshore sailing?
The Alerion 38 has a Capsize Screening Formula value of 1.68. Values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing; under 1.8 is ideal.
What is the hull speed of the Alerion 38?
The theoretical hull speed of the Alerion 38 is 7.28 kn knots, calculated from its waterline length.
How much does a Alerion 38 weigh?
The Alerion 38 has a displacement of 17,000.00 lb and a length overall (LOA) of 38.00 ft.
Who designed the Alerion 38?
The Alerion 38 was designed by Halsey Herreshoff, first built in 1969.