The Tartan 38 is moderately powered for comfortable coastal cruising, with acceptable motion comfort for coastal passages, and respectable in club racing.
Hull Speed
The theoretical displacement-mode speed limit — determined by waterline length, not engine or sail power.
A displacement hull pushes a bow wave whose speed is limited by the waterline length.
With a waterline of 28.5′, the Tartan 38 tops out around 7.2 knots in displacement mode — after that, the bow wave outruns the hull and resistance climbs steeply.
1.34 × √28.5′ LWL = 7.2 kts
Performance Ratios
Racing handicap, sail-carrying power, stability and comfort — and what each one actually tells you about a day on the water.
PHRF Rating
114s/nm
Cruiser/racer — competitive in club racing, comfortable cruising.
SA / Displacement
17.5
Moderate sail power — a capable coastal cruiser, not overpowered.
Comfort Ratio
28.4
Acceptable coastal comfort — fine for weekends, notice the chop offshore.
Capsize Screening
1.90
Below the 2.0 offshore threshold — acceptable for ocean passages.
Pounds/Inch Immersion
1lbs
Weight needed to sink the hull one inch — loading sensitivity.
Motion & Offshore Suitability
Two ratios that matter most when you're planning passages — how the boat feels in a seaway, and whether the hull geometry is suitable for open ocean.
Comfort Ratio
28.4
Acceptable coastal comfort — fine for weekends, notice the chop offshore.
Under 20 — Snappy, racing motion
20–30 — Acceptable coastal
30–40 — Good offshore comfort
Over 40 — Very comfortable offshore
Capsize Screening Formula
1.90
Below the 2.0 offshore threshold — acceptable for ocean passages.
Under 2.0 — Acceptable for offshore
Over 2.0 — Coastal / protected waters
PHRF Fleet Position
Where the Tartan 38 sits on the PHRF handicap spectrum — lower numbers mean faster boats.
Racer 0–90
Cruiser/Racer 90–150
Cruiser 150–210
Pearson 37 2
102s/nm
Tartan 38
114s/nm
Cruiser/racer — competitive in club racing, comfortable cruising.
Ericson 381
114s/nm
Hunter 37
117s/nm
Alberg 37
162s/nm
Estimated Speed by Wind
Rough boat speed estimates at different true wind speeds and points of sail — derived from hull speed, SA/D, and displacement, not measured polars.
| Point of Sail |
6 kts TWS |
10 kts TWS |
15 kts TWS |
20 kts TWS |
| Close-hauled40–50° |
2.9 |
3.6 |
4.1 |
4.2 |
| Close Reach60° |
3.5 |
4.4 |
4.9 |
5.1 |
| Beam Reach90° |
4.3 |
5.4 |
6.0 |
6.3 |
| Broad Reach120–135° |
4.0 |
5.0 |
5.6 |
5.8 |
| Run150–180° |
3.2 |
4.0 |
4.5 |
4.7 |
These are simplified estimates based on hull speed (7.2 kts),
SA/D (17.5), and empirical efficiency curves — not instrument-measured
polars. Real-world speed varies with sea state, bottom condition, sail trim, and current.
Speeds in gold approach hull speed;
bold gold means near or at hull speed.
Wind Range & Comfort Envelope
Estimated wind ranges for comfortable sailing on the Tartan 38 — based on sail area, ballast, and displacement characteristics.
Ghost
Sweet Spot
Reef
Heavy
0–7 kts
7–20 kts
20–28 kts
28+ kts
Ghosting
0–7 kts
Light air, motor-sailing likely. Need patience and a light genoa.
Sweet Spot
7–20 kts
Comfortable under full sail. Best speed-to-comfort ratio.
Time to Reef
20–28 kts
Time to shorten sail. Reef the main, swap to a working jib.
Heavy Weather
28+ kts
Storm conditions. Storm jib or bare poles. Seek shelter if coastal.
How It Compares
Side-by-side with the boats most often cross-shopped against the Tartan 38.
|
Tartan 38 |
Alberg 37 |
Ericson 381 |
Hunter 37 |
Pearson 37 2 |
Tartan 372 |
| Dimensions |
| LOA |
37.3 |
37.2 |
37.5 |
37.2 |
37.4 |
37.2 |
| LWL |
28.5 |
26.5 |
30.5 |
30.9 |
29.6 |
30.8 |
| Beam |
11.8 |
10.2 |
12.0 |
12.5 |
12.3 |
12.3 |
| Displacement |
15 |
16 |
14 |
14 |
16 |
15 |
| Ballast |
7 |
6 |
6 |
5 |
6 |
6 |
| Sail Area |
667 |
646 |
678 |
641 |
661 |
— |
| Performance |
| PHRF |
114 |
162 |
114 |
117 |
102 |
— |
| SA/Disp |
17.5 |
15.8 |
18.4 |
17.2 |
16.7 |
— |
| Bal/Disp |
— |
38.7 |
43.8 |
40.0 |
37.5 |
42.8 |
| Comfort |
28.4 |
39.8 |
24.9 |
31.8 |
27.3 |
— |
| Capsize |
1.90 |
1.59 |
1.98 |
1.82 |
1.96 |
— |
| Hull Speed |
7.2 |
6.9 |
7.4 |
7.3 |
7.3 |
— |