Sonja and Nico,
I own a 1995 38CC since 2004 and have sailed her extensively as a coastal cruiser and Chesapeake Bay boat. I have been in a continual upgrading process with sails, autopilot, running rigging, davits, inverter, as well as rebedding to cure leaks, and engine maintenance and I enjoy and love my boat. I've only had her 25-30 miles offshore in 8-10 foot seas for a couple of days of rough passage and she performed okay. I will sail her to Florida, the Bahamas, and probably throughout the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico but I don't think I would be comfortable cruising around the world in this type of a vessel. I also know that my boat was sailed from the east coast to Bermuda when she was less than 2 years old. I think the boat lacks seaworthiness with a deck stepped mast, large companionway opening, limited ground tackle storage, and production opening ports (aluminum/Acrylic). I think of this boat as a coastal cruiser at best. I would be very skeptical of sailing across oceans on light displacement, production boats. I've been in 25 foot seas in a Northeaster, in the Gulf Stream and I make my way for 30 hours to a safe landfall in a 33 foot light production boat. Needless to say, it is the scariest place and conditions I have ever encountered and my biggest fear was the boat staying together. I appreciate your desire for a comfortable, roomy, vessel but I think there are limitations that you must consider for your own safety when you look at light displacement, production boats and realize the market segment that the boat was design for. I have done a lot of research before I bought this boat and have visited the production factory that Catalina has in Largo, Florida. I was impressed with their production methods and quality control for the number of boats that they build at a time. For the money, the layout above and below decks and sailing capabilities of this vessel are beyond approach in any other 38 foot vessel. I am including reviews of this vessel for more information. Please do not hesitate contacting me for any future questions that may arise. Here are copies of the reviews:
Guten Morgan
Morgan 38: Rising demand for a center-cockpit cruiser under 40 feet
by Chris Caswell
The success of the Morgan 45, and inquiries from potential buyers, showed Catalina Yachts that there was a market for an under-40-foot center-cockpit boat that combined cruising comfort and sailing performance. Scoring high in both areas is their new Morgan 38, which is big enough to live aboard while dispelling the myth that center-cockpit boats (particularly in the smaller sizes) are slow and ungainly.
In-house designer Gerry Douglas obviously looked hard at the Catalina 37s used for match racing, because the new 38 is fine forward and quite full aft, giving a surprising amount of interior volume as well as producing a shape that is both easily driven and has good form stability.
The cockpit is the heart of any boat, and this one carries a crew of six plus the helmsman without crowding. The coamings are high enough for back support without becoming hurdles to easy deck access and, since all sail controls (including a double-ended mainsheet) lead underdeck to the cockpit, there's little reason to leave this sanctuary.
Belowdecks, however, is where the 38 really shines, and the first impressions are of space and light. The skylighted salon has a curved convertible settee to port with hideaway table, facing a pair of seats and a game table to starboard. An entertainment console is aft over the navigation area, and a nifty ottoman to prop your feet up makes this a true living room.
The galley is aft to port, with top-opening reefer, 2-burner stove with oven, microwave, and plenty of Corian counter and storage space. The aft cabin is equally spacious, with a large berth crowned by a picture window hatch through the transom. The walk-through master head to starboard is all molded fiberglass with a stall shower which can double as a wet-locker. Forward, another head is to port and the guest cabin has a V-berth.
The hull and deck are balsa-cored for strength and insulation, and a fiberglass grid absorbs the rigging loads, while a solid mast support eliminates deck stresses.
An on-deck bow locker holds the anchor as well as a Maxwell electric anchor windlass. Aft, steps curve down each quarter to a stern platform equipped with a pressure shower and fold-down swim ladder big enough for swim fins. Lockers for propane and deck gear are under the aft deck.
The deck-stepped rig is lofty (50 feet, 6 inches), and our test boat was equipped with a Z-Spar roller-furling mast as well as the standard Schaefer 3000 jib furler. With the chainplates inboard, the deck is wide and unobstructed. Main and genoa are standard, and the fin keel can be replaced with a shoal-draft winged version.
We had a perfect sail on the Gulf Stream in 15-18 knots of breeze, and the 38 showed impeccable manners, balancing in lumpy seas for long periods of hands-off steering. In 15 knots of apparent wind at 50', the 38 slipped along at an easy 7 knots.
A surprisingly long list of standard equipment includes main and roller-furling headsail, Yanmar 34-horsepower diesel, and pressurized hot water, shore power, self-tailing Lewmar winches, Edson pedestal steering, Adler-Barbour reefer, Maxwell windlass, propane stove, microwave, and battery charger. Even more surprising is the low base price of $96,750.
Considering the high level of quality in both construction and finish as well as the long list of standard equipment, the Morgan 38 is sure to be a hit with both the cruising and the live-aboard sailor.
Boat Specifications
LOA 38' 5"
LWL 34' 10"
Beam 12' 4"
Draft Fin 6' 6"
Wing 5' 2"
Displacement 17,500 lbs.
Ballast 6,800 lbs.
Sail Area 700 sq. ft.
Designer:
Gerry Douglas, Catalina/Morgan Design Team
Builder:
Morgan Division, Catalina Yachts
P.O. Box 989
Woodland Hills, CA 91367
(818) 884-7700
' Copyright 2008 Dominion Enterprises. All rights reserved.
Perry Design Review: Morgan 38
Comfort and center cockpit layout
by Bob Perry
Sailing
Morgan is now a division of Catalina Yachts headed by Frank Butler. All the design work is done by an in-house team led by Gerry Douglas. If popularity is measured by number of boats produced, Catalina wins. Its buyers are loyal and band together in very active owners' groups. It's definitely the "let's have a good time" approach to yachting as opposed to the "I have to win this one" or "I'm going to conquer the sea" approaches.
Any designer would do a double take upon being told to design a center cockpit boat under 40 feet. Center cockpit designs always pose difficult aesthetic decisions, and the smaller the boat the tougher the problem. With that in mind, you have to give the designers of the new Morgan 38 an A+. Certainly it's no Alerion-Express, but considering the design objective, it is a handsome boat from any angle. The bulk of the cabin trunk was augmented with clever sculpting and subtle striping to downplay the overall height. The short ends and straight sheer line work well together and give the 38 a nice contemporary look.
The interior layout is designed specifically for the charter trade. There are accommodations for four with two heads. The aft head has a shower and is accessible from both the aft cabin and the main cabin. The galley runs down the starboard side of the space alongside the cockpit. It's an amazing layout for 38 feet. If it's tight anywhere, it would be forward, but it will work. The settee in the main cabin converts to an additional double berth.
The hull shape uses a wide stern to get the volume required aft. The D/L ratio is 185, and I can't see any reason this boat wouldn't be a good performer. Of course, it will have more windage than a racing boat, and the main boom has to be high enough to clear heads in the elevated cockpit, but the hull looks good. The 38 comes with an optional winged keel giving 5'2" draft of a 6'6" straight fin keel. The rudder is a modern semi-balanced spade.
The rig is conservative. There are forward and aft lowers and double spreaders. The mainsheet traveler is located conveniently just aft of the cockpit. The SA/D ratio for the wing keel version is 16.6.
It is clear that the Catalina/Morgan group has done its homework once again and given us a model that will be in high demand. I commend the designers for a graceful solution to a demanding problem.
Boat Specifications
LOA 38'5"
LWL 34'10"
Beam 12'4"
Draft 5'2" - 6'6"
Displacement 17500 lbs.
Ballast 6800 lbs.
Sail Area 700 sq. ft.
SA/D ratio 16.6
D/L ratio 185
Auxiliary Yanmar 35
Fuel 50 gals.
Water 100 gals.
Best regards,
Bill Creadon
S/V Water Racket
Rock Hall, MD USA
