Purchase of Morgan 382?

[cshreeve]

I'm considering the purchase of a 1979 Morgan 382. She seems
to be in fairly good condition. The interior could use some
cosmetic work, but no big deal.
From reading on this site I may be asking the wrong group,
But... Is there any kind of a down side to Morgan 38s? What
surprises should I look out for in the survey? Any help or advise
would be most welcome. I look forward to joining your ranks if
all works out well.

 

[actigner]

<div>Ed,
I purchased a 1979 Morgan 382 #168 in June of this year. I have not found a down side yet. The boat is seaworthy, strong and sails well. All the bunks are a little to short for me but it is a small inconvenience in comparison. My boat needed cosmetic work and I am doing many upgrades in preparation for retirement and some serious cruising. This is my 4th sailboat, the previous being a 1973 Morgan 1 ton which I loved, and because of this bulletin board I know more about this one and have more confidence in it than any of the others.
Get a good survey done and start sailing it.
Good LuckRCL
</div>

 

[bschnur]

Ed,
The M382 has one well known factory problem that you are probably aware of. This is the problem with the boat originally not having enough tabbing between the head bulkheads and the hull, especially in the area of keel support. Morgan launched a massive recall program and fixed nearly all of the boats. A few boats were either never found or the owners declined the retrofit strengthening. You can determine if the boat you're looking at has had the retrofit by looking at the cabin sole next to the mast. If the retrofit was performed there should be a 10" square access cut into the cabin sole, one on each side of the mast. There are also teak boards that will be found inside the head which cover access holes cut for additional tabbing, one above and behind the head bowl, and another in the front face of the shower seat.
The retrofit has failed in several boats, so look for sagging of the cabin sole in front of the head door. Look through the archives for discussions of this and what the fixes amount to.
Other than this one significant problem from 20 years ago, you'll find the M382 to be very well made and much fun to sail. I've owned a 1979 M382 for 2+ years and have put a fair amount of work into returning her finish to a high level. It's very satisfying when people strolling by on the docks stop and study my boat, sometimes spending several minutes taking in all the details. They never fail to make complimentary remarks before leaving. The 382 is simply a good looking boat!
In a few months my wife and I will be taking this boat on a long cruise of several years -- and we know we have an excellent boat to carry us safely over the horizon. As you search for your next boat, you might find a better boat than a 1979 Morgan 382, but it's more likely that you won't.
In any case, good luck on your search....

 

[balthazor]

Yes, we all like our boats. They have flaws, as do all boats, even the most expensive--but for the typical price, they are good boats and very comfortable cruisers. Sort of depends on how you intend to use it, too. If you are willing to spend up to or over $100K, you should look at other boats of same size, of course. E.G.,Waquiez Hood 38, Cabo Rico, etc. I would like a boat with bigger main and smaller foretriangle, for instance, but that is an older design concept that is now returning, but was not the norm in the 1970s.

 

[bobclark]

Edward,
I'm not saying this because I already own a M382, 1979 #155, but because I am sailing 40 years, and have owned five excellent boats. YOU CAN'T BUY A BETTER BOAT.
Good Luck,
Larry