BENETEAU MOORINGS 38

About the BENETEAU MOORINGS 38

See MOORINGS 38-2 for more details. Also referred to as BENETEAU 38M. Same hull as FIRST 38S5 but with different deck and rig. Built at Beneteau USA. (An earlier MOORINGS 38 was based on the FIRST 38 (BENETEAU).)

The Beneteau Moorings 38 is a masthead sloop designed by Jean Berret and Phillipe Starck, built by Beneteau (USA) between 1990 and 1992 with a total production of 80 hulls. This vessel represents a specific era of American-built Beneteau cruisers, offering a balance of performance and comfort with a displacement of 14520.0 lb and a beam of 12.33 ft.

Best for:

This boat is well-suited for coastal cruisers and those seeking a comfortable, stable platform for weekend trips or extended coastal passages, rather than extreme bluewater expeditions. Its moderate displacement and fin keel design appeal to owners who prioritize ease of handling and interior volume over heavy offshore ruggedness.

Bluewater capability:

With a capsize ratio of 2.03 and a comfort ratio of 23.67, the Moorings 38 is capable of offshore passages but is not a heavy-displacement bluewater cruiser. Its fin keel and moderate displacement suggest it is best suited for protected waters and shorter open-ocean crossings rather than extended, heavy-weather voyaging.

Comparables:

Comparable vessels from this era include the Tartan 38 and the Hunter 38, which share similar beam dimensions and masthead sloop rigs. These boats offer similar interior layouts and performance characteristics, making them direct competitors in the late-80s to early-90s 38-foot cruiser market.