FALES 38 NAVIGATOR
Specifications
Hull
| LOA | 38 ft |
| LWL | 33.5 ft |
| Beam | 12 ft |
| Draft | 5 ft |
| Displacement | 22,750 lb |
| Ballast | 8,999.9 lb |
| Hull speed1.34·√LWL | 7.8 kn |
About the FALES 38 NAVIGATOR
Center cockpit, pilot house motor sailor. Shallow draft: 4.25'. The FALES 38 EXPLORER is the same hull.
The Fales 38 Navigator is a classic American ketch designed by Charles Street/Alden and built by Fales Yachts/Alden Yachts (USA) in 1977. With a displacement of 22750.0 lb and a full/long keel, this vessel represents a heavy, traditional cruising platform from a single production year.
- Best for:
- This boat is best suited for experienced coastal cruisers and conservative bluewater sailors who prioritize stability and traditional handling over high-speed performance.
- Bluewater capability:
- With a D/L ratio of 270.15, a capsize ratio of 1.7, and a full/long keel, the Navigator is well-suited for offshore passages, offering excellent stability and seakeeping in heavy weather.
- Comparables:
- Comparable vessels include other Alden-designed ketches from the late 1970s, such as the Island Packet 38 or similar heavy-displacement trawler-style ketches, due to their shared emphasis on comfort and offshore safety.
Direct variant of the FALES 38 NAVIGATOR
Near-identical models — same hull, builder and designer, re-badged or lightly changed. Specs and owner-reported issues are typically shared across the group, so a sister model's page may carry detail this one doesn't.
Performance
Pricing
We don't have market pricing data for the FALES 38 NAVIGATOR yet. If you own one, help other buyers — what did you pay for it? Reports build a community price estimate over time.
Estimated Cost of Ownership
Based on 38ft LOA. Actual costs vary by condition, usage, and local rates.
Known Issues & Pre-Purchase Inspection
We don't have enough data on the FALES 38 NAVIGATORyet to publish model-specific findings we'd stand behind — but here's a free general inspection checklist, built from our research into what actually goes wrong on boats of this kind.
Drawn from 7,029 documented issues across 2,391 models, ordered so the areas that most often turn up problems come first.
Own a FALES 38 NAVIGATOR? Reports from owners are what turn this into a model-specific checklist — and they're the reason the boats above it have one.
Similar Sailboats
Which engine powers your FALES 38 NAVIGATOR?
We haven't confirmed the engine for this model yet. If you own or know one, tell us — as owners report in, we build an accurate picture over time.
Already know your engine? Search all engines → to find its exact parts.
Used sails that fit the FALES 38 NAVIGATOR
Checking eBay for sails sized to this boat's rig…