HUGHES 38-1
Specifications
Hull
| LOA | 37.82 ft |
| LWL | 27 ft |
| Beam | 10.17 ft |
| Draft | 6 ft |
| Displacement | 12,700 lb |
| Ballast | 6,099.8 lb |
| Hull speed1.34·√LWL | 7.0 kn |
Rig & Sails
| Iforetriangle height | 43.5 ft |
| Jforetriangle base | 14.5 ft |
| Pmainsail luff | 39.2 ft |
| Emainsail foot | 13.7 ft |
| FLforestay | 14.5 ft |
| Mainsail | 605.4 sq ft |
| Jib (100%) | 315.4 sq ft |
| Spinnaker | 536.1 sq ft |
About the HUGHES 38-1
Diesel power was available as an option. S&S Design # 1903. Some hulls were sold to Henry Hinckley Co, where they were fitted with a different deck and sold as the HINCKLEY 38.
The Hughes 38-1 is a classic cruising sloop designed by Sparkman & Stephens and built by Hughes Boatworks Ltd. in Canada between 1967 and 1969. With a displacement of 12700.0 lb and a comfort ratio of 29.55, this vessel represents a substantial, heavy-displacement design from the late 1960s.
- Best for:
- This boat is best suited for coastal and offshore cruisers who prioritize seakeeping comfort and stability over high-speed performance. Its heavy displacement and moderate sail area make it ideal for relaxed, safe passage-making rather than racing.
- Bluewater capability:
- With a displacement of 12700.0 lb, a capsize ratio of 1.75, and a fin keel with 6.0 ft max draft, the Hughes 38-1 is well-suited for offshore cruising due to its high stability and heavy motion-dampening characteristics.
- Comparables:
- Comparable vessels include other Sparkman & Stephens designs from the late 1960s, such as the Tartan 38 or O'Day 38, which share similar heavy-displacement characteristics and cruising-oriented layouts. These boats offer similar comfort ratios and robust construction typical of that era's bluewater cruisers.
Direct variant of the HUGHES 38-1
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 HUGHES 38-1 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 37.82ft LOA. Actual costs vary by condition, usage, and local rates.
Known Issues & Pre-Purchase Inspection
We don't have enough data on the HUGHES 38-1yet 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 HUGHES 38-1? 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 HUGHES 38-1?
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 HUGHES 38-1
Checking eBay for sails sized to this boat's rig…