Why Sailors Still Want This Slow Old Cruiser – Down East 38

Liveaboard Insurance: Harder to Get, More Important Than Ever: https://www.practical-sailor.com/living-aboard/liveaboard-insurance-harder-to-get-more-important-than-ever/

In this Practical Sailor boat tour, we take a deep look at the Downeaster 38, also known as the Down East 38, a classic full-keel bluewater cruising sailboat from Down East Yachts. Designed by Henry Mohrschladt and Bob Poole, the Downeaster 38 is a heavy displacement offshore cruiser with traditional lines, a cutter rig, long keel, protected rudder, nearly 12-foot beam, shallow 5-foot draft, and about 19,500 pounds of displacement. But is this old-school bluewater sailboat still a smart buy today, or should sailors choose a newer production cruising boat with more space, speed, comfort, and modern systems?

This episode compares the old bluewater boat vs new production boat argument through the lens of the Downeast 38 / Downeaster 38: full keel vs fin keel, heavy displacement vs light displacement, offshore comfort vs dockside comfort, strong old fiberglass construction vs modern production sailboat design, and affordable used cruising sailboats vs expensive refits. With used Downeaster 38 sailboats often listed around $25,000 to $50,000, this classic cruiser raises a serious question for anyone shopping for a liveaboard sailboat, ocean crossing sailboat, budget bluewater cruiser, offshore cruising boat, or old fiberglass sailboat: is the slow, heavy battle axe the smarter cruising sailboat?


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