Hughes 38 Sailing
Hughes 38 Owners Group
Hughes 38 Owners Group
, “twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. so throw off the bowlines. sail away from the safe harbor. catch the trade winds in your sails. explore. dream. discover.” sarah francis brown.
SV Harmony II, Northstar 38, North Channel Regatta 2018
The Hughes 38 is a fine example of the work done by the premiere yacht designer of the twentieth century – Olin Stephens. Along with his brother Rod Stephens, Olin Stephens designed many of the most famous and successful yachts of the 20th century.
SV Galatea V
The Hughes 38 was designed to the Cruising Club of America (CCA) Rule by Sparkman & Stephans (design #1903) and built by Hughes Boat Works of Ontario, Canada. Evidence of this CCA heritage can be seen in the large overhangs and narrow beam. The design also shows elements of later era (IOR) ideas in the separated rudder and fin keel, reverse transom and large foretriangle. The design can therefore be considered a transition between the CCA and IOR eras.
SV Marita (This one is one of a kind – does she have a Hinckley 38 deck?)
Hughes Boat Works did such quality work that Hinckley Yachts purchased finished hulls from Hughes to produce the Hinckley 38. Hughes built 256 H38s between 1967 to 1981, through several changes of ownership.For a period of time in the 70’s the company was called Northstar Yachts and S&S design #1903 was called the Northstar 38.
SV Attitude
Hughes Boat Works was one of the largest production boatbuilders for a number of years in the 1970s. The company was started by Howard Hughes (no relation to the famous aviator) and his brother Peter Hughes.
Hughes 38 owners have consistently reported excellent handling and balance on all points of sail. They are excellent sea boats in chop and high winds and are known as very weatherly, pulling hard up to 30 degrees off the wind. SV Wildcard, previously owned by Fatty Goodlander of Cruising World fame, has circumnavigated twice, surviving many storms along the way.
SV Wildcard
Some Hughes 38s are now approaching fifty years old, as they were made from 1967 to 1981. As is to be expected with aging yachts, some are in need of restoration, while others are still in fine sailing shape, due to the excellent construction of the hull by the Hughes brothers and regular maintenance. Various owners have over the years made modifications to their H38s, some installing diesels in place of the Atomic 4. It would be hard to find a better value in a great yacht design than a well cared for Hughes 38.
SV Water Lily
Hughes 38 Owners Group is an attempt to be a comprehensive resource of information for the little known but superb alongshore or offshore yacht, the Hughes 38. If you have information that would be of help to owners of Hughes 38s, please feel free to contact us.
SV Wildflower
SV Farfalla
112 thoughts on “Home”
I love the knowledge on your website. thnx!.
Its been my pleasure to share my research with you. May i ask: what is your interest in the Hughes 38? blessings jon
I just found your site. I have a 1972 Hughes 38 MKII and I love it. In any event you have a great site and I will enjoy it. Would you have any info regarding the torque settings for keel bolts on this boat I can’t seem to find them anywhere. I am currently doing some work before launch and wanted to check the keel bolts. Thanx
Jerry Henderson ([email protected])
Nice to hear from you Jerry. i was reading a thread on another forum about keel bolt torque settings for a Catalina 30 or 34. i have wondered about his issue myself. i turned down a nice H38 that had water in the bilge (hatch left open on hard) and a flooded engine, because of water seeping OUT of the keel/hull joint. Comparisons with torquing steel or aluminum wheels on cars is not a valid comparison (imho) because of the relatively soft nature of the fibreglass that is on our Hughes 38s. i will do more research on this as this is something we need to address on this website. Perhaps you might want to tell us about yourself on the Who’s Who page. Anyway keep in touch. jon
A quick search turned up this thread here: http://forums.sailboatowners.com/index.php?threads/keel-bolt-maintenance.178671/&highlight=keel%20bolt%20torque Its for a Catalina 310 with a 4000lb external lead keel. The Catalina 310 has 1″ stainless bolts. i believe that these torque specs are low for a H38. i believe that the thread gives good advice on cleaning up the threads of stainless steel bolts before retorquing. Perhaps new nuts are in order as well. It seems to me that periodic maintenance (retorquing) of keel bolts is a smart and sensible way to prevent the caulking between the keel and the hull from working and cracking, which would lead to deterioration of the keel bolts. What size are the keel bolts on your boat? On the H38 to completely retorque the bolts, the engine would need to be moved. Blessings jon
Here is more information from Beneteau
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/955501/Keel%20Bolts.pdf
It recommends torquing in a staggered pattern. Values given are for metric bolts. M24 is 15/16″ and M30 is 1 3/16″. Values seem high to me. i would torque to the lower end of the range.
Also some report that stainless steel bolts need to be lubricated before torquing, and torqued in steps. Loctite Blue has been recommended as a lubricant with the added advantage of preventing the loosening of the bolts over time. There are Loctite products specifically for stainless. Maybe worth checking out. blessings jon
Hello. We’ve recently purchased the boat referred to on your registry as “Northport unknown.” Very excited to find your group! We’re doing some work on the boat on the hard, but will be launching her soon, and sailing her across Long Island Sound to her new home port in Connecticut.
Great to have you Stephanie. Can you tell us about your boat and ill post it on the Who’s who section? Any information that you have that we dont have here on the website, please let us know. Welcome to Hughes 38 owners group. jon
Thanks, Jon. Will provide more info later, but the basics are that she’s a 1969 vintage with an Atomic 4. She appears to be largely original, but we didn’t know anything about Hughes boats until we first saw her, so I might have to amend that statement after further review. We fell in love at first sight and can’t wait to get her launched. She’s been sailed all these years, according to the prior owner, whom she’d been with since 1980.
Hello, Commodore. We launched our boat over the Labor Day weekend and we are enjoying her immensely. She’s called Windflower, which is a name she’s had for quite some time, but we’re not sure how far back it goes. The owner is Douglas Bell of NYC (my longtime boyfriend). Windflower is moored in Rowayton, CT. I can send a photo if you’d like to see her.
Ahoy Stephanie. Congratulations on your launch. Windflower, what a beautiful name for a boat! Yes, i’d like to see a picture. i’d post it to the site, if thats OK. i made an offer on a H38, but the ask and offer were too far apart for compromise. i’m researching another H38, and maybe i’ll make an offer later. they have reduced the price twice, and are getting closer to my target. it’s in good condition, but needs lots of equipment – it’s like a bare boat, which is OK because i can buy the stuff that i like. jon
Jon Your website incorporates some great photos of elegant sailboats. When I lived on Exuma, one of the out islands of The Bahamas, my boyfriend bought an Abaco hull (considered one of the best at that time) and built a ketch for our sailing adventures. Your website is beginning to soar. Sending Love. Your cousin – Cherie Pipes…
Jon – I sent you an e-mail with 2 photos. Good luck with your H38 shopping! Steph
i posted the photos.
Hello I am looking for info on the hughes 80/20. In particular the steel I beam along the keel. Sincerely City. SMALLEY
i used to have a link to a website about a Hughes 80/20 based in San Francisco bay. The link no longer works. Sorry. i also would like to know more about the steel keel bed on most Hughes boats. Anybody know? jon
https://youtu.be/kr1Rls-HLis
Wiskejak gets a new home on her new mooring.
Congratulations Gary, on Wiskejak’s new home on the water. i believed all along that the two of you could do it and you did! blessings jon
Hey there! I was wondering if you guys had any idea what the three different discs on the helm are responsible for on the Hughes 38? Is it mere aesthetics (which usually doesn’t happen on sailboats, everything always has a job), if not, what does it control? Thanks!
Ahoy Mark, i’m not sure what you mean by the three discs. Do you have any pics? blessings jon
I believe the question is the three wheels.
the three wheels on the steering pedestal are: largest main rudder;2nd wheel is for trim tab (rudder) on rear of keel; 3rd and smallest was for a small trim tab on rear of one of the rudders. My boat: Xanadu: has the trim tab / rudder on rear of keel glassed solid to keel and any remains of small trim tab is gone. Xanadu was raced and the trim tabs were probably required to be nonfunctional
Thanks Burt for the update jon
To the Commodore: There is a Hughes 38 listing on sailboatlistings in Sea Cliff NY,
I would look at it myself but the other half of my team isn’t up for it.
Ahoy Jake, i’ve seen the listing, but i haven’t seen the boat in person yet. There is also an unadvertised one for sale in Toronto area, which i have pics for but don’t have permission to post them. Seems to be in good condition, trim tab, A4. If you’re interested email me and i will give you the man’s email address.
What has been the swim ladder solution for anyone who had added one?
Ahoy Gary. i’ve seen swim ladders on the side and i’ve seen them on the stern. i don’t have details, but i can sort thru my pics. jon
We have a portable folding one. We tried it on the side, forget it. It’s is ok on the stern but it is still not an easy climb. The overhang will be a challenge for a permanent one.
Enjoyed a weekend cruise on the $1 boat.
https://youtu.be/p9pdd5ewPhc
Hey, Gary, great video! She sure looks good from the row away angle. Makes you want to come back to her! No? jon
Hi all, Gary, the West Marine 6-step gunwale-mount folding ladder works pretty well for us amidships.
I’d be grateful for the group’s input on something I’m puzzling over. I’ve recored portions of the deck on my 1969 Hughes 38. I’m now dry-fitting the sea hood per the original cabin liner holes. There’s more than an inch gap between the aft end of the sea hood and the forward end of the closed companionway hatch. In other words, an aerial view would include a bit of the deck that’s under the sea hood. It seems to me the purpose of the hood is to keep water from entering the cabin when the hatched is closed, which I’d think would require the sea hood to slightly overhang the closed hatch. Is my boat an outlier, or does your boat have the same gap? Or does your boat have a slight overhang? When it’s closed, I assume the aft end of the hatch should be flush with the aft surface of the vertical companionway frame, so the aft end of the hatch is not flush with, but overhangs the drop boards. The forward end of the closed hatch is flush with the forward side of fiberglass cross-piece, so there is a slight overhang of the closed hatch above the companionway frame. I could reposition the hood 2.5″ aft, so that when the handle on the top of the open hatch butts up against the hood, the aft end of the hatch would have about an inch to go before it’s flush with the horizontal frame over the companionway. Is that how your open hatch aligns? Currently, the horizontal wood frame acts as a stop for opening my hatch when the hasp bolts contact it. Once I put it all together, should I seal under the three sides of the bolted hood rim or not–so small amounts water can escape under it instead of making its way to the aft opening? Thanks very much in advance, Doug Bell
Doug: i dunno, really. Anyone? blessings jon
Thanks Doug for the ladder suggestion. My research so far is pointing me to the designs of the vintage pilot boarding ladders and the Davey and Company ladder hardware kits for a reverse hook folding ladder. I think it would hook nicely on a jib car at the lifeline gate. Most of the stern ladders look awkward on this transom.
My hatch does the same thing. It leaves a gap. I picked up on that right away. So far it doesn’t seem to let water into the cabin but I do have a dodger.
Gary, thanks very much. I’m guessing there’s a good rationale for the gap, but I don’t know what it might be.
Your ladder solution is wonderfully elegant. Very impressed.
Anybody know where I might procure one of those aluminum table legs for the 1969 cabin table?
I own Xanadu a U.S. documented Hughes 38 and recently found this site, it currently is in a storage yard in the Las Vegas Nv. area. I find your site to be informative and would like to be included on the owners list. have plans to move boat to the coast this next spring.
Welcome to the Hughes 38 website. i will add your name and your email address to the owner’s list. i didn’t send out an email to the owners this month, because i have been busy doing other things than updating the website. Blessings jon
Trying to dry out the boat lol
Thanks to all who participate on this site and especially to the Commodore. This site has been invaluable to me as I researched the Hughes 38.
I am happy to announce that I am the new owner of SV Farfalla! She truly is a beautiful boat and I look forward to kitting her out for extended cruising and the adventures she will bring. I am sure that I will be turning to other owners for advice and input along the way and I thank you all, in advance. peace/love/waves/song Brian Dale http://www.briandale.ca
Welcome Brian to the forum. Congrads on buying Farfalla. She is truely beautiful. i will add you to our owners list. jon
I am a Hughes 38 owner (1980) and have just come up on your forum. I have owned her for the past 9 years. I am currently doing detailed drawings of the boat (deck layout and interior layout). If anyone is interested, I can share these drawings on this site.
Anton: Welcome aboard. i would love to see your drawings. If you want me to post your drawings, i will. blessings jon
Hello, all. I am looking for information regarding the internal outhaul system on the original Hughes 38 roller boom. I recently purchased SV Farfalla and one of the first things I noticed was the hand crank outhaul was almost completely seized so I couldn’t tension the foot of the mainsail. It’s actually a pretty simple setup. The clew attaches to a sliding fitting at the aft end of the boom. The fitting is attached to a cable that rounds a sheave and runs forward inside the boom. 2/3 of the way forward there is a hand crank on the underside of the boom. It’s basically a beveled gear that moves a long, threaded rod back and forth to put tension on/off the outhaul cable. At first I thought my cable was jammed up somewhere but it is running free. The crank assembly will barely turn but I can’t actually see anything wrong with it. I put a bit of oil on the gears but that didn’t seem to make any difference. There is part of the assembly that appears sealed. Wondering if maybe it should be greased?? I didn’t have a lot of time to work on it and it’s a pain to remove completely without cutting the out haul cable. Any thoughts or experience would be greatly appreciated.
Brian: i don’t know, but i’ll post it and maybe someone will be able to help you. blessings jon
Hello i have a 69 h38 my outhaul exits the boom around midway through an exit block then around a small winch and cam cleat if that helps any it works quite well
We are from Germany and glad to be part of this community!
Does anybody know the original size/measurement and thickness of the windows from our Hughes 38 MK3 from 1980?
We would appreciate if anybody can kindly assist in this matter!
With best regards,
Drazenka & Josef
Our Boat: Hughes MK3 Building 1980 Name „Mitan“ West Bay / Bras d Or Lake/Cape Breton
Ahoy Drazenka and Josef. Welcome aboard. Maybe someone here can help you. blessings jon
Hello all, What a great find of a site when you have just purchased a Hughes 38! Thanks so much for all your input and information. My wife and I acquired “Free Spirit” in the Fall of 2017 – in your registry as a Toronto, Ontario vessel but was on the hard in Port Dalhousie, Ontario when we purchased her (could this be the sv “unknown” in Port Dalhousie that is listed in the Registry?) She’ll be moored in Collins Bay, Ontario next season. Cheers, Brent & Krista Young
Welcome to the Hughes 38 owners group. The name “Free Spirit” rings a bell. i’ll have to check my records to see what i have on her. blessings jon
I have a 1981 38’ Hughes, one of the last ones before the factory burnt down. I repowered it with a 25hp Beta Marine and put in a hot water system off the engine. We sail in the Pacific North West and the boat handles well in heavy weather. The boat was launched as the De la Rue and was renamed Keloah. A great boat.
Welcome aboard Bryon. i’m sure that you have a great boat and the sailing characteristics are second to none! i really like the Beta engines, i think that the Kubota are the best you can get and the Beta is the best of the Kubota engine marinizers. The red is cool too! i would love to see some pics of your hot water system. i guarantee that i will post them if you let me! jon
You can go for a sail on “Folie”, the first Hughes 38, here:
https://youtu.be/9D7kBtdMM9g
Thanks Ron. i’ll post it in the videos section. blessings jon
I have a bit more information if you are interested. The boat featured in the video, Folie, was (is?) a Hughes 38 that was a long time resident of the NYC. It was owned by David Anderson at the time I recall.
Folie was the first Hughes 38 made, and was launched at the National Yacht Club August 30, 1967.
Judging from the fact that only two Toronto Dominion towers are completed (they can be seen in the background), the film was shot between 1969 and 1974. To the best of my recollection, because I see that my grandfather’s boat is painted dark blue (I see it on its mooring), it is probably early 1970s, as I participated in its repainting from robin’s egg blue about that time.
Wow! thanks for the link too. This is what makes this site: owner participation. blessings jon
On Folie in 1967.
https://books.google.ca/books?id=TSrrSLLB_BwC&pg=PP618&lpg=PP618&dq=hughes+38+folie&source=bl&ots=PrMio7ubcu&sig=9jmSVizNPxtPYXL7BtVS4a4IvbU&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjLhJeapvHZAhUGY6wKHT_CBYYQ6AEIaDAJ#v=onepage&q=hughes%2038%20folie&f=false
Great video. I would love more background on the video. It looks like a professional promo or something. Shot better than an average home movie for sure. What was the slogan on their tshirts for? Where is Folie now? Etc.
Hello there. I am the new owner of the Hughes 38 “Thula Mama” mentioned on your website. I was wondering if you could help me regarding how well the boat sits fore and aft on a conventional slipway cradle as its pulled up the rails. I intend to put a line from both bow and stern down to the cradle for safety regardless but i,m just curious how well balanced these boats are and will they sit nicely on their own? Thanks very much for your time. Cheers. Max Fox. Geelong, Vic. Australia.
Can anyone help Max here on this one? And welcome to the website, i hope that you find it helpful. It is becoming a record of my journey to the sea. jon
Hi all, I’m adding Harken Classic 48 primaries to Windflower, our 1969 Hughes 38. Could somebody please measure or check plans to help me with positioning them? From various videos it looks like about a foot aft of the cabin. Thanks!
Can anyone help Doug? i do know that the cabin length on the MK1 and the MK3 are different. The MK1 has a larger cockpit and smaller cabin, the MK3 has the opposite. Make sure that you check the position on another Hughes 38 MK1. 😉 thanks and blessings jon
I have a 1969 MK 1 (SV Farfalla). Contact my email and I can send some photos I have of the cockpit. I should be able to get some actual measurements tomorrow or the next day.
Jon, can you forward my email to Doug Bell?
Thanks, Brian. i’m sure that Doug will appreciate it. i know that i do. i forwarded your email to him. blessings jon
Hi, Steve Spinelli here. Happy to say that hull #256 is mine and named Uncas. It was on the hard for years. Plenty of projects to do but enjoying this quick well pointing boat on Sodus Bay.
Ahoy Steve, Welcome aboard. Wasn’t that the one that was being sold by POP Yachts? i took a good long look at that one, but i never drove down and saw her in person. i’ll update her (and your) info in the Boat Registry section. Blessings jon
Hey guys anyone recognize this boat in the movie Adrift?
http://samclaflinfans.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/ARDIFT-1.png
A Hughes 38 on the big screen!
We took in the movie Adrift. Was surprised to see a Hughes 38 go across the screen!
Well, now i am going to have to watch this movie to see this. What a good find!
I won’t spoil it for you but the H 38 does well 😉
i wonder whose H38 it is? Is it a cameo appearance or was it used by the film studio? Got me wondern jon
Good day Commodore, fellow H38 owners, and enthusiasts! Stay tuned to https://breezewayyachts.com in the next few weeks as my H38 will be posted for new ownership. She’s a 1972 with no hull number, name: Moonlight Mistress. Currently in Whitby with history of sailing in the Gulf of Mexico, around Belize. She’s been refitted with a Westerbeke 4-60 over the keel. Lots of birds eye maple in the cabin with classic beautiful Hughes carpentry. Hoping it goes to a very caring and new owner with plans to sail her lots. Reason for selling her: we’re getting a bit older and need a bit smaller, something that can be easily singled handed. Regards to all and safe passage.
May God grant you goodspeed in your quest to sell your boat. i am sure that she is lovely. Birds eye maple, huh? Must be gorgeous. blessings jon
I think I bought your boat. I work at sea for a living as a marine engineer so I have lots of spare time to sail in my months off. She’ll be well looked after.
Sailing her to Chester NS in August once I fly home from work.
I think I bought your boat. I go to sea professionally as a marine engineer so I have lots of time to sail in my months off. I’ll certainly give her a good home.
Sailing her out East to Chester NS in August when I fly home from work.
Thank you sir. And as this forum tracks the H38 my non-official records say that her hull number is 49. However it’s not stamped anywhere.
https://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1972/Hughes-38-3228006/Whitby/Canada?refSource=standard listing#.W0VGOIEXbqA
Anybody have the tiller version of the hughes? How do you like it? I’m currently considering purchasing one as a live aboard; any thoughts? What are the fuel and water capacities? Why are they so cheap?
Any info appreciated 🙂
i know that there are tiller versions. Gary Goodlander sailed with one for many years, and i know that some versions came with an emergency tiller. i am in the process of making an emergency tiller, that could be used as a full time tiller. Hughes 38s are cheap because the design has fallen out of favor with the yachting community. Yacht design, like automobile design, goes in fads and everybody has to follow the leader or they will be left out without sales (or sails). Different Hughes 38s have different fuel and water capacities, so it depends on the specific boat that you are considering. blessings, jon
Thank you for the rapid response, John!
Have any of you installed any heat on board? I’m assuming due to the nature of the boats design (racing) the stove would have been use for heat? Of course, particularly in the PNW, heating on a live aboard is pretty essential.
Regards, Jesse
There are several sources of heat, but without any insulation on the hull, i’m sure that condensation would be a problem. If i remember correctly there is 1″ of balsa in the deck, so that really helps. i believe that the best source of heat is a Wallas diesel stove. If you have a diesel motor, you can use the same source of fuel and the Wallas stove can be purchased with an optional “lid” that converts the stovetop into a cabin heater. These are efficient because they are vented outside. Any heater without ventilation to the outside will produce condensation as well as make the interior unsafe from carbon monoxide. Boats that have foam or balsa core in the topsides of the hull make better liveaboards in northern climates, unless you do extensive renovations to add insulation to the hull. i, personally, have not installed any heat. The link to the Wallas diesel stove is on this site here: http://www.hughes38.com/?page_id=621 jon
Here is a real interesting way to heat a boat: A Russian heater.
http://quidnon.blogspot.com/
I have a Little Cod solid fuel stove that sits uninstalled. I look forward to having heat in the cool shoulder seasons here on The North Channel. The placement is the issue. I am struggling to find just the right spot and sort out an installation solution. In due time.
For now I heat up a cast iron Dutch Oven with stones in it on the galley alcohol stove. This process warms the cabin. When I turn in I’ll wrap a stone in a towel and and take it with me in my bunk. Sometimes I leave a low flame on the stove. That and an oil lamp usually keeps the cabin liveable. At the dock I plug in an electric space heater.
I am in the middle of core work. It’s 1/2 inch balsa.
Thanks Gary for the update. i think that it is crucial from all i have read that whatever system of heating is used that the gasses be vented outside, to prevent CO poisoning and to eliminate condensation. i have read so many stories about people being warm but the whole cabin was wet. Not good. i think that the reason that the solid fuel stoves are so successful in drying out the cabin is because they are vented outside. It seems a popular place to put a stove is just forward of the table near the bulkhead and the mast. blessings jon
i received this email today from a Hughes 38 owner:
Hello Commodore,
My name is Kadin and my wife is Savannah. We purchased a H38 MKIII a few years ago with the intention of refitting her completely. I’ve made a lot of progress but we still have a long ways to go.
She is powered with a Universal Diesel 25HP. The motor only has 50 hours +/- but we have decided that we are happy with the technological progress in electric driven systems and are planning next spring to sell the diesel and drop in an etek motor with a lithium power plant in place of the diesel tank. We believe it is a good candidate for electric conversion because of its sleek narrow beam and the cramped nature of a diesel engine. While its nice to have a heavy diesel in the keel there are other problems. For example, we had problems putting in a water lift muffler with that much of a rise to get the exhaust to the stern so we had to manufacture a water-jacketed system. With our current exhaust system there is no noise muffling of the exhaust so our boat sounds like a farm tractor and will drive you mad after a few hours of motoring. Also, the floor has turned into a giant radiator that heats the cabin up to unbearable temperatures in the summer. This does not take into account that the floor had to be modified to accommodate the size of the diesel. I now have a big trip hazard in the middle of the dinette. I dream longingly of the last day that I have to handle hydrocarbons (aka oil changes, diesel, grease).
We plan on doing a bit of off shore cruising especially in the Caribbean, Central America and South America. We purchased the boat for 10K and have a small house in NC also. We went for a boat that is smaller that didn’t suck up all of our financial resources and at the same time could survive a strong blow. It is perfect for us as a couple but we definitely wouldn’t want to go any smaller. There are times we think about how an aft-cabin, a larger cockpit, and L-shape galley would be very pleasant but the trade-offs (expense, maintenance, sailing ability) are too big at this time. We want to accomplish our sailing dreams and the H38 puts that within our reach.
I’ve been researching H38 material for a long time and I am grateful for your time in putting together an owners group where we can share information and resources. Plus, there is a psychological effect as well as it brings owners together to build pride in their boat’s S&S heritage. In a way, H38’s have suffered from a branding problem in the past few decades and so many potential cruisers have passed over this gem in lieu of inferior built boats with more creature comforts. However, don’t misunderstand me, Hughes are not without their host of problems. I am just making the case that is is an excellent pick for a budget cruiser or singlehander.
We have a blog site you can visit http://svtitania.com where we are trying to document our progress towards our goals. Feel free to link to us or pull any pictures off our site to include in your Owner’s Club photos.
Best Wishes, Kadin
This is an email i received from Travis. Lets welcome him to our group.
Subject: Hughes 38 Date: Sun, 4 Nov 2018
I’ve recently bought a 1973 Hughes 38 and I came across this page while I was researching the boat. Is everyone in the group still active?
Thank you, Travis
I have not been on the site much. It has some great threads. I really enjoy my boat but as a singlehanded sailor she is becoming a bit of a challenge. I am planning to install a wheel pilot and lazy jacks this year to make getting underway and trimming sails easier. Where you sailing her ?
Welcome to the Hughes 38 owners group, Brian. We try to provide resources for those that own the Hughes 38 and related boats, as well as general nautical items of interest. And thanks for the pics, i am going to post some of them soon. jon
Here is an email that i received from Brian:
Jon, Greetings from Saudi Arabia. I am passing the time thinking about what I will do to “Attitude “ this wi term and coming season. This year I am likely going to attack the bilge and make her look new and possibly rebuild my Atomic four, install lazy jacks and a wheel pilot to make my single handing a bit easier. She is on the hard in Buffalo, NY and lives at RCR Yachts and Buffalo Canoe Club in Canada. Thought you might want a few pictures and video to post. Happy holidays! Brian
i want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas on this day that we celebrate the birth of our Saviour, Jesus Christ. May the Lord bless you and keep you, may His Face shine upon you and give you rest. jon
At the bulkhead by the table is what I’d prefer as well. It just seems too close to the mast. This stove I think is too heavy and bulky to mounted directly to the bulkhead. I will need to build a base or go on top of the settee. It might not be the right stove. I love both though. I will send a picture.
I own a 1979 Hughes 38 with a Volvo Penta MD11c diesel. DUring haul out the lift strap inadvertently wa splaced on the saildrive, which was of course pushed up into the hull until the prop blade touched the hull. When the boat wa splaced on the cradle, the saildrive fell back into place. So far, the damage noted included broken motor mounts and broken flange/gasket.
So my question is, has anyone suffered a similar incident, or know of such? And what was the outcome.
I have a 1972 Hughes 38 that’s available for sale in Pensacola, FL. Any interested parties can contact me at 832-259-9957
We have had in our family a Hughes 38 for ~18 years, sailing around the New York / New Jersey waters. She has been incredibly reliable, resilient, and sails with ease.
Over the years we have improved the sail plan, refinished the topside, and the list goes on.
We are in the process of replacing the fixed portlights. Has anyone had any experience with re-installing the interior and exterior frames? proven methods or techniques would be appreciated.
Hull # 226, More boat info and photos to follow
I’ve done that job on my 1972 NorthStar 38, SERENA. I used GE Lexan for the window material. The job was pretty straightforward. I ended up polishing the aluminum to a high gloss rather than attempt to restore the coating. Fasteners came out easy and I replaced all of them, as they need to be ground down on the inside (nut-side). When you purchase new fasteners/machine screws, ensure they are long enough to start a nut on the thread on the inside, but plan on grinding the excess down flush to the nut to avoid hardware hanging up on window treatments. The only thing I messed up was the positioning of the port lights back in in their openings. I made a few of them a bit cock-eyed. Be sure to mark the frame positions on each portlight inside and out, so that when you rebed them, you get each back to their original positions.
A good article here: https://marinehowto.com/installing-newfound-metals-portlights/
Lotsa good stuff here guys. Warms my heart. i enjoy approving a real comment among the hundreds of spams that i get. Viagra, porn, russian, chinese, german spams. Take a week off from the site and i got almost 200 spams. First world problems i guess. jon
i am researching the hughes 38. if you have information or first hand knowledge of the hughes 38 please pm me or email me directly. i will answer all emails. highseas especially. i have a question: Does anybody know how to contact the hughes 31 users group? they have not answered my attempt to join for over a month. it is frustrating to think that they have information on a boat that i am interested in but i cant access it. any ideas? jon
Just wanted to say hello. I own hull number 86, which is a 1972 Hughes 38 MKII. I am currently swapping out the Westerbeke 30b-three she had when I bought her with the exact model Mitsubishi (L3E) and xferring all the westerbeke ‘marine’ bits to the Mitsubishi (tempting to call it a “Westerbishi”).
Looking forward to getting the engine finally running in the next few weeks and hopefully squeeze in every ‘end of the season’ sailing that I can muster in Annapolis.
Beyond that is the usual project list one would expect with a 47 year old boat.
Hey, Larry. Great idea of transferring the marine parts to a ready available block (Mitsubishi L3E) thereby avoiding the “marine” markup. Many of these “marine” parts can be sourced elsewhere than in “marine” dealers. i plan on building a section this winter on interchange ability of parts. Any info that you have for us would be very appreciated. Congrads on your Westerbishi. blessings jon
Hello, all. In need of some assistance, please. I have a 1969 MK1 with the destroyer style helm located forward in the cockpit. I need to remove the wheel and I am stumped. Is there a secret pin, internal collar or key slot that I am missing?? Everything (wheel and shaft) appears loose, disconnected and spins freely. If you have any experience with disassembling, please, any insight would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!!! Brian Dale @bdale2
Can anyone help Brian with removing the wheel? thanks
i believe that there is a diagram of the Cinkel pedestal steering here on this site. Here is the link:
https://www.hughes38.com/?page_id=510
i received an email from Mike and Courtney aboard SV Athena (used to be 50/50)
Dear Commodore, Mike and I bought a 1974 boat tagged 50/50 and she has become a legend. Renamed Athena on launching in May of 2017 we left Canada and have visited the Azores, Barbados, and islands passing through to the Turks and Caicos group on the Bahamas Bank. Then we returned to the Azores and the Mediterranean Sea to Greece. Returning west we are now in Portugal and expect to do a western run to the Caribbean and up the coast to Canada. So far the best adventure one can take a boat on. The Atomic 4 has had a few service jobs and the sail inventory is looking a bit worn but it really is an amazing cruising craft. We have a Windpilot type servo pendulum self steering system. Essential for ocean passages. Regards,
Mike and Courtney
i am currently getting over 100 spams a day. i have installed spam blockers but they don’t seem to be working. Don’t know why. Anyway, if your post doesn’t get posted its probably because i missed it in the deluge of spams. Try sending me an email instead. commodore Hughes 38 owners group
i got these emails from Bruce in Texas:
I found your website and wanted you to know for the record that I purchased an interesting Hinckley 38 finished in 1971. The name of the yacht was Moxie when I purchased it. The previous owner purchased it in 2007 in NY. From my records – it was previously documented in San Francisco. When I purchased it – I was told it was one of a number of the same purchased for a yacht club in NY for racing. (T)he first three, as described were owned by members of Knickerbocker Yacht Club, now closed, in Port Washington, NY. I could not stand the name Moxie – so I changed the name to Sea Jewel II (as Sea Jewel is my 20′ gaff-rigged wooden sloop I had custom built by an award-winning boat builder). I’ll take good care of her…like my baby.
Just got off the phone with a fellow who sailed this yacht on a number of occasions and swears it was called Lady Del owned by Edward D. (a mgr. for Dennis Conner). My paperwork doesn’t go back that far. Best wishes, Bruce
i got this email from Steve:
Hi, I’m considering one of these lovely vessels but I’m concerned about this weight placement with the anchor and chain. I’ve been in some nasty seas and having a full size anchor and it’s chain in the head seems destructive and dangerous. It this really necessary to ensure safety in heavy weather? I can’t imagine the boat was designed without an anchor or chain in mind. Thanks, Steve
In my opinion, the chain locker should be aft of the head in the bilge, and the anchor should be removed before heavy weather and put in the bilge. Thats what Fatty Goodlander did with his anchor and chain in his old Hughes 38 jon
Steve replied:
Is there space for it there, it seems the engine would be taking up that space? How is it the boat is so sensitive to weight? I’ve sailed 42 years and 30000Nm and never was this an issue.
One owner replied to Steve: I’m using the locker but keeping weight to a minimum. Only 40′ of chain, 200′ nylon and an aluminum Fortress hook. The added advantage is that I can man handle everything easily. I was planning on a bowsprit and roller installation since I don’t even have a roller. Other owners have done this. I would like heavier gear for added security but still mulling over all the extra cost and weight.
I think my heavy storm anchor and additional chain will be going in the bilge. I won’t be able to handle heavier tackle without installing a sprit, roller and windlass. For once or twice a season in bad weather I could manage say a 45 or 50 Mantus/Rocna.
I doubt there would be any issues for most coastal cruising with weight in the bow. It is a sturdy and seaworthy design! In stormy open sea conditions it’s prudent for any boat to keep weight out of the ends. Fatty mentions that removing the anchor on passages significantly improved the performance and safety in stormy weather. G W
Another long time Hughes 38 owner replied:
On SV K_______ we have a 35 lb CQR as a bower with 160 feet of 5/16 chain and 180′ rope. In the same anchor locker we store a 45 lb 3-piece fisherman anchor. I’m considering going from 160′ to 300′ of 5/16 chain. We’ve been in nasty weather and ridden out steady 40 knot storms with gusts to 48. The H38’s pinched stern leaves little reserve buoyancy aft, so I think it helps to keep some weight forward. D G
Hi Jon/Steve
I have SV Farfalla, a ’69 H38. I’ve read all of Fatty’s books and he only puts his 300′ main anchor rode in the head when he is on passage and anticipating large seas. He stows a spare Fortress anchor in the bilge. Otherwise he utilizes the bow anchor locker in the normal fashion. Keep in mind that an H38 is a fairly light boat, for a 38, and Fatty was FULLY loaded for cruising so good weight distribution was essential.
As I am working toward living aboard, I have removed my holding tank (now using composting toilet) and water tanks from under the v-berth, to reduce weight forward. I have installed new, larger, water tanks under the settees, amidship. This should allow me to carry more weight forward in the anchor locker. I am planning on replacing my 35lb CQR with a 55lb Rocna Vulcan and using 100′ of chain with 200′ of line, to start, but should be able to carry the weight of 300′ of chain and still be fairly balanced.
Steve, the H38 sails incredibly well. As long as the weight on the boat is well balanced she will handle heavy seas well.
Good luck. Brian Dale
Hi, http://www.hughes38.com site is very useful for those who are passionate about boats, like me.
Also, I found where to download boat plans: https://bit.ly/StepbyStepBoatPlans I hope it will be useful! Cheers! 🙂
Leave a Reply Cancel reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .
Great choice! Your favorites are temporarily saved for this session. Sign in to save them permanently, access them on any device, and receive relevant alerts.
- Sailboat Guide
Hughes 38-3
Hughes 38-3 is a 37 ′ 10 ″ / 11.6 m monohull sailboat designed by Sparkman & Stephens and built by Hughes Boat Works between 1977 and 1982.
Rig and Sails
Auxilary power, accomodations, calculations.
The theoretical maximum speed that a displacement hull can move efficiently through the water is determined by it's waterline length and displacement. It may be unable to reach this speed if the boat is underpowered or heavily loaded, though it may exceed this speed given enough power. Read more.
Classic hull speed formula:
Hull Speed = 1.34 x √LWL
Max Speed/Length ratio = 8.26 ÷ Displacement/Length ratio .311 Hull Speed = Max Speed/Length ratio x √LWL
Sail Area / Displacement Ratio
A measure of the power of the sails relative to the weight of the boat. The higher the number, the higher the performance, but the harder the boat will be to handle. This ratio is a "non-dimensional" value that facilitates comparisons between boats of different types and sizes. Read more.
SA/D = SA ÷ (D ÷ 64) 2/3
- SA : Sail area in square feet, derived by adding the mainsail area to 100% of the foretriangle area (the lateral area above the deck between the mast and the forestay).
- D : Displacement in pounds.
Ballast / Displacement Ratio
A measure of the stability of a boat's hull that suggests how well a monohull will stand up to its sails. The ballast displacement ratio indicates how much of the weight of a boat is placed for maximum stability against capsizing and is an indicator of stiffness and resistance to capsize.
Ballast / Displacement * 100
Displacement / Length Ratio
A measure of the weight of the boat relative to it's length at the waterline. The higher a boat’s D/L ratio, the more easily it will carry a load and the more comfortable its motion will be. The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more.
D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³
- D: Displacement of the boat in pounds.
- LWL: Waterline length in feet
Comfort Ratio
This ratio assess how quickly and abruptly a boat’s hull reacts to waves in a significant seaway, these being the elements of a boat’s motion most likely to cause seasickness. Read more.
Comfort ratio = D ÷ (.65 x (.7 LWL + .3 LOA) x Beam 1.33 )
- D: Displacement of the boat in pounds
- LOA: Length overall in feet
- Beam: Width of boat at the widest point in feet
Capsize Screening Formula
This formula attempts to indicate whether a given boat might be too wide and light to readily right itself after being overturned in extreme conditions. Read more.
CSV = Beam ÷ ³√(D / 64)
The 38-3 (or MK III) has a different deck with a longer coachroof, shorter cockpit, than the earlier versions, among other changes. The hull (according to the best information we have)is still based on S&S Design #1903.
Embed this page on your own website by copying and pasting this code.
Discover Related Sailboats
Hughes 38-1
- About Sailboat Guide
©2024 Sea Time Tech, LLC
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
- Hughes Boat Work Inc.
Hughes 38 - Hughes Boat Work Inc. / STW002468
cabin cruiser
cruising/regatta
Volvo Penta 17cv
overall length
hull length
waterline length
standard draft
minimum draft
displacement
diesel tank
mast height
Accomodation layouts
standard version
If you find some wrong or lacking data of this boat, you can propose an update.
Technical forum: hughes 38, note: you will be redirected to another website., support the ultimate sailboat database.
The contents on this website, which today you can simply consult and use, have been collected, organized and archived by people who worked and invested in this project with passion and dedication for many years.
Before proceeding to browse, support our archive with a small donation that will allow us to maintain and improve this project.
proceed, I will donate next time
To proceed, you need to sign-in
- Forum Listing
- Marketplace
- Advanced Search
- Welcome To SailNet
- New Member Introductions
- SailNet is a forum community dedicated to Sailing enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about sailing, modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, repairs, reviews, maintenance, and more!
Hughes 38 year 1983
- Add to quote
I live in Argentina. With a friend in Miami we purchase this beatifull boat but totally in parts. We spend more than 2 year restoring the boat. Now is time to put al the pieces in their place. I took many fotos from several similar Hughes wich were on sale. Can anny hell mi to fine a Hughes manual or where y can see the electric and plumbing circuit and instalation? Can annybody be in contact with me to ask him where are the place to instal the diesel tank, wather heater etc? Thank to all the members of the forum who read this message for help.Abel
The Hughes 38 was a Sparkman and Stephens design # 1903. They can be reached at Sparkman & Stephens Yacht Design, Naval Architects, Yacht Sales and Yacht Charters You may be able to get design drawings from Sparkman and Stephen's archives. That should show pretty much everything that you need. A version of the same design was built by Hinckley. There is an image of the Hinckley version on SailBoatData.com showing one of the tanks HINCKLEY 38 sailboat specifications and details on sailboatdata.com . For what its worth, I seriously doubt that your boat was built in 1983. Hughes went bankrupt around 1980-81 or so and the company that bought the assets did not make any of the 38's. It would be helpful to accurately determine the year your boat was made since the design changed quite a bit over the years.
My guess is they bought it as a kit and completed it in 83, I believe they are supposed to register it as the year the hull was made. But I can see someone who spent 8 or 10 or more years working on finishing a boat wanting it to "brand new" when they registered it.
lets see some pics! jon
- ?
- 177.1K members
Top Contributors this Month
Visit our Popular Forums
- Monohull Sailboats
- Multihull Sailboats
- Powered Boats
- General Sailing
- Antares Yachts
- Fountaine Pajot
- Lagoon Catamarans
Cruising Business
- Boat Classifieds
- General Classifieds
- Crew Positions
- Commercial Posts
- Vendor Spotlight
Life Aboard a Boat
- Provisioning: Food & Drink
- Families, Kids, & Pets Afloat
- Recreation, Entertainment, & Fun
- Boat Ownership & Making a Living
- Liveaboard's Forum
Seamanship, Navigation & Boat Handling
- Seamanship & Boat Handling
- Training, Licensing, & Certification
- Health, Safety, & Related Gear
- Rules of the Road, Regulations, & Red Tape
Engineering & Systems
- Const. / Maint. / Refit
- Product / Service Reviews
- Electronics: Comms / AV
- Electrical: Batts / Gen / Solar
- Lithium Power Systems
- Engines & Propulsion
- Propellers & Drive Systems
- Plumbing / Fixtures
- Deck Hdw: Rigging / Sails
- Aux. Equipment & Dinghy
- Anchoring & Mooring
Photo Categories
- Member Galleries
- Life Onboard
- Sailing in the Wind
- Power Boats
- Cruising Destinations
- Maint. & Boat Building
- Marine Life
- Scuba Diving & Divers
- General Photos
Recent Photos
Listing Categories
- African Cats
- view more »
- Crew Wanted
- Crew Available
- Enhance Your Account
- Meet the Mods
- Meet the Advisors
- Signup for The Daily Cruiser Email
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
IMAGES
COMMENTS
The 38-3 (or MK III) has a different deck with a longer coachroof, shorter cockpit, than the earlier versions, among other changes. The hull (according to the best information we have)is still based on S&S Design #1903.
Hughes 38 owners have consistently reported excellent handling and balance on all points of sail. They are excellent sea boats in chop and high winds and are known as very weatherly, pulling hard up to 30 degrees off the wind.
The NORTH STAR 1500 was renamed the HUGHES 35, the NORTH STAR 38 was fitted with a new interior design and called the HUGHES 38-2, and the NORTH STAR 80/20 was renamed the H40. A variant of the NORTH STAR 35 was built by Coronado Yachts and called the CORONADO 36.
The Hughes 38-3 is a recreational keelboat, built predominantly of fibreglass, with wood trim. It has a masthead sloop rig; a raked stem; a raised counter, reverse transom; a skeg -mounted rudder controlled by a wheel and a fixed, swept fin keel.
Hughes 38-3 is a 37 ′ 10 ″ / 11.6 m monohull sailboat designed by Sparkman & Stephens and built by Hughes Boat Works between 1977 and 1982.
The Hughes 38 produced by the builder Hughes Boat Work Inc. and designed by Sparkman & Stephens, is a cabin cruiser for cruising/regatta, rigged Sloop ... read more on Sailing The Web, the ultimate sailboat database.
There is an image of the Hinckley version on SailBoatData.com showing one of the tanks HINCKLEY 38 sailboat specifications and details on sailboatdata.com. For what its worth, I seriously doubt that your boat was built in 1983.
The Hughes 38, AKA S&S 38 AKA Northstar 38, is a very strong vessel. Designed in the 1960s, they are still very good boats. Fatty Goodlander has circumnavigated in one, and is still somewhere "out there".
http://sailboatdata.com/viewrecord.asp?class_id=1747 Info shows that the boat was built with a gas Atomic 4 engine. There are 2 schools of thought about this engine.
Blue Water Surf Value Rank (BWSVR) 2917. Capsize Comfort Value Rank (CCVR)