Northwest 38
Description
The Northwest 38 is a classic fiberglass masthead sloop designed by Ted Moreau and built by Northwest Yacht Constructors Ltd. in the United States from 1972 to 1983. With limited production (estimated 20-30 units), it's a rare Pacific Northwest gem known for blending responsive sailing performance with liveaboard comfort—suited for coastal cruising or modest offshore passages. The fin keel provides good upwind ability and stability, while the generous sail plan excels in light air. The interior layout is practical for 4-5: V-berth forward, enclosed head, U-shaped galley to port, saloon with convertible settees, navigation station, and quarter berth aft, all finished in teak for a cozy feel. Standard power was a Volvo Penta MD2003 diesel (28 hp).
Construction Details
| Designer | Ted Moreau |
|---|---|
| Builder | Northwest Yacht Constructors Ltd. |
| Length | 38.000 ft |
| LOA | 38.000 ft |
| LWL | 32.250 ft |
| Beam | 10.000 ft |
| Displacement | 13000 lb |
| Ballast | 3300 lb |
| Max Draft | 6.000 ft |
| Year Built | 1972 |
The standard boat dimensions
| i | 47 ft |
|---|---|
| j | 15.50 ft |
| p | 43 ft |
| e | 12 ft |
| p2 | - |
| e2 | - |
| i2 | - |
| j2 | - |
| I | J | P | E | P2 | E2 | I2 | J2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 47 ft | 15.50 ft | 43 ft | 12 ft | - | - | - | - |
Sails
Northwest 38 - MAINSAIL
| Luff | * 43 ft - (13106 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 12 ft - (3658 mm) |
| Leech | * 44.12 ft - (13448 mm) |
| Tack Angle | * 88.01 ° |
| Diagonal | * 44.24 ft - (13484 mm) |
| Head (inches) | * 5.25 in - (133 mm) |
| Area | 257.74 ft² |
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Northwest 38 - JIBSAIL
| Luff | * 39.59 ft - (12067 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 20.64 ft - (6291 mm) |
| Leech | * 34.21 ft - (10427 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 115 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 17.83 ft - (5435 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 12 ° |
| Area | 352.97 ft² |
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Northwest 38 - GENOA
| Luff | * 47.02 ft - (14332 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 25.12 ft - (7657 mm) |
| Leech | * 44.13 ft - (13451 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 150 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 23.25 ft - (7087 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 4 ° |
| Area | 546.6 ft² |
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Northwest 38 - SPINNAKER
| Stays | * 47.02 ft - (14332 mm) |
|---|---|
| MidGirth | * 27.9 ft - (8504 mm) |
| Foot | * 27.9 ft - (8504 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 180 % |
| Area | 1115.08 ft² |
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Disclaimer. Boats are not all the same -- even when produced in the same factory of the same model. Sailrite does its best to publish accurate dimensions, but we often find it worthwhile to have our customers measure their boats carefully before we produce kits for them. You should take the same precautions, especially when the data is not from Sailrite. The information on this site is not guaranteed to be accurate. Sailrite offers this content as a service to our community, but takes no responsibility for the reliability of the data provided.