Hinckley 38

[Solosailor]

I am very seriously looking at a Hinckley 38 and would very much appreciate information regarding this vessel. Seems to me the 38 is a bit of an odd-ball in the Hinckley bloodline (i.e. Royalty). I understand from previous posts that the 38 is a bit tender yet still very good to wind. Those who may know this boat, know that they have a "trim tab" on the keel. What exactly does one do with this extra rudder? On a starboard tack do you swing it to port and thereby gain lift on the starboard side of the keel? Please excuse my complete ignorance in this matter.

I am looking at this boat from a performance cruisers standpoint. Any and all information from informed sailors is appreciated.

[roverhi]

The trim tab on the keel was a rule beating addition that got legislated out of existance about a year after it was first tried. The trim tab makes the boat a terror to windward by increasing lift. It should be angled to leeward like the flaps on an airplane wing.

Hinckleys are beautiful, extremely well built boats but they are terribly expensive and too pretty to cruise. I'd be paranoid to take it anywhere near a marina for fear of marring the topsides and afraid of scratching the brightwork when cruising.

[svHyLyte]

Some friends of ours owned and sailed a 38 for many years and loved the boat. She was a very handsome and finely fitted yacht and I could not understand why it was not valued as much as the either the Pilot 35 or the B-40 as it was their equal in most all respects.

FWIW...

[barnakiel]

H38 is a beauty. Being a S&S of that era she may be a great sailor too.

If she is technically fine and if you liked the test drive, well ...

b.

[Soling816]

Can anyone verify the displacement on the Hinckley 38? There seems to conflicting information on sailboat data of 13,950lbs, on the listings of various vessels for sale as, 17,500.... big difference in how she would perform.. also, what is her draft? 5'8" or 6'?

[longjonsilver]

The Hinckley hull was built by the Hughes boat company for Hinckley. Learn more about these boats at www dot hughes38 dot com

jon

[psk125]

The 38's have a reputation of being better performing than some of the centerboard Hinckley designs, though it looks like only 28 were built. The skeg-hung rudder should help avoid lobster pot entanglements. The engine being down low may make it difficult to access.
https://sailboatdata.com/sailboat/hinckley-38

[Don C L]

A beauty. BTW there were 3 Hughes 38s which were similar, all S&S, so if you get conflicting specs, it may be that folks have the boats confused. I've never sailed, or even seen, a Hinckley 38, but my tender S&S design sails very nicely once she's over at 20 degrees and she settle right in.

[Don C L]

Originally Posted by Soling816

Can anyone verify the displacement on the Hinckley 38? There seems to conflicting information on sailboat data of 13,950lbs, on the listings of various vessels for sale as, 17,500.... big difference in how she would perform.. also, what is her draft? 5'8" or 6'?

Welcome Solin816! Perhaps some of the specs you are seeing are those of the Hughes 38, which had a 6 foot draft.
https://sailboatdata.com/sailboat/hughes-38-1

[longjonsilver]

Originally Posted by Soling816

Can anyone verify the displacement on the Hinckley 38? There seems to conflicting information on sailboat data of 13,950lbs, on the listings of various vessels for sale as, 17,500.... big difference in how she would perform.. also, what is her draft? 5'8" or 6'?

14,000 lbs sounds right. Depends a lot on what the owners have done to them. Like as has been said there are three versions of the Hughes 38, but the biggest change between them is the saildrive option on the Mk3 which moves 300 some lbs back about 10 ft so they always sit stern heavy. One owner added 2000 lbs of lead to the forward edge of the keel to make her sit level, but low in the water.