FINDING A FIGURE 8 VOYAGE BOAT: The Waterline 38

 

Next day saw me on the Bainbridge Ferry again, this time with a car headed for Poulsbo to see a Waterline 38.

One word describes first impressions of this boat: unremarkable. To my eye, her lines were common, thick and high-sided as if drawn with a dull pencil (sorry Ed).

But first impressions are unreliable, and the more I tore into this boat, the more logical and thoroughly considered her design appeared to be.

Basic Stats

Steel, cutter-rigged sloop (inner forestay not rigged), full deck-house, round chined, extended fin keel with skeg-hung rudder.

LOA: 38; LWL: 29.8; Beam: 11.5; Draft: 5.

Displacement: 22,000lb; Ballast: unknown. Sail Area: unknown.

Displacement to Length Ratio: 371 (!).  Ballast to Displacement: unknown.  Sail Area to Displacement Ratio: unknown. Capsize Ratio: 1.64.

Hull Plating: Not available.

Tankage: 100 gallons fuel in 1 tank; 105 gallons water in 3 tanks.

Engine: 44 hp.

Summary

One of the older yachts on the list, this Waterline showed her age, and the to-do list would be quite long. However, below the surface she was quite a well thought-out, well-built boat.

Positives from the Figure 8 perspective:

On Deck

• The small, high-railed cockpit felt safe. It allowed for easy movement around the wheel and easy reach of the winches.
• Ample deck lockers were located fore and aft. In the cockpit, a smallish locker under the stern seat was ventilated and ready for propane. A huge anchor locker forward was backed by a watertight bulkhead and had space enough for extra rode and several large fenders.
• “Sissy bars” surrounded the mast and the three winches there were self-tailing and ran cleanly.
•  Strong stainless gallows cradled the boom and a rack aft, for communications and solar panels, was integrated into the aft rail system.
• Though numerous, portlights were small and fixed (a positive in high latitudes).

Below

• The layout of living accommodations was thoroughly traditional and efficient. The U-shaped galley was close to the cockpit and countertops boasted 2 inch fiddles! The head was just to starboard; immediately to port there was a cozy quarter berth.
• Center-island galley sinks covered the engine, allowing access from either side.
• Locker covers were battens (breathable), hinged and could be secured in place (important in a boat that could go inverted). Spaces under the port and starboard settee were vacant, squarish and could take extra tankage without much customization.
• House Batteries, two 8-Ds, were located forward of the galley, amidships and below the waterline but above the cabin sole.
• The boat’s electrical infrastructure, wiring, switch box location and accessibility, was all quality work.

 

Concerns for this boat included:

• Her published displacement  of 22,000 pounds (dry?) gives here a heavy displacement ratio of 371 before I move aboard and suggests the boat would be slow. (Sail area statistics were unavailable).
• The depth of refit required–topsides paint and hull, re-rigging, new sails, hard dodger, all-new electronics, etc.–was not insignificant given my current time frame.
• Lack of inside watch station (remedied with hard dodger or sight bubble).
• Minimal horsepower of existing, potentially tired engine.

All told this Waterline 38 was solid, an intelligently designed and a well-built boat, but could be too small for my needs and take too much time to ready.