Sydney 38s are on the market at about $100k, couple of 40s are at about $55k. 38s are praised for their ease of handling and flexibilty. Only information I could find on the 40s is the wikipedia page, saying they are a bit of a handful.
Apart from two feet. What is the big difference here?
We are considering a 38 as our next boat in a year or so, but tempted with the 40s price tag.
Ed.
Just get the 38,
The price is illusory.
Standard 40s have in line rig with runners and checks and are very tippy.
The one in Perth has a 38 rig, swept and no runners and a T bulb so good deal but for the transport.
With the 38, there are cheap to run, insure and all the bits you replace are off the shelf items.
The Association is very helpful.
Best is that you quite a good interior that is simple but very good to use.
You buy a 40 you will die with it!
G'day Cav,
I like the 38. They gives me a lot of grief in light airs, the 40 doesn't seem to have the same slippery performance.
The only saving grace for me is a 38 appears to be fully powered up in the mid teens, so I like sailing against them in that 15-20 knot range when they're still deciding whether to reef or not. Pity I live in a light air venue!
In the hands of someone like Lydia who is an obscenely good driver, they're a really tough competitor even for the Pogo.
Like most skinny boats at the waterline, crew weight on the rail is important if you want to win pickle dishes. Not a negative that is specific to the 38, that was the same even for the brand new Ker 40 I was looking at (at 5 times the price).
Cheers,
SB
G'day, I think MBD ironed the bugs out of the 40 & ended up with the 38. Having raced both, the 38 is a much better all rounder really sweet boat to drive, good in the light stuff & then tuck the first reef in at 18 tws & keep trucking along. The 40 on the other hand is actually a much larger boat than the 2 feet would indicate, good light air performance, much more tippy & a bit of a handful in the breezy stuff.
I agree all round. The 38 is a lovely boat to sail. We used to have all bodies (8) on the rail in about 8 knots. Very responsive downwind too. Topped one out at 19.8 knots.
