| Main features | First 38s5 Wing keel |
Model | First 38s5 |
Version | Wing keel |
Hull type | Monohull |
Category | Cruiser-racer sailboat |
Sailboat builder | Bénéteau |
Sailboat designer | |
Sailboat range | |
Country | France |
Construction | GRP (glass reinforced polyester): - Hull: Single skin fiberglass polyester - Deck: Sandwich balsa fiberglass polyester |
Number of hulls built | 120 |
First built hull | 1989 |
Last built hull | 1995 |
Appendages | Keel : wing keel |
Helm | Single helm wheel |
Rudder | Single spade rudder |
Unsinkable | No |
Trailerable | No |
Former French navigation category | 1 |
| Main dimensions | First 38s5 Wing keel |
Overall length | 38’ 5”11.7 m |
Hull length | 37’ 8”11.5 m |
Waterline length | 30’ 2”9.2 m |
Beam (width) | 12’ 4”3.75 m |
Waterline beam (width) | 9’ 7”2.94 m |
Draft | 5’ 2”1.57 m |
Mast height from DWL | 52’ 6”16 m |
Light displacement (MLC) | 14551 lb6600 kg |
Ballast weight | 4850 lb2200 kg |
Ballast type | Cast iron |
| Rig and sails | First 38s5 Wing keel |
Upwind sail area | 866 ft²80.49 m² |
Downwind sail area | 1368 ft²127.12 m² |
Mainsail area | 416 ft²38.67 m² |
Genoa area | 450 ft²41.82 m² |
Symmetric spinnaker area | 952 ft²88.45 m² |
I iFore triangle height (from mast foot to fore stay top attachment) | 47’ 1”14.37 m |
J iFore triangle base (from mast foot to bottom of forestay) | 12’ 10”3.9 m |
P iMainsail hoist measurement (from tack to head) | 47’ 11”14.6 m |
E iMainsail foot measurement (from tack to clew) | 15’ 5”4.7 m |
Rigging type | Sloop Marconi 7/8 |
Mast configuration | Keel stepped mast |
Rotating spars | No |
Number of levels of spreaders | 2 |
Spreaders angle | Swept-back |
Spars construction | Aluminum spars |
Standing rigging | 1x19 strand wire discontinuous |
| Performances | First 38s5 Wing keel |
Upwind sail area to displacement iThe ratio sail area to displacement is obtained by dividing the sail area by the boat's displaced volume to the power two-thirds.The ratio sail area to displacement can be used to compare the relative sail plan of different sailboats no matter what their size. Upwind: under 18 the ratio indicates a cruise oriented sailboat with limited performances especially in light wind, while over 25 it indicates a fast sailboat. | 246 ft²/T22.88 m²/T |
Downwind sail area to displacement iThe ratio sail area to displacement is obtained by dividing the sail area by the boat's displaced volume to the power two-thirds.The ratio sail area to displacement can be used to compare the relative sail plan of different sailboats no matter what their size. | 389 ft²/T36.13 m²/T |
Displacement-length ratio (DLR) iThe Displacement Length Ratio (DLR) is a figure that points out the boat's weight compared to its waterline length. The DLR is obtained by dividing the boat's displacement in tons by the cube of one one-hundredth of the waterline length (in feet).The DLR can be used to compare the relative mass of different sailboats no matter what their length: a DLR less than 180 is indicative of a really light sailboat (race boat made for planning), while a DLR greater than 300 is indicative of a heavy cruising sailboat. | 240 |
Ballast ratio iThe Ballast ratio is an indicator of stability; it is obtained by dividing the boat's displacement by the mass of the ballast. Since the stability depends also of the hull shapes and the position of the center of gravity, only the boats with similar ballast arrangements and hull shapes should be compared.The higher the ballast ratio is, the greater is the stability. | 33 % |
Critical hull speed iAs a ship moves in the water, it creates standing waves that oppose its movement. This effect increases dramatically the resistance when the boat reaches a speed-length ratio (speed-length ratio is the ratio between the speed in knots and the square root of the waterline length in feet) of about 1.2 (corresponding to a Froude Number of 0.35) . This very sharp rise in resistance, between speed-length ratio of 1.2 to 1.5, is insurmountable for heavy sailboats and so becomes an apparent barrier. This leads to the concept of "hull speed".The hull speed is obtained by multiplying the square root of the waterline length (in feet) by 1.34. | 7.36 knots |
| Auxiliary engine | First 38s5 Wing keel |
Engine(s) | Inboard engine |
Engine(s) power (min./max.) | 28 HP / 43 HP |
Fuel type | Diesel |
Fuel tank capacity | 31.7 gal120 liters |
| Accommodations and layout | First 38s5 Wing keel |
Cockpit | Closed aft cockpit |
Cabin(s) (min./max.) | 2 / 3 |
Berth(s) (min./max.) | 4 / 8 |
Head(s) (min./max.) | 1 / 2 |
Freshwater tank capacity | 97.7 gal370 liters |
Fridge/ice-box capacity | 30.4 gal115 liters |
Maximum headroom | 6’ 2”1.9 m |