There are optimum hull characteristics for each speed range. Since the 38T is intended to be a "fast trawler", a modified-V hull shape was chosen. The deadrise angles forward were chosen to produce a soft ride without giving up too much lift. We attempted to maintain as much deadrise aft as possible. There is a trade-off with the center of buoyancy location, which must be positioned to align with the center of gravity location. The center of gravity location is difficult to change significantly, being largely defined by the general type. However, in this interest, we located as much weight aft as was feasible. This allowed us to maintain sufficient deadrise aft, which helps to produce pleasant steering characteristics with comfortable banking during high-speed turns, as well as improved behavior in quartering seas. A chine flat is included to add lift, stability, and knock down the spray. Although every trawler should have a keel for propeller protection, we minimized the wetted area of this by employing a concave profile. The sectional shape was also streamlined for minimum drag. It was also decided not to include lifting strakes. While included on some boats of this type, any possible benefit is controversial. If any benefit did exist, it is limited to high speeds only, and at the expense of an increase in drag at low speeds. It was felt desirable to minimize drag as much as possible at low speed in order to maximize the cruising range for those who wish to operate their boats more as a conventional trawler at displacement speeds. 

To provide security when moving about the side decks, the decks were lowered allowing high bulwarks. With an overhanging cabin top, additional protection is provided, as well as providing a sunshade for the salon side windows. This helps maintain comfortable cabin temperatures on sunny days. The high bulwarks/low side deck combination unfortunately limited the availability of accommodation space under the side-decks in the aft stateroom. The solution was to locate the shower under the corner of the galley. The outboard corner space of an L-shaped galley is accessible only with great difficulty; hence the shower is a much better use of the space. This opens up the entire aft cabin, as well as offers a more spacious shower than found on other trawler designs in this size range. 

The 38T is the only aft cabin yacht of her size that offers the security and comfort of covered side decks. Instantly identifiable by her unique styling, she offers comfort, performance, and style unavailable by any other "fast trawler" yacht.

HULL FORM

The hull is classically shaped without distortion for the sake of interior volume. Flared bow sections produce a dry ride and lift the bow over the wave ahead when running down swell. The depth and shape of the forefoot guarantees a smooth ride. The chine design-tapered chine flats-deflects spray downward. A long rubstrake and quarter guard dressed with a stainless steel bead help to protect the finish on the topsides and add detail to accent the hull lines. The hull lines finish with graceful tumblehome in the aft sections. 

The hull bottom is solid fiberglass, providing long term protection against any slamming loads. High quality domestic polyester fabrics are used inside a vinylester skin coat. Four longitudinal Airlite-cored stringers with skins of biaxial and unidirectional roving add bottom panel stiffness and bear engine loads.

The topsides are cored with Airlite® PVC foam to achieve a high stiffness-to-weight ratio.

Stairs with generous tread width for access to the aft cabin top dinghy storage area and flying bridge are molded into the aft cabin house side and are accommodated unobtrusively in the aft cabin hanging locker.

Covered side decks outside of the main cabin help shade sun and shed water from the main salon and opening windows to allow maximum fresh air circulation rain or shine.

Four 2" x 12" freeing ports are located in the bulwarks low enough for draining solid water from the deck, but high enough to prevent rain and wash down water from streaking the hull topsides.

Two drains in the horizontal deck drain to the waterline to prevent wash down and rain water from streaking the hull topsides.

The main safety rail around the deck has a 1-1/4" top rail supported on 1" stanchions. The midship termination of the safety rails is at the fiberglass sheer-to-bridge stanchions. The main rail opens midship port and starboard, and at the transom, for easy boarding.

A bow/anchor platform supports a pivoting roller system for anchor storage and launching for a 45lb. CQR or equivalent Delta or Bruce anchor.

Deck storage lockers are molded-in to port and starboard of the anchor platform. The deck/anchor raw water washdown fixture is installed in the port side. The lockers are covered with molded fiberglass hatches with lockdown handles.

The transom door and port and starboard bulwark doors hinge inward to prevent accidental opening. There is a vinyl-coated cable gate across the opening in the main safety rail over each of the doors.

The swim step is 24" deep and has a stainless steel rub strip. A folding swim ladder is fastened to the swim step for boarding the swim step from the water.

Bomon manufactures the main cabin house windows, with powder-coated aluminum frames and tempered glass lenses. Side windows are gray tinted and the forward windscreens and aft galley window are clear. The three forward windscreens are fixed and each is fitted with a self-parking wiper. The side and aft window in the cabin are slide opening. Each of the opening windows is fitted with an insect screen.

Two sliding doors open to the main cabin. The starboard forward door provides access to the salon through the helm station and allows access to the side deck for maximum flexibility when docking or close-in maneuvering. The port aft sliding door provides convenient access at the aft end of the salon and an easy route from the port side bulwark door for loading groceries and supplies to the refrigerator and galley. Both sliding doors ride on Harken low-maintenance ball bearing slide cars. A high quality TrioVing lock is installed on each door.

Access from the aft deck to the aft cabin is through a companionway with hinged doors covered with a choice of a sliding or hinged hatch.

Five solar vents are installed in the deck. Two are in the aft cabin, one is in the aft head, and two are in the forward cabin for active fresh air ventilation.

Four stainless steel opening portlights are installed forward in the hull topsides - one is to port and one is to starboard in the forward cabin, one is in the forward head and one is in the forward hanging locker. Each has a removable insect screen.

The four bow and two stern cleats are proprietary castings of "specified" bronze. The foundry has certification of the composition of each batch of metal used in the casting process. Each part has a double-chrome finish.

Four hawse pipes aft and two at the bow provide flexible access to the main bow and stern mooring cleats. The port and starboard midship hawse pipes include integral cleats in the mount flanges.

All load-bearing deck hardware is mounted with a metal backing plate. Each fitting, as well as its backing plate, is bedded in polyurethane adhesive sealant.

Two stainless steel handrails are mounted on the aft end of the aft cabin top.

A solid teak caprail finishes the hull to deck joint in yacht quality fashion. Caprail scarf joints are locked together with stainless steel fasteners and inlaid butterflies.

Flying Bridge 
The contours of the flying bridge cowling flow smoothly into the flying bridge deck. The venturi windscreen has a 1" stainless steel handrail over its entire length. A teak eyebrow and traditional running light boards accent the shape of the cowling and the spring in the sheer line of the bridge. The molded-in instrument facets provide mounting surfaces for radar and chart plotter screens as well as the standard instrument, component switch, and control complement.

Seating:

One H2PS Pompanette swiveling and sliding helm seat.
One 36" (91cm) Pompanette bench seat.
Two 6'-6" (1.98m) molded fiberglass bench seats with hinged hatch access to storage inside.
Propane storage is in the compartment of the aft end of starboard seat.

- Hydraulic steering
- Dual throttle and shift controls
- Full engine instrumentation in custom panel
- Bridge control switch panel 
- Navigation lights 
- Search lights (optional) 
- Instrument lights 
- Deck Lights 
- Windlass (optional) 
- Courtesy lights 
- Horn 
- Battery parallel switch 
- Trim tabs

- Visual LED and audible buzzer engine water temperature, engine oil pressure, engine room temperature, and bilge pump running.

Teak veneers and teak solid wood trims are found throughout the interior except in the forward cabin interior fascia and head compartments, where laminate surfaces are used for reflectivity or easy maintenance. The cabin sole is teak and holly veneered plywood.

The teak surfaces are finished with one sealer coat and four topcoats of Epifanes Wood Matte varnish. The cabin sole is finished with Varathane 1100.

The headliner is built of vinyl covered panels mounted with Velcro and is easily removable for underdeck access. Headliner panels standoff the underside of the deck ¾" to 1", creating an insulation air space that minimizes the potential for formation of condensation on the surface. Teak battens accent the margins of each panel.

Forward Cabin 
The v- berth is 7'-2" (2m) with storage below accessed through side doors port and starboard, and through hatches in the berth top under the cushions port, starboard and forward on centerline. The berth cushion is 5" (12.6cm) foam covered in fabric. Hull ceilings outboard of the berth are finished in teak planks with plugged fasteners standing 1" off of the interior hull skin. Shelves are installed above the v-berth port and starboard. A large hanging locker aft of the v-berth to starboard is cedar lined with an opening port for light and ventilation. A changing seat with storage under is located aft of the berth on the starboard side inboard of the hanging locker. A teak bi-fold louvered door with a hinged hatch closes off the forward cabin from the rest of the boat.

Forward Head
The forward head is located ensuite to the forward cabin. The bulkheads and cabinet faces are surfaced with laminate for easy maintenance and reflectivity. The vanity counter top is Corian® and the sink is stainless steel, under mounted in the Corian. A teak-framed mirror is located just above it.

Fixtures - A Grohe combination faucet serves as a sink fixture as well as a shower fixture. The standard head is a Groco "K" marine type. A stainless steel opening port is installed outboard. The outboard hull ceilings are molded fiberglass panels.

Lower Helm Station 
The interior helm station is forward in the main salon. The instrument and steering console has a panel that allows radar and plotter screens to be mounted so they can be comfortably viewed from the helm whether standing on the 4" riser, or seated in the folding seat, just a short scan from the engine instrument array. The fuel gauge, windscreen wiper controls, freshwater washers, defrosters, B&G knotmeter/log and depthfinder are all located immediately above the helm in the full width overhead console.

Easy access to systems, and space for future installations is provided for in the standard layout of the removable panels. Two panels on the vertical face below the dash provide wide-open access to the wiring terminals for engine and other DC systems. A removable panel below the instrument console in the forward cabin allows easy access to the underside of the engine instrument panel and navigation instrument panel.

Main Salon
Headroom in the main salon is 6'-7"(2.0m) forward and 6'-5" (1.95m) aft. Light and ventilation are provided by the forward windscreens, four slide-opening side windows, and slide-open window over the galley aft.

The L-shaped dinette seating area is located to port and forward in the main salon. Its outboard section is 7'-0" (2.13m) long. The forward corner of it is comfortably bolstered. There is generous storage under the entire length of the settee. At the aft end of the settee is a utility/bottle locker, which can also be used for the installation of an icemaker, or stereo.

The elegant dinette table is crafted of solid teak for years of durable use. It has two drop leaves and a center console storage box supported by two 2" diameter stainless steel legs. The starboard leaf may be specified to extend to the opposing settee on the starboard side, or to accommodate folding stools on the salon sole.

There are four engine room access hatches in the sole of the main salon. In addition, access to the engine room can also be gained through the lifting stairs in the passageway to the aft cabin. The lifting stairs provide access without opening the hatches when guests occupy the main salon.

There is a 10-loop handrail overhead running the full length of the main salon for ease of movement underway.

Galley
The galley is L-shaped and built-in to the starboard aft end of the main salon. Storage is provided in a bank of three drawers, one drop face, and an undersink locker. A trash bin slides out from the galley face. An overhead cabinet has locker storage and space for an optional microwave installation. The countertop is Corian®. Opening windows outboard and aft provide excellent cross-ventilation.

Fixtures and appliances - The Stove is a Force 10 propane 3-burner with oven and broiler. To maximize workspace, the oven door folds away as it opens. An additional large drawer for convenient pot and pan storage slides out from beneath the stove on smooth ball-bearing glides. The refrigerator/freezer is a Norcold DE 561 AC/DC upright. The Grohe/America faucet has a removable crane for pot washing and spraying. It is mounted over a double polished stainless steel Scandvik sink under mounted in the Corian countertop, for easy cleaning.

Aft Cabin
The aft cabin contains all of the amenities to make it a comfortable retreat. It is accessed from the aft end of the main salon. A louvered bi-fold door separates it from the rest of the boat. Access to the deck is through the aft companionway with hinged doors and a sliding or hinged hatch. Two fixed windows aft, and slide-open windows port and starboard, create an airy and comfortable atmosphere.

The bed is a comfortable 6'-7" long and of queen-size width. Two Cantalupi bulkhead mount reading lights are mounted over the head of the bed.

There is ample storage in the aft cabin. A large locker forward in the cabin has one half organized into shelf storage and the other half is cedar lined for hanging garments. Below the locker there is a bank of three drawers. To starboard is another bank of four drawers.

Aft head
The aft head is ensuite to the aft cabin. The Corian® surfaced vanity top features an under mounted sink with a Grohe faucet. There is a large mirror on the bulkhead.

A separate stall shower with 6'-2" (1.9m) headroom is efficiently located under the galley counter. A Grohe/America adjustable Euro-style fixture and glass door complete the enclosure.

Engines 
Standard engine power is twin Caterpillar 3126's, rated at 350hp each, fitted with Walker AirSeps, and Twin Disc MG 5061 transmissions. The engines are painted white, and maintenance points are mirrored to the centerline for easy access. Caterpillar engines are chosen for their reliability and extensive worldwide service network.

Running gear - Bronze V-struts and "R&D" split couplings with "R&D" flex elements help to ensure the quietest possible running and to prevent transmission damage from prop fouling. The prop shafts are of 1-3/4" Aquamet 22 alloy. Shafts run through PYI/PSS stern tubes and cooling water-injected shaft seals and are supported with two shaft bearings each. Propellers are four-blade bronze Michigan Wheel.

Engine panels are custom made by Common Ground with VDO instruments backlit by fiber optics. Alarm systems with audible and LED indicators at upper and lower stations include: Engine water temperature, oil pressure, engine room temperature, and bilge "pump running."

Cooling, Exhaust and Sound Attenuation System 
Engine cooling water is drawn in through two sea chests with external strainers. If one of the external strainers becomes fouled, the sea chests may be valved to interconnect so that cooling water for both engines may be drawn from one.

Superbly engineered Soundown 12" x 48" lateral waterdrop exhaust silencers separate exhaust water discharge from exhaust gases to achieve the lowest overall running noise possible. In addition, the silencers are wrapped in 1" insulation. The exhaust gas is discharged through the transom through a 6"duct from each silencer. Exhaust water is discharged through the transom through separate 2" thru-hull fittings with flaps.

The engine room is insulated with 2" Technicon foil faced foam insulation all around.

Fuel system 
Fuel tanks - The standard fuel capacity of 320 gals. is divided between two aluminum tanks: 145 gals. (548 l.) to starboard and 175 gals. (661 l.) to port. An optional third fuel tank of 95 gals. (358 l.) is available installed under the aft cabin bed. The addition of the optional fuel tank reduces the fresh water tank capacity from 240gals. to 190gals. All fuel tank levels read-out at gauge at the lower helm station.

Fuel is routed through high quality hose terminated with Parker fittings. Stainless steel pick-up and return manifolds give maximum flexibility for selecting fuel flow. Each engine pick-up line passes through Racor "75/900 Max 2" duplex filters fitted with a crossover valve and vacuum gauge for convenient service and operation. An electric fuel transfer system is installed between the port and starboard tanks.

Engine Room Ventilation
Engine room air intakes are located to port outboard of aft cabin hanging locker and to starboard outboard of the galley storage area. The Engine room air exhaust is through four 12 volt exhaust fans located to port and outboard of the forward end of dinette settee. The engine room intake airflow rate with fans operating is 5402 cu.ft./min. for engine combustion and compartment cooling.

Steering system 
The 15" steering wheels at the upper and lower helm stations are linked to the bronze rudders by a Hynautic hydraulic steering system. Bennett trim tabs are fitted as standard, and allow trim attitudes to be adjusted for load and sea conditions. The trim tabs are operable from the upper and lower helm stations.

The 38T includes many standard features in the electrical system. All wire is to ABYC specification. The main AC/DC distribution panel is conveniently located opposite the galley where it can be used without disturbing the occupants of either sleeping cabin. There is a separate, continuous service item panel for bilge pumps, etc. located adjacent to it. The main panel is metered for AD/DC amperage and voltage.

The standard batteries are "Lifeline" absorbed glass mat (AGM) for safety and durability. The house bank consists of two 4D 210 amp-hr. batteries. The engine start battery is one 4D 210 amp-hr. Battery parallel switches are operable from upper and lower helm stations as well as from the battery switch panel.

There is comprehensive battery charging capability onboard. In addition to the engine 110 amp alternator on each engine, there is a 100 amp. charger integral to the Heart Freedom 20. A Newmar 40 amp. 40CE charger is provided for back-up redundancy.

The AC shore power system includes two 30 amp shorepower inlets at both the bow and the stern. Two 30 amp shore power cords are provided as standard. Nine duplex outlets are located throughout the interior and engine room. One additional outlet is located on the bridge.

A single sideband radio copper ground plane is bonded to the underside of the bridgedeck as standard.

A stainless steel freshwater tank of 240 gals. (907 l.) is located beneath the aft bed. The freshwater system is plumbed using polyethylene hose, color-coded blue and red. The Jabsco freshwater system pressure pump is installed with an accumulator tank. A 12 gallon Atlantic stainless steel case water heater with engine water heat exchanger and AC shore power heating element, is fitted in the engine room for easy accessibility. High quality Grohe fixtures are used in both heads and galley.

Three electric bilge pumps are located in the forward, mid, and aft divided sections of the bilge. Each is fitted with an automatic "Ultra Switch." An additional manually activated electric bilge pump is installed in the lazarette compartment.

The fore and aft shower sumps empty into a self-contained, sealed box, each containing its own pump and float switch for overboard discharge. The forward box also collects and discharges anchor locker drain water and air-conditioning condensate.