Review of Olsen 38

Basic specs.

The Olsen 38 is a large sailboat designed by the Danish maritime architect Peter Bjørn Olsen.

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Keel

Unknown keel type

The boat can only enter major marinas as the draft is about 2.01 - 2.11 meter (6.59 - 6.89 ft) dependent on the load. See immersion rate below.

Sailing characteristics

This section covers widely used rules of thumb to describe the sailing characteristics. Please note that even though the calculations are correct, the interpretation of the results might not be valid for extreme boats.

Stability and Safety

What is Capsize Screening Formula (CSF)?

The capsize screening value for Olsen 38 is 1.65, indicating that this boat could - if evaluated by this formula alone - be accepted to participate in ocean races.

Immersion rate

The immersion rate is defined as the weight required to sink the boat a certain level. The immersion rate for Olsen 38 is about 264 kg/cm, alternatively 1479 lbs/inch.
Meaning: if you load 264 kg cargo on the boat then it will sink 1 cm. Alternatively, if you load 1479 lbs cargo on the boat it will sink 1 inch.

Sailing statistics

This section is statistical comparison with similar boats of the same category. The basis of the following statistical computations is our unique database with more than 26,000 different boat types and 350,000 data points.

L/B (Length Beam Ratio)

What is L/B (Length Beam Ratio)?

The l/b ratio for Olsen 38 is 3.69.

Compared with other similar sailboats it is slimmer than 85% of all other designs. It seems that the designer has chosen a significantly more speedy hull design.

Ballast Ratio

What is a Ballast Ratio?

The ballast ratio for Olsen 38 is 39%.

This ballast ratio shows a righting moment that is higher than 46% of all similar sailboat designs. A righting moment (ability to resist heeling) just below average.

RSP (Relative Speed Performance)

What is Relative Speed Performance?

The Relative Speed Performance for Olsen 38 is 62

The relative speed performance is 62 which means that a it is faster than 62% of all similar sailboat designs.

Maintenance

Rig

If you need to renew parts of your running rig and is not quite sure of the dimensions, you may find the estimates computed below useful.

**Guiding dimensions of running rig**
Usage	Length		Diameter
Jib sheet	12.1 m	(39.6 feet)	14 mm	(0.55 inch)
Genoa sheet	12.1 m	(39.6 feet)	14 mm	(0.55 inch)
Mainsheet	30.2 m	(98.9 feet)	14 mm	(0.55 inch)
Spinnaker sheet	26.5 m	(87.0 feet)	14 mm	(0.55 inch)

Boat owner's ideas

This section is reserved boat owner's modifications, improvements, etc. Here you might find (or contribute with) inspiration for your boat.

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Finally

We are always looking for new photos. If you can contribute with photos for Olsen 38 it would be a great help.

If you have any comments to the review, improvement suggestions, or the like, feel free to contact us. Criticism helps us to improve.

References

[Ref 1]: ISO 8666 Small craft — Principal data.
[Ref 3]: ISO 12215-5 Small craft — Hull construction and scantlings.