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Review of Wasa 38


Wasa 38
Wasa 38.


Basic specs.

sail specifications
The Wasa 38 is a sailboat designed by the maritime architect Leif Ängermark. The Wasa 38 is built by the Swedish yard Wasa Yachts.

Looking for a new boat? Find a Wasa 38 or similar boat for sale

Hull

The hull is made of hand laid fibreglass. Generally, a hull made of hand laid fibreglass requires only a minimum of maintenance during the sailing season.
The hull is a double hull which improves the indoor climate. Especially when the water is colder than the air in the cabin, then the double hull insulates against cold water and reduce the condense water in the cabin.
The deck is a double deck which improves the indoor climate.


Interior
Floor plan
Floor plan of Wasa 38.

The interior is like most other boats made of teak. Teak has the advantage of being naturally very oily and therefore water-repellent, which is suitable on boats.
The boat is equipped with 6 berths, a galley, 129.0 liter fresh water capacity and toilet facility.


Rig
Rig
Rig of Wasa 38.

The Wasa 38 is equipped with a fractional rig. A fractional rig has smaller headsails which make tacking easier, which is an advantage for cruisers and racers, of course. The downside is that having the wind from behind often requires a gennaker or a spinnaker for optimal speed.


Keel

Unknown keel type

The keel is made of lead. Compared with iron, lead has the advantage of being 44% heavier, which allows a smaller keel and hence less water resistance and higher speed.

The boat can only enter major marinas as the draft is about 2.00 - 2.10 meter (6.56 - 6.86 ft) dependent on the load. See immersion rate below.


Engine

Wasa 38 may be equipped with an inboard Volvo Penta MD2030 diesel engine at 30 hp (22 kW). Calculated max speed is about 6.4 knots

The fuel tank, which is made of stainless steel, has a capacity of 120.0 liters (31 US gallons, 26 imperial gallons).


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 Wasa 38 is 2.04, indicating that this boat would not be accepted to participate in ocean races.


Theoretical Maximum Hull Speed

What is Theoretical Maximum Hull Speed?

The theoretical maximal speed of a displacement boat of this length is 7.2 knots. The term "Theoretical Maximum Hull Speed" is widely used even though a boat can sail faster. The term shall be interpreted as above the theoretical speed a great additional power is necessary for a small gain in speed.


Immersion rate

The immersion rate is defined as the weight required to sink the boat a certain level. The immersion rate for Wasa 38 is about 205 kg/cm, alternatively 1152 lbs/inch.
Meaning: if you load 205 kg cargo on the boat then it will sink 1 cm. Alternatively, if you load 1152 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.

Motion Comfort Ratio

What is Motion Comfort Ratio (MCR)?

The Motion Comfort Ratio for Wasa 38 is 22.0.

Low High 21% 0 50 100
Comparing this ratio with similar sailboats show that it is more comfortable than 21% of all similar sailboat designs. This is a comfort value significantly below average.


L/B (Length Beam Ratio)

What is L/B (Length Beam Ratio)?

The l/b ratio for Wasa 38 is 3.24.

Slim Wide 50% 0 50 100
Compared with other similar sailboats it is more spacy than 50% of all other designs. It seems that the designer has chosen an average hull design.


Ballast Ratio

What is a Ballast Ratio?

The ballast ratio for Wasa 38 is 42%.

Low High 62% 0 50 100
This ballast ratio shows a righting moment that is higher than 62% of all similar sailboat designs. A righting moment (ability to resist heeling) just above average.


D/L (Displacement Length Ratio)

What is Displacement Length Ratio?

The DL-ratio for Wasa 38 is 224 which categorizes this boat among 'light crusers & offshore racers'.

Heavy Light 62% 0 50 100
62% of all similar sailboat designs are categorized as heavier. A light displacement requires less sailarea and has higher accellerations.


SA/D (Sail Area Displacement ratio)

What is SA/D (Sail Area Displacement ratio)?

The SA/D for Wasa 38 with ISO 8666 reference sail is 19.8, with a 135% genua the SA/D is 22.7.

Low High 79% 0 50 100
The SA/D ratio indicates that it is faster than 79% of all similar sailboat designs in light wind.


Over- / underrigged

Low High 76% 0 50 100
The Wasa 38 has more rig than 76% of all similar sailboats, which indicates that the boat is significantly overrigged.


RSP (Relative Speed Performance)

What is Relative Speed Performance?

The Relative Speed Performance for Wasa 38 is 73

Slow Fast 73% 0 50 100
The relative speed performance is 73 which means that a it is faster than 73% of all similar sailboat designs.


Maintenance

Bottom Paint

When buying anti-fouling bottom paint, it's nice to know how much to buy. The surface of the wet bottom is about 36m2 (387 ft2).
Based on this, your favourite maritime shop can tell you the quantity you need.

Note: If you use a paint roller you will need more paint than if you use a paintbrush.


Rig

Dimensions of sail for fractional rig.

mainsail specifications genoa specifications spinnaker specifications

Are your sails worn out? You might find your next sail here: Sails for Sale



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
UsageLengthDiameter
Mainsail halyard 36.2 m(118.7 feet)12 mm(1/2 inch)
Jib/genoa halyard36.2 m(118.7 feet)12 mm(1/2 inch)
Spinnaker halyard36.2 m(118.7 feet)12 mm(1/2 inch)
Jib sheet 11.4 m(37.5 feet)14 mm(0.55 inch)
Genoa sheet11.4 m(37.5 feet)14 mm(0.55 inch)
Mainsheet 28.6 m(93.8 feet)14 mm(0.55 inch)
Spinnaker sheet25.1 m(82.5 feet)14 mm(0.55 inch)
Cunningham4.9 m(16.1 feet)12 mm(1/2 inch)
Kickingstrap9.8 m(32.2 feet)12 mm(1/2 inch)
Clew-outhaul9.8 m(32.2 feet)12 mm(1/2 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.

Do you have changes/improvements you would like to share? Upload a photo and describe what you have done.



Finally

We are always looking for new photos. If you can contribute with photos for Wasa 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