Hi,
I am in the market to purchase a yacht and have been quite interested in the Australian Northshore 38. What I am wondering mostly is if it can be sailed single handed? I also welcome any other NS38 comments regarding experiences, structural integrity, bluewater sailing, pros and cons etc. Thanks in advance.
Great boat. We have several in our club which race every week and one of them always races single handed.
Our boat is similar in general design, rig, displacement, speed etc to a NS38. If you just use a short-overlap headsail, rather than the Number 1 or 2, it's great to singlehand if you know how to tweak a fractional rig.
As far as general opinions go, it depends on what boat you're comparing it to; a modern Bavaria, an S&S 39, Farr 11.6, or whatever. By the standard of their day the 38 was a bit tender (narrow beam and iron keel, I think) but their simple structure seems solid, and many newer boats are slower and tippier.
One thing that stands out is that NS38s, which were rolled out as production line boats when many other yachts were often home-finished to variable standards and which were aimed more at the weekend inshore sailor market, seem to be generally maintained to a better standard than most of their contemporaries.
Select to expand quoteChris 249 said..
Our boat is similar in general design, rig, displacement, speed etc to a NS38. If you just use a short-overlap headsail, rather than the Number 1 or 2, it's great to singlehand if you know how to tweak a fractional rig.
As far as general opinions go, it depends on what boat you're comparing it to; a modern Bavaria, an S&S 39, Farr 11.6, or whatever. By the standard of their day the 38 was a bit tender (narrow beam and iron keel, I think) but their simple structure seems solid, and many newer boats are slower and tippier.
One thing that stands out is that NS38s, which were rolled out as production line boats when many other yachts were often home-finished to variable standards and which were aimed more at the weekend inshore sailor market, seem to be generally maintained to a better standard than most of their contemporaries.
Out of curiosity...what type of boat do you own regarding similarity to the NS38?
From what I have learnt...the NS is a fast and solid built yacht at reasonable prices (anywhere from 70 - 120k). I guess the price is the main attraction. I am not looking to race but am trying to find the happy medium regarding speed, reliability in terms of structure, comfort and the ability to operate single handed if need be.
My main goal I guess is to cruise with a high possibility of bluewater travel in the future.
Thank you
Select to expand quoteJode5 said..
Great boat. We have several in our club which race every week and one of them always races single handed.
Thanks for the feedback.
To operate single handed....would one have to be at an expert level of experience or can a novice be able to pull it off ok also you think?
Cheers
I single hand mine all the time and love it.
There are probably easier boats to single hand because the wheel does divide you from the main winches if you stand behind the wheel but I absolutely love the boat and it's handling in roughish seas (no pounding).
I mostly sail with a 110% headsail high cut so it doesn't need skirting. Don't need to be an expert.
As far as being tender is concerned mine has the optional 800 kg lead boot bolted to the bottom of the keel. I didn't even know I had it until I went over it with a magnet as it's perfectly faired in. If I were looking again I would try to pick one up with this option.
Feel free to p.m. me if you have any other questions.
If you are worried about it tipping too much just put a reef or 2 in while you are learning. You can always sail around with a reef or 2 in but in light wind you can't do much with other designs that don't give you enough sail area.
Beauty of the 7/8 rig is that you don't have to contend with large headsales which are definitely difficult for single handing on other boats with masthead rigs of this size
A great yacht and as Chris said all were factory built so no back yard fit outs. I've done 2 Hobarts and numerous Southport races on one. Easily set up for single handing with a decent auto pilot of vane steering. Are you looking at any on the market? PM me for details of one that I know may be for sale but not advertised.
Select to expand quoteWazzor said..
... quite interested in the Australian Northshore 38.
Moving a bit of green water today in the short sharp swells off Lion Island and further offshore after leaving a couple of fourty something yachts for dead on my broad reach up Pittwater. Got to love this hull. No pounding or associated revirberation at all and the boat barely slows down while cutting through!
Julesmoto,
I am quite envious 
. Looks like a lovely vessel. What speed does it generally cruise on? What year NS do you own? Half your luck and looks like a great day out.
Select to expand quotejulesmoto said..
I single hand mine all the time and love it.
There are probably easier boats to single hand because the wheel does divide you from the main winches if you stand behind the wheel but I absolutely love the boat and it's handling in roughish seas (no pounding).
I mostly sail with a 110% headsail high cut so it doesn't need skirting. Don't need to be an expert.
As far as being tender is concerned mine has the optional 800 kg lead boot bolted to the bottom of the keel. I didn't even know I had it until I went over it with a magnet as it's perfectly faired in. If I were looking again I would try to pick one up with this option.
Feel free to p.m. me if you have any other questions.
If you are worried about it tipping too much just put a reef or 2 in while you are learning. You can always sail around with a reef or 2 in but in light wind you can't do much with other designs that don't give you enough sail area.
Beauty of the 7/8 rig is that you don't have to contend with large headsales which are definitely difficult for single handing on other boats with masthead rigs of this size
I have my primary winches, self tailing Harken 46's, mounted well aft so they are easily reached from the wheel. The mainsheet traveller moved forward and higher so it's easily operated from behind the wheel.
Select to expand quoteWazzor said..
Julesmoto,
I am quite envious . Looks like a lovely vessel. What speed does it generally cruise on? What year NS do you own? Half your luck and looks like a great day out.
Mine is 1998 but I am unsure of the hull number because a really useful and pretty swim platform has been added that obliterates the hull number recessed into the transom gelcoat. The vast majority of 38s were very similar to each other but towards the end they offered variations with high-aspect-ratio keels and keel stepped masts.NSX38 and 380s for example but the numbers produced were way lower as the heyday of Australian production was disappearing in favour of Benateaus and the like by late 90s and 2000s.
Join the Facebook site as often a previous owner of Northshore yachts Bob Vinks posts usefull info on there.
PM me if you want to know more-prices etc.
Speed is so dependant upon weather conditions, decent cut & trim of sales etcetera that I really couldn't tell you. I can say is it certainly isn't slow when I I'm on a similar course to other comparable boats but you never know how well they are being sailed. If you go through the Facebook site you will see scary high speeds that have been recorded whilst sailing.in stiff breezes with kites and surfing.
In their heyday in the early 90s there were so many at places like Royal Prince Alfred yacht club that it was like racing a one design and those guys don't like slow boats. I never officially race because I can't stand the idea of having to be anywhere at any particular time under threat of letting other people down at cetera not to mention rounding up crew.
Statistics are available however as to the boats handicap but keep in mind that this doesn't take into account the ease of sailing a 7/8 rig boat and the sea kindly shape of the hull vs dinghy style modern boats requiring full crews which slam into seas and become unmanageable in certain conditions.
The first two comments in the below Facebook screenshot concerning Dave Haros's post 29th December 2020 relate to 38s and if you join the site the original post is accompanied by a video.
The owner of the NS38 "The Bottom Line" also regularly posts on Facebook as well as having put out a number of YouTube videos about improvements and refits he has done to his boat. One of the guys who took his 38 in last year's Hobart and will be in this year's Hobart also regularly posts on the Facebook site so there is plenty of support and current interest :)
Thank you very much Julesmoto for your time and informative read, I truly appreciate it. What is the name of the NS facebook group you mentioned above...I am keen to check it out. I will also take you up on your offer and email in the near future if that is still ok.
Thanks again
Select to expand quoteWazzor said..
What is the name of the NS facebook group you mentioned above...I am keen to check it out. I will also take you up on your offer and email in the near future if that is still ok.
"Northshore Owners Group" but just say looking at buying one if there is a joining question about that.
Sure always happy to chat.
Select to expand quoteWazzor said..
Julesmoto,
I am quite envious . Looks like a lovely vessel. What speed does it generally cruise on? What year NS do you own? Half your luck and looks like a great day out.
Reread my post on here saying my boat is 1998. It is actually 1988 I must have had fat thumbs that day.
Can someone tell me the standing head room in the cabin of a Northshore 38 please?
Select to expand quoteWazzor said..
Can someone tell me the standing head room in the cabin of a Northshore 38 please?
Never gave it a thought in my 38 but then I'm only a bit over 5'10". I don't think 6 foot would be a problem. I'm sure there would be a few 6ft or plus owners on the the Facebook Northshore Owners group that could give you a more accurate answer.
