Kettenburg K-38
Description
The Kettenburg K-38 (often called the K-38 or Kettenburg 38) is a classic American wooden racing-cruiser designed by Paul Kettenburg (of Kettenburg Marine, San Diego, California) in the late 1940s, evolving from his earlier PC (Pacific Class) 32 ft one-design and PCC 47 ft designs. First launched in 1949, it was built by Kettenburg Marine (later Kettenburg Boats) from 1948 to 1959, with approximately 40 hulls constructed in mahogany on oak frames (carvel planking) for exceptional craftsmanship and durability. The design prioritizes speed, seaworthiness, and beauty as a fast cruiser/racer, with a fin keel, fractional sloop rig (some later interpretations or restorations may vary), and simple, elegant lines that won class honors (e.g., Swiftsure Race wins) while offering reassuring stability for serious cruising. It's celebrated in wooden boat communities for its character, performance, and history (e.g., boats like "Valentine" #22 commissioned for sailor Peggy Slater, or "Duster II" #29 restored and sold). Production was limited to the 40 hulls, with many still sailing or restored today as cherished West Coast classics (active in San Diego fleets and occasional brokerage).
Construction Details
| Designer | Paul Kettenburg |
|---|---|
| Builder | Kettenburg Boats/Whittaker Corp. |
| Length | 38.000 ft |
| LOA | 38.000 ft |
| LWL | 23.750 ft |
| Beam | 10.170 ft |
| Displacement | 14000 lb |
| Ballast | 6000 lb |
| Max Draft | 5.500 ft |
| Year Built | 1948 |
The standard boat dimensions
| i | 35.75 ft |
|---|---|
| j | 13.50 ft |
| p | 37.79 ft |
| e | 17 ft |
| p2 | - |
| e2 | - |
| i2 | - |
| j2 | - |
| I | J | P | E | P2 | E2 | I2 | J2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35.75 ft | 13.50 ft | 37.79 ft | 17 ft | - | - | - | - |
Sails
Kettenburg K-38 - MAINSAIL
| Luff | * 37.79 ft - (11518 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 17 ft - (5182 mm) |
| Leech | * 40.6 ft - (12375 mm) |
| Tack Angle | * 88 ° |
| Diagonal | * 40.89 ft - (12463 mm) |
| Head (inches) | * 6 in - (152 mm) |
| Area | * 329.32 ft² |
| Edit in Calculator |
Kettenburg K-38 - JIBSAIL
| Luff | 33.33 ft - (10159 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | 15.25 ft - (4648 mm) |
| Leech | 28.83 ft - (8787 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 97.56 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 13.17 ft - (4014 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 9.57 ° |
| Area | * 219.51 ft² |
| Edit in Calculator |
Kettenburg K-38 - GENOA
| Luff | * 36.3 ft - (11064 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 22.29 ft - (6794 mm) |
| Leech | * 33.74 ft - (10284 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 150 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 20.25 ft - (6172 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 4.01 ° |
| Area | * 367.56 ft² |
| Edit in Calculator |
Kettenburg K-38 - SPINNAKER
| Stays | * 36.3 ft - (11064 mm) |
|---|---|
| MidGirth | * 24.3 ft - (7407 mm) |
| Foot | * 24.3 ft - (7407 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 180 % |
| Area | 749.78 ft² |
| Edit in Calculator |
Disclaimer. Boats are not all the same -- even when produced in the same factory of the same model. Sailrite does its best to publish accurate dimensions, but we often find it worthwhile to have our customers measure their boats carefully before we produce kits for them. You should take the same precautions, especially when the data is not from Sailrite. The information on this site is not guaranteed to be accurate. Sailrite offers this content as a service to our community, but takes no responsibility for the reliability of the data provided.
Comments
