Outremer 38

1984–2005 · designed by Gérard Danson · built by Outremer Yachting

Performance-oriented offshore cruising catamaran. Lighter and narrower than charter-fleet cats of the same LOA (Lagoon, Leopard, Fountaine- Pajot) — Outremer's design philosophy prioritises sailing performance and offshore credibility over interior volume. Targeted at experienced shorthanded offshore cruisers rather than the charter market.

This is a general read on the Outremer 38 class — informed background, not a verdict on any individual boat. Condition, refit history, and how a particular hull was sailed and stored matter far more than class reputation. Use it to know what to look for; for a read on a specific listing, run a free FairKeel report on that boat.

At a glance

Hull form: Multihull Cat
Rudder: Spade
Mast step: Deck Stepped
Hull construction: Fiberglass
Bridgedeck: Solid
Production: 1984–2005
Built in: France

What the Outremer 38 is known for

Performance-oriented design philosophy — sails materially better than charter-fleet cats of the same LOA. Genuine offshore-cruiser class, not a charter-spec platform.
Manufacturer still in business (modern Outremer 45 / 4X / 51 line) — heritage parts and design support still available.
Twin-hull platform offers level sailing + redundancy (twin engines, twin rudders) that monohulls cannot match.

Known trade-offs

Twin everything = 2× service cost. Maintenance budget for a cat is materially higher than a monohull of similar LOA — buyers underbid this regularly.
Hull-to-bridgedeck joint is the class-defining structural concern and requires a cat-specialist surveyor. A monohull-only surveyor is not adequate for purchase inspection.
Bridgedeck slamming clearance is generation-dependent — earlier Outremer 38s may have less clearance than current Outremer designs. Confirm clearance spec for the specific generation.
Marina berthing costs are typically 1.5-2× a monohull of the same LOA — wide beam pushes the boat into the next berth category.

Age-related quirks to expect

Bridgedeck slamming clearance — Outremer's bridgedeck clearance is generation-dependent; earlier hulls may have less clearance than later ones, affecting offshore comfort in head seas severity: Medium affects: all (generation-dependent)

Twin engines or twin saildrives — service cost is ~2× a monohull equivalent; saildrive seal replacement cycle (every 7 years) is critical severity: Medium affects: all

Original sails + running rigging on a performance cat are working harder than equivalents on a heavy cruising cat — earlier replacement cycles severity: Low affects: all

Hull-to-bridgedeck joint — the structural weak point on any catamaran; check for stress cracks or delamination at the joint, especially on older hulls severity: High affects: all (age-driven)

Systems to check before you buy

Hull-to-bridgedeck structural joint priority: offshore, coastal, liveaboard

The class-defining structural inspection for any catamaran. Repeated flexing between the two hulls + bridgedeck loads the joint; over decades, stress cracks or delamination can develop at the joint laminate. Mandatory survey item. A cat-specialist surveyor is essential — a monohull surveyor may miss this entirely.

Twin engines + saildrives priority: offshore, coastal, liveaboard

Twin Volvo or Yanmar saildrives are typical. Saildrive seal cycle (~7 years) is non-negotiable — failed seals admit seawater into the hull. Twin engines mean 2× service intervals, 2× parts cost, 2× fuel filter cycles. Confirm both engines are in matched service condition; a mismatched pair drives up cost-to-equalise.

Standing rigging + deck-stepped mast priority: offshore, coastal

Tall performance rig on a relatively light platform — rig loads are high. Original wire typically due at 20-25 years on a performance cat (shorter cycle than cruising-monohull equivalents). Deck-stepped mast — compression load transferred through the bridgedeck structure, so the mast-step area itself needs inspection.

Ground tackle setup on wide platform priority: offshore, coastal, liveaboard

Ground tackle on a catamaran lives on a wide bow platform between the hulls. Bridle setup is more involved than a monohull's. Anchor windlass mounting and chain-locker drainage on the bow beam should be inspected for fatigue / corrosion. Snubber + bridle gear needs to be sized for catamaran load distribution.

How it fits your plans

Offshore: Designed for it within the performance-cat framing. Outremer's offshore credibility is genuine — multiple ARC / transatlantic / Pacific crossings in class. Lighter and faster than charter cats; more demanding to sail well.
Coastal: Excellent for coastal cruising. Twin-hull stability + shoal draft + high speed make it very capable in mixed conditions.
Liveaboard: Workable but tighter than equivalent LOA charter cats. Outremer performance-cat philosophy means narrower hulls and less interior volume than Lagoon / Leopard contemporaries.
Weekending: Overspecced — the performance-cat platform doesn't reward weekend-only use economically.

This guide is the class. A report is that hull. Paste the listing you're looking at and FairKeel grades every claim in it against what's known about the Outremer 38 — where the evidence is thin, the red flags worth a second look, the costs likely to land in your first season, and whether the boat suits the plans you describe in a few short questions.

It won't read the photos or put a number on the boat — that's the Deep-Dive, and for the real answer, a surveyor. It will tell you when a Deep-Dive isn't worth buying. Free, no account, usually a minute or two.

Run a free report on your listing →

See something that doesn't look right? We'd love to know — email us about the Outremer 38 →

Browse all used-boat buyer's guides →