E38 and IOR

I am wondering how much the IOR rule influenced the design for the E38, if at all. The underwater hull shape seems to bear some resemblance to those boats, and I'd like to hear some educated input on if it was or was not a factor in the design. I love my E-38; but it is a job to steer it downwind, and I'd like to know if I can place some blame on the boat...or if I, ahem, deserve more of the blame myself!

Dan Morehouse
1981 E-38 "Next Exit"

No IOR

Although the 38 was designed during the height of the IOR era, she was not really designed in any way to take advantage of the rule. The forefoot sections are the most IOR-ish part of the design, and the rig geometry (aspect ratio and SA/DISPL) are typical of IOR racer/cruisers of the day, but the boat was not really designed to fit any rating band, or be competitive under the rule. She actually rated a bit high for her speed, so this was not really the rule to race the 38 under. For the rating, the 38 has a bit too much weight in the ends, and a bit too much weight in the deck, making it a bit tippy and pitching more than boats of similar ratings. Boats like the Frers F3 were better IOR boats.

That said, the 38's did very well under PHRF, and none of this suggests the 38 is not a great boat-it only explains that the design basis was not really IOR-focused.

Cheers,
S

Thanks for the info, Seth. All I know about the IOR is that it produced designs with narrowish sterns with some vaguely unwholesome handling characteristics that were heavily vilified after the Fastnet debacle.

I always assumed the tenderness of the 38 was due to the sectional shape at the keel, which is practically the pure arc of a circle; great for keeping wetted surface down, but less effective at resisting heeling. Didn't occur to me to consider the weight of the deck. The forefoot sections are rather U-shaped; not a lot of flatland below the WL, and hence not a lot of pounding, which is nice.

I assume that just because it was heavier in the ends than other, strictly IOR targeted boats, that doesn't necessarily mean heavy in comparison to the larger boat population. Much has been discussed here about the sensitivity of the 38 to excess weight in the ends, especially in the bow. I'm about to install a windlass, more chain, and a larger anchor, so mine is about to get a lot heavier in the bow. But I haven't been unhappy with the pitching, possibly because, having driven few other big boats, I have little to compare it to. But maybe I'm unhappy about the downwind steering because I also have little to compare that to.

Dan Morehouse
1981 E-38 "Next Exit"

ll I know about the IOR is that it produced designs with narrowish sterns with some vaguely unwholesome handling characteristics that were heavily vilified after the Fastnet debacle. It is true that the mid-generation (1970's) IOR boats had narrow sterns, and were a handful downwind, but this is really only when sailing in racing trim with maximum sail area for the conditions. In cruising trim, with appropriate sail area for the conditions they generally handle fine. In the 80's as the rule evolved (which it did several times), sterns became quite a bit fuller and handling/performance improved a lot


I always assumed the tenderness of the 38 was due to the sectional shape at the keel, which is practically the pure arc of a circle; great for keeping wetted surface down, but less effective at resisting heeling. Didn't occur to me to consider the weight of the deck. The forefoot sections are rather U-shaped; not a lot of flatland below the WL, and hence not a lot of pounding, which is nice. TRUE

I assume that just because it was heavier in the ends than other, strictly IOR targeted boats, that doesn't necessarily mean heavy in comparison to the larger boat population. Much has been discussed here about the sensitivity of the 38 to excess weight in the ends, especially in the bow. I'm about to install a windlass, more chain, and a larger anchor, so mine is about to get a lot heavier in the bow. But I haven't been unhappy with the pitching, possibly because, having driven few other big boats, I have little to compare it to. But maybe I'm unhappy about the downwind steering because I also have little to compare that to.It is all relative. The 38 handles really well, and while slower than more race-oriented designs it is much faster than most cruising oriented boats

Enjoy!