Sigma 38- opinions

[jazzdude]

I came across a 1989 Sigma 38 for sale at around €35k this morning and the description shows that it had lived as a cruising boat, not raced and had had a recent refit including new keel bolts, standing rigging, new tanks and preventative epoxy treatment, and the rest looks pretty good with not too old sails.

I've been looking at a Dehler 34 for similar money which ticks all my boxes as a fun boat I could take out single handed in the Med for the day as well as spend a few days on it with the wife anchored in a bay and visit the odd nearby island.

How does this larger Sigma compare and would you consider it for a single handing frolic in the bay for the day?

Although I have sailed on and off for years from Hobiecats to 40 footers this will be the first boat I own.

 

[RJJ]

I sailed lots on Sigma 362 and 38.

Condition aside ... The 38 is a great boat but happiest with a couple of helping hands, in my opinion. Not that you couldn't singlehand; but the main is pretty big both to hoist and to manage, and for the sailing you describe, the extra four feet of expense and handling challenge wouldn't suit me.

That said, she's a well mannered boat that can cope without the eight chunks on the rail. You can always reef. The headsail is reasonably easily to manage with a smallish overlap for her age.

The runners are nothing to be scared of. Unlike many fractional boats you can gybe with the runners off; I believe the rig was designed with that in mind. (Assuming it's the original rig).

On the plus side, you do get an extra couple of berths Vs the 34. If taking friends overnight is likely, it's a big plus. If not, I'd probably go with the 34.

 

[Quandary]

I owned a Sigma 38 for 12 years, we did race her quite a bit at first, though in later years this tended to be passage races with just my wife and I or social racing like WHYW with about 4-5 of us, most of the time we just went cruising with her. Occasionally I have done passages single handed including a delivery passage from Carrickfergus to Ardrishaig. I did evening points races singlehanded once or twice (not with much success). Our cruising sails include 2 roller reefing genoas and a main that had a cringle for a flattening reef that kept the boom above head height. I felt confident that she would handle anything that she might encounter. We rarely used the runners though they were a comfort blasting down wind on wet and stormy overnight races in the North Channel. I do agree with RJJ that hoistingthe main was a bit of a chore, we usually put her on auto, I sweated it up at the mast whiile my wife tailled in the cockpit, winching all the way was slow. Self tailing winches are essential.
They sail well and are well put together, typical of all David Thomas design and Marine Projects build. We sold her because with only 2 of us a ten berth boat seemed too big, with hindsight she was fine, I think it was just that restless urge you get for change. I still encounter her occasionally with affectionate yearning, if the new owner still has her that will be 15 years so he must like them too..

 

[Tomaret]

I came across a 1989 Sigma 38 for sale at around €35k this morning and the description shows that it had lived as a cruising boat, not raced and had had a recent refit including new keel bolts, standing rigging, new tanks and preventative epoxy treatment, and the rest looks pretty good with not too old sails.

I've been looking at a Dehler 34 for similar money which ticks all my boxes as a fun boat I could take out single handed in the Med for the day as well as spend a few days on it with the wife anchored in a bay and visit the odd nearby island.

How does this larger Sigma compare and would you consider it for a single handing frolic in the bay for the day?

Although I have sailed on and off for years from Hobiecats to 40 footers this will be the first boat I own.

I have a Dehler 36CWS of similar vintage. I bought it specifically for single handed sailing because of the electric winch for hoisting the main and the self tacking jib. The furling gennaker is easy to rig and use on my own as well. I wouldn’t fancy hauling an overlapping genoa across on each tack, but I’m Solent based and most trips involve sailing to windward, around other boats, so it’s not like an ocean crossing with day after day on the same tack!

 

[ashtead]

For single handed sailing I would go for a self tacker every time. It’s so much easier even when comparing a 10.8m boat with a 12.8 with a self tacker. Throw in a couple of electric winches and Also no hassle hoisting or sheeting the main sheet etc . I don’t know the Dehler that well but it would be perhaps a cheaper choice to run than a 38 ?