So a friend of mine is fresh back from a month or so of cruising. We're catching up a bit today and he says "hey, I saw your next boat"
I say "oh, a S&S 34? where?"
That rattled his clock a bit as he considered it, but then he recovered and says "no no, it's a LeCompte 38, yawl-rigged. Great sheerline, fairly modest cabin, really sweet looking boat".
I don't think I've ever seen one. I know I can just google it and look it up (and probably will in about ten minutes), but I thought it'd be fun to put it out here and see if anyone has anything to say.
Anyone know a LeCompte 38 that they love or hate?
LeCompte 38 yawl
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Noah
- Skilled Systems Installer
- Posts: 190
- Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 2:17 pm
- Location: Burlington, vt
- Contact:
There's one on yachtworld. Sloop rig though.
I really don't know anything about them though.
http://yachtworld.com/core/listing/pl_b ... id=1237794
I really don't know anything about them though.
http://yachtworld.com/core/listing/pl_b ... id=1237794
I want a shop!
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Quetzalsailor
- Master of the Arcane
- Posts: 1100
- Joined: Fri Aug 26, 2005 9:53 am
- Boat Name: Quetzal
- Boat Type: LeComte North East 38
- Location: Philadelphia, PA
North East 38
We bought our 1970 Le Comte North East 38, 'Quetzal', last July. I think you will find her listing on Dodson's brokerage, Stonington CT, website and you should also find the LeComte Owners' Site. Both sites have pics of Q; additionally, the Owners' Site has pics of several NE 38s and the other Le Comte products. Those of you enamored of yawls will find pics of 'Cassiopeia'; gorgeous boat. Most NE 38s were sloops.
The NE 38 was designed by William Tripp in about 1962. Other boats of the day that he designed were the Block Island 40 and the Hinckley Bermuda 40, the Javelin 38. A very common reaction of folks seeing our boat is appreciation and asking us if she's some kind of old Hinckley. However, one set of passersby in a dink stopped to tell ue that their brother has sailed his NE 38 from Seattle to Australia. There were three varieties of NE 38: Mk I, II, and III (oval attached rudder and vertical transom, Constellation rudder (pointy at the bottom) and angled transom, and detached spade rudder with angled transom); additionally, there were at least two interiors (symmetrical or settee to port), sloops or yawls, three different mast heights, and variations beyond that. Apparently you could mix and match so of the reported 13 boats in the US, no two are alike. Currently, there are three NE 38s listed for sale on Yachtworld. The one on ME looks to be the best, but most expensive. We've seen the one in CT; sad condition, unfortunate modifications but inexpensive. The one in FL is likely to be worse than she looks (FL and TX boats are more likely sun-beaten) and she'd cost you right away in repainting the transom!
We're tickled with 'Quetzal'. As a Mk III, her PHRF is 155; she sails delightfully and is faster than lots of stuff her size: very satisfactory! I'm no more a racer than any other male at the helm alongside another sailboat, but I do try to pay attention. We do get passed by larger stuff but the most noticeable outclass was a 42' Hunter Passage; we were in another ocean! A NE 38 has a LWL of 26'; thus, I expect to be passed by newer 38 footers since the tendency in design is to eliminate overhangs and increase LWLs. Happily, it does not seem as true as it ought. She seems to have one vice which I haven't overcome: she is sensitive to powerboat chop in light air. She seems trim sensitive as well; it does not take much to trim her down by the stern and there's little convenient storage forward.
Our classic boatlust was fanned to flame by Tom Young's Alden Challenger 'Christmas'; you'll find magazine articles and pictures all over the 'net. The very high quality of the Le Comte built stuff is very satisfactory; we looked at two Le Comte built Challengers (both in lamentable condition) before we found Quetzal. There is no visible interior fiberglass, the sole is solid teak and ash, most veneered surfaces are surrounded by solid wood, and the fireplace is lovely.
The NE 38 was designed by William Tripp in about 1962. Other boats of the day that he designed were the Block Island 40 and the Hinckley Bermuda 40, the Javelin 38. A very common reaction of folks seeing our boat is appreciation and asking us if she's some kind of old Hinckley. However, one set of passersby in a dink stopped to tell ue that their brother has sailed his NE 38 from Seattle to Australia. There were three varieties of NE 38: Mk I, II, and III (oval attached rudder and vertical transom, Constellation rudder (pointy at the bottom) and angled transom, and detached spade rudder with angled transom); additionally, there were at least two interiors (symmetrical or settee to port), sloops or yawls, three different mast heights, and variations beyond that. Apparently you could mix and match so of the reported 13 boats in the US, no two are alike. Currently, there are three NE 38s listed for sale on Yachtworld. The one on ME looks to be the best, but most expensive. We've seen the one in CT; sad condition, unfortunate modifications but inexpensive. The one in FL is likely to be worse than she looks (FL and TX boats are more likely sun-beaten) and she'd cost you right away in repainting the transom!
We're tickled with 'Quetzal'. As a Mk III, her PHRF is 155; she sails delightfully and is faster than lots of stuff her size: very satisfactory! I'm no more a racer than any other male at the helm alongside another sailboat, but I do try to pay attention. We do get passed by larger stuff but the most noticeable outclass was a 42' Hunter Passage; we were in another ocean! A NE 38 has a LWL of 26'; thus, I expect to be passed by newer 38 footers since the tendency in design is to eliminate overhangs and increase LWLs. Happily, it does not seem as true as it ought. She seems to have one vice which I haven't overcome: she is sensitive to powerboat chop in light air. She seems trim sensitive as well; it does not take much to trim her down by the stern and there's little convenient storage forward.
Our classic boatlust was fanned to flame by Tom Young's Alden Challenger 'Christmas'; you'll find magazine articles and pictures all over the 'net. The very high quality of the Le Comte built stuff is very satisfactory; we looked at two Le Comte built Challengers (both in lamentable condition) before we found Quetzal. There is no visible interior fiberglass, the sole is solid teak and ash, most veneered surfaces are surrounded by solid wood, and the fireplace is lovely.