Start with the part of a trip your boat needs to handle best. If you often arrive at a dock with one other adult, trace the route from the helm to the working cleat. If you spend weekends aboard with children, check who can reach the head after the beds are made. These two routes can tell you more about a 38-foot boat than its floor area or berth count.
What 29 boat records show
The 35 to under 40 foot band contains nine ABG models: five list inboard propulsion and four list outboards. Six of the nine are classified as a full wheelhouse or full pilothouse, including two outboard models, the Wellcraft 38 Explorer and the Saxdor 400 GTC. If you want a protected helm and local outboard service, start with the layout and engine package as separate filters.
| Overall length | Inboard listed | Outboard listed | Both types listed | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 30 ft | 1 | 4 | 0 | 5 |
| 30 to under 35 ft | 4 | 3 | 1 | 8 |
| 35 to under 40 ft | 5 | 4 | 0 | 9 |
| 40 ft and up | 3 | 3 | 1 | 7 |
| All 29 models | 13 | 14 | 2 | 29 |
Read the length column before filtering by model name. The database lists the Targa 37 at 41.2 feet and the Nimbus Commuter 11 at 40.6 feet. A marina may measure the boat with engines, a platform, or an anchor roller that the builder excludes. Ask the marina what it measures, then get that dimension for the boat you would take delivery of.
Later data update. The table preserves the August 24, 2026 snapshot. ABG’s live model database now lists both inboard and twin outboard variants for the Targa 27.2, 30.1 and 32.
Four deck plans to compare
Three of these boats sit within about one foot of one another in the database. The fourth shows what you can gain by considering a boat just beyond the 40-foot cutoff. These are examples of layout choices you can inspect on the exact build, using the manufacturers’ published plans and equipment lists.
Axopar 37 XC Cross Cabin · 37.8 ft
Axopar shows large sliding side doors, an opening roof, and a choice of aft layouts. The published berth count is two with the forward cabin and two more with the optional aft cabin. If you want four people aboard overnight and still need room for fishing gear or a paddleboard, compare the deck and storage shown for the aft-cabin configuration against the open aft deck. Ask for photos of the actual configuration with the aft hatch open.
Sargo 36 · 38.7 ft
Sargo publishes two separate sleeping cabins and a main-level walkaround deck. Take both deck plans to a showing. Trace how someone reaches the forward head from the aft cabin after dark, then stand where you would open the machinery hatch. For a family with two overnight spaces, check how much of the saloon stays usable when everyone’s bags are stowed.
Wellcraft 38 Explorer · 38.83 ft
Wellcraft shows a wide aft door and a hinged window that connect the wheelhouse to the cockpit. If your crew gathers at the stern, compare the flow through the aft opening with the door and window both shut, then both open. At the same time, check whether cockpit seating interferes with boarding from the dock on the side you usually tie up.
Nimbus Commuter 11 · 40.6 ft
Nimbus shows a saloon with movable seating, side and aft doors, and accommodations below. If you expect to alternate between carrying passengers and staying aboard, ask the dealer to demonstrate the seating in its travel and dining positions. Check the route below and the reach to the door latches with the table set up.
Dockside comparison worksheet
Bring your usual crew and describe one typical trip before the viewing. Note the berth, weather, passenger count and gear. At a dockside walkthrough, mark each row works, needs a change or unverified. Write down exactly which option or measurement would resolve any open question.
| Scenario | What to observe | What to record |
|---|---|---|
| Two people tying up | Trace the route from the helm and passenger seat to the midship and stern cleats on each side. | Doors, steps, pinch points and which cleat one person can reach easily from the intended boarding point. |
| Everyone inside in rain | Close openings and sit where everyone would ride. Check visibility while seated and ask for a demonstration of the wipers and demisting controls. | Usable seats, where wet gear goes, and any sightline blocked by a pillar or passenger. |
| Beds made for the night | Set the seating and cushions as you would use them. Walk between the head, bunks and cabin exit. | Which berths are ready without rearranging furniture, which require an option and how much accessible storage remains. |
| Routine service | Ask the dealer to show routine inspection points and demonstrate how hatches open with cockpit furniture installed. | Access obstructions, removable parts and which shop will work on the installed package. |
| Home berth fit | Use the marina’s required dimensions and check the delivered configuration against them. | Length, beam, draft and overhead clearance with relevant equipment fitted. |
For example, a buyer with a narrow finger pier to port and two children who sleep aboard could set two firm requirements: easy port boarding and four workable berths. A model with both characteristics in the installed configuration stays on the shortlist. A second model requiring an aft cabin option stays under consideration only after the buyer sees the revised deck plan and receives a price for that build.
Use the comparison tool to narrow the field, then take your notes to an on-water sea trial.
Methods and sources
The table includes every one of the 29 model records from nine brands in ABG’s dataset checked August 24, 2026. Each record is counted once. Length bands use the numeric overall length field (LOA) in feet, with each cutoff included in the higher band. “Inboard listed” includes entries labeled inboard or inboard / sterndrive. “Outboard listed” includes any outboard-only entry regardless of engine count. The Sargo 31 and Nimbus Commuter 11 are the two records whose propulsion fields list both types. The full-wheelhouse and full-pilothouse counts use those exact database labels.
ABG selects these models for its buyer coverage. The counts describe that selection and cannot estimate U.S. inventory, sales, or the mix of all cabin boats. Length measurement conventions can differ among manufacturers. The layout analysis comes from published plans and descriptions. Confirm equipment and dimensions against the model year and configuration you are considering.