38 Super Sport

The Ocean 38 SS looks a lot like the original 38 SS (1984–91) on the outside but she’s an entirely different boat below. Built on a slightly wider (and heavier) hull with a sharper entry and cored hullsides, the newer 38 has a smaller cockpit than her predecessor but a much larger interior. Indeed, the two-stateroom floorplan is innovative and completely unique for a boat of this size. Stepping into the salon, one is confronted with a surprisingly spacious and efficient layout with the dinette positioned forward (beneath the windshield panels) and an open galley to starboard. The companionway is all the way to port (there’s a 7-foot rod locker in the outside wall) and leads down to a midships master stateroom of truly remarkable proportions. Compared to other fishing boats her size, the cockpit of the Ocean 38 is a little small. A fiberglass console contains a tackle locker, freezer and sink, while an in-deck fish box, transom door and teak covering boards were standard. (Note that a hardtop was also standard.) The engine room, however, is a tight fit. The Ocean 38 SS came standard with a choice of 425hp Cats (22–23 knots cruise/28 knots top) or 430hp Volvo diesels (26 knots cruise/30 knots top).