A Well-Maintained Landfall 38 Can Be an Excellent Value

The market always seems to have plenty of rundown, poorly maintained boats on the market, but clean, well-maintained mid-sized cruising sailboats, particularly those from quality manufacturers, are most often in short supply. C & C Yachts of Ontario Canada, with a reputation for competitive racers and racer/cruisers, is not usually the first name that pops into mind when thinking of a cruising sailboat, so the Landfall 38 may come as a surprise.

The Landfall series was C & C's first effort at a large production boat with the emphasis on cruising, as opposed to the racer/cruisers on which the company had built its reputation. The first of the series, the Landfall 42, was introduced in 1977 and built principally for the charter trade to compete with center cockpit models from Morgan and Whitby. Introduced in 1979, the Landfall 38 continued in production until 1985. The principal dimensions are 37 feet, 7 inches overall length, 12-foot beam, 5-foot draft and displacement of 16,700 pounds with 6,500 pounds of external lead ballast. About 180 boats were built over the seven-year production run.

Construction of the Landfall 38 is typical of other C & C models with a composite hull of fiberglass resin and balsa wood core. C & C has more experience with composite construction than practically any other boat builder, and it is unusual to find any significant structural problems with the hulls of these boats. The decks are likewise composite construction with balsa wood core. The deck and hull are fastened on an inward flange. The Landfall series differs from other C & C lines in that Landfalls don't have the familiar slotted aluminum rail at the deck edge. Instead, a teak toe rail is bolted together with the hull and deck with stainless steel nuts bolts and washers on 6-inch centers.

The deck-to-hull joint, deck hardware fasteners, and windows can be an annoying and persistent source of leaks on the Landfall 38. Attachments near the deck edge such as lifeline stanchions are particularly vulnerable. Hardware is through-bolted with backing plates or large fender washers. Where these overlap the hull flange, the washers and backing plates do not lie flat on the surface. This results in uneven stresses, loosening, and eventually leaking of the fitting. Fittings attached through the cored composite should be checked very carefully because leaks into the core can rapidly destroy the strength of the composite.

The Landfall 38's decks are well laid out and uncluttered. Side decks are wide, and rigging shrouds are well inboard to allow easy passage fore and aft. An anchor well on the foredeck will need a good latching retrofit if a prior owner has not already taken care of it. The cockpit is T-shaped with a large diameter wheel. This is a good arrangement and very comfortable for the skipper, but the seats are not long enough to lie down on.

Interior arrangements are very much about personal preference and intended use, but for my taste the arrangement of the Landfall 38 is just about perfect for a coastal cruiser. The forward cabin has a V-berth arrangement that is cramped at the forward end and would be a tight fit for two adults but should suit a single or two children quite well. The V-berth cabin is followed by the main salon with opposing port and starboard settees that convert to single berths when needed.

Further aft along the port side is a very large U-shaped galley with lots of storage and counter space. On the starboard side is an equally large head with large sink and separate shower stall. The day sailor and weekend cruiser may feel too much space the galley and head take up too much space, although the long-term cruiser will certainly appreciate these features. Further aft is the owner's cabin with a good-sized double quarter on the port side and navigation station to starboard.

Yanmar's 30 HP 3HM model provided auxiliary power on earlier models and later replaced by the 3QM model. To maximize cabin space, the engine is tucked in under the cockpit and has a V-drive gear. The engine location presents some servicing problems, and the space above the engine is so limited that adding engine oil or coolant requires a funnel with a long hose. Both a panel in the quarter berth behind the companionway steps and the starboard cockpit locker provide engine access, but it seems something is always in the way when service needs call. This is an easily driven hull, and 30 HP should be adequate for most operating conditions.

Although the Landfall 38 is a cruising boat, her heritage is that of a racer/cruiser. That heritage is reflected in her handling and performance, and she is easily balanced and driven at all points of sail. The sail area displacement ratio is 15.9 and displacement length ratio is 271, both reasonable for this type of cruiser. The large foretriangle and equally large headsails make a good roller furling system a must.

Good quality cruising boats aren't cheap compared to similar-sized boats, but a well-maintained Landfall 38 could be an excellent value.

Jack Hornor, NA is the principal surveyor and senior designer for the Annapolis-based Marine Survey & Design Co. Hornor writes for BoatU.S. Magazine and other marine publications.

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