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Hallberg-Rassy 38

Built 1977–1986 by Hallberg-Rassy (Ellos, Sweden)

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About the Hallberg-Rassy 38

Researched from public sources for this model. Any individual boat may have been modified or repowered — confirm before relying on any figure.

Illustration of a Hallberg-Rassy 38
Illustration, not a photo of this model. AI-generated illustration of a typical large cruising sloop.
Built
1977–1986
Builder
Hallberg-Rassy (Ellos, Sweden)
Designer
Olle Enderlein
Length
37.96 ft
Waterline
31.17 ft
Beam
11.42 ft
Draft
5.75 ft
Displacement
18,739 lb
Ballast
8,157 lb
Hull / keel
fin keel
Rig
sloop
Propulsion
inboard
Fuel
93 gal
Water
106 gal
Water heater
engine · standard
Number built
202
Stern thruster
not fitted
Steering
pedestal cable
Tank capacities — where the figures come from
  • Fuel 93 gal
    “350 litres / 93 US gallon” — builder (1977-1986), hallberg-rassy.com
    350 L converts to 92.5 gal; the builder rounds to 93, which we already used.
  • Water 106 gal
    “400 litres / 107 US gallon” — builder (1977-1986), hallberg-rassy.com
    400 L converts to 106 gal; the builder's own US figure (107) is a slight over-conversion.
  • Holding unknown
    Builder data sheet lists no holding tank.
  • Water heater engine · standard
    “Stainless double sink 24" x l4" with running hot and cold water, manual pump in reserve.” — builder, hallberg-rassy.com · “The water heater is operating from the cooling system of the main engine.” — owner's manual (1979), hallberg-rassy.com
    Builder's standard specification gives running hot and cold water; the 1979 owner instructions place the heater under the sail-locker floor, heated by engine coolant (no electric element or capacity mentioned).

Tanks are often replaced or added on older boats — check the tank labels or a survey for yours.

Thrusters and steering — where this comes from
  • Bow thruster unknown
    The builder's standard specification and its short list of examples of extra equipment mention no thruster, but that isn't a full option list.
  • Stern thruster not fitted
    The builder's standard spec lists none, but our earlier figure of none isn't proven.
  • Steering pedestal cable
    “Steering: Edson chain and sprocket system with stainless wire transmission to heavy bronze quadrant. 6" sheaves. Needle” — builder, hallberg-rassy.com · “Steering pedestal in GRP and steering wheel in teak.” — builder, hallberg-rassy.com
    The builder spec gives a fiberglass pedestal with teak wheel, Edson chain-and-wire to a bronze quadrant, friction brake and autopilot sprocket.

Thrusters and steering are often replaced — check the units on your boat before ordering parts.

Sources disagree on horsepower — left blank rather than guessed.

Fin keel with skeg-hung rudder; iron ballast. No model-specific problem sources were read.

Engines fitted

Manuals and brochures online

Hosted by the builder or an owners' association; they own the copyright.

Known problems for this model

No well-sourced problem reports found yet.

Engines & parts

Volvo Penta D1 / D2 series (D1-13 to D2-75) parts: good

Factory standard engine — you entered “Volvo Penta MD21 (MD21A/MD21B)”

Current-generation small Volvo diesels (Perkins-derived per owners). Glow plugs, injectors and filters can be bought cheaper via Perkins and aftermarket sources; stainless replacement exhaust elbows are sold aftermarket.

Parts sources: MarineDustrie, AB Marine Service (exhaust elbow)

Common problems (3)
  • Exhaust elbow / manifold corrosion exhaust
    The cast elbow rots and has a narrow water passage, which lets water back into the manifold and corrode it through where the two meet; an aftermarket stainless elbow is the usual fix.
    sailnet.com · myhanse.com
  • Fuel pump controller failure fuel
    Contamination or failure of the fuel pump controller is listed as one of the most common D1 faults.
    marinedustrie.com
  • Overheating from corroded heat exchanger/manifold cooling
    Corrosion holes in the combined heat exchanger/manifold cause overheating on D1 and D2 engines.
    myhanse.com · facebook.com
Maker’s service schedule (16)
Engine oil & filter change
D2-55 / D2-75 (2006 operator's manual 7747110)
500 hrs or 1 yr
“After that they should be changed every 500 operating hours or at least once a year.” — manufacturer, noshoes-resoled.com
Fuel filters & water separator
D2-55 / D2-75 (2006 operator's manual 7747110)
500 hrs or 1 yr
“Every 500 operating hours or at least once a year, included in Extended Protection” — manufacturer, noshoes-resoled.com
Raw-water pump impeller
D2-55 / D2-75 (2006 operator's manual 7747110)
500 hrs or 1 yr
“Every 500 operating hours or at least once a year, included in Extended Protection” — manufacturer, noshoes-resoled.com
Check idling speed
D2-55 / D2-75 (2006 operator's manual 7747110)
500 hrs or 1 yr
“Every 500 operating hours or at least once a year, included in Extended Protection” — manufacturer, noshoes-resoled.com
Clean the vacuum (siphon-break) valve
D2-55 / D2-75 (2006 operator's manual 7747110)
500 hrs or 1 yr
“Every 500 operating hours or at least once a year, included in Extended Protection” — manufacturer, noshoes-resoled.com
Transmission fluid change
D2-55 / D2-75 (2006 operator's manual 7747110)
200 hrs or 1 yr
“Every 200 operating hours or at least once a year, included in Extended Protection” — manufacturer, noshoes-resoled.com
Lubricate the propeller-shaft seal (reverse-gear installations)
D2-55 / D2-75 (2006 operator's manual 7747110)
200 hrs or 1 yr
“Every 200 operating hours or at least once a year, included in Extended Protection” — manufacturer, noshoes-resoled.com
Check S-drive / reverse-gear corrosion protection (anodes)
D2-55 / D2-75 (2006 operator's manual 7747110)
200 hrs or 1 yr
“Every 200 operating hours or at least once a year, included in Extended Protection” — manufacturer, noshoes-resoled.com
Air filter / intake silencer
D2-55 / D2-75 (2006 operator's manual 7747110)
500 hrs or 2 yrs
“Every 500 operating hours or at least once every two years” — manufacturer, noshoes-resoled.com
Coolant replacement & freeze-point test
D2-55 / D2-75 (2006 operator's manual 7747110)
500 hrs or 2 yrs
“Every 500 operating hours or at least once every two years” — manufacturer, noshoes-resoled.com
Heat exchanger & oil cooler cleaning
D2-55 / D2-75 (2006 operator's manual 7747110)
500 hrs or 2 yrs
“Every 500 operating hours or at least once every two years” — manufacturer, noshoes-resoled.com
Injector test / service
D2-55 / D2-75 (2006 operator's manual 7747110)
500 hrs or 2 yrs
“Every 500 operating hours or at least once every two years” — manufacturer, noshoes-resoled.com
Valve clearance check / adjust
D2-55 / D2-75 (2006 operator's manual 7747110)
500 hrs or 2 yrs
“Every 500 operating hours or at least once every two years” — manufacturer, noshoes-resoled.com
Check S-drive rubber seal (hull/drive); clean folding propeller
D2-55 / D2-75 (2006 operator's manual 7747110)
1 yr
“Least once a year, included in Extended Protection” — manufacturer, noshoes-resoled.com
Replace propeller-shaft seal (reverse-gear installations, workshop)
D2-55 / D2-75 (2006 operator's manual 7747110)
500 hrs or 5 yrs
“Every 500 operating hours or at least every fifth year” — manufacturer, noshoes-resoled.com
Replace S-drive rubber seal between drive and hull (workshop)
D2-55 / D2-75 (2006 operator's manual 7747110)
7 yrs
“Every seventh year” — manufacturer, noshoes-resoled.com
Service part numbers (5)
Oil filter
D1-30, D2-40, D2-50, D2-55, D2-60, D2-75
 Volvo Penta 3840525
“p.90 "D1-30, D2-40" block: Oil filter — 3840525” — manufacturer, volvopenta.com · “# Volvo Penta D2-40 … [OIL FILTER] Part Number: 3840525” — dealer, marinepartsexpress.com
Fuel filter Volvo Penta 861477
“p.90 "D1-13, D1-20" block: Fuel filter — 861477” — manufacturer, volvopenta.com · “# Volvo Penta D1-30 … [FUEL FILTER] Part Number: 861477” — dealer, marinepartsexpress.com
Raw-water impeller
D1-13, D1-20, D1-30, D2-40
 Volvo Penta 22222936
“p.90 "D1-13, D1-20" block: Impeller kit — 22222936” — manufacturer, volvopenta.com · “IMPELLER KIT … D2-40,D2-40B,D2-40F,D1-30,D1-30B,D1-30F,… D1-13,D1-13B,D1-13F,D1-20” — dealer, volvopentaparts.shop
Raw-water impeller
D2-50, D2-55, D2-60, D2-75
 Volvo Penta 21951346
Replaces 3862281, 3855546, 3856039
“p.90 "D2-50, D2-55, D2-60, D2-75" block: Impeller kit — 21951346” — manufacturer, volvopenta.com · “Volvo Penta: 21951346, 3862281, 3855546, 3856039 / … D2-55, D2-75” — dealer, repowermarine.com
Thermostat
D1-13 to D2-75
 Volvo Penta 3842015
“# Volvo Penta D1-30 … [THERMOSTAT] Part Number: 3842015” — dealer, marinepartsexpress.com · “Genuine Volvo Penta Thermostat 3842015 D1-13, D1-20, D1-30 D2-40, D2-55, D2-60, D2-75” — dealer, repowermarine.com
Drive belt
D1-13, D1-20, D1-30, D2-40 (alternator / coolant-pump multi-rib belt)
 Sources disagree: 21951188 / 21951188 / 21314684
“Part Number: 21951188 … Supersedes: 3812159 … D1-13 (B and F variants) … D2-40” — dealer, marisolmarine.com · “Volvo Penta 21951188 Alternator belt D1-30 D1-30F D1-30B D2-40 D2-40B D2-40F” — dealer, dedieseldokter.nl

From the engine maker’s parts lists, or two independent parts dealers. Numbers change with serial number and get superseded — check yours before ordering.

Model sources (6)

sailboatdata.com · hallberg-rassy.com · devalk.nl · hr-club.net · hallberg-rassy.com · hallberg-rassy.com

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Other Hallberg-Rassy models

Researched from public sources. Spotted an error? The sources are listed above — tell us what they got wrong.