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Hans Christian 38T (Traditional)

Built 1976–1989 by Anderson Yachts / Hans Christian (Taiwan)

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About the Hans Christian 38T (Traditional)

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 Hans Christian 38T (Traditional)
Illustration, not a photo of this model. AI-generated illustration of a typical full-keel offshore cutter.
Built
1976–1989
Builder
Anderson Yachts / Hans Christian (Taiwan)
Designer
Harwood Ives
Length
37.92 ft
Waterline
33 ft
Beam
12.33 ft
Draft
6 ft
Displacement
26,500 lb
Ballast
9,800 lb
Hull / keel
full keel
Rig
cutter
Propulsion
inboard
Fuel
120 gal
Water
140 gal
Water heater
AC + engine · factory option
Bow thruster
not fitted
Stern thruster
not fitted
Steering
varies by year
Tank capacities — where the figures come from
  • Fuel 120 gal
    “Fuel Tanks, black iron encased in fiberglass ... 120 gallons” — brochure (1970s), hanschristian.org
    Hans Christian's early-1970s sheet for the HC 38 (the Traditional), from the owners' association, gives 120 gal in black-iron tanks encased in fibreglass. The copy is small but legible when enlarged, and its other particulars (26,500 lb, 12'4" beam, 5'10" draft) match the 38T. Later boats may differ, so check your boat's tanks.
  • Water 140 gal
    “Water Tanks, SS ... 140 gallons” — brochure (1970s), hanschristian.org
    The same early builder sheet gives 140 gal in stainless tanks (a small copy, legible when enlarged; later boats may differ). An online spec database and our earlier figure said about 100, apparently from the same spec data, so they don't confirm each other.
  • Holding unknown
    The early builder sheet and its equipment/option page give no holding tank.
  • Water heater AC + engine · factory option
    “Hot water system 220V + engine” — broker listing, images.bva-auctions.com · “Hot water system ... 250.00 (Options, Plumbing)” — brochure (1970s), hanschristian.org
    Hans Christian's early option list for the HC 34, 38, 43 and 45 (from the owners' association) offers a hot water system as a $250 plumbing option; pressure water was included in the custom sail-away price. No builder document gives a heater size; one European listing shows a 220 V and engine-heated unit of unstated size.

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 not fitted
    “'The World of Hans Christian' back page: standard equipment (12 items) and priced options for HC 34/38/43/45 - no thrust” — builder (1970s), hanschristian.org
    The builder's 1970s standard-equipment and option price list (the owners' association's copy) offers no thruster. It covers only the early part of the 1976-89 run; later years weren't checked.
  • Stern thruster not fitted
    “Standard equipment and option price list (1970s) - no thruster” — builder (1970s), hanschristian.org
  • Steering varies by year
    “4. Worm gear or pedestal steering with emergency tiller; except on 34, where tiller is standard.” — builder (1970s), hanschristian.org
    The builder's standard-equipment list (the owners' association's copy of The World of Hans Christian) gives worm-gear or pedestal steering with an emergency tiller as standard on the 38, apparently the buyer's choice of a geared (worm) steerer or a pedestal. Which was more common, and the makers, weren't found.

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

Three versions of the HC 38 were built with similar dimensions: this Traditional (38T), the 38 Mk II (from 1978, different yard, hull shape, rig and interior) and a Telstar-keel variant. Lead ballast. Teak/brightwork issues are from owner discussion of the HC line generally.

Engines fitted

Boats of the same model can differ — check which engines yours actually has before ordering parts.

Generator

The early builder option list offers no generator; no builder, association or review source mentions one for the HC 38T.

Manuals and brochures online

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

Known problems for this model

Engines & parts

Yanmar 4JH series (4JH, 4JH2/3/4, -E, -TE, -HTE) parts: good

Factory common repower engine — you entered “Yanmar 4JH4E”

Widely used and fully supported by Yanmar dealers and distributors; the mixing elbow is treated as a consumable part.

Parts sources: Mack Boring & Parts (Yanmar distributor), Yanmar USA genuine parts

Common problems (1)
  • Mixing elbow failure exhaust
    The exhaust mixing elbow on 4JH engines pits and fails, sometimes within a few hundred hours; owners treat roughly 1000 hours as a practical life and inspect the elbow-to-manifold joint for salt weeping.
    cruisersforum.com · jeanneau.proboards.com · facebook.com
Maker’s service schedule (18)
Engine oil & filter change
4JH3E / 4JH3(B)E / 4JH3(C)E
150 hrs
“4.3.3 Inspection Every 150 hours. Replace the engine oil and the clutch lube oil. After the second oil change, the engin” — manufacturer, catalina380.org
Replace engine oil filter
4JH3E / 4JH3(B)E / 4JH3(C)E
300 hrs
“4.3.4 Inspection Every 300 Hrs. ... (4) Replacing the Engine Oil and Lube Oil Filter (See 4.3.1(1))” — manufacturer, catalina380.org
Transmission fluid change
4JH3E / 4JH3(B)E / 4JH3(C)E
150 hrs
“4.3.3 Inspection Every 150 hours. Replace the engine oil and the clutch lube oil.” — manufacturer, catalina380.org
Fuel filters & water separator
4JH3E / 4JH3(B)E / 4JH3(C)E
300 hrs
“4.3.4 Inspection Every 300 Hrs. (1) Replacing the Fuel Filter” — manufacturer, catalina380.org
Drain fuel filter (water/dirt)
4JH3E / 4JH3(B)E / 4JH3(C)E
50 hrs or 1 mo
“4.3.2 Inspection Every 50 Hours (or Monthly) (1) Draining the Fuel Filter” — manufacturer, catalina380.org
Raw-water pump impeller
4JH3E / 4JH3(B)E / 4JH3(C)E
1,000 hrs
“Note: The impeller must be replaced periodically (every 1000 hrs.).” — manufacturer, catalina380.org
Air filter / intake silencer
4JH3E / 4JH3(B)E / 4JH3(C)E
300 hrs
“4.3.4 Inspection Every 300 Hrs. ... (5) Cleaning the Intake Silencer” — manufacturer, catalina380.org
Exhaust mixing elbow inspection
4JH3E / 4JH3(B)E / 4JH3(C)E
300 hrs
“Every 300 hrs ... Clean the exhaust/water mixing elbow” — manufacturer, catalina380.org
Drive belts inspect / replace
4JH3E / 4JH3(B)E / 4JH3(C)E
300 hrs
“4.3.4 Inspection Every 300 Hrs. ... (2) Adjusting the Tension of the Cooling Water Pump Driving Belt.” — manufacturer, catalina380.org
Valve clearance check / adjust
4JH3E / 4JH3(B)E / 4JH3(C)E
600 hrs
“4.3.5 Inspection Every 600 Hrs. ... (3) Inspection and Adjustment of Intake/Exhaust Valve Clearance.” — manufacturer, catalina380.org
Injector test / service
4JH3E / 4JH3(B)E / 4JH3(C)E
600 hrs
“4.3.5 Inspection Every 600 Hrs. ... (4) Inspecting and Adjusting the Fuel Injection Spray Condition.” — manufacturer, catalina380.org
Fuel filters & water separator
4JH2E / 4JH2-TE / 4JH2-HTE / 4JH2-DTE
300 hrs
“Replace the element every 300 hours of operation.” — manufacturer, mason44.com
Replace engine oil filter
4JH2E / 4JH2-TE / 4JH2-HTE / 4JH2-DTE
300 hrs
“Oil filter replacement period ... Every 300 hours of engine operation” — manufacturer, mason44.com
Transmission fluid change
4JH2E / 4JH2-TE / 4JH2-HTE / 4JH2-DTE
150 hrs
“Change the oil after the first 50 hours of operation, and every 150 hours of operation thereafter.” — manufacturer, mason44.com
Air filter / intake silencer
4JH2-TE / 4JH2-HTE / 4JH2-DTE (turbo)
300 hrs
“Cleaning and Every 300 hours inspection of air filter” — manufacturer, mason44.com
Turbocharger inspection
4JH2-TE / 4JH2-HTE / 4JH2-DTE (turbo)
150 hrs
“Clean the blower: Everv 150 hours” — manufacturer, mason44.com
Turbocharger disassembly, cleaning and inspection
4JH2-TE / 4JH2-HTE / 4JH2-DTE (turbo)
6,000 hrs or 1 yr
“3 months or 6 months or 12 months or 1500 hours 3000 hours 6000 hours ... Disassembly, cleaning and inspection of entire” — manufacturer, mason44.com
Thermostat: inspect every 500 h; replace every year or 2000 h
4JH2E / 4JH2-TE / 4JH2-HTE / 4JH2-DTE
2,000 hrs or 1 yr
“Replace the thermostat every year or 2000 hours of operation (whichever comes first).” — manufacturer, mason44.com
Service part numbers (11)
Oil filter Yanmar 129150-35170
Replaces 129150-35153
“129150-35170 Oil Filter” — dealer, oldportmarine.com · “Yanmar Oil Filter 129150-35170 Marine Diesel 4JH 4JHE 4JH3” — dealer, dieselitems.com
Fuel filter
non-turbo E models (4JHE, 4JH2E, 4JH3E, 4JH4E)
Yanmar 129470-55810
Replaces 129470-55703
“129470-55810 Fuel Filter” — dealer, oldportmarine.com · “It fits Yanmar 3HM35F, 3JH2E, 4JH3, 4JH4-HTE, 4JH4E, 4JHE, 4TNE84T engines. Cross Reference: 129470-55703” — dealer, deltadieselparts.com
Fuel filter
4JH4-TE / 4JH4-HTE (2007 on)
Yanmar 129574-55711
“Fuel Filter Element 1 129574-55711” — dealer, ellebogen.com · “4JH4-TE/HTE Basic Service Kit ... Fuel filter 129574-55711” — dealer, oldportmarine.com
Raw-water impeller
JH3 and JH4 generation (4JH3, 4JH4-E, -AE, -TE, -HTE)
Yanmar 129670-42531
“Impeller 1 129670-42531 / Impeller Gasket 1 119773-42570” — dealer, ellebogen.com · “Impeller (129670-42531) & O-ring box kit, including face plate screws and lubricant.” — dealer, oldportmarine.com
Raw-water impeller
earlier 4JH and 4JH2 generation
Yanmar 129470-42532
“Impeller 1 129470-42532 / Impeller Gasket 1 24341-000600” — dealer, ellebogen.com · “Replaces: Impeller Numbers 129470-42530 , 129470-42531 , 129470-42532 ... Fits ... 4JHE , 4JH-TE , 4JH2E” — dealer, staycoolpumps.com
Drive belt
4JH2E, 4JH3E, 4JH4-AE; 4JH4-TE before July 2006
Yanmar 25132-004600
“Alternator Belt 1 25132-004600” — dealer, ellebogen.com · “25132-004600 Belt” — dealer, oldportmarine.com
Drive belt
4JH4-E
Yanmar 25152-004300
“Alternator Belt 1 25152-004300” — dealer, ellebogen.com · “25152-004300 Belt” — dealer, oldportmarine.com
Drive belt
4JH4-TE from July 2006 to serial E15601 (also 4JH4-HTE per Sea Sierra)
Yanmar 129671-42280
“Alternator Belt V-Belt 1 129671-42280 July 2006 > / < E15601” — dealer, ellebogen.com · “Alternator Belt for Yanmar 4JH4-TE and 4JH4-HTE (Replaces 129671-42280E, 129671-42280)” — dealer, seasierra.com
Drive belt
4JH4-TE / 4JH4-HTE from serial E15602 (120 A alternator)
Yanmar 129671-77680
“Alternator Belt Flat Belt 1 129671-77680 E15602 >” — dealer, ellebogen.com · “129671-77680 Serp Belt starting s/n # E15602” — dealer, oldportmarine.com
Air filter
all except 4JH4-E
Yanmar 129470-12330
“Air Filter Element 1 129470-12330” — dealer, ellebogen.com · “It fits Yanmar 4JH110, 4JH2-TE, 4JH4-HTE, 4JH4-TE, 4JH80, 4JHE engines.” — dealer, deltadieselparts.com
Thermostat Yanmar 129470-49801
“Thermostat 1 129470-49801 / Thermostat Gasket 1 129795-49551 / 129150-49811” — dealer, ellebogen.com · “compatible with ... 4JH2-E, 4JH2-HTE, 4JH2-TE, ... 4JH3-E, 4JH3-HTE, 4JH3-TE, 4JH4AE, 4JH4-E, 4JH4-TE, ... 4JH-E” — dealer, shop.marinedieselinc.com

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 (8)

sailboatdata.com · cruisersforum.com · svserendipity2.wordpress.com · svserendipity2.wordpress.com · lapazyachts.com · hanschristian.org · images.bva-auctions.com · hanschristian.org

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Other Hans Christian models

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