Marine Trader 38 Double Cabin
Built 1980–2000
About the Marine Trader 38 Double Cabin
Researched from public sources for this model. Any individual boat may have been modified or repowered — confirm before relying on any figure.
- Built
- 1980–2000
- Length
- 38 ft
- Waterline
- 34.67 ft
- Beam
- 12.83 ft
- Draft
- 4 ft
- Displacement
- 22,000 lb
- Hull
- fiberglass
- Hull / keel
- semi-displacement
- Propulsion
- inboard
- Fuel
- 300 gal
- Water
- 250 gal
- Holding
- 50 gal
Solid fiberglass hull with hard aft chines and long keel. Galley-up and more popular galley-down layouts; aft stateroom opens to the cockpit. Nearly all have a single 120/135 hp Lehman (7-8 knots at about 3 gph); later boats with twin 210 hp Cummins cruise 12 knots. The BoatUS notes on the same page mention twin 135 Lehmans or a single 210 Cummins, so engine packages varied.
Known problems for this model
-
Teak decks and handrails deck
Teak decks, handrails and a folding mast are standard; screwed teak over cored decks is the usual leak and rot risk on these Taiwan-built boats.hmy.com · pacificyachting.com
Engines & parts
Ford Lehman 120 (6D380 / 2715E) parts: good
Factory standard engine — you entered “Ford Lehman 120”
Marinized by Lehman from the Ford of England 'Dorset' 2715E six-cylinder (380 cu in) industrial/truck diesel; Ford built the Dorset base engines 1964–1984. Base-engine internals interchange with the Ford 2715E, and marine-specific parts (raw water pumps, heat exchangers, injection elbows, gaskets, lift pumps, air filters) are widely stocked. American Diesel Corp (founded by former Lehman people) still sells parts, publishes spare-parts lists and gives technical advice. Rebuilt and used 120s are also sold by salvage yards.
Parts sources: American Diesel Corp, Go2marine (Ford Lehman parts collection), Fred Warner Marine & Outdoors
Common problems (2)
-
Chronic oil leaks engine
Most 120s weep oil somewhere; owners often trace it to the rear of the engine near the heat exchanger (head/head gasket area) or to the drive seals of the gear-driven injection pump. Moderate oil use is treated as normal on these engines.trawlerforum.com · marineengine.com
-
Fuel leaks at injection pump, lift pump and return lines fuel
Slow diesel drips usually come from loose bleed screws or banjo washers, perished rubber injector return hoses, a failing lift-pump diaphragm, or worn internal seals in the Simms or CAV injection pump, which needs a pump shop to overhaul.yescenters.com
Ford Lehman 135 / SP135 (2725E) parts: good
Factory standard engine — you entered “Ford Lehman 135”
Based on the later Ford 'Dover' 2725E 6.2 L naturally aspirated six (Ford built the Dover series 1982–1994, then Otosan/Dovertech to 2005). Parts are sold by the same Lehman specialists as the 120; American Diesel lists spare-parts sheets and Go2marine stocks cooling parts, heat exchangers and elbows for the 135. Do not assume 120 (2715E) and 135 (2725E) internals interchange.
Parts sources: American Diesel Corp, Go2marine (Ford Lehman parts collection)
Model sources (2)
Other Marine Trader models
- Marine Trader 34 Double Cabin 1972–2001
- Marine Trader 34 Sedan 1973–2001
- Marine Trader 36 Double Cabin 1975–1993
- Marine Trader 40 Sundeck 1983–2000
Researched from public sources. Spotted an error? The sources are listed above — tell us what they got wrong.