Zephyr is the result of a tremendous design, built to exacting European standards, then methodically refined over 15 years by an experienced shipwright. There is little if anything left to improve upon in this boat. For the sailor who appreciates an easily driven and timeless hull shape, heavy duty construction and meticulous attention to detail, Zephyr stands apart.
The Ohlson 38 was designed by Einer Ohlson. Many of the 38s were built or finished in Ohlson’s home country of Sweden, while others like Zephyr were built and finished at Tyler Yachts in England. When the design was first built in the late 1960s, the imperative was still to create a relatively narrow, easily driven hull that went through the water withe ease. While the rudder and keel are separated, the keel is long enough to provide excellent tracking and directional stability.
The cockpit is secure and comfortable, with storage in lockers and a large lazarette. The side decks are wide with excellent handholds all the way forward. It’s an easy deck to move around on, particularly in a bouncing sea.
Below decks, the interior is beautifully finished, particularly where the owner has rebuilt it. The forepeak, for instance, was gutted and rebuilt and is now a luxurious owner’s cabin. The shower stall to starboard was replaced by a counter and sink. The spaces, and storage, are clearly designed to work at sea.
The original Tyler construction is impressive, with substantial stringers running along the hull sides. Combined with the vinylester solid fiberglass layup of both the hull and decks, this makes the Ohlson 38 is an amazingly strong boat. The entire deck and hull have been thoroughly insulated.
Zephyr’s owner has had a longstanding relationship with various Ohlson designs, racing and cruising them, dating back to the wooden 35-footers. Zephyr stands as both an outstanding example of craftsmanship and a vision of what a classic design can be. There isn’t a harbor in the world where Zephyr wouldn’t garner attention.
- New teak seats and floor in cockpit (2020)
- New electrical panels (2020)
- Current electronics (2018)
- Engine Mounts, transmission and PSS seal replaced (2020)
- New Lewmar Ocean hatches (2018)
| Name of vessel | Zephyr |
| Model | Ohlson 38 |
| Year | 1984 |
| Builder | Tyler Yachts |
| Designer | Einer Ohlson |
| Price | $105,000 USD |
| Location | Seattle, Washington |
| Length (feet) | 37 |
| Beam (feet) | 10.1 |
| Draft (feet) | 5.6 |
| Displacement (pounds) | 14900 |
| Ballast (pounds) | 6000 |
| Engine model | Yanmar 3GM |
| Engine horsepower | 20 |
| Engine hours | |
| Fuel tank capacity (gallons) | 22 |
| Water tank capacity (gallons) | 55 |
| Holding tank capacity (gallons) |
Interior Accommodations
Zephyr’s interior is inviting and cozy, with traditional carpentry defining the space. Starting forward is a comfortable V-berth with a fitted, spring mattress. The head is to port and a vanity to starboard, with plenty of storage and room to move around. The main cabin features a settee to starboard and dinette to port, which can extend to accommodate guests at the dinner table or be lowered to create a double berth. Storage is accessible and abundant. The navigation station is to starboard at the base of the companionway with a quarterberth extending aft. The galley is to port.
Spring mattress in forepeak
LED lights throughout
Original Wedgewood china
Fitted pans
Masterflush electric macerating head
Electric raw water pump and sea- strainer
TW Discharger pump
Tank master discharge panel
Force 10 propane 10000 BTU heater
Electronics and Navigation
Autohelm 3000 autopilot
Garmin 3210 Chart plotter with AIS at navigation station
Garmin 3205 Chart plotter at helm
Garmin 180 in forepeak used as anchor watch
Garmin GMR 18 Radar
Garmin network hub
Garmin depth, speed and wind indicator (2018)
(2) ICOM M422 Radio
Shakespeare VHF auto antenna splitter
Shakespeare VHF antenna
Electrical Systems
Blue Seas Vessel Monitoring System 442
Blue Seas 40 Amp P12 battery charger (2020)
Blue Sea 7520 Battery Charger Remote Panel (2020)
Blue Seas Automatic Charging Relay
Blue Sea Battery Disconnect Panel and 12V sub-panel
Blue Sea 12v Distribution Panel
House batteries AGM – 200 amp hours (2019)
Starting battery – AGM – (2015)
Galvanic isolation system
Separated main ground bus
90-watt solar panel
Solar charge controller (2011)
Renewed battery cabling
Mechanical Systems
Yanmar 3GM30F (2000) 2431 hours
New transmission (Yanmar, KM2P) (2020)
New engine mounts and brackets (2020)
Rear Engine PSS seal replaced (2020)
Full PSS replacement (2020)
Racor fuel filter
Lido fuel gauge and sender
New cockpit engine access hatch
Deck and Hull
The deck has been modernized with modern stoppers and winches, but otherwise retains the same character as when she was launched: elegant simplicity and uncompromising quality. The Dorade boxes were built from wood aged in San Francisco from Alameda Shipyards. The rail mounted propane box was built to extraordinarily tight tolerances and coated with 8 coats of varnish.
Dodger (Custom, 2008)
New teak cockpit seats and floor (2020)
New LPU paint in cockpit
(6) opening ports –
6” Henry Browne Sestrel compass
Engine tachometer, oil gauges at helm
Kiwigrip nonskid and LPU on deck (2018)
Custom helm seat
Hot and cold shower in cockpit
All cockpit teak replaced (2020)
Cockpit combing re-wooded and refinished (2020)
Cockpit well repainted with epoxy
Cockpit drain strainers re-chromed
Gas lifts installed on cockpit hatches
(2) Lewmar Ocean hatches (2018)
New cockpit engine access hatch
“African Queen” sun canvas for cockpit
Full cockpit cushions
Maxwell 1200 windlass (rebuilt 2018)
Anchor washdown on deck
Automatic bilge pump – float
Sails and Rigging
(8) Lewmar D2 stoppers
(2) Lewmar 46ST primary self-tailing winches
(2) Lewmar 36ST cabin top self-tailing winches
Standing rigging renewed (2000)
Backstay replaced (2008)
Harken roller furling
110% furlling headsail
130% furling headsail
Mainsail
Spare mainsail
Working Jib
Gennaker
Spinnaker
Trysail
Storm Jib
Miscellaneous and Safety
Fire extinguishers at Nav station and Head
Engine room blower
Magma barbeque
Xinix S-2A Propane gas detector
Whale manual bilge pump in cockpit with renewed bellows
10′ fiberglass RIB with 6hp Mercury outboard and trailer
Disclaimer
The Company offers the details of this vessel in good faith but cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of this information nor warrant the condition of the vessel. A buyer should instruct his agents, or his surveyors, to investigate such details as the buyer desires validated. This vessel is offered subject to prior sale, price change, or withdrawal without notice.