This 2003 Heinritz 38 C/R sailboat for sale in Beaufort presents a rare opportunity to acquire a custom-built racer/cruiser with advanced construction, performance-oriented design, and significant long-term potential for the right buyer. Designed by Heinritz Yacht Design and built by Schroder Shipyard in Germany, this one-off yacht is not simply another production sailboat; it is a distinctive and technically interesting vessel created for sailors who appreciate design individuality, engineering sophistication, and responsive sailing performance. Although the yacht now requires recommissioning after an extended period out of the water, its underlying structure, premium sailing hardware, and unusual pedigree make it a compelling proposition for experienced owners, restorers, or performance-minded sailors looking for a rewarding project with genuine upside.
General Specifications
The yacht measures approximately 11.58 meters in length, with a beam of 3.66 meters and a draft of 2.13 meters. Displacement is estimated at around 5,500 kilograms, reflecting the vessel’s lightweight, performance-oriented concept. Construction combines fiberglass with advanced composite reinforcement, while the deep performance hull is complemented by a carbon fiber and steel composite keel carrying approximately 1,996 kilograms of lead ballast. This sophisticated structural arrangement supports excellent stability, reduced structural weight, and highly efficient sailing dynamics. Teak decking over a composite structure adds further evidence of the quality and ambition of the original build.
Design Character & One-Off Pedigree
One of the yacht’s most significant attractions is its status as a custom one-off build. In a brokerage market dominated by series-production boats, that immediately sets this vessel apart. It was conceived as a racer/cruiser rather than a pure stripped-out race boat, which means it offers meaningful interior utility alongside advanced sailing potential. For buyers who value owning something rare, technically distinctive, and capable of delivering a more individual sailing experience than mainstream production alternatives, this Heinritz 38 C/R offers unusual appeal. Its design suggests a strong emphasis on performance, precision, and thoughtful engineering rather than compromise for mass-market production efficiency.
Performance & Engineering
Auxiliary propulsion is supplied by a Kohler LDW1003 inboard diesel engine producing 29 horsepower. The engine is intended primarily to support harbor maneuvering, short-distance motoring, and auxiliary use, as the yacht’s true design focus lies in its sailing performance. Fuel capacity is approximately 64 liters, appropriate for a lightweight racer/cruiser that is not expected to rely heavily on prolonged motoring. The sail-drive arrangement contributes to efficient propulsion and reduced vibration under power, while the yacht’s hull and keel configuration are designed to prioritize speed, responsiveness, and efficient sail-carrying capability. It should be noted clearly that the engine requires servicing before full operation, which is consistent with the wider recommissioning scope following long-term inactivity.
Engine Room, Machinery & Recommissioning Considerations
The engine installation remains intact, and the cylinders have reportedly been preserved during the vessel’s storage period, which is a helpful sign for a buyer assessing restoration viability. However, the exhaust system requires repair, and fuel, mechanical, and auxiliary systems should all be thoroughly inspected before return to service. The engine space remains accessible, which is valuable for diagnostic work, maintenance, and staged recommissioning. For buyers with technical knowledge or access to professional support, this provides a workable foundation for reactivation rather than an inaccessible or compromised installation.
Propulsion & Steering
The sail-drive system offers efficient auxiliary propulsion while also supporting a cleaner underwater profile than more traditional shaft-drive arrangements. Given the time out of service, propulsion components will naturally require inspection and recommissioning before relaunch. Steering is via a Jefa helm with teak finish, a high-quality component that underscores the overall specification level of the yacht. Jefa systems are respected for precision and feel, and this contributes to the vessel’s appeal among performance-oriented sailors who value accurate helm response and well-engineered control systems.
Interior Accommodation & Layout
The yacht offers two cabins with accommodation for up to five berths, providing a useful balance between performance intent and practical overnight capability. The forward V-berth creates dedicated sleeping accommodation, while a large aft berth provides additional flexibility for owner or guest use. In the salon, a starboard settee, portside L-shaped seating, and centerline folding table create a practical and sociable interior arrangement without burdening the yacht with unnecessary weight or excessive volume. This layout is particularly appealing for sailors who want a boat that remains efficient and purposeful yet still offers enough comfort for coastal cruising, regatta weekends, or selected longer trips.
Galley, Head & Functional Cruising Utility
The galley is fitted with a stove, oven, refrigerator, and stainless-steel sink with pressurized water, giving the yacht a meaningful level of self-sufficiency for a vessel with strong racing DNA. The onboard head is positioned to starboard and provides the essential domestic functionality expected for overnight or short-cruising use. While this is not a luxury-oriented interior, it is practical, intelligently arranged, and sufficiently equipped to make the boat viable not only as a race platform but also as a rewarding cruiser for the right owner once recommissioned.
Deck Layout & Working Environment
On deck, the yacht offers a clean, efficient racing layout with ample working space and teak finishes that add quality and visual appeal. The deck has been designed for effective crew movement and active sail handling, which is a major benefit for anyone intending to sail the boat in performance-oriented conditions. Some cosmetic deck and cockpit work is required due to sun exposure during storage, but this does not detract from the evident quality of the original layout and hardware arrangement. For the knowledgeable buyer, the deck plan remains one of the vessel’s strongest features.
Navigation & Electronics
Installed navigation equipment includes a Lowrance GlobalMap 7200C chartplotter, Silva NX wind and sea-data instruments, a DSC-capable VHF communication system, and compass. These systems provide the essential foundation for both cruising and performance sailing. Due to the vessel’s prolonged inactivity, some electronics may require inspection, repair, or modernization, but the installed package still offers a credible base from which to recommission and upgrade as desired. Buyers with a performance or technical orientation may view this as an opportunity to tailor the electronics to their own sailing objectives.
Electrical System
The yacht includes dual house batteries installed in 2016 together with a dedicated starting battery. A battery charger with 120V/220V transformer is also installed, supporting flexible shore-power connection and charging. As with the rest of the yacht’s systems, the electrical network should be inspected, tested, and recommissioned before full service use, particularly after years out of the water. Nevertheless, the existing setup provides a solid starting point for restoration and operational planning.
Plumbing & Onboard Systems
Freshwater capacity is approximately 64 liters, with pressurized water fitted for practical onboard use. Plumbing systems, head operation, drainage, and bilge-related functions should all be checked and serviced as part of recommissioning. This is expected for a yacht in project condition and should be understood as part of the restoration process rather than an unusual concern. The key point is that the infrastructure is present, giving the next owner a usable foundation for returning the yacht to full function.
Comfort & Owner Experience
Although the Heinritz 38 C/R is clearly performance-oriented, it still offers a comfortable and surprisingly usable interior atmosphere. Natural light from overhead hatches helps brighten the cabin, while the quality of materials used throughout reinforces the sense that this was a carefully specified custom yacht rather than a stripped-out racing machine. The result is a vessel that can deliver a more rewarding and versatile ownership experience than many pure race boats, particularly for sailors who want both competitive potential and practical onboard use.
Usage Potential
This yacht is ideally suited for experienced sailors looking for a distinctive racer/cruiser project, a unique custom yacht with performance pedigree, or a restoration candidate with real technical merit. Once recommissioned, it could serve as a competitive club-racing platform, spirited coastal cruiser, or highly individual private yacht. Depending on the extent and quality of restoration, it may also appeal in specialized charter or event contexts where performance and uniqueness are valued. Its strongest appeal, however, lies in offering a technically interesting and rare platform to a knowledgeable owner who appreciates what it could become.
Maintenance Needs & Project Scope
The vessel has been out of the water for approximately six years and will require recommissioning before relaunch. Known items include engine-exhaust gasket replacement, cleaning of compartments, inspection of fuel and electrical systems, resealing of windows, and cosmetic work on sun-exposed deck and cockpit surfaces. Importantly, no major structural concerns have been reported, which is a crucial factor in evaluating any project yacht. For the right buyer, this means the work is centered on recommissioning, systems revival, and cosmetic attention rather than structural rescue. That distinction significantly affects the yacht’s long-term viability and attractiveness as a project.
Safety & Structural Condition
Safety-related equipment includes lifelines, stanchions, anchors, and basic navigation systems, though all safety gear should naturally be reviewed and updated before return to active service. Structurally, the yacht is particularly impressive. The hull is built in PVC-cored epoxy E-glass, a sophisticated and desirable construction method that offers a strong combination of stiffness, durability, and weight control. Multiple barrier coats and antifouling protection have been applied below the waterline, and the carbon fiber/steel keel structure is described as robust. Cosmetic wear is present due to sun exposure, but no major structural issues are reported, which is highly encouraging for buyers assessing restoration value.
Rigging & Sail Inventory
The rig specification is one of the vessel’s most significant assets. The yacht carries a 9/10 aluminum mast, triple spreaders, rod rigging, carbon-fiber boom, Harken winches, and Dyneema running rigging, all of which indicate a serious performance brief and a high specification level. The sail inventory includes multiple racing sails in carbon, mylar, kevlar, and technora, together with spinnakers suited to a range of wind strengths and sailing conditions. This is a genuinely valuable equipment package and one that could be very costly to replicate today. Naturally, all rigging and sail inventory should be professionally inspected before active use, but the presence of this specification materially strengthens the yacht’s appeal and restoration potential.
Registration, Documentation & Sales Process
The yacht is registered under the United States flag, with VAT not applicable. Documentation is available for review, and ownership history is clear. Inspections are strongly encouraged, and a professional marine survey is highly advisable given the yacht’s current out-of-service status. Standard purchase arrangements would include agreed deposit terms, secure payment, and transfer of ownership documentation. Transport, cradle use, and relaunch planning may also form part of the sales discussion depending on the buyer’s intended timeline and restoration strategy.
Included Equipment & Restoration Value
Included in the sale are the full sail inventory, Bruce and Fortress anchors, and a fully adjustable galvanized cradle suitable for storage and transport. These inclusions add very meaningful value, particularly for a buyer intending to restore and relaunch the yacht in a structured manner. Taken together with the premium rig package, composite construction, and one-off design pedigree, the equipment profile reinforces the idea that this is not merely a tired older boat, but a serious and potentially very rewarding project for the right owner.
Enquire Now
If you are an experienced sailor or restoration-minded buyer seeking a custom performance cruiser with advanced construction, high-spec sail inventory, and strong long-term upside, this 2003 Heinritz 38 C/R in Beaufort deserves close and informed attention. Contact now to arrange an inspection and explore the potential to bring this rare one-off yacht back to the level it was built to achieve.