Jeanneau TH38: What a Difference a Dayboat Makes
Jeanneau’s latest twin-hull series opens the door for extended fun.
By Steve Davis
One way to test a boat’s true capability is to take it out when it’s rainy and windy. Add a morning that ran cold by South Florida standards, and the day we headed out of Jupiter was no day at the beach. Still, the new Jeanneau TH38 power catamaran proved her all-weather protection works just fine.
The TH38 is one of two models in Jeanneau’s new TH (twin hull) series. The TH33 and TH38 are both outboard-powered catamarans that give owners roomy, stable dayboats with family-friendly deck layouts. Jeanneau designed the TH33 for offshore day trips, while the TH38 adds space and overnight accommodations for owners who want to make a full weekend of it. And yes, the cabins are climate controlled, so on a cold, rainy day, it stays warm below.
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Why Jeanneau Went Twin-Hull
No matter the weather, the TH38 is fun to drive, and its stability makes for a comfortable ride — one reason Jeanneau moved into the multihull domain. Marc Lombard Yacht Design Group optimized the TH38’s twin-hull design to reduce roll and deliver a flat ride in choppy water. The hulls lessen wave impact and minimize heel in a turn, and the tunnel between them channels water away to help keep the deck dry.
As a former charter captain, I put stability first. Deck space runs a close second, because it makes onboard entertaining possible, and the TH38’s main deck alone offers more than 160 square feet. Whether you bring the family or a group of friends, that’s plenty of room to spread out and leave the daily routine at the dock.
Full-Height or Low-Profile Windshield?
Speaking of weather, the TH38 offers a customizable windshield that sets it apart within the series. Owners choose between a full-height windshield and a lower, streamlined version. You guessed it: the full-height windscreen integrates seamlessly with the hardtop for maximum protection from the elements. The low-profile windscreen stops short of the hardtop, but it still blocks the wind when you’re seated, cuts a more aerodynamic profile, and lets a fresh breeze into the cockpit.
Optional side enclosures add more protection. For a fully enclosed cockpit, an optional canvas-and-glass system turns the helm deck into an all-weather pilothouse.
A Cockpit That Reconfigures in Seconds
Garroni Design styled the exterior and interior with sizable social zones from bow to stern, all connected by a center aisle on the no-step deck. The cockpit serves as the main focal point, thanks to its modular seating, access to the swim platform, and portside galley. An aft-facing bench to starboard balances the cockpit and quickly becomes the spot where you stare out over the horizon. Entertaining, relaxing, sunning, swimming, napping, and dining all happen here.
Clever aft seating gives the cockpit its versatility. Two L-shaped settees, each with a table attached to its base, sit to port and starboard and open the center aisle straight through to the swim platform. At mealtime, the two sections slide together on tracks to form a U-shaped dinette with the table size doubled. When it’s time to work on a tan, shorter pedestals lower the tables, and filler cushions create a huge sunpad.
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Whether the settees slide together or apart, you reach the swim platform from the middle or from either side. The wide beam creates a wide aft stage for life on the water. Catamaran builders generally mount the outboards as far apart as the hulls — perfect for spinning the boat on its axis — so the deck extends between the engines and around them on each side. That low-to-the-water profile makes the best place to jump in for a swim, a large integrated swim ladder brings you back aboard, and there’s room to launch water toys and inflatables.
The Galley and the Bow Lounge
While the seats keep you relaxed, the centrally located galley to port keeps everyone fueled up. Garroni’s open-concept design keeps food and drink close at hand without cutting the cook off from what’s happening around the boat. The standard galley carries a hot-and-cold-water sink and a refrigerator, with an optional electric grill and a second cockpit fridge. A bow drawer refrigerator puts a cold one within reach up front, too.
The bow is its own social scene, with enough space for at least 12 people. Like the aft seating, it converts into a sunpad with filler cushions, and a detachable table holds snacks and such. Cup holders, audio speakers, phone chargers — like I said, it’s its own social scene. If the sun gets too brutal, a portable sunshade protects you from the rays.
How Many Cabins Does the Jeanneau TH38 Have?
Weekends and even longer cruises are the whole idea behind the TH38. The boat offers plenty of storage for provisions, and with two hulls, Jeanneau fits a full ensuite cabin in each one. A sliding door just forward of the helm and copilot seats opens to a few steps that lead down into the middle of the accommodation, which separates the queen berth aft from the head and separate shower forward.
It’s a cozy space, with windows that let in natural light and portholes for fresh air. Remember that the cabins are climate controlled, so the comfort holds in any weather.
What Range Does the Jeanneau TH38 Get?
Twin Mercury Verado V10 350-hp outboards do more than get you around; they let you go the extra mile to discover new destinations. “I cruised all day at 27 mph using 25 gallons per hour,” says Wade Clevenger, regional sales director at Jeanneau America. “I got about 230 miles but didn’t have much left in reserve.”
Jeanneau reports a range of around 190 nautical miles at a cruise of about 20 mph, though conditions and load move that number. It’s still plenty to run from Jupiter to West End on Grand Bahama and back, or from Newport, Rhode Island, to Nantucket and back. The islands off Maine and those off Northern Michigan sit within reach of the TH38, too.
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Garmin Electronics at the Helm
Garmin electronics packages with twin multifunction displays help guide your course, and the GT15 transducer keeps an eye below with underwater imaging. That’s good for fishing as well as for reading structure and bottom detail when you’re exploring around islands. Radar and AIS make worthwhile options if you plan to cruise the coast.
A comfortable single captain’s chair puts every helm control within reach: dual displays, anchor chain control and counter, Mercury’s VesselView engine monitoring display, joystick control, autopilot, and a JL Audio system — all the technology you need for a comfortable and safe ride. A dual copilot seat at the helm offers a great view underway and keeps the captain company.
Is the Jeanneau TH38 Worth It?
“The stability achieved with the Jeanneau TH brings with it a major peace of mind when boating with your family,” says Clevenger. “I have two younger daughters, and I would feel very confident with them moving around while underway (within reason of course), but there is space for everyone; kids sleep in one cabin, mom and dad in the other.”
“There was a point on my little four-day shakedown cruise where autopilot was on, music was playing, and it was so uneventful from a ride perspective that it was almost boring,” he continues. “Of course it wasn’t, but the ride is just that flat. I can go on and on, but at the end of the day, if you break it down to price per square foot, nothing is going to beat the Jeanneau TH38.”
As for my wet, chilly ride, the TH38 proved it’s a boat to enjoy on any adventure.
Specifications
LOA | 38′11″ | Top/Cruise Speed | 36/20 mph |
Beam | 14′8″ | Range @ Cruise | 190 nm |
Draft | 3′3″ | Fuel/Water | 246/50 gal. |
Displ. | 16,351 lb. | Power | 2x Mercury Verado V10 350-hp |
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