Cruisers Yachts 38 GLS Specs, Price and Ownership Guide

The Cruisers Yachts 38 GLS and the builder's day boat turn

For most of its modern history Cruisers Yachts was an express cruiser and flybridge builder. The GLS series, which now runs from 34 to 50 feet, marked a shift toward large luxury day boats, and the Cruisers Yachts 38 GLS was the model that set the template. When BoatTest reviewed it, it was the largest outboard-powered boat in the Cruisers line.

The concept is straightforward. Take a beamy deep-V hull, give it an open bow and cockpit on one level, add a real cabin with a standing head, and design the stern for swimming and boarding rather than just for engines. Where the GLS differs from rivals is the Beach Door, a fold-down section of the hull side that the 38 introduced to the Cruisers range.

It is built in Oconto, Wisconsin, where the company has been since 1953, and since 2021 Cruisers has been owned by MarineMax, the largest recreational boat retailer in the United States. That ownership matters for buyers, because it means a broad dealer and service footprint.

How the Beach Door works

The Beach Door is a hydraulically operated platform on the starboard side aft that folds down to bridge the swim platform and the aft seating. A switch near the cockpit operates it, an internal locking bar secures it when closed, and a safety interlock stops it lowering while the engines are running, even if someone presses the switch.

Lowered, it turns the aft end of the boat into a big terrace at water level. The aft bench's backrest rotates so passengers can face forward, aft or out toward the open door, which turns it into a viewing seat for whoever is watching swimmers. The hydraulic pump sits in the mechanical space under the aft bench, along with the main breaker panel.

What a 12 foot 6 inch beam does for the cockpit

A 12 foot 6 inch beam is wide for a 38 foot boat, and Cruisers used every inch. The bow has a deep lounge, the midship area has two L-shaped dinettes, and aft is the rotating bench. BoatTest singled out the unusually open cockpit as the boat's defining strength.

Forward to port is a cockpit galley with a Corian counter that hides the sink under a removable hatch, an electric Kenyon grill with an automatic shutoff when the lid closes, a refrigerator, and a socket for a 27 inch television that can also be moved below. A raised wet bar with a sink and fridge gives guests somewhere to lean and talk without blocking the helm.

The hardtop has a manually opening sunroof, and retractable shades and wireless charging were on the options list. On a hot day, the aft shade is the option you will use the most.

At the helm

The helm is to starboard with a 3 foot 1 inch wide double seat that slides fore and aft, flip-down armrests and flip-up bolsters. Two 12 inch Simrad multifunction displays sit in the dash, with a Ritchie compass above and a stitched wheel on a tilt base. The icemaker is under the helm seat.

BoatTest suggested swapping the positions of the Mercury joystick and the trim tab switches, because the tabs fall naturally under the hand with the levers forward and the joystick would be easier to reach behind the controls. It is a small detail, but you will notice it on every docking.

Aft stateroom, dinette berth and a standing head

A sliding door to port of the helm leads below, with a screen that slides into the opening for ventilation. Maximum headroom is 6 feet 7 inches. To port is a compact galley with a microwave and convection oven combination and a refrigerator. Forward is a U-shaped dinette in pearl white and gray that converts to a berth, and aft under the cockpit is a private stateroom with a double berth.

The head has standing headroom, a toilet and a pull-up shower, so it is a wet head rather than a separate shower stall. Four people can sleep aboard, two in the aft cabin and two on the dinette, but the realistic use is one couple overnight with room for children forward. Compared with a Regal 38 XO or 38 SAV, the 38 GLS gives up some cabin volume in exchange for its larger, flatter cockpit.

Triple Verado 300 results

BoatTest tested a 38 GLS OB with triple 300 hp Mercury Verado V8 FourStroke outboards turning 16 by 18 inch stainless propellers. Test weight was about 19,279 pounds with three people and 200 gallons of fuel, in calm conditions with 8 to 10 mph of wind.

Top speed was 51.9 mph, or 45.1 knots, at 6,000 rpm burning 75 gph. Best cruise was 4,500 rpm, 31.1 knots on 44 gph, for a range of about 213 nautical miles using 90 percent of the 335 gallon tank. The boat planed in 5.4 seconds and reached 30 mph in 9.5 seconds.

The reviewers questioned whether the optional 350 hp motors were worth the money, because the 300s already pushed the boat past 50 mph with plenty in reserve. We agree. Spend the difference on a gyro stabilizer instead.

38 GLS OB or the sterndrive 38 GLS

Cruisers sells the boat in two forms. The 38 GLS OB measures 38 feet with the outboards down and 40 feet 3 inches with them tilted up, weighs about 18,640 pounds dry and carries 335 gallons of fuel. The sterndrive 38 GLS is listed at 37 feet 3 inches overall, about 18,500 pounds and 234 gallons. Both share the 12 foot 6 inch beam, a 12 foot 8 inch bridge clearance and the same 50 gallon water and 31 gallon holding tanks.

For coastal use the outboard boat is the better choice: 100 more gallons of fuel, less corrosion exposure, a shallower 24.5 inch draft with the motors up and simpler winter storage. The sterndrive boat suits fresh water owners who want a cleaner transom and a quieter ride at idle. Check slip length carefully with the outboard boat, since it needs a little over 40 feet with the motors tilted.

Cruisers Yachts 38 GLS running costs and resale

Plan for about $38,000 to $70,000 a year before depreciation. Fuel is the largest item at around 44 gph at a 31 knot cruise, and three outboards mean three sets of annual service, anodes, water pumps and lower unit oil changes. Insurance, a 40 foot slip and bottom paint in salt water account for most of the rest.

Values have held well because the GLS concept has proven popular and MarineMax keeps a steady flow of buyers coming through its stores. Early boats from 2020 now start in the high $300,000s, and late model boats with a gyro and full options trade in the $700,000s.