Windy just unveiled its plans for a new adventure boat, the S38, entering a rapidly growing segment of the day or weekend cruising market.
The S38 is the Norwegian builder’s first adventure boat, although it’s now building 17 different boats from 27 to 60 feet. It’s offering the S38 with either inboard diesel sterndrive power, or with outboards, preferred by the U.S. market. With twin Volvo D6-440 DPI sterndrives, the S38 has a top speed of 44 knots. With twin 450-hp Yamaha or twin Mercury 400-hp outboards, the top speed goes up to 48 knots.
Windy is building the S38 with a remarkable pedigree. The exterior styling is by Espen Øino, the Norwegian designer who often works on superyachts for Lürssen. The interior is by Design Unlimited, the British studio that often works with Sunseeker.
The boat is notable for its fully glazed side panels and sliding doors on both sides of the helm to provide protection for the front half of the helm deck. Walkaround side decks provide safe access forward and aft.
The futuristic hardtop has room for carrying a pair of paddle boards, as well as a raked radar arch. The new Windy also has folding aft bulwarks that drop down to expand the size of the cockpit, although that is now fairly common for new boats in this segment. In the outboard version, the boat has a lazarette under the aft sun pad that’s big enough to house a pair of SEABOBs or other water toys.
Aft of the helm, the Windy has an L-shaped settee on the starboard side with a folding table. A bench seat is on the other side to create a midships dining area.
Below, owners have a choice of an open cuddy cabin with a convertible U-shaped dinette in the bow, or a permanent double berth there. Either way, there are separate head and shower compartments.
Windy was started in 1966 by Hugo Vold whose father was a commercial fisherman. He named his boats Vindy, and every one returned him to his harbor safely. Hugo Vold then used a variation of the name when he started his boat company to honor that tradition.
The new SR38 will make its American debut at the Fort Lauderdale show next October.
