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- Hull Material: Fiberglass
Set Sail on *Sound Affect* – Your 2006 Hunter 38 Awaits in the Pacific Northwest
Imagine gliding through the emerald channels of the Salish Sea, with the scent of Douglas fir and salt air filling your cockpit. *Sound Affect* – a clever nod to both her audio-inspired name and her home waters of Puget Sound – is a turn-key cruiser ready to transform your weekends and summer vacations into unforgettable adventures. This 2006 Hunter 38 features the sought-after two-cabin, one-head layout, offering an ideal balance of comfort for a couple, small family, or frequent entertaining. Whether you’re aiming for a lazy afternoon in Roche Harbor, a swift crossing to Victoria, or a week-long exploration of the San Juan and Gulf Islands, this boat is built to make every moment on the water effortless and enjoyable.
Designed with the Pacific Northwest’s shifty winds and tight harbors in mind, *Sound Affect* boasts two major upgrades that set her apart. A bow thruster, added in 2022, gives you the confidence to dock in current-swept marinas like Friday Harbor or Gig Harbor without breaking a sweat. Combine that with a new start battery (2021), and you have reliable, hassle-free engine starting even on those crisp spring mornings. The in-mast furling main and furling genoa mean sail handling is a solo sailor’s dream – no wrestling with a heavy mainsail in a sudden Squamish gust. Simply point, pull, and trim; you’ll spend more time watching for orcas and less time grinding winches.
Step below, and you’ll find the warmth and practicality that make the Hunter 38 a favorite among PNW cruisers. The two-cabin layout offers a spacious owner’s cabin forward and a generous guest cabin aft, while the single head is efficiently designed with a separate shower stall – a true luxury after a rainy day on deck. The main salon is bright and airy, thanks to large hull ports, and the U-shaped galley provides ample counter space for preparing hot chowder or brewing that essential morning coffee. With good headroom throughout and smart storage for foul weather gear, provisions, and cruising guides, *Sound Affect* feels like a home that happens to float.
Performance-wise, the Hunter 38 delivers a surprisingly lively ride without demanding athleticism from her crew. The B&R rig provides stability and a forgiving sail plan, while the deep, shoal-draft wing keel (standard on this model) gives you access to gunkholes and coves that deeper-draft boats must pass by. Her fin keel and spade rudder offer responsive steering, yet she tracks well under power – ideal when the current kicks up in Deception Pass. With a reliable diesel that purrs at cruising RPMs, you’ll cover ground efficiently whether you’re heading north to Desolation Sound or south for the Wooden Boat Festival in Port Townsend.
Don’t let this opportunity sail away. *Sound Affect* is a rare find in the PNW market: a well-maintained, updated Hunter 38 with the practical two-cabin layout and a bow thruster that takes the anxiety out of close-quarters maneuvering. She’s ready for sea trials, spring commissioning, and a summer full of memories. Contact us today to schedule a viewing – because the best stories on the water always start with “Remember when we had *Sound Affect*…”
Denison Yacht Sales offers the details of this yacht in good faith but cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of this information nor warrant the condition of this boat for sale. A yacht buyer should instruct his yacht broker, or his boat surveyors, to investigate such details as the buyer desires validated. This yacht for sale is offered subject to prior sale, price change, or withdrawal without notice. This boat may be listed with another yacht broker.
The rigging aboard *Sound Affect* is designed from the keel up for ease of shorthanded sailing, making her an ideal partner for Pacific Northwest waters. The masthead sloop rig features a deck-stepped mast with in-mast furling for the mainsail—a game-changer when afternoon squalls roll through the Strait of Georgia or when you need to reef without leaving the cockpit. The furling genoa complements this setup perfectly, allowing you to dial in sail area in seconds by simply releasing one line and pulling another. All sail control lines lead aft to the cockpit, including halyards, reefing lines, and the genoa furling line, which are led to self-tailing winches mounted within easy reach of the helm. This means you can tack, reef, or furl entirely from the protected comfort of the cockpit—no trips to the foredeck required, even in lumpy seas.
Standing rigging appears to be in good serviceable condition, with stainless steel wire, swaged terminals, and chainplates that show regular attention. The in-mast furling system operates smoothly (serviceable in 2022), and the furling genoa deploys and retrieves with minimal friction. The boom is well-mounted with a rigid vang for mainsail shape control, and the traveler is positioned just forward of the companionway for fine-tuned sail trim. For anchoring and docking, the bow thruster (added 2022) is technically part of the boat's systems, but its integration with the rig and deck layout means you can transition seamlessly from sailing mode to maneuvering in tight marinas without drama. Whether you're beating into a summer northerly or ghosting along in a light easterly, the rigging on *Sound Affect* delivers confidence, simplicity, and the freedom to sail with a small crew—or even singlehanded.
The electrical system on this Hunter 38 is well-configured for both dockside comfort and extended time away from the dock. Two AGM house batteries paired with a 60-amp alternator and a Magnum 1000W inverter/charger (new in 2011) provide reliable power for lights, stereo, and small AC appliances without running a generator. The AC/DC switch panel with dual 12-volt battery switches gives you full control over power distribution, while the dockside power cord allows easy connection to shore power. An electric automatic bilge pump, a shower sump pump, and a Webasto AT 5500 forced air furnace (also new in 2011) add safety and year-round cruising capability. Tank gauges for fuel (35 gallons), water (75 gallons), and waste (34 gallons with macerator) keep you informed, and the 5-gallon electric water heater with hot/cold pressure system ensures hot showers at anchor.
For navigation and situational awareness, this Hunter 38 is equipped with a solid suite of Raymarine electronics. The Raymarine C90W chartplotter (installed in 2011) provides a bright, color display for GPS chart plotting, while the ST60 digital depthsounder with alarm and ST60 digital knotmeter with log deliver real-time speed and depth data. An Icom AIS receiver integrates with the chartplotter to show nearby vessel traffic, a significant safety upgrade for coastal cruising. The VHF radio with stainless steel antenna handles communication, and the navigation light package meets regulatory requirements. Together, these systems offer reliable performance for a boat of this vintage—practical, easy to use, and well-suited for a 38-foot cruiser.
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