Dale Nelson 38 Aft Cabin, SKOMER

Broker’s Comments

The Dale Nelson 38 Aft Cabin is a motor yacht needing little introduction to the cognoscenti of motor-cruising. From her fine-entried and immensely capable commercially derived TT hull, to her simply exemplary level of craftsmanship – the combination is much imitated, but never bettered. That sharp bow and stem cleaves through the water, with her rounded bilges displacing, rather than slamming, their way ahead – making for far smoother passage making than her planing cousins.

Dale Nelson 38 Aft Cabin SKOMER has been upgraded during her recent ownerships, with the addition of Raymarine Axiom plotters at both helm positions, 2023 AwlCraft 2000 application to her timber hull badging, recent safety kit, carpet to aft cabin and re-certification of her gas system. We know these fine motor yachts intimately, and she is the best example we have seen recently in the market. She is comprehensively specified and her present owner, who has been fortunate enough to have owned several Nelsons, and has been thoroughly pleased by her. Her twin Yanmar 440s spring readily into action when prompted, she is in first-class cosmetic condition, and is fitted with the ever-useful Dockmate Twist for remote thruster and drivetrain gear operation. With her low freeboard she is effortless to step onto, and to hop off from when alongside – so she is thoroughly practical for short-handed cruising.

SKOMER is fitted out in the smart European Oak interior cabinetry, which is exquisitely finished, and she is presented in exceptional order. Quality of this calibre is rare and will last and last – meaning that age has not, and will not diminish her original beauty. She has Eberspacher diesel heating piped throughout, Tank Tender gauges, and is actually far nearer 40’ than her stated 38’ – meaning that her aft cabin accommodation feels roomy and yet cozy. Her decks are original, but are in very fair condition for their sea miles and age underfoot. Her Yanmar 440hp engines have been recently agent-serviced, with all work invoices available upon request. She is very much a working sea boat from her stout deck gear to her low deck-line, and is in full operational condition.

SKOMER is very much ready to roam again, and could take you to the Baltic and beyond, around the Med. and back, or look magnificent heading down Solent into a fresh Westerly, with a plume of spray off her bows, and a powerful seagoing gait.

She is just fabulous.

Press Comments

“If there is one type of boat whose handling could be described as legendary, it’s the Nelson. And there’s the solid quality that leaves even the best production boat-builders trailing. Even in the Force 9 conditions we encountered, the 38 still exhibited to seemingly incompatible driving characteristics – excellent directional stability and effortless turning.” – Motor Boat & Yachting, April 2000 – full report available upon request*.

“Without compromising the hefty fit-out expected of a Nelson, the interior is hugely welcoming and smart. Build quality gives you nothing but confidence to start with, and we could not be more enthusiastic about performance. The sea is always kicking up somewhere, sometime, and in this craft you will not even notice it.” MBM – *.

Owner’s Comments

I have owned three Nelsons since the 1980s and have done many thousand sea miles in them. This Dale-built boat’s quality of build shines through, and she is a quite excellent seaboat.

I have kept all maintenance up to date, with Berthon stripping the teak spray rails and badging back to bare wood this past Spring, and re-coating with AwlCraft Clear – so she looks terrific! These boats look after you and this boat is no exception.