A well-updated Morelli & Melvin catamaran in Deal, Maryland, primed for a couple, a family, or a Bahamas-bound getaway.
When the Leopard 38 debuted in 2010, it earned Best Multihull Cruiser honors from both Sail Magazine and Cruising World. Designed by Morelli & Melvin and built by Robertson and Caine in South Africa, the model has aged into a favorite among owner-operators looking for a manageable, capable cruising cat. S/V WAY MAKER, currently lying in Deal, Maryland, is a thoughtfully updated example, and broker Bill Regan of Catamaran Central walks through her from bow to stern.
On Deck
The foredeck sets the tone: a newer roller-furling genoa, water tanks to starboard, anchor and windlass with bridle in the center, and a large port-side locker already plumbed for a generator should a future owner want to add one. A key upgrade is the newer standing rigging — the bright, shiny turnbuckles are a tell — paired with a Mack Sails stack pack and mainsail. A spinnaker is aboard as well, stowed in the forepeak.
Wide side decks and multiple opening hatches lead aft to a hardtop helm that stands roughly eight feet off the deck — noticeably airier than the later Leopard 39, whose hardtop is integrated into the deck. The helm is well organized, with all lines led aft and, unusually for a 38, an electric winch that spares you the hand-cranking on the main.
Instrumentation is Raymarine throughout — wind, autopilot, depth, speed, and chart plotter. The rig is ICW-friendly, and twin Yanmar 29 hp diesels handle propulsion, accessed through the transom lockers to port and starboard. The aft cockpit seats a full crowd for sundowners, and a Leopard davit system — arguably the best in the business, according to Regan — lifts a 2022 dinghy with a newer Mercury 20 hp four-stroke cleanly out of the water via an electric Warn winch.
Interior and Systems
Step inside and the saloon opens up: a fixed forward-facing dining area, two large opening hatches for airflow, and panoramic visibility. Two air conditioning units are aboard, and a 600 Ah bank of Relion lithium-ion batteries lives beneath the seating. The electrical panel is clearly labeled — standard Robertson and Caine practice.
The galley is a compact U-shape with a two-burner propane stove and oven, stainless sink with a newer faucet, and a newer Isotherm fridge with a separate freezer — a meaningful upgrade over the drawer fridges found in many boats of this vintage.
Accommodations
WAY MAKER carries the four-cabin, two-head layout. The starboard hull hosts what the current owners use as an owner’s suite aft, with generous natural light, a hanging locker, and storage under the berth and in the bilge. Amidships is the head with separate shower (electric flush), and forward there’s a second berth plus a forepeak that doubles as a sail locker — currently home to the spinnaker. The port hull mirrors the layout, with a pump-flush head amidships that provides useful redundancy if the electric unit ever needs attention.
Market Snapshot
The Leopard 38 continues to hold interest — inquiries on listings have roughly doubled in the last 30 days compared with the prior month.
| Leopard 38 Market | Figure |
|---|---|
| Sold in last 24 months | 8 |
| Median sold price | $229,500 |
| Median days to sell | ~108 |
| Active listings | 5 |
| Asking range | $175,900–$329,000 |
| Low Asking | $175,900 | |||
| Median Asking | $185,000 | |||
| High Asking | $329,000 | |||
| Median Sold | $229,500 |
With her updated rigging, lithium bank, newer sails, davit-ready dinghy, and family-friendly four-cabin layout, WAY MAKER is well set up for a couple to handle easily and for a family — or pets — to come along. Deal, Maryland is a natural jumping-off point for a run south toward the Bahamas.