CAZADORA - CUSTOM CAROLINA FOR SALE

1964 Warren O’Neal 38' Custom Carolina Wooden Yacht

A rare opportunity to own a true piece of American yachting heritage, this 38-foot Custom Carolina by master builder Warren O’Neal blends timeless wooden craftsmanship with purposeful offshore performance. From her sweeping sheer and signature Carolina lines to the warmth of her wood decks and gleaming brightwork, she embodies the romance of classic yachting while delivering the capability demanded by serious mariners.

Her modified V-hull provides a soft, assured ride, tracking cleanly in a seaway and rising with confidence through the chop. Twin Cummins diesel inboards supply the reliable muscle—cruising comfortably at around 22 knots and reaching approximately 27 knots when asked—while efficient fuel burn and a generous 350-gallon fuel capacity make day runs and extended coastal adventures equally appealing. With 100 gallons of fresh water aboard, life on the hook remains refreshingly comfortable.

On deck, the wide 12-foot beam opens into a spacious cockpit that’s as versatile as it is inviting—equally suited to sportfishing pursuits, sunset cocktails, or loading up for a weekend escape. Step inside to discover the enduring allure of handcrafted joinery and the easy flow of a practical, traditional layout: a bright salon for gathering, a compact galley with the essentials for effortless entertaining, a cozy forward accommodation, and a private head. The ambiance is undeniably classic—warm, welcoming, and imbued with the soul only a wooden yacht can offer.

Located in the United States and designed by one of the most respected names in Carolina boatbuilding, this yacht is for the enthusiast who appreciates pedigree and poise as much as performance. Whether turning heads at the dock or carving a clean wake offshore, she is a testament to enduring design, thoughtful engineering, and the simple joy of being at sea.

Ideal for discerning buyers seeking a classic wooden yacht with Custom Carolina pedigree—think sportfisher, convertible sportfish, express cruiser, coastal cruiser, and classic motor yacht sensibilities—this O’Neal 38 offers authenticity, elegance, and a timeless connection to the water.

Description

New to market, this timeless Carolina legend arrives with a gorgeous refit that marries heritage lines to modern capability. Powered by dependable Cummins B-Series 5.9 engines and refreshed stem to stern, she stands apart with a completely redesigned bridge deck, a reimagined interior, and an immaculate engine compartment. Every phase of the renovation was executed by A&J Boatworks of Stuart, FL, delivering a uniquely refined sportfisher you will not see duplicated.

Overview

In the summer of 2014, the transformation began with a near-complete disassembly. The engines were removed, the hull was meticulously inspected, and every imperfection was addressed. All thru-hulls were relocated and refitted with new bronze fittings. The tanks, previously replaced and estimated from 2003, were evaluated: those beneath the cockpit deck—found in good condition—remained, while the two saddle tanks in the engine room were removed, inspected, recoated, and re-plumbed. Engine beds were checked and refinished. Dripless shaft logs and rudder shaft seals were installed. The original hull portholes were removed and faired. Full-length spray/chine rails were repaired where needed; the keel was removed; the fiberglass-coated hull received additional glass for strength along the chine rail. The hull was then faired and prepared for repaint. Cockpit spray rails, sheathed with stainless strike plates, sit about a foot above the waterline. Above, the bridge deck was redesigned, rebuilding the brow and the deck seating with closed-cell foam core. Inside, the cabinetry was crafted in Okoume marine plywood, fiberglass, and teak veneer, achieving a modern, resilient and beautifully grained finish.

The result is a stylish, high-quality interior and bridge deck atop a thoroughly refinished Classic Carolina hull. First impressions were elevated with a refinished teak transom and teak coverboards (both new in 2006), complemented by a finely fitted, varnished teak helm pod. She further features a faux-finished teak toe rail and a varnished bridge deck cap rail, accented by varnished teak ladderback Bluewater helm and companion chairs and a Bluewater teak rocket launcher. The hull presents in light blue with a navy blue boot stripe and light grey bottom paint. Her form shows a sharp entry forward with a subtle Carolina flair, a notable tumblehome at the transom, and a classic broken shearline with hull-side engine room vents. Decks and deckhouse are white, with teak decking on the cockpit and bridge-deck soles. Departing the boatyard in February 2016, she has seen very light usage since and presents with pride for her next owner.

Electronics and navigation

All primary electronics are 2015 or newer, centered on two Garmin 7212 GPS/chart-plotter/multifunction displays, a Garmin HD2 open-array radar with a 4 kW scanner and 72-mile range, a Garmin GSD26 CHIRP sounder module paired to an Airmar transducer, and a Garmin GHC10 autopilot. Communications are handled by a Standard Horizon Explorer VHF radio, while heading is assured by a white Ritchie PowerDamp 4-inch magnetic compass. Trim is effortless via a Lenco auto-trim control panel with position indicators, throttle logic is selectable through the Glendinning electric controls selector panel, and ground tackle is managed at the helm by a Maxwell windlass remote control panel.

High on the tower, the electronics suite mirrors the lower station with a Garmin 6707 GPS/chart-plotter/multifunction display integrated through a Garmin network backbone that duplicates information and control from the radar, depth sounder, and the lower Garmin screen’s input data. The tower carries a Standard Horizon Explorer VHF radio, a white Ritchie PowerDamp 4-inch magnetic compass, and a Lenco auto-trim control panel with position indicators. For range and clearance flexibility, two full-sized Shakespeare VHF antennas are mounted to the tower using Rupp stand-off support collars, allowing them to be lowered for bridge clearance when required.

Entertainment flows through a Fusion MS-ip700i marine stereo in the cabin with Bluetooth, USB, iPod/iPhone, satellite radio, and AM/FM/VHF source capability. Sound is projected by two JL Audio 8.8-inch round speakers with integral tweeters on the bridge deck, two JL Audio 7.7-inch round speakers with integral tweeters in the cockpit, and two Polyplaner 6.5-inch round speakers in the cabin.

Hull, deck and fishing equipment

Crafted by High Sea Fabrication, the anodized aluminum full tuna tower crowns the yacht with a full control station and fiberglass hardtop, tower deck, and buggy top. The tower station’s cushioned bench seat and backrest are integrated into the buggy sunshade supports, while the bridge, tower deck, and tower tops feature light blue undersides framed by crisp white borders. At night, the tower buggy top and the space beneath the bridge hardtop glow with LED lighting selectable in four colors, and two molded-in LED spreader lights illuminate the aft of the tower deck. Under the bridge hardtop, a match-painted aluminum safety railing accompanies molded-in Reel Colors stainless teaser reels. The fiberglass tower control box is appointed with an Ongaro Marine Custom stainless helm wheel with cheater knob, a Glendinning chrome single-handle top-mount engine control, engine start/stop buttons, a 12V power outlet, and a plexi-sliding door radio cabinet. A tailored white Stamoid canvas cover protects the tower station when not in use. Navigation lighting includes LED International running lights molded into the forward corners of the bridge hardtop and an anchor light set on the bottom of the control box. Above the cockpit, six rod holders line the aft edge of the hardtop, while each aft tower leg carries three additional rod holders.

Rupp Silver double-spreader outriggers are mounted along the deckhouse sides, complemented by a Rupp Silver center rigger. The four-sided bridge-deck enclosure combines forward corner panels in polycarbonate with side panels in Strataglass featuring U-zip openings and an aft Strataglass panel with a centerline roll-up entry; in fair weather, the front center Strataglass panel unzips and pins neatly beneath the hardtop. Comfort on the bridge deck is enhanced by two Ocean Breeze 8,000 BTU air handlers with a digital control panel/thermostat (QE 331) positioned just inside the cabin entry within arm’s reach of the helm.

Aft on the bridge deck, port and starboard L-shaped bench seat consoles wear saddle-colored textured-vinyl cushions. Storage resides beneath, and each aft console houses four large tackle drawers on ball-bearing sliders behind lockable doors. Beneath the Bluewater helm and companion chairs are additional cabinets with six drawers and lockable doors, and both chair cabinets incorporate white fold-down footrests. Many opening storage hatches around the boat are hinged with stainless gas lift-spring assists. The helm itself is a showpiece: a beautiful varnished teak pod with a chrome bezel over a glass panel that frames digital engine RPM displays and a full suite of new analog gauges, each set with chrome trim rings. Single-lever Glendinning controls include a backup cable for redundancy, and the custom stainless Ongaro helm wheel with cheater knob offers precise feel. A small console beneath the helm pod carries engine start/stop switches.

All deck hardware is polished stainless steel, with the exception of two top-mounted hawser ports in chromed brass set on the aft corners of the cockpit coverboards; the cleats below are mounted on the cockpit side walls. Four additional rod holders are flush-mounted in the coverboards. Saddle-brown textured-vinyl cockpit coaming pads run beneath the coverboards. A teak-finished transom door with an opening top allows true walk-through boarding. A transom-mounted Armstrong swim ladder stows neatly under the cockpit. Center stage in the cockpit is a Bluewater varnished teak six-place rocket launcher with two drink holders, a rigging tray, and a teak tackle drawer, all riding on a 4-inch chrome stanchion.

Forward in the cockpit, port and starboard consoles house two stainless-lined boxes: to starboard, a freezer with a Sea Frost water-cooled compressor (in the engine room) regulated by two Ranco digital thermostats; to port, a drink/bait box or additional freezer. Both boxes have rubber gasket-sealed lids held by stainless gas springs, and each lid is topped with a matching saddle-brown cushion. Under the cockpit gunwales, port and starboard 12-volt Hubbell plugs stand ready for deep-drop or kite electric reels, alongside a 110V weather-guard outlet with GCFI breaker; red LED courtesy light strips run beneath the coverboards. On the forward port side beneath the coverboard, fresh- and saltwater washdown spigots feed a spiral hose, and a quick-connect awaits for freshwater inlet. A livewell pump under the cockpit deck feeds an outlet forward on the starboard side beneath the coverboard. For evening ambiance and offshore presence, five underwater lights—three aft and one to each side—shine in blue/white via 2019 Lumitec SeaBlaze LEDs. Shade on demand comes from a white Stamoid cockpit fly that slides into a track under the aft hardtop and pins through holes in the transom rub/strike rail; a white fiberglass step box and a monogrammed canvas boarding cover complete the arrangement.

Forward, the bow carries a stainless anchor chute and a Delta fast-set plough anchor secured to 20 feet of 5/16" chain and 200' of half-inch nylon rode. A chrome Maxwell RC windlass deploys via foot switches on the bow or from the lower helm. Nearby, twin stainless cleats and stainless chafe strips protect the toe rail. The nicely crowned foredeck remains open and clean, with a single white deck hatch with an opaque lens all the way forward on centerline above the stateroom berth. Midships, port and starboard stainless steel 12-inch breast cleats with stainless chafe strips provide secure tie-up points, and underside handrails along the tower aid safe passage up the side decks.

Beneath the beauty lies stout construction: the hull bottom is Juniper planked on frames and fiberglassed on the outside; the raked stem and longitudinals are laminated Douglas fir; the stern is sculpted fiberglass; and interior bulkheads and partitions are marine-grade plywood.

Cabin details and description

The cabin was gutted to the hull sides and completely rebuilt to a modern standard in 2015 or later. The layout places the galley to port with a bi-fold door aft opening to the head; to starboard, a settee lounge offers storage beneath and behind a large opening teak panel that reveals a carpet-lined rod locker fitted for eight lighter tackle rod-and-reel sets. Moving forward on starboard, a hanging locker precedes the centerline opening to the berth area. The interior blends teak veneer with an Amtico teak-and-holly laminate sole, LED lighting, brushed nickel cabinet knobs and a wand-style galley faucet, and a Corian countertop with a glass tile backsplash—tastefully planned, well executed, and beautifully finished. The bridge deck steps down five treads into the cabin, where the painted bi-fold forward door carries a lock and hold-open keeper and a half-folding top panel supported by stainless gas springs. White powder-coated safety railings line both port and starboard, and storage compartments are tucked beneath the top two steps.

The starboard settee wears tan leather-like vinyl and conceals storage beneath its lower cushion. Above, a large teak panel, assisted by gas springs, opens to the dedicated rod locker set for eight outfits. Aft of that, the hanging locker spans about 2 feet wide and nearly 6 feet tall. The bulkhead separating the berth is dressed in neutral textured wallcovering with teak trim; the berth cushions match the settee’s upholstery, and the compartment shares the same wallpaper. The forepeak berth is a large, uninterrupted triangular platform, illuminated by overhead lights with a ceiling-mounted switch and supplied by an air-conditioning vent; a teak-trimmed overhead deck hatch and a forward door to the anchor locker complete the space.

In the galley, a Kitchen Aid stainless-front microwave nests in the cabinet above a Kitchen Aid refrigerator drawer and lower freezer drawer with an icemaker. The Corian countertop carries a square under-mounted brushed stainless sink and a wand-style single-lever faucet, with a glass tile backsplash and two 110V outlets. Storage is generous, with three drawers, one trash receptacle drawer, one liquor cabinet, and five additional lockers. Systems include a Marco Mate pressure freshwater system with a tank level gauge and a 6-gallon hot water heater, and two Ocean Breeze 8,000 BTU air-handlers controlled by a digital thermostat. Overhead, a vinyl headliner integrates flush-mounted 12V LED lighting, while a battery-powered smoke and carbon monoxide detector stands guard.

The head echoes the galley’s finishes with a Corian countertop and an under-mounted polished oval stainless sink, a brushed nickel designer single-lever faucet, and a glass tile backsplash. A mirrored medicine/towel locker with a teak face is set above the sink. The freshwater marine toilet is a Jabsco “quiet flush,” discharging to a polyethylene holding tank with a Y-valve located in the engine room. The painted non-skid sole ensures footing. There is currently no provision for an indoor shower, though the compartment could be relatively easily modified to accommodate one.

Electrical equipment

Every major electrical component is 2015 or newer. Ship’s power begins with a Phasor 9.5 kW K3 generator running at 1800 rpm, supported by Northstar AGM batteries in trays port and starboard beneath the forward cockpit. An engine room panel features Blue Sea radial battery shutoff selectors, while charging is handled by a Mastervolt 12V, 50-amp, three-bank automatic battery charger and 12V alternators on the main engines. Shorepower arrives through a 50-amp inlet beneath the forward starboard coverboard with a breaker, paired to a 50' white shore cord. Distribution is managed by Paneltronics 220V AC and 12V DC main breaker panels with digital line voltage and load current displays. The AC panel integrates shorepower/generator switching, generator on/off remote control, and A/B 120V bus separation, while the DC panel provides battery condition monitoring. A complete vessel bonding system, including shaft wiper brushes, ties everything together. The yacht was completely rewired to ABYC guidelines, with 12V, 110V, and 220V circuits protected by magnetic breakers, and Lumitec LED lighting installed throughout.

Mechanical and engine room

Reliable Cummins 6BTA 5.9 inline-six engines, new in 2006, were removed during the 2014 refit in Stuart, FL for partial disassembly and deep inspection, which included new hoses, comprehensive cooling system service, turbo updates, and complete painting. In 2019, variance noted on the port engine during another full cooling service of both motors led to a full overhaul of the port side; in late 2020, an oil leak on the starboard engine precipitated removal and, ultimately, a complete overhaul as well. Power is delivered through ZF IRM 220-A transmissions with 1.75:1 reduction gears to V-cast bronze struts via 1 3/4" stainless alloy shafts turning 4-blade Nibral Michigan DQX propellers; a spare pair of Hi-Torq 4-blade Nibral props rides aboard. Steering is by bronze cast spade-style rudders. Engines breathe through Walker Air-Sep crankcase ventilation/air filter systems. Access to the engine room is via a centerline cockpit hatch supported by a stainless gas spring shock.

As of June 2023, both engines have less than 400 running hours since their complete overhauls, with the port having been overhauled first and carrying approximately a 75-hour lead over the starboard. Fuel stores are carried in four aluminum tanks reportedly new around 2003. The main tanks beneath the cockpit deck feed their respective engines, with a crossover valve fitted, and are reported at 125 gallons each with engine room sight gauges. The two forward saddle tanks are for storage only, and fuel can be transferred aft via electric transfer pumps—two Marco Mate units from 2015 at 12V.

From here through the balance of the machinery specifications, all equipment is 2014 or newer. Exhaust quiets through fiberglass linear mufflers with surge tubes, and the generator exhausts via a fiberglass Verna Lift muffler. Filtration is robust with dual Racor 75900 Max primary fuel filters with restriction gauges serving the mains, and a single Racor on the generator. All fuel lines were replaced. Steering is Sea Star hydraulic with two stations. Throttle and shift are handled by a Glendinning single-lever electronic control system with engine synchronizer and manual backup controls. All engine mounts were replaced. Tides Marine dripless shaft logs (raw-water cooled from the engines with crossover) and rudder logs carry spare seals in carriers. Bilge management includes Rule pumps and plumbing throughout—six 2000 GPH pumps, five of them with Ultra float switches—serving the forward and aft cockpit areas, the engine room, and beneath the cabin sole. High water alarms with float switches are fitted forward and aft, and a Whale submersible Smart 100 auto/manual bilge pump protects the forward cabin. The engine room is lit by 12V LEDs. Service is simplified by a Marco Mate 12V oil change system and a Marco 12V saltwater washdown pump. Fire safety includes a Fireboy Halon 1301 manual control system in the engine room and Kidde dry chemical handheld extinguishers mounted under the hatch ahead of the companion helm seat, under the galley sink, and in the hanging closet in the cabin. Climate systems are powered by two Ocean Breeze 16,000 BTU condenser units with raw water cooling, supplied by a March pump through an inboard Groco brass sea strainer.

Custom disclaimer

The Company offers the details of this vessel in good faith but cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of this information nor warrant the condition of the vessel. A buyer should instruct his agents, or his surveyors, to investigate such details as the buyer desires validated. This vessel is offered subject to prior sale, price change, or withdrawal without notice.