Boat Test: 2026 Cruisers Yachts 38 VTR

Overview

Let’s cut to the chase.These new Cruisers VTRs are exactly how we (and most families I know) use our boats. We fish, we play with water toys, we overnight at nearby islands, we swim, we entertain friends, and sometimes, well, we just go boating.

Wait—“these new Cruisers VTRs”? What’s that mean? It means that you, dear reader, have a decision to make. Do you want the 38 VTR or the 38 VTR EC? Huh? The two boats are identical—mostly—but your decision depends on how much fresh air you want. The base 38 VTR is like a center-console, with protection from the windshield and hardtop.

Our 38 VTR EC (Enclosed Cabin) is an all-weather fun toy with enough speed (40 knots) to satisfy Dad and the kids, while the 21-degree deep-V hull is stable enough for Aunt Edna to enjoy.

That hull has two steps to reduce drag, while hard chines and twin strakes throw water aside at speed. But the real DNA of the VTR is the hardtop, which seems swiped from a Disneyland Jungle Cruise with its flat top (more later).  The entire cabin is fully surrounded by glass, from the reversed windshield to the oversized sliding doors on each side of the helm (44 inches wide and 68 inches high) that provide easy access to the side decks. The visibility and light is simply spectacular, especially with just shy of 7 feet of headroom under the hardtop.

Engines

The skipper and companion get comfy bolstered seats with armrests and twin footrests, behind a simple user-friendly helm with a pair of Simrad 15-inch ultrawide multifunction displays. The standard Mercury 300 hp Verado outboards (400 hp optional) bring joystick handling with position holding, while Lenco trim-tab controls share the dash space. The back of both helm seats flip forward, creating a dining area along with the folding table and aft bench seat. 

Interior and Accessories

The forward cabin is surprisingly large, with 6 feet of headroom and a V-berth with table that converts to a 6-foot-4-inch berth. Overhead skylights continue the bright and airy feel, and the enclosed head has a Dometic electric marine toilet and wet shower.

The 38 VTR EC is also a bowrider, with secure access via the port deck (one level transom to bow) with its 31-inch tall coaming. The wraparound seating fills with a table to become a sun pad, and an optional sunshade and Yeti cooler complete the area. A deep rode locker combines with the bow-mounted anchor roller and a hidden Quick windlass has a wired remote and an anchor washdown outlet.

Aft, the cockpit offers more choices, starting with an open area with a beach door on the port side that is 4 feet wide and, when unfolded is 18 inches above the water. On the opposite side, a lid covers a wet bar with a sink, and you’ll want to opt for the Kenyon electric grill. Aft, the transom allows full walk-across room in front of the outboards, with twin swim ladders. The options you face to tailor the cockpit include a forward-facing bench across the transom, a sunlounger from the cabin bulkhead facing aft with storage under, or—surprise!—the sunlounger with an aft cabin tucked underneath. This has a 6-feet-wide-by-7-feet-long berth and, with 5 feet, 2 inches of headroom, is really a bin for people. With access from inside the house, it’s perfect for naps (adults and kids).

The hardtop deserves a special mention, because it’s designed for optional Thule racks so you can easily carry bikes, kayaks, fishing gear, or paddleboards. And our test boat had a tow bar sturdy enough to be the rollbar on a NASCAR racer, setting you up for water-skiing, wakeboarding, or tubing.

Running in a lumpy Gulf Stream tested the hull shape and construction, but there was nary a creak as we sliced up and down sea in a 2- to 3-foot chop. Running at trolling speeds in a beam sea, the hull was stable and predictable, without any of the snap rolls sometimes found with deep-V hulls. We searched out flat water, and topped out just below 40 knots with the hammers down at 6,000 rpm. A more sensible 4,000 rpm had us still zipping along at 26.5 mph, but sipping fuel at 22 gph, achieving better than a mile a gallon. With 233 gallons in the tank, that takes you to many offshore islands and back with a comfortable safety margin.

Read Next: Cruisers Yachts Unveils the All-New VTR Fleet

If you’re shopping, check out Saxdor’s 400 GTO ($313,500 with Mercury Verado 400s).

The 38 VTR is clearly a boat for all reasons and all seasons, at home on a northern lake (opt for the heating/air conditioning) as chasing fish on a warm Gulf Stream (also check off the heating/AC). Extend your boating season into cold or heat, wet or dry. All in comfort.

As I looked back from the pier at the Cruisers 38 VTR EC, I had one thought: This would be the perfect Great Loop boat! With just 36 inches of draft (outboards down), it could easily navigate skinny water. And with a bridge clearance of just over 12 feet, you have ample room even if you have a kayak or bicycles on the hardtop. Good speed, good range and, if you check the option box, a cabin for another couple.  

As I mentioned earlier, I love these new Cruisers VTRs.

How We Tested

• Engines: Twin 300 hp Mercury Verados
• Drive/Prop: Outboard/Mercury Revolution 4 14.6″ x 20″ 4-blade stainless steel
• Gear Ratio: 1.75:1 Fuel Load: 150 gal. Water on Board: 10 gal. Crew Weight: 500 lb.

High Points

• The hardtop rack carries water toys and bikes easily.
• High coamings and grab rails everywhere make this a safe boat for all ages.
• The wide windshield was distortion-free—a rarity.

Low Points

• The door from pilothouse into the cabin proved clunky. Expect a new style.
• Nice cockpit galley, but the 6-by-8-inch sink is tiny.

Pricing and Specs

Speed, Efficiency, Operation