Leeder 38

There's a story behind the words spread across the transom of the Leeder 38. Some time between owning an ageing boat and his offspring growing up, the owner/skipper perceived that the time was right for a new, better-equipped, affordable family cruiser. The Leeder 38, which he christened Ocean Dream, appeared perfect for the job.

A family man with a penchant for cruising, who coincidentally owned another WA-made marque, he began shopping around when the kiddies announced they were tired of skating on concrete bowls.

After a red-eye flight to the family-run Leeder factory in Bayswater (WA), the owner returned smitten.

Indeed, there can be no argument with the 38 offering a lot of family boat for your money. As for seaworthiness, well, he thought he would seatrial his new cruiser just to make certain it was safe. He packed his bags and made a hurried cruise from Pittwater to Port Stephens.

The Leeder 38 completed this passage with flying colours. So, naturally, the kiddies arrived with their new water toys, mum spiced up the galley, and a cruiser promising lots of family fun was born.

TEST OF TIME...
A time-proven hull that has been around for some time, the Leeder 38 looks unmistakably like a WA boat. I'm not sure exactly what it is, but the boat has a long, lithe, fast look about it. The hull is very fine up front, with plenty of deadrise and a naturally flat-running attitude.

If you can say one thing about the Leeder 38, it's that it is not perturbed by a headsea. I discovered as much while zipping out of Pittwater on a day when, well, you would normally be zipping up your sur vival suit.

Further evidence of the Leeder hull's ability comes from the fact that a 26 and 11-Metre are used every day in WA to ferry workers to oil rigs. Couple this seaworthiness with plenty of deck space and accommodation and, voila, you have a great family boat.

The family appeal of Ocean Dream was evident wherever I chose to look.

Under the canvas cockpit overhang I found a ready-made clothes line. In the lazarette there was fishing gear at the ready. A hatch in the cockpit revealed masks and snorkels.

Which is to say nothing of the inherent family aspects of the Leeder 38. For example, there is safe access to the foredeck for dolphin spotting cruises. The drive, meanwhile, is stress-free thanks to Morse single controls. Inside, the separate kids' cabins with adult-sized bunks ensure everyone is comfortable.

TERRIFIC TRIUMVIRATE
Leeder makes three versions of its 38-footer. However, the family-run business is only too happy to bend the mould to meet individual needs. There is the Diamond Series with an island berth up front, the Export version with all the bells and whistles, and the Australis with the owner's cabin amidships.

Styling-wise, the Leeder 38 is best described as staid but serviceable.

There are cruisers with better, more modern finishes, but at the end of the day they may be less functional and low maintenance. Externally, the big white boat appears purposeful.

It has a low profile, some reverse sheer in the bow, a series of patrol-boat like armour-plate glass saloon windows, and integrated mouldings that run from a bowsprit to a big boarding platform. Construction is all fibreglass, including frames, bearers and stringers.

Below the waterline, there are aggressive strakes and chines. Compared with other 38-footers, the Leeder is narrow, which lets it sluice effectively through a headsea. The beam is 3.95m, whereas a Riviera 39 is around 4.46m wide.

IN ONE PIECE
Plenty of thought has gone into the Leeder 38's one-piece moulded deck, which is glassed to the hull. The cockpit has twin marlin doors leading out to the integrated boarding platform with recessed swim ladder. Taking a swim, filleting the catch, shelling prawns with your feet in the water... these are the kind of things you'll do at the transom.

Two moulded steps lead from the cockpit to the sidedecks which, with handrails and a high bowrail, provide safe access to the foredeck even at sea. There are four handy fender baskets and, a nice touch, the anchor and chain come standard. An option is to carry a rubber duckie on a davit above the cockpit.

As for deck gear, it appears to be through-bolted onto backing plates. All the rails are fashioned from extra-thick stainless tubing, and the solid horn cleats are where you want them. The boat also had two rodholders, a freshwater deck shower, windlass, and a good grade of non-skid.

Though the cockpit floor isn't recessed under the coamings, so you can't lean into the sides without your toes hitting first, the Leeder 38 could be used for gamefishing. You could mount outrigger poles and, I have no doubt at all, land a marlin if you so desired.

On the calm of an enclosed waterway, the big cockpit lends itself well to entertaining. I noted a stack of deck chairs ready to plonk under the shade of the big overhead cockpit awning. Mum and dad could sit back and enjoy the view while the kiddies staged their Jacques-Yves Cousteau adventures.

Cockpit storage comes in the form of four lockers and two smaller compartments that flank the saloon, all with plastic hatches with twist-lock catches. I'm not sure how these hatches will stand the test of time.

The ladder up to the bridge is a tad obtrusive and, unlike some modern cruisers, there isn't an outdoor sink or fridge facilities (they come on the Export version). However, the big two-stage sliding saloon door brings the outdoors inside. Fridges, cold drinks and a sink are therefore never far away.

Clip-in cockpit carpet conceals a lid to the lazarette and engine bay.

There is a watertight bulkhead forward but not aft, resulting in plenty of room in the lazarette. The 400lt aft water tank, 500lt port and 500lt starboard fueltanks, battery banks, 6.5kVa Onan generator and twin fuel filters were all easy to access.

But things looked a tad tight atop the Diamond Series' Cummins 315 engines, whose wet exhausts bypass Aqualift mufflers and exit the transom corners.

Engine options range down to twin 310hp MerCruisers, offering a saving of more than $30,000. Sound insulation was adequate.

Before closing the hatch, I caught sight of a 3.3hp Mercury kicker. There's plenty of room to store such things and an inflatable on the Leeder 38.

Last but not least, the isolating switches for the batteries are located conveniently alongside the saloon door.

INTERNAL AFFAIRS...
All the berths, even the singles, are very generous in size. The two cabins have full headroom, a useful amount of floor space for dressing, storage in big hanging lockers, shelves and drawers, and domestic-type door handles.

Simple white vinyl is used for the walls and ceiling liner, the carpet is a camel-coloured loose pile (without sewn edges), while European beech joinery creates a bright and cheerful ambience. The high-gloss lacquer on the joinery could have been better, however.

Ocean Dream is an Australis Series with an island berth up front. The boat can sleep four people very comfortably in two separate, private cabins.

There is also scope to sleep another two in the saloon on a sofa bed. The foam mattresses and lounge bases are covered with a dacron material, in this case a summer-beachhouse print complete with swaying palm trees.

Though not particularly wide, the saloon has a good amount of headroom and a lively feeling. There is no sense of stuffiness thanks to big saloon doors and surrounding sliding windows, but the anodised alloy frames will need to be inspected regularly for leaks and corrosion. The centre window in the forward windscreen can be opened for fresh air, while airconditioning is a $15,000 option. Mock a/c outlets around the saloon come gratis.

At night, you can draw the curtains for privacy. To port is an L-shaped lounge for three people around a dinette, while the settee/sofa bed is opposite. Throw a pillow behind your head and you can stretch out while watching the television on the aft, starboard-side cabinet, which also has a CD player inside. A clock, barometer and Intercom handset is nearby.

On the mezzanine level is the portside galley. Hit the remote-start genset button and you crank up the two-burner ceramic hotplates, convection microwave and hot-water heater. There is a small 12/240V fridge, formica benchtops, and overhead timber cupboards. An as option, you can have a gas cooker instead of the electrical appliances and gain a $20,000 credit.

After a big day on the water, dinner and a good movie, there's but one thing to do. The head, just forward of the galley, is fashioned from moulded fibreglass for easy cleaning. A cover hides the loo, there is a shower with wall-mounted nozzle, and a moulded sink with mirror-backed vanities. No extractor fan, but you do get an opening hatch.

DRIVE OF YOUR LIFE
We tossed the lines and somehow escaped from the shallowest marina berth known to mankind. The optional cockpit awning makes it hard to see the transom. The view off to the sides and forward of the bridge is clear, however. Because the boat runs flat, you can see what's under your bow.

Another one-piece moulding, the flybridge includes a centre-console with plenty of room for engine gauges and electronics. There are two pedestal seats, but the inside copilot's seat is difficult to access. There is a big aft-facing lounge for up to five people. Water had pooled in the bridge after overnight rain.

I'm told the owner had packed so much chain in the anchor locker that the boat sat a tad bow-down. Hence, the flat-running attitude and the water which had gathered in the bridge. Whatever the case, the Leeder 38 exhibited excellent seaworthiness.

The waves were standing up at the entrance to Pittwater. In fact, they almost looked like they would break. No matter, I attacked the swell at various speeds and the Leeder didn't bang back down, leap like a light boat, or at any time seem uncomfortable or challenged.

Being fine up front, the Leeder 38 doesn't push too much water. I headed out into the fray across the entrance to Broken Bay and it proved amazingly dry, even while quartering the big seas and wind. This is definitely much drier than some popular cruisers I've been aboard.

Spinning five-blade bronze props on two-inch shafts, the twin Cummins 315hp diesel engines had the Leeder 38 planing at 10.8kt at 1800rpm into the wind. Around 2400rpm gave a comfortable 18kt cruise speed with or into the swell. Flat strap the boat did 24.5kt at 2900rpm.

Now I haven't got a young family, but if I did I'd be a happy man with the Leeder 38. The boat is perhaps a little dated, but does it all and is well-priced at $348,000... minus the skindiving gear, fishing tackle, deck chairs and makeshift clothes line.

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