SWY 340 vs HR 38
Last reviewed: - Vadim Nareyko
SWY 340 vs HR 38 - Norlin/Östmann aft-cockpit (1986–1995, ~101, 10.36×3.51) versus Enderlein centre-cockpit (1977–1986, ~202, 11.57×3.48) on Baltic shortlists. FairHelm fork: sportier compact helm feel versus deeper Nordic resale and protected centre-cockpit living. Teak, rigging age, and winter storage beat the badge - haul both before you bid.
Ownership study
The folder holds two ads with a Baltic "premium" tag. One is a Sweden Yachts 340: aft-cockpit, Stenungsund, Peter Norlin and Jens Östmann, years 1986-1995, about 101 hulls, overall length 10.36 m, beam 3.51 m, displacement about 5.7 t. The other is a Hallberg-Rassy 38: centre-cockpit, Ellös, Olle Enderlein, years 1977-1986, about 202 hulls, overall length 11.57 m, beam 3.48 m. The buyer is not arguing which of two identical 34-footers wins. These are different length classes and different cockpits on one shortlist shelf.
SWY 340 in this pair is only the Norlin/Östmann 1986-1995 aft-cockpit form. If a card shows years 2005-2012 or dimensions near 10.31×3.2 m, that is already a neighbouring story, not this compare. Before a deposit, match the plate to the year window and to about 101 hulls: a borrowed "Sweden 34" label without a plate does not close identity.
HR 38 here is only the Enderlein 1977-1986 centre-cockpit form. Mixing in HR 382 (another form, another era) does not belong in this pair. A Hallberg-Rassy badge that says 340 is another model from another yard, not a Sweden Yachts 340. Before money, confirm 1977-1986 and about 202 hulls on the plate or in yard papers, not in the listing title.
About 1.21 m of overall-length difference changes berth, insurance, and saloon feel more than an argument about "the same Baltic shelf". Already in photos the SWY 340 reads as a compact coastal aft boat; the HR 38 reads as a longer classic hull with a protected centre-cockpit. That is a fork of class and cockpit, not a debate about beam at the same overall length.
Before a deposit, haul both hulls with one agenda: teak plugs and deck joints, soft zones after frost seasons, chainplates (the deck fittings that take the standing rigging), invoices for wire age. On the SWY 340, separately reject a 2005-2012 drift. On the HR 38, separately walk away from a 382 swap and match the centre-cockpit to the plate.
The Baltic year budget for these boats sits in neighbouring but not identical bands: the class around 10.4 m against the class around 11.6 m. The SEK bands below are taken from the Dual-write seed for this pair, not from a new asking price and not as an offer from your marina.
Entry price and the survey outcome are not fixed here. Teak, chainplates, and the systems of that hull stay unread until the boat is ashore and an independent surveyor has walked it.
When to pick which
SWY 340
The SWY 340 (Norlin/Östmann, Stenungsund) is closer when aft-cockpit helm feel and compact Sweden Yachts coastal manners matter more than the wider secondary pool of the HR 38 (about 202 hulls against about 101). Before a deposit, confirm 1986-1995 and about 101 hulls, reject a 2005-2012 drift, and ashore read teak plugs, deck joints, and standing-rigging invoices.
HR 38
The HR 38 (Enderlein, Ellös) is closer when protected centre-cockpit living on a hull about 11.57 m and the familiar Baltic Hallberg-Rassy ecosystem matter more. Before a deposit, confirm 1977-1986 and about 202 hulls, reject an HR 382 mix, and ashore read teak, chainplates, and standing-rigging invoices.
Baltic ownership cost bands
| Cost theme | SWY 340 band (SEK) | HR 38 band (SEK) | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Berth + insurance | 30 000–72 000 | 34 000–78 000 | class ~10.4 m vs ~11.6 m |
| Haul-out + winter | 11 000–28 000 | 12 000–30 000 | crane and keel supports |
| Teak / deck reserve | 14 000–48 000 | 16 000–52 000 | plugs vs fasteners |
| Rigging reserve | 10 000–28 000 | 10 000–30 000 | wire age 1970s–1990s |
| Systems / engine | 10 000–36 000 | 10 000–34 000 | saildrive / Volvo-era |
| Planning total | 85 000–220 000 | 90 000–230 000 | as in Dual-write seed; excluding major teak / rigging campaigns |
SEK in the table are taken from the Dual-write seed for pair swy-340-vs-hr38. Your own yard and insurer are counted from their invoices, not from this order of figures. Outside the planned band sit sudden teak, a chainplate campaign, and a full sail replacement: the annual table does not cover them.
Comparison table
| Category | SWY 340 | HR 38 |
|---|---|---|
| Length overall | 10.36 m | 11.57 m |
| Beam | 3.51 m | 3.48 m |
| L/B | 2.95 | 3.32 |
| Production years | 1986-1995 | 1977-1986 |
| Overview | You are standing on the deck of a Sweden Yachts 340, holding a printout from a modern online listing stamped "Year of manufacture: 2012." Your eyes move between the flawless gelcoat and the 1986 drawings, and you cannot find a real difference. | The HR 38 is one of Northern Europe's most recognisable production sailboats. Designed by Olle Enderlein for Hallberg-Rassy and built from 1977 to 1982 — a classic Enderlein blue-water cruiser before the Frers era scaled the range. |
| Typical issues | Q: Why do some databases list a 2012 build year for the Sweden Yachts 340? A: Listings and aggregator cards often show 2005–2012 with 10.31 × 3.2 m. On the plate the model was built 1986–1995 on a 10.36 × 3.51 m hull. Check the builder's plate and hull number. Q: How does the Sweden Yachts 340 differ from a Hallberg-Rassy 340? A: Different eras and different projects. | Q: What osmotic blistering issues appear on HR 38? A: Older HR GRP may show osmosis; barrier-coat history should be documented. Q: What chainplate leak issues appear on HR 38? A: Chainplate backing pads need internal inspection for laminate softness. Q: What iron keel corrosion issues appear on HR 38? A: Iron ballast encapsulation should be verified with moisture readings. |
Explore each boat
Common questions
- SWY 340 or HR 38 for Baltic ownership?
- Pick the SWY 340 (Norlin/Östmann, 1986–1995, ~101) when aft-cockpit helm feel on a compact Sweden Yachts hull matters more than Hallberg-Rassy listing depth. Pick the HR 38 (Enderlein, 1977–1986, ~202) when deeper Nordic resale and protected centre-cockpit living on a larger classic hull win. The fork is cockpit living and market depth, not LOA alone.
- What years and designers should I verify on the plate?
- SWY 340: Peter Norlin / Jens Östmann, 1986–1995, about 101 hulls at 10.36×3.51 m. Reject years 2005–2012 or dims 10.31×3.2. HR 38: Olle Enderlein, 1977–1986, about 202 hulls at 11.57×3.48 m. Reject mix-ups with HR 382 (1984–1992, 11.62×3.64).
- Are these two the same centre-cockpit living pattern?
- No. The SWY 340 is an aft-cockpit compact Sweden Yachts cruiser. The HR 38 is a protected centre-cockpit Enderlein design on a larger classic hull. Cross-shop only if you are honest about which cockpit living pattern and resale depth you want.
- What should a survey prioritise on these two?
- Teak plugs or fasteners, deck joints, chainplates on the HR, standing-rigging age, and winter-storage history usually move the price more than brochure pedigree.
- How do annual Baltic ownership costs compare?
- Plan berth, insurance, haul-out, teak or deck reserves, and rigging reserves in the bands on this page (about 85,000–220,000 SEK for the SWY 340 and 90,000–230,000 SEK for the HR 38). Major teak campaigns sit outside the annual band for both.