CHB 38 Double Cabin
Built 1978–1985 by CHB (Chung Hwa Boat Building, Taiwan)
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About the CHB 38 Double Cabin
Researched from public sources for this model. Any individual boat may have been modified or repowered — confirm before relying on any figure.
- Built
- 1978–1985
- Builder
- CHB (Chung Hwa Boat Building, Taiwan)
- Length
- 37.83 ft
- Waterline
- 35.33 ft
- Beam
- 13.5 ft
- Draft
- 3.5 ft
- Displacement
- 26,000 lb
- Hull
- fiberglass
- Hull / keel
- semi-displacement
- Propulsion
- inboard
- Fuel
- 400 gal
- Water
- 200 gal
- Holding
- 40 gal
Tank capacities — where the figures come from
-
Fuel 400 gal
No builder document was found. A broker's brochure for a 1979 boat gives a 400 gal fuel tank, matching the HMY powerboat guide.
-
Water 200 gal
No figure was found beyond the HMY powerboat guide's.
-
Holding 40 gal
The same 1979 listing gives 55 gal of waste capacity, but that's one boat, not enough to change the HMY powerboat guide's 40.
-
Water heater unknown
No CHB equipment list or review was found; a web page for a 1976 CHB 38 trawler mentions a recently replaced water heater, without size.
Tanks are often replaced or added on older boats — check the tank labels or a survey for yours.
Thrusters and steering — where this comes from
-
Bow thruster unknown
No builder document, review or listing found for the CHB 38 Double Cabin describes a thruster.
-
Stern thruster unknown
Nothing found.
-
Steering unknown
No builder or model-specific owners' source was found; an owner-written CHB buyers' guide covers both hydraulic and chain steering across CHB models without naming the 38.
Thrusters and steering are often replaced — check the units on your boat before ordering parts.
Solid fiberglass hull and deck with long keel. Several two-stateroom galley-up teak interiors. Single 120 hp Lehman cruises 7-8 knots; twin 120s give 10+ knots.
Engines fitted
-
Ford Lehman 120 — 120 hp, diesel, single or twin
standard
HMY: a single 120 hp Lehman cruises 7-8 knots; twin 120s give 10+ knots. No second source found for this model, and no listing found to show which configuration was more common.Sources: hmy.com
Known problems for this model
-
Teak decks, window frames and handrails deck
Teak decks, teak window frames and handrails were standard; on Taiwan trawlers these are the usual sources of leaks into cored decks and cabin sides, so check for soft deck spots and stains under the windows.hmy.com · pacificyachting.com
Engines & parts
Ford Lehman 120 (6D380 / 2715E) parts: good
Factory standard engine — you entered “Ford Lehman 120”
Marinized by Lehman from the Ford of England 'Dorset' 2715E six-cylinder (380 cu in) industrial/truck diesel; Ford built the Dorset base engines 1964–1984. Base-engine internals interchange with the Ford 2715E, and marine-specific parts (raw water pumps, heat exchangers, injection elbows, gaskets, lift pumps, air filters) are widely stocked. American Diesel Corp (founded by former Lehman people) still sells parts, publishes spare-parts lists and gives technical advice. Rebuilt and used 120s are also sold by salvage yards.
Parts sources: American Diesel Corp, Go2marine (Ford Lehman parts collection), Fred Warner Marine & Outdoors
Common problems (2)
-
Chronic oil leaks engine
Most 120s weep oil somewhere; owners often trace it to the rear of the engine near the heat exchanger (head/head gasket area) or to the drive seals of the gear-driven injection pump. Moderate oil use is treated as normal on these engines.trawlerforum.com · marineengine.com
-
Fuel leaks at injection pump, lift pump and return lines fuel
Slow diesel drips usually come from loose bleed screws or banjo washers, perished rubber injector return hoses, a failing lift-pump diaphragm, or worn internal seals in the Simms or CAV injection pump, which needs a pump shop to overhaul.yescenters.com
Maker’s service schedule (16)
| Engine oil & filter change | 200 hrs | “After first 15 hours running .... 1. Change Engine Oil ... Every 200 hours running ..... 17. Change engine and transmiss” — manufacturer (1986), marinedieselbasics.com |
| Fuel filters & water separator | 200 hrs | “Every 200 hours running ..... 18. Change all engine and fuel oil filters.” — manufacturer (1986), marinedieselbasics.com |
| Change oil in fuel injection pump | 50 hrs | “Every 50 hours running ...... 13. Check cleanliness of intake air filter. 14. Check (exchanger) zinc pencil. 15. Change” — manufacturer (1986), marinedieselbasics.com |
| Transmission fluid change | 200 hrs or 1 yr | “Change oil every 200 hours of operation or at least once each season under normal conditions” — manufacturer (1986), marinedieselbasics.com |
| Valve clearance check / adjust | 400 hrs | “After first 15 hours running .... 3. Adjust valve clearances. ... Every 400 hours running ..... 22. Adjust valve clearan” — manufacturer (1986), marinedieselbasics.com |
| Injector test / service | 400 hrs | “Every 400 hours running ..... 21. Remove and service injectors.” — manufacturer (1986), marinedieselbasics.com |
| Engine pencil zincs | 50 hrs | “After first 15 hours running .... 4. Check (exchanger) zinc pencil. ... Every 50 hours running ...... 14. Check (exchang” — manufacturer (1986), marinedieselbasics.com |
| Drive belts inspect / replace | 200 hrs | “After first 15 hours running .... 5. Adjust belt tension. ... Every 200 hours running ..... 16. Adjust belt tension.” — manufacturer (1986), marinedieselbasics.com |
| Air filter / intake silencer | 50 hrs | “After first 15 hours running .... 8. Check cleanliness of intake air filter. ... Every 50 hours running ...... 13. Check” — manufacturer (1986), marinedieselbasics.com |
| Clean fuel lift pump | 200 hrs | “Every 200 hours running ..... 19. Clean fuel lift pump.” — manufacturer (1986), marinedieselbasics.com |
| Clean injection pump cover filter | 200 hrs | “Every 200 hours running ..... 20. Clean injection pump cover filter.” — manufacturer (1986), marinedieselbasics.com |
| Remove raw water pump and check drive coupling | 400 hrs | “Every 400 hours running ..... 23. Remove raw water pump and check drive coupling. Place dab of grease on coupling halves” — manufacturer (1986), marinedieselbasics.com |
| Adjust idling speed (if required) | 400 hrs | “After first 15 hours running .... 10. Adjust idling speed (if required). ... Every 400 hours running ..... 24. Adjust id” — manufacturer (1986), marinedieselbasics.com |
| Check engine/propeller shaft alignment | 6 mo | “After first 15 hours running .... 9. Check engine/propeller shaft alignment. (twice annually, minimum).” — manufacturer (1986), marinedieselbasics.com |
| Replace Borg Warner transmission oil cooler | 1,200 hrs | “Suggested replacement is at 1200 hours.” — manufacturer, img1.wsimg.com |
| Inspect drive damper | 2,500 hrs | “Inspect your drive damper if you have more than 2500 hours on the engine.” — manufacturer, img1.wsimg.com |
Service part numbers (3)
| Raw-water impeller | Jabsco 1210-0001 | “6D380 5850-0001 040 3/4" NPT Flange SK33 3298 1210-0001” — manufacturer, marineengine.com · “Breakdown of 2C48 Pump ... 9 1 1210-0001 IMPELLER” — manufacturer, marinesurveyorontario.com |
| Raw-water pump kit original 2C45 pump (Jabsco 5850-0001) |
Jabsco SK33 | “6D380 5850-0001 040 3/4" NPT Flange SK33 3298 1210-0001” — manufacturer, marineengine.com |
| Raw-water pump kit Lehman 2C48 replacement pump (Jabsco 10950-2401 type) |
Jabsco SK239 | “Service Kit SK239 - Comprising Key 7/8/9/17” — manufacturer, marinesurveyorontario.com |
From the engine maker’s parts lists, or two independent parts dealers. Numbers change with serial number and get superseded — check yours before ordering.
Model sources (2)
Other CHB models
- CHB 34 Double Cabin 1972–1985
- CHB 42 Europa
Researched from public sources. Spotted an error? The sources are listed above — tell us what they got wrong.