Cheoy Lee Offshore 38

For Sale - 1979 Cheoy Lee Offshore 38 "Breeze"

Breeze is a 1979 Cheoy Lee Offshore 38 - a masthead, aft-cockpit sloop designed by Ray Richards and built by Cheoy Lee Shipyard, Hong Kong. She features white topsides with a dark blue boot line above her antifouled hull. These yachts are renowned as strong, true offshore cruisers with elegant lines and safe, seaworthy design.
Currently lying on Lake Macquarie, NSW.

Specifications
Designer: Ray Richards
Builder: Cheoy Lee Shipyard (Hong Kong)
Hull length: 38 ft (11.58 m)
Beam: 12 ft (3.66 m)
Draft: 6 ft (1.8 m)
Material: GRP
HIN: AU WWA 104088 E43
Rig: Masthead sloop - aluminium mast & boom
Engine: Yanmar 38hp (installed 1998, reconditioned ~4 yrs ago, only ~20 hrs use since)
Sails:
2 x mainsails (1 brand new, never used)
2 x headsails (1 brand new, never used)
Spinnaker
Gennaker

History

Built in 1979 for an Australian expat living in Hong Kong.
Around 1990, transported to Singapore for his son.
In 1998, purchased by a New Zealand expat. Major refit completed including new aluminium mast and boom, new sails, Yanmar 38hp diesel engine, and Raytheon radar. Hull was stripped back to glass and a full osmosis treatment carried out.
Purchased in 2008 by another owner, then sold to me in 2023. I relocated her to Lake Macquarie.

Internal Work Completed

All white headlining renewed
All interior timber re-varnished
Forward berth added with sail storage beneath
Vinyl insulation fitted to internal hull sides
New vanity basin top installed in head
New galley cabinet above stove
Timber floor panels stripped and re-varnished, latches re-chromed
Two new bilge pumps fitted (staged at different levels)
New diesel cleaning system installed
3 x 140Ah AGM battery system with breakers (approx. 3 yrs old, still healthy)
All electrical battery cabling replaced (to switch, fuses, and engine)
New hot water heater installed (240v wiring not yet connected)
External & Rigging Work Completed / Recent Updates
All deck areas stripped to GRP, re-glassed, and repainted (paint now requires attention as it is flaking)
Cabin top refinished
All turnbuckles, dorades, and hinges re-chromed
Weatherproof 240v plug and cable installed
Secure gas locker added (fits 4kg bottle)
New VHF wiring and aerial installed
All running rigging replaced
Standing rigging: Brand new rigging supplied and ready to install; previous rigging still in very good condition and can be kept as spares
Mast hand-painted down to head height, ready to finish once stepped
Over-engineered replacement chainplates installed (known weak point addressed)
Rudder rebuilt and skeg support bracket renewed
Hull soda-blasted (2020), re-epoxied, boot stripe renewed, antifouled and repainted (last coat 2 years ago)
Solar panels mounted (require modification for permanent installation)
Yanmar 38hp engine reconditioned (~20 hrs use since)

Work Remaining

Minor leaks around some portholes in heavy rain
One stanchion base damaged (spares included onboard) plus re sstraighen stanchion.
Some final cosmetic work: repaint topside decks, re-varnish timber, teak toe-rail oiling/varnishing
Step mast and install new standing rigging
Finish mast paint (¾ already done)
Cosmetic touch-ups as noted above

Extras

Original manuals and paperwork for all onboard equipment
Full set of receipts and service history (myself and previous owners)
10-tonne, 2-year-old mooring available in Lake Macquarie (can be placed anywhere - Rathmines location is the most sheltered on the lake)
Connection to local rigger available - he knows Breeze well and has sorted all the new rigging


Summary

Breeze is a beautifully lined, strong offshore cruiser with extensive upgrades already completed - including osmosis treatment, new mast/boom, reconditioned engine, new sails, and brand new standing rigging ready to go.
She comes with full documentation, manuals, and receipts for all work and equipment. Only final rigging, wiring, and cosmetic attention (including paint on decks and hull) and some minor topside leaks are needed to have her ready for serious passage-making.
Was used as livaboard whilst being worked on but circumsatnces have changed and have relocated to new zealand for family
Perfect for someone who wants a proven bluewater yacht at a realistic price, and who's happy to spend a little time making her shine again.
Price: Looking to recover original purchase price only (not including my additional spend). If i return to stand mast and finish some cosmetiucs price will be changed. Am open to serious realistic offers for quicker sale
Contact: Serious enquiries only. As I am currently overseas in New Zealand, viewings can only be pre-arranged after a vetting process.
These Cheoy Lee Offshore 38s are rare and highly regarded among those who know them - strong, safe, and capable of taking you anywhere.