Presenting The Hanover 387
A 38-Footer That Makes the Decision Easy
Published: Friday, September 25, 2026 9:00 am
By: Capt. Lace Allenius
There's a moment every boat shopper knows. You've walked the docks, climbed aboard the usual suspects, and somewhere between the fifth swim platform and the tenth galley, it all starts blurring together. Then one boat makes you stop mid-step. For a growing number of buyers in the 38-foot motor yacht and cabin cruiser market, that boat is the Hanover 387 — and honey, she's got curves in all the right places.
The 387 is Hanover's best-seller in Brazil, and it shows. This is a boat born where beach culture is a religion — built for long days with a crowd, lazy weekends at anchor, and the kind of effortless cruising that turns an afternoon into an evening before you know it.
Built to Carry the Day
Start with the numbers, because they tell a generous story. The 387 stretches 38 feet 10 inches overall with a 10-foot-10 beam, carries 265 gallons of fuel and 50 gallons of water, and is rated for 15 people by day and five overnight. Read that again — fifteen. This is the boat that says yes when the whole crew wants to come, and then asks who else is coming.
Up top, a hardtop with a large sunroof gives you shade when the Florida sun means business and open sky when the evening turns golden. The bow is wide and made for lounging; the stern is a full-on hangout with a grill, seating for days, and clever storage everywhere. And what she's hiding below deck might be the best part: two berths, a full dry head, and a well-equipped galley — everything you need to turn “one more drink” into “let's just stay the night.”
How She Handles
A hull tells you how a boat will treat you before you ever leave the dock. The 387 carries a 16-degree transom deadrise on a hull around 15,220 pounds dry — a moderate-V design that hits the sweet spot owners in this range actually want: enough angle to soften the chop on the run out, enough flat to sit steady and planted while everyone swims off the back. She's also lighter than several rivals in her class, and that pays off every single time you glance at the fuel gauge.
Then there's the helm — and this is where she flies. Power comes from twin Mercury outboards: 300-horsepower V8s standard, with 350- or 400-horsepower Verado V10 options, all with joystick piloting. Twin gas sterndrives are available for buyers who prefer a clean transom. And that joystick? It turns the most stressful ninety seconds of any boat day — docking in a crosswind at a packed marina — into a mic drop.
The Value Story
Here's where the 387 leaves the competition treading water. Her natural rivals — the Sea Ray Sundancer 370 Outboard, Regal's 38 Grande Coupe, the Cruisers Yachts 38 GLS — are all capable boats. But look at the invoice. A new Sundancer 370 Outboard lists at $788,208, while a new Hanover 387 with twin 400-horsepower Verado V10s was recently offered at $633,085 — with new 387s on the market from roughly $595,000 to $747,000. That's a six-figure conversation for the same waterline, the same weekend, the same sunset.
Hanover also stands behind her like few builders dare: a five-year hull warranty, with a component five-year limited warranty across the build. Add more than 150 customization options, and you're not just buying a 38-footer — you're building yours.
The Bottom Line
Every boat in this class will get you on the water. The Hanover 387 gets you there with more friends aboard, a longer warranty behind you, and real money left over for fuel, dockage, and everything the water still owes you. In a market full of good boats, this one's the keeper. Go ahead — fall in love. She'll catch you.
About the Author
Capt. Lace Allenius is an international marine journalist with bylines in Bisbee’s Marlin World, Gaff Magazine, Coastal Angler, On The Edge,
Onshore Offshore, and Sol Y Mar, plus broadcast experience at Good Morning America and NBC Sports.
tags: Hanover, Hanover 387, Hanover Yachts, New Boat Models, New Boats
