[1][5][7] The Shannon 38 is a recreational keelboat, built predominantly of fiberglass, with teak wooden trim.
It has a cutter rig or optional ketch rig with aluminum spars, a raked stem, a raised counter transom, a keel-mounted rudder controlled by a wheel and a fixed long keel or stub keel and centerboard.
The bow cabin berth is a double on the starboard side, and has a work bench and sail locker opposite.
The galley is located at the foot of the companionway steps on the starboard side and includes a three-burner propane stove and a 9 cu ft (0.25 m3) icebox.
[5] In a 1994 review Richard Sherwood wrote, "this Shannon has been designed for long-range offshore cruising.