Bente 39 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

The Bente 39 is a funky-looking pilot saloon design that makes expansive use of glass. Its glass-roofed pilothouse is the defining visual and functional element.

Construction is serious. The fully cored hull and deck are vacuum-infused in vinylester, and the absence of liners helps keep weight down. The doghouse frame is built in carbon from a four-piece mould and hydraulically pressed into the deck mould. Its polycarbonate windows were pressure-tested to 3.5 tonnes per square metre.

Bente subcontracts construction to Yacht Services in Poland, laminating specialists based 5km from the German border. The interior mouldings use plant-based epoxy and hemp. Galley work surfaces are made from recycled PET finished with recycled paper, while the fridge is insulated with cork. Together, these materials form a lightweight, low-impact material set.

Rig and Handling

The fractional sloop rig has two spreaders swept to 29 degrees and a standard masthead clearance of 18.10 metres. Running rigging is neatly organised through Constrictor clutches mounted beneath the rigid canopy. All halyards, sheets and reefing lines run under the dodger and directly into the cockpit.

The traveller sits outside the main cockpit and leads to cam cleats on both sides, allowing the helmsman to play it actively. Two winches on each side handle sail trim, although the masthead runners can make the arrangement a little busy.

Test sailors found the Bente 39 stiff and almost jerky in its immediate response to helm commands. The twin rudders gave an easy, light and direct feel. In 16–20 knots of wind, the boat made 8–8.4 knots at 40 degrees true. Once the log reached 10 knots, it began to plane. In 22–30 knots with a masthead gennaker, it remained on the plane for 90 percent of the time, logging 10 to 13.5 knots without ever threatening to broach.

Cockpit and Accommodation

The fixed sprayhood and customisable dodger provide a clear view forward and plenty of daylight. Offset to starboard at cockpit level, the pilot station has a Gekko navigation seat with a weather-protected, 360-degree view of the sails and course.

Below, the Bente 39 is designed around removable weight. Approximately 350kg of furniture can be taken out for racing. The forward master cabin is minimalist, with rolled-up fabric replacing doors to save weight.

The saloon seats seven around the table and includes a 2.1m berth to port. It has only seated headroom, however, and feels more like a snug. On production versions, the sole was lowered by 5cm to increase headroom.

The galley extends across the full beam. Its central fridge also conceals provision for the future swing-keel option, while the separate wet room has Perspex doors. Aft, a huge double berth lies beneath the cockpit sole, with a hatch providing quick access to the cockpit.

Performance Character

The hull shape that lets the Bente 39 plane so readily also has a drawback: sailing upwind in waves could make life aboard uncomfortable. Its wide aft shoulders help it reach double-digit speeds easily and plane well, while the builder also cites excellent upwind performance.

The boat is manoeuvrable and safe, suitable for single-handed sailing, and fits categories ranging from family pilot saloon to ocean racer or short-handed cruiser. The coachroof and cockpit design, however, won’t suit round-the-cans racing.

Production and Ownership Notes

Production boats differ from the test platform in several measured ways. The boom was shortened by 20cm on production versions, and Bente said it was considering a third winch option. A reflective coating for the glass was also planned.

The semi-custom build allows tank capacity to be increased by around 50 percent. Water tanks are placed below the saloon berth for optimum weight distribution, although they reduce available stowage.

The Verdict

The Bente 39 is a genuinely different 39-footer: a lightweight, cored racer-cruiser with a carbon-framed pilothouse, serious planing ability, and good protection for the crew. Its removable interior and minimalist cabin doors point to a boat engineered with speed ahead of comfort, while the glass dodger and Gekko seat make navigation from shelter a pleasure. The principal trade-off is a hull that can be harsh upwind in a seaway.

Pros