Design and Construction
Cavalier Yachts began in Auckland in 1964 under John Salthouse, moved to wooden construction first, then shifted to fibreglass and expanded into Australia in 1970, where the 39 and most sisters were built before the company folded in 1984. The hull is solid fibreglass, a material that asks only minimal maintenance through a sailing season. At 39 feet overall with an 11.33-foot beam and a displacement near 18,700 pounds, the 39 reads as a heavy cruiser by its displacement-length ratio of 325; only about a quarter of comparable designs are heavier. The ballast is 7,500 pounds of lead, a 40 percent ballast-displacement share that exceeds more than half of similar boats and gives the hull an above-average resistance to heeling. A fin keel delivers splendid maneuverability in close quarters, though it surrenders some directional stability that a longer keel would hold.
Rig and Handling
The standard rig is a single-masthead-sloop arrangement with one headsail and a mainsail, and period reviews were kind to the way she carried herself. Sail Magazine in 1976 called her a well-built boat with excellent sailing qualities, and Sailing World in 1981 termed her a fast and seaworthy cruiser. Her sail-area-displacement ratio of 18.5 points to good speed and responsiveness in moderate to strong winds, while the capsize screening value of 1.71 would, by that formula alone, admit her to ocean racing. The flip side of the heavy-displacement hull is a certain sluggishness: with relatively low sail area for her weight she is not especially agile or quick in light air or coastal motoring conditions. The theoretical hull speed rests near 7.3 knots, and the comfort ratio of 35.2 places her motion above roughly 79 percent of similar designs, a smooth and predictable ride in waves rather than a lively daysailer.
Accommodations
The standard interior is spacious and comfortable for up to six, laid out with a V-berth forward, two settee berths in the main saloon, and a double berth aft. Cruising World's 1980 assessment praised the solid construction, good performance, and comfortable accommodations as a matched set rather than isolated virtues. Beyond the standard deck-saloon hull, the builder offered a Pilot House variant with a raised saloon and windows, a Centre Cockpit with an aft cabin reached by its own entrance, plus ketch and cutter rig options for those wanting a staysail or mizzen.
Known Issues
The only operational caveats arise from the numbers themselves. The fin keel draws about six feet and limits her to major marinas, and the same deep fin that aids maneuverability yields less directional stability than a long-keeled hull, a handling trait rather than a fault.
Refits and Ownership
Ownership of a 35-boat production run means a tight knowledge network among Australian and New Zealand cruisers. The fibreglass hull keeps seasonal upkeep light, and the lead-ballasted fin-keel hull with skeg rudder is a straightforward platform for rig or interior refits. Buyers chasing the Pilot House or Centre Cockpit versions will find those as rare offshoots of an already small class.
The Verdict
The Cavalier 39 is a thoughtfully balanced bluewater cruiser: heavy enough to be comfortable and seaworthy, ballasted to stand up to wind, and rigged simply for offshore work. She is no light-air rocket, and her draft keeps her out of shallow anchorages, but as a low-production Salthouse design she offers volume and composure that larger production fleets often dilute.
Pros
- Lead-ballasted hull with above-average resistance to heeling and a capsize screen suited to ocean work
- Comfort ratio placing her motion above most similar designs
- Solid fibreglass construction with minimal seasonal maintenance
- Spacious six-berth layout with rare Pilot House and Centre Cockpit variants
Cons
- Deep fin keel restricts her to major marinas
- Less directional stability than a long-keeled cruiser
- Heavy displacement with low sail area makes her slow in light winds
- Only 35 built, so spares are scarce
