Design and Construction
Cavalier Yachts began in Auckland in 1964 under John Salthouse. The company initially built in wood, then moved to fibreglass and expanded into Australia in 1970. The Cavalier 39 and most of her sister designs were built there before the company folded in 1984.
The 39 has a solid-fibreglass hull, which requires only minimal maintenance during the sailing season. She measures 39 feet overall, with an 11.33-foot beam and a displacement of around 18,700 pounds. Her displacement-length ratio of 325 puts her firmly in heavy-cruiser territory; only about a quarter of comparable designs are heavier.
She carries 7,500 pounds of lead ballast. That equals 40 percent of her displacement, a higher proportion than on more than half of similar boats, and gives the hull above-average resistance to heeling. The fin keel provides splendid maneuverability in close quarters, though it gives up some of the directional stability of a longer keel.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
The standard rig is a single-masthead-sloop arrangement, with one headsail and a mainsail. Period reviews spoke well of the boat’s performance. In 1976, Sail Magazine called her a well-built boat with excellent sailing qualities; in 1981, Sailing World described her as a fast and seaworthy cruiser.
A sail-area-displacement ratio of 18.5 indicates good speed and responsiveness in moderate to strong winds. Her capsize screening value is 1.71, which, by that formula alone, would qualify her for ocean racing.
The trade-off is some sluggishness. With a relatively small sail area for her weight, she isn’t especially agile or quick in light air or under power in coastal conditions. Theoretical hull speed is around 7.3 knots.
Her comfort ratio of 35.2 places her motion above roughly 79 percent of similar designs. The result is a smooth, predictable ride in waves rather than the livelier feel of a daysailer.
Accommodations and Variants
The standard interior is spacious and comfortable for up to six people. It includes a V-berth forward, two settee berths in the main saloon, and a double berth aft. Cruising World’s 1980 assessment praised the boat’s solid construction, good performance, and comfortable accommodations as a matched set rather than isolated virtues.
Beyond the standard deck-saloon hull, Cavalier offered several alternatives. The Pilot House variant had a raised saloon with windows, while the Centre Cockpit version included an aft cabin reached through its own entrance. Ketch and cutter rigs were also available for sailors who wanted a mizzen or staysail.
Draft and Other Caveats
The main operational caveats emerge from the boat’s specifications. The fin keel draws about six feet, limiting her to major marinas. The same deep fin that helps her maneuver in close quarters provides less directional stability than a long keel. That is a handling characteristic rather than a fault.
Refits and Ownership
With only 35 boats built, owners form a tight knowledge network among Australian and New Zealand cruisers. The fibreglass hull keeps seasonal upkeep light, while the lead-ballasted fin-keel hull and skeg rudder provide a straightforward platform for rig or interior refits. Spares are scarce, however. Anyone seeking a Pilot House or Centre Cockpit boat will find those versions especially rare within an already small class.
The Verdict
The Cavalier 39 is a thoughtfully balanced bluewater cruiser: heavy enough to provide comfortable, seaworthy motion, well ballasted to stand up to the wind, and simply rigged for offshore work. She’s no light-air rocket, and her draft rules out shallow anchorages. But this low-production Salthouse design offers the volume and composure that larger production fleets often dilute.
Pros
- Lead ballast, above-average resistance to heeling, and a capsize screening value suited to ocean work
- A comfort ratio that places her motion above that of most similar designs
- Solid-fibreglass construction requiring minimal seasonal maintenance
- Spacious six-berth accommodation
- Rare Pilot House and Centre Cockpit variants
Cons
- Deep fin keel restricts her to major marinas and excludes shallow anchorages
- Less directional stability than a long-keeled cruiser
- Heavy displacement and relatively low sail area make her slow in light winds
- Only 35 were built, so spares are scarce
