This late-1980s expression of the Danish yard’s approach combines a solid-glass sandwich hull, a lead-bulb fin keel, and a teak interior. It was also offered with more than one rig—both a fractional rig and an alternative fractional arrangement—so individual boats can differ in important ways.
Design and Construction
The hull and deck are fibreglass sandwich constructions, a method the yard uses to improve the indoor climate below. The 393 was also sold for home completion, so the quality of construction and finish can vary from boat to boat. Both details are important when assessing an individual example.
The fin keel has a lead bulb. Against a displacement of roughly 12,800 pounds, the boat has a ballast ratio of 41 percent. Its length-to-beam ratio is 3.77, and its displacement-length ratio is near 155, placing the hull firmly in the moderate-to-heavy cruising range rather than at the light-displacement end. Wetted surface is about 419 square feet.
Rig and Handling
The 393 came with more than one rig, including a fractional rig and an alternative fractional arrangement. The sail plan on any given boat should therefore be confirmed rather than assumed.
For the fractional rig, the running gear includes jib and genoa sheets, each about 12 metres long and 14 mm in diameter; a mainsheet of about 30 metres at the same diameter; and a spinnaker sheet of about 26 metres and 14 mm in diameter. These dimensions apply to the fractional rig.
The keel-stepped mast and lead-bulb fin put the centre of effort and stability in a conventional cruising pattern. A capsize screening value of 1.78 and a motion comfort ratio of 24.7 describe a stable, seakindly hull in the context of its size.
Draft is roughly 6.2 to 6.5 feet, depending on load. That limits the 393 to deeper harbours and major marinas rather than shallow anchorages.
Accommodation
Below, the interior is finished in teak, as was common for boats of this class and period. A beam exceeding ten feet, combined with a length-to-beam ratio under 4, gives the 393 a roomy mid-size cruiser interior without the extremes of a dedicated deck-saloon hull.
Some boats were sold for home completion, however, so the joinery, systems, structural finish, and overall fitting-out may differ from one example to another. Factory-finished and home-completed boats may not share the same standard. A buyer should judge each 393 on the quality of its actual execution rather than against a single production ideal, making a careful survey essential.
Engines, Refits, and Ownership
Different engine alternatives were fitted during the 393’s production. Any work involving repowering or matching spares should therefore begin by identifying the installation in the individual hull.
The Volvo Penta installation delivers a speed of 8.0 knots, above the theoretical displacement-hull maximum of 7.7 knots for a boat of this length. That figure reflects rated power rather than a typical cruising pace.
For anyone considering a used 393, the rig option, engine alternative, and completion status are the three variables most likely to affect how a particular boat presents and performs.
The Verdict
The Faurby 393 is a thoughtfully proportioned late-1980s Danish cruiser. Its sandwich fibreglass construction, lead-bulb fin, and teak interior place it squarely in the comfortable mid-size cruising tradition. Its stability figures and moderate displacement suggest a dependable sea boat, but the home-completion option means every example needs to be surveyed on its own merits.
Pros
- Sandwich fibreglass hull and deck intended to provide a more controlled interior climate
- Lead-bulb fin keel, 41 percent ballast ratio, and stable seakeeping figures
- Roomy proportions from a 10.4-foot beam and a length-to-beam ratio below 4
- Rig and engine alternatives offered to suit different owners
Cons
- Draft of 6.2 to 6.5 feet restricts access to shallow harbours
- Home-completed boats can vary in quality from one hull to another
- Wetted surface of about 419 square feet is substantial for the boat’s length
