Design and Construction
Both the hull and deck are fibreglass in a sandwich construction, a build method the yard uses to improve the indoor climate below anchor. The keel is a fin with bulb and is made of lead, giving the 393 a ballast ratio of 41 percent against a displacement of roughly 12,800 pounds and a length-to-beam ratio of 3.77. With a displacement-length ratio near 155, the hull is firmly in the moderate-to-heavy cruising range rather than the light-displacement end, and the wetted surface of the hull is about 419 square feet.
Known Issues
A key point is that the 393 has been sold to be home-completed, which means the quality of each boat may vary anchor. This means a careful survey of any individual 393 is essential, since factory-finished and home-completed examples may not share the same standard of joinery, systems, or structural finish.
Rig and Handling
The 393 was offered with more than one rig, including a fractional rig and an alternative fractional rig, so the sail plan on a given boat should 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 anchor. The keel-stepped mast and lead-bulb fin place the centre of effort and stability in a conventional cruising pattern, and the boat's capsize screening value of 1.78 and motion comfort ratio of 24.7 describe a stable, seakindly hull in the context of its size. A draft of roughly 6.2 to 6.5 feet dependent on load limits the 393 to deeper harbours and major marinas rather than shallow anchorages.
Accommodations and Layout
Below, the interior is teak, consistent with the period norm for boats of this class. The cabin footprint benefits from a beam exceeding ten feet with a length-to-beam ratio under 4, giving a roomy mid-size cruiser interior without the extremes of a dedicated deck-saloon hull. Because some 393s were sold to be home-completed, the finish and fitting-out of the accommodation can vary from one example to another, and a buyer should judge each boat on its own executed standard rather than on a single production ideal.
Refits and Ownership
The 393 was equipped with different engine alternatives during its production, so repowering or matching spares should begin with identifying the specific installation on a given 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, a figure that reflects the rated power rather than a typical cruising pace. Owners considering a used 393 should treat the rig option, engine alternative, and completion status as the three variables that most affect how a particular boat will present and perform.
The Verdict
The Faurby 393 is a thoughtfully proportioned late-eighties Danish cruiser whose sandwich fibreglass hull, lead-bulb fin, and teak interior place it squarely in the comfortable mid-size cruiser tradition. Its stability numbers and moderate displacement suggest a dependable sea boat, but the home-completion option means individual examples must be surveyed on their own merits.
Pros
- Sandwich fibreglass hull and deck for a controlled interior climate
- Lead-bulb fin keel with a 41 percent ballast ratio and stable seakeeping figures
- Roomy proportions from a 10.4-foot beam and sub-4 length-to-beam ratio
- Offered with rig and engine alternatives to suit different owners
Cons
- Draft of 6.2 to 6.5 feet limits access to shallow harbours
- Home-completed boats mean variable quality between individual hulls
- Wetted surface of about 419 square feet is substantial for the length
