Najad 390 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

The 390’s hull is a Lloyds-approved single-skin laminate, so there is no foam sandwich for water to infiltrate anchor, and the flush decks use a devinyl-cell core that keeps them light and strong. Above the waterline she reads as elegant and graceful, with a sleek hull and low-profile coachroof that testers called a classic example of Swedish craftsmanship. The encapsulated long fin keel and skeg-hung rudder are shared by both the standard 6-foot-1-inch and shallow 5-foot-3-inch drafts, and a deep forefoot beneath the protected rudder is what lets her avoid pounding to windward anchor. One former builder noted that although the model has an encapsulated keel, most hulls were filled with iron ingots rather than lead. Solid teak capping, proper gunwales, bronze coping bars on the rubbing strakes, and a substantial stainless stem band give the deck a feeling of lasting quality.

Rig and Handling

Both sloop and cutter rigs were offered, the sloop carrying a masthead rig with single forestay and backstay while the cutter used a fractional layout with two of each. Period sail trials found a fully-battened main driving a 17% sail-area-to-displacement ratio that delivered plenty of get-up-and-go for a boat of her weight. On the helm her large rudder is nicely balanced and she tracks well on the long-ish fin keel, making life easier for crew and autopilot alike anchor. Testers made 6 knots close-hauled in 15 knots apparent and still 5.3 knots in 10, and under power the 60 hp Volvo Penta pushed her to 5.8 knots at 2,000 rpm and 7 at 2,500. She is easy to handle under power and to sail shorthanded, and her stability and righting capability mark her as a serious offshore candidate.

Accommodations

Below, the 390 lays out two sleeping cabins with double berths plus a salon whose settees serve as singles around a folding table. The forward cabin has a V-berth with lockers and shelves; the aft cabin’s island berth splits into two 3-foot-wide halves with a flip-up dressing table and hatch light. Headroom runs 6 foot 2 in and saloon berths are 6 foot 5 long. The head sits aft to starboard by the companionway with a wet locker warmed by the Eberspächer, while the galley to port holds a double sink, three-burner stove with oven, and refrigerator/freezer. A forward-facing chart table with locker under the deckhead and a capacious inboard engine compartment round out the interior, which reviewers described as spacious, cozy, and well ventilated.

Deck and Cockpit

The centre cockpit places the mainsheet behind the helm so the working area stays clear and the sheet can be eased fast in a gust. High coamings make the cockpit secure, and a fixed Scandinavian-style windscreen gives real protection. Granny bars around the mast, a high grab-rail leading forward, and a generous starboard locker for lines all speak to safe movement on a lively sea. A stern platform with swimming steps eases tender access, and the cockpit sole carries a soft patch through which the engine can be lifted straight out.

Refits and Ownership

Owners shopping a 390 should note the bow thruster fitted to many boats is now decades old and its occasional malfunction has been reported by current owners. The emergency tiller operates only from below decks, a quirk worth understanding before a steering failure. The single-skin hull and encapsulated keel argue for straightforward structural surveys, though the iron-ballast majority means a careful check for internal corrosion paths is wise.

The Verdict

The Najad 390 is a thoughtfully engineered centre-cockpit cruiser that balances offshore stiffness with a balanced, responsive helm. She is heavy by the numbers yet rewards with sea-kindly motion and a secure, well-finished interior suited to months aboard.

Pros