Design and Construction
What distinguishes the 395 from her predecessors is that she is new from her lead keel up, the Swedish yard's first all-new boat for some time, and not merely a re-skin of an earlier hull new from her lead keel up. The Farr office produced the naval architecture while Freivokh handled the look, and the result is a boat that, despite 4-foot-4-inch topsides, reads as in proportion and purposeful rather than slab-sided; testers noted she dwarfs many yachts alongside her. The centre-cockpit variant places its roomy, well-sheltered steering station near the hull's mid-weight, whereas the aft-cockpit version uses a raised cockpit with twin wheels and a windshield as standard. A single deep spade rudder provides control in both layouts, and the transom hinges down to form a sizable swim platform.
Rig and Handling
The fractional sloop rig carries 958 square feet of sail, yielding an SA/D of 16.9 on the heavier displacement basis — appropriate for a boat built around comfort and distance rather than regatta speed. The mainsheet traveler sits atop an arch over the cockpit, keeping the sheet loads clear of crew movement. Writing in Yachting Monthly, test sailors found her pointing to around 28–30 degrees on the wind, and she proved more comfortable and quicker when sailed a little free of close-winded; close-hauled in a swell she handled it with ease and gave a wonderfully comfy ride, her rounded forward sections cushioning the way ahead. The 57-hp Yanmar is standard, though one test boat carried an 80-hp unit that made 7.1 knots at 1,800 rpm; the displacement lends a solid feel on the water with no creaks or groans, and the boat carries an RCD Category A rating for offshore use.
Accommodations
Freivokh's interior work gives the 395 a well-designed layout available in two or three cabin arrangements with one or two large heads. The galley runs over 6 feet 7 inches long and is laid out for use at sea, with a Corian counter that extends all the way to the forward bulkhead. In the aft-cockpit hull the large forward cabin offers a choice of vee berth or offset double, with either an en-suite heads and shower or a walk-in wardrobe; the centre-cockpit option provides a large owner's aft cabin. The comprehensive option list allows the yacht to be tailored to individual long-distance cruising needs.
The Verdict
The Najad 395 is a purpose-built offshore cruiser that trades outright speed for a regal, solid, and graceful presence under way. Farr's first design for the marque, paired with Freivokh's interiors, delivers a heavy-displacement hull with genuine sea comfort, a protected cockpit, and a flexible accommodation plan. She is not a light-air flyer, but for a couple or family intending serious passages the package is coherent and well resolved.
Pros
- New from the keel up; first Farr-designed Najad in both AC and CC layouts
- 27,337 lb displacement with 35.5% ballast ratio and RCD Category A
- Well-protected cockpit near centre of gravity; hinged transom swim platform
- Long, sea-going galley with full-length Corian; flexible cabin and heads options
Cons
- SA/D of 16.9 limits light-air performance
- High 4-foot-4-inch topsides increase windage despite balanced looks
- Standard 57-hp engine is adequate rather than generous for the displacement
