At just under 40 feet overall—39 feet 4 inches, with a 36-foot waterline—the 395 sits firmly at the heavy, seakindly end of the cruising spectrum rather than in the lightweight performance niche. Displacement is 27,337 pounds, including 9,700 pounds of lead ballast, for a ballast ratio of 35.5 percent.
Design and Construction
The 395 was the Swedish yard’s first all-new boat for some time. It was new from her lead keel up, rather than simply a restyled version of an earlier hull.
Farr Yacht Design produced the naval architecture, while Freivokh handled the appearance. Despite its 4-foot-4-inch topsides, the result looks proportionate and purposeful rather than slab-sided, though testers noted that the 395 dwarfs many yachts alongside her.
The two cockpit arrangements make different use of the same hull. The centre-cockpit version places its roomy, well-sheltered steering station near the hull’s mid-weight, while the verdict describes the cockpit as near the centre of gravity. The aft-cockpit model has a raised cockpit with twin wheels and a windshield as standard. Both layouts use a single deep spade rudder, while the transom hinges down to create a sizable swim platform.
Rig, Sailing Performance, and Engine
The fractional sloop rig carries 958 square feet of sail. On the heavier displacement basis, that gives an SA/D of 16.9—appropriate for a yacht designed around comfort and distance rather than regatta speed. The mainsheet traveler sits on an arch above the cockpit, keeping sheet loads clear of crew movement.
Writing in Yachting Monthly, test sailors found the 395 pointing at around 28–30 degrees to the wind. She was quicker and more comfortable when sailed slightly free of close-winded. Close-hauled in a swell, she handled the conditions with ease and delivered a wonderfully comfortable ride, with her rounded forward sections cushioning the way ahead.
A 57-hp Yanmar is standard. One test boat instead carried an 80-hp engine and made 7.1 knots at 1,800 rpm. The yacht’s displacement gives her a solid feel on the water, with no creaks or groans, and she carries an RCD Category A rating for offshore use.
Accommodation
Freivokh’s interior gives the 395 a well-planned layout, available with two or three cabins and one or two large heads. The galley is more than 6 feet 7 inches long and arranged for use at sea, with a Corian counter extending all the way to the forward bulkhead.
In the aft-cockpit version, the large forward cabin can have either a vee berth or an offset double. Owners can also choose between an en-suite heads and shower or a walk-in wardrobe. The centre-cockpit version instead provides a large owner’s cabin aft.
A comprehensive options list allows the yacht to be tailored to individual long-distance cruising needs.
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 interior work, delivers a heavy-displacement hull with genuine comfort at sea, a protected cockpit, and a flexible accommodation plan.
She isn’t a light-air flyer, but for a couple or family planning serious passages, the overall package is coherent and well resolved.
Pros
- New from the keel up and the first Farr-designed Najad, offered in both aft-cockpit and centre-cockpit layouts
- 27,337-pound displacement, 35.5 percent ballast ratio, and RCD Category A rating
- Well-protected cockpit and a hinged-transom swim platform
- Long, seagoing galley with a full-length Corian counter
- Flexible choices of cabins and heads
Cons
- SA/D of 16.9 limits light-air performance
- High 4-foot-4-inch topsides increase windage despite their balanced appearance
- Standard 57-hp engine is adequate rather than generous for the displacement
