Design and Construction
The 39's hulls are composite, cored from the waterline up and solid below, while the deck is cored throughout except where loads concentrate. A large area of solid bridgedeck forward adds rigidity and strength rather than merely saving weight, and it gives secure working space and support for the forward crossbar. The hull-and-deck joint carries that expansive bridgedeck on a flange, and a heavy-gauge aluminum forward crossbeam sits on a universal joint that permits a measured degree of hull flex. Inside, each boat was finished without molded liners: hand-cut wooden bulkheads and facings meet excellent fiberglass sculpting, and the joinerwork is excellent throughout.
Rig and Handling
Most 39s are cutters, with both the staysail and the lighter headsail on furlers, and some carry screechers for light-air reaching. Privileges use heavier rigging than most cats, underscoring the offshore intent, and the mast is supported by uppers and lowers — an unusual and welcome arrangement. The upward V-shaped striker carries forestay load, and the staysail chainplate anchors into the solid forward bridgedeck. A 50-foot-plus mast and roughly 850 square feet of working sail sit atop fine-entry hulls whose good motion in a seaway is well regarded; the motion is less abrupt than on quicker cats, which suits passagemaking. The boat is no lightweight and not over-canvased, reaching double digits on a tradewind reach but only 7 or 8 knots to weather.
Accommodations
The cockpit is huge even among catamarans, with a T-shaped helm station aft to port, a mainsheet traveler spanning its length for easy access from either side, a teak table, generous stowage, and elegant teak aft seats. Saloon access is via wooden doors from the port cockpit side into a light, airy space with a large U-shaped settee around a table, a forward-facing nav station to starboard, and abundant cherry or mahogany woodwork that testers describe as warm. The galley is down in the port hull with a single sink, 12-volt refrigeration opposite, a non-gimballing two- or three-burner stove, and well-placed storage. Each hull holds two double cabins — athwartship bunks forward and aft — with heads in the walkways; numerous hatches and portlights give excellent ventilation. Swim steps read small and awkward by modern measure.
Equipment and Power
Original propulsion was twin 29-horsepower Volvo diesels on saildrives, reached through the aft lazarettes, with just over 100 U.S. gallons of diesel for range. Several boats on the market have re-powered with Yanmars, and either set pushes the hulls to 8 knots under power with decent economy. Most examples carry davits slinging a good dinghy between the hulls and an array of solar panels above; the anchor rig uses a husky stemhead fitting and Bruce roller, with the chain locker in the bridgedeck.
The Verdict
The Privilege 39 is a thoughtfully engineered small catamaran with genuine bluewater credentials and a hand-finished interior that has aged well. Its solid forward bridgedeck and flexible crossbeam structure lend quiet strength, and the cutter rig with redundant stays inspires confidence offshore. Cabin count and cockpit scale suit two couples or a family, though the galley-down layout and tight swim access are period compromises.
Pros
- Solid bridgedeck-forward construction adding rigidity and secure deck space
- Semicustom interior with hand-cut woodwork and no molded liners
- Heavier-than-average catamaran rig with uppers and lowers
- Proven ocean crossings and circumnavigations
- Spacious cockpit and four-double-cabin layout
Cons
- Small, hard-to-use swim steps by today's standards
- Galley located down in the port hull, away from the saloon
- Modest upwind speed of 7–8 knots under sail
