Several Privilege 39s have circumnavigated, and many have crossed oceans. Those passages support the boat’s standing as a serious offshore platform.
Design and Construction
The Privilege 39 measures 38 feet 9 inches overall, with a 36-foot waterline and a 21-foot beam. Displacement is just under 14,000 pounds, while shallow fixed keels keep draft to 3 feet 6 inches.
The composite hulls are cored above the waterline and solid below. The deck is cored throughout except in areas of concentrated loads. Forward, a large section of solid bridgedeck adds rigidity and strength, rather than merely saving weight. It also provides secure working space and supports the forward crossbar.
The hull-and-deck joint carries the expansive bridgedeck on a flange. A heavy-gauge aluminum forward crossbeam sits on a universal joint, allowing a measured degree of hull flex.
Inside, the boats were finished without molded liners. Hand-cut wooden bulkheads and facings meet excellent fiberglass sculpting, and the joinerwork is excellent throughout.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
Most Privilege 39s have cutter rigs, with both the staysail and lighter headsail set on furlers. Some boats also carry screechers for light-air reaching. Privileges use heavier rigging than most catamarans, underscoring their offshore intent, and the mast is supported by uppers and lowers—an unusual and welcome arrangement.
An upward V-shaped striker carries the forestay load, while the staysail chainplate anchors into the solid forward bridgedeck. The mast stands more than 50 feet tall, and the boat carries roughly 850 square feet of working sail.
The fine-entry hulls are well regarded for their good motion in a seaway. The motion is less abrupt than that of quicker catamarans, which suits passagemaking. Still, the Privilege 39 is neither lightweight nor over-canvased. It can reach double-digit speeds on a tradewind reach but manages only 7 or 8 knots to weather.
Cockpit and Accommodations
The cockpit is huge, even by catamaran standards. A T-shaped helm station sits aft to port, and the mainsheet traveler spans the cockpit’s length for easy access from either side. Other features include a teak table, generous stowage, and elegant teak aft seats.
Wooden doors on the port side of the cockpit lead into a light, airy saloon. A large U-shaped settee wraps around a table, with a forward-facing navigation station to starboard. Abundant cherry or mahogany woodwork gives the interior a warmth noted by testers.
The galley is down in the port hull. It has a single sink, 12-volt refrigeration opposite, a non-gimballing two- or three-burner stove, and well-placed storage.
Each hull contains two double cabins, with athwartship bunks forward and aft. The heads are located in the walkways. Numerous hatches and portlights provide excellent ventilation. By modern standards, however, the swim steps are small and awkward.
Equipment and Propulsion
Original propulsion came from twin 29-horsepower Volvo diesels driving saildrives. The engines are accessed through the aft lazarettes, and the boat carries just over 100 U.S. gallons of diesel for range.
Several boats offered on the market have been repowered with Yanmars. Either engine setup pushes the hulls to 8 knots under power with decent economy.
Most examples have davits carrying a good dinghy between the hulls, with an array of solar panels above. The anchoring arrangement uses a husky stemhead fitting and Bruce roller, while the chain locker is located 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 provide quiet strength, while the cutter rig and redundant stays inspire confidence offshore.
The four double cabins and unusually large cockpit suit two couples or a family. The galley-down arrangement and tight swim access, however, remain compromises of the boat’s era.
Pros
- Solid forward bridgedeck that adds rigidity and provides 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, awkward swim steps by today’s standards
- Galley down in the port hull, away from the saloon
- Modest upwind sailing speed of 7–8 knots
