Design and Construction
Scanyacht AB built the 391 with a solid fibreglass deck over a sandwich hull, a combination the designer used to improve the indoor climate below by damping temperature swing and condensation. The lead-filled fin with bulb draws between 6.23 and 6.53 feet depending on load, and the boat sits on a spade rudder. With a displacement near 12,800 pounds and an immersion rate of about 1,278 pounds per inch, she is a substantial vessel; the displacement-length ratio of 210 and length-beam ratio of 3.30 confirm a volume-driven hull rather than a light dispatcher. The wetted surface runs about 419 square feet, and the capsize screening value of 1.83 together with the CE Ocean rating speak to a stable, seaworthy platform.
Rig and Handling
The 391 was offered with multiple rigs — a masthead, a fractional, and an alternative fractional — so used examples vary in sail plan. The standard fractional rig carries 676 square feet of working sail, while the alternative fractional expands that slightly to 689 square feet. Control lines are sized for the boat: on the fractional rig the halyards run 121 feet at half-inch diameter, while sheets are 38.5-foot, 0.55-inch lines and the mainsheet stretches 96 feet. The theoretical hull speed is 7.5 knots, and the motion comfort ratio of 22.2 to 28.8 suggests a forgiving ride in a seaway. Under power, the available Volvo Penta MD2030 at 29 horsepower yields a calculated maximum of about 5.5 knots, while the larger MD2040 at 40 horsepower with saildrive reaches about 6.5 knots.
Accommodations
Below, the 391 provides five or six berths and a galley, with a head and above-average headroom that makes the mahogany interior feel open. The sandwich hull's climate benefit is felt here as a drier, steadier cabin. Fresh water capacity is 45 US gallons with a separate 13-gallon waste-water tank, supporting extended cruising for a family or two couples. The layout is conventional but the volume is generous for the length.
Known Issues
The principal owner-facing considerations are the variability of rig and engine among individual boats, which affects spares and sail inventory rather than indicating a fault.
Refits and Ownership
Because the design was delivered with different engine and rig options, an owner's refit history should be read against the specific configuration: a masthead-rigged boat needs different sheets than a fractional, and an MD2040 with saildrive demands different drivetrain care than an MD2030. The solid deck and CE Ocean certification make her a sound candidate for long-term ownership.
The Verdict
The Scanner 391 is a thoughtfully built Swedish cruiser with genuine ocean credentials and a cabin that rewards living aboard. Her chief complexity is the variety of factory configurations rather than any inherent weakness.
Pros
- CE Class A (Ocean) certification
- Sandwich hull improves cabin climate
- Above-average headroom and mahogany interior
- Multiple rig and engine options to match use
Cons
- Draft varies with load and rig, complicating anchorage planning
- Configuration differences between boats complicate spares and sail planning
