Licensed Yacht BrokersSales and service of yachts and shipsThe 396 AftfromCarver Yachtsis a refinedmotor‑yacht platformpairing twinMercruiserinboarddieselpropulsion with a durablefiberglass‑and‑plastichull. Guided by Andrey Shestakov and the team at Shestakov Yacht Sales, you can assess this 40‑foot model with confidence.
Selecting a 396 Aft
Choosing the 396 Aftcomes down to priorities: a 40 ft (12.37 m) footprint for comfortable cruising, twin engines for confident handling, and two heads for privacy on board. As amotor‑yacht choicewith afiberglass‑and‑plastic hulland a fiberglass deck, it offers a straightforward, low‑maintenance platform. If those fundamentals match your brief, Andrey Shestakov at Shestakov Yacht Sales can help you align build details and timing with your plans.
Features of the Model
- Built by Carver Yachts
- Twin MercruiserInboardDieselengines (2)
- Fiberglass‑and‑plastic constructionhull with fiberglass deck
- Two heads for onboard convenience
- LOA of 40 ft (12.37 m) for practical marina access and cruising flexibility
Technical Specifications
- Builder: Carver Yachts
- Model: 396 Aft
- Category: motor yacht
- Hull material: fiberglass and plastic
- Deck material: Fiberglass
- LOA: 40 ft (12.37 m)
- Engines: 2 x Mercruiser, Inboard, Diesel
- Heads: 2
Pricing and Ordering
Pricing, current availability, and delivery timelines for the 396 Aftare provided on request. For tailored guidance, inspections, and purchase arrangements, contact Andrey Shestakov and the Shestakov Yacht Sales team. We will coordinate specifications, documentation, and logistics to streamline your transaction.
Questions and Answers
Q: What powers the 396 Aft? A: TwoMercruiserinboarddieselengines provide reliable propulsion.
Q: What is the overall length? A: The LOA is 40 ft (12.37 m), offering a balanced size for marinas and coastal cruising.
Q: What is the hull and deck construction? A: The hull is fiberglass and plastic, paired with afiberglassdeck for straightforward upkeep.
Q: How many heads are on board? A: There are 2 heads, enhancing comfort for owners and guests.
Q: What type of yacht is it? A: It is a motor yachtbyCarver Yachts, available through Andrey Shestakov at Shestakov Yacht Sales.
Owner Experience Review
Owners gravitate to the 396 AftfromCarver Yachtsfor practical family cruising and liveaboard comfort. Repeated feedback highlights the full-beam salon’s volume and the two-stateroom, two-head layout, with flybridge seating that makes weekend entertaining easy. Several owner posts and listings also frame the boat as a Great Loop candidate and suitable for multi-week trips, with the interior space offsetting a relatively compact aft deck.
On the water, owner reports and listings commonly cite a comfortable cruise in the high teens (about 17–19 knots), including notes of running at 3600–3800 rpm in 2–3' chop. The 396 Aftis generally described as a heavy, stable motoryacht that handles moderate conditions well, though it can feel sluggish in short, steep seas or when fitted with lower-output gas power. Performance varies with engine choice; owners specifically mention that boats with lower-rated 454 gas engines felt underpowered for the boat’s weight.
Ownership notes tend to focus on systems access and legacy gas-engine risks. Threads document water intrusion and valve/seat corrosion on some MerCruiser 454 Horizon installs, with failures leading to expensive repairs, and multiple posts question access to the port engine under the galley for major service or repower. There are also reports of cutless bearing/shaft wear observations and troubleshooting around black-water tank vent odors on early-2000s boats. Many listings and owner reports show examples with Cummins or Volvo diesels or full repowers, with owners emphasizing that repower/service can be a significant cost on older gas installations.
Pros and Cons
- Full-beam salon and a two-stateroom, two-head layout suit family cruising and liveaboard use.
- Comfortable high-teens cruise with stable manners in 2–3' chop per owner reports.
- Proven on extended trips, including Great Loop passages, with generous flybridge seating.
- Aft deck is relatively compact compared to some boats this size.
- Galley ergonomics and storage draw criticism from cruisers on longer stays.
- Early MerCruiser 454 Horizon gas installs have documented water-intrusion/corrosion issues that can be costly.
Comparison with Other Models
| Model | LOA | Beam | Draft | Speed (Cruising/Max) | Gross Tonnage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 396 Aft | 40' 0" (12.37 m) | - | - | - | - |
| 36 Aft Cabin Motoryacht | 35' 0" (10.77 m) | 12' 0" (3.76 m) | - | 7.5 kn | - |
| 43C | 43' 0" (13.11 m) | 13' 0" (4.22 m) | 11' 9" (3.58 m) | 28 kn / 33 kn | - |
| C52 Command Bridge | 52' 0" (15.85 m) | 15' 0" (4.78 m) | 14' 3" (4.33 m) | 16.4 kn / 31 kn | - |
| Santego 3067 | 34' 0" (10.36 m) | 11' 0" (3.35 m) | - | - | - |
| 570 Voyager Pilot House | 57' 0" (17.37 m) | 15' 0" (4.70 m) | 14' 9" (4.50 m) – 16' 5" (5 m) | 23 kn / 28 kn | 51 |
| 380 Express | 38' 0" (11.58 m) | 13' 0" (3.96 m) | - | - | - |
| 530 Voyager Pilothouse | 53' 0" (16.15 m) | 15' 0" (4.67 m) | 15' 7" (4.75 m) | - | - |
| 360 Mariner | 36' 0" (11.12 m) | 12' 0" (3.89 m) | 10' 1" (3.08 m) | - | - |
| 396 Aft Cabin MY | 40' 0" (12.37 m) | 13' 0" (4.24 m) | 11' 6" (3.50 m) | - | - |
Learn more on the “Carver Yachts - 396 Aft”
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