Cruisers Yachts 390 Yacht Review
Posted 2015/04/22 at 18:59 in Yacht Reviews
Years ago, Cruisers Yachts acknowledged that there had been a change in the attitudes of boaters towards their environment. They now wanted to be outside of the boat more than inside. They wanted more space on deck and still also wanted the spacious comfortable cabins that they were accustomed to. This dilemma brought about the 390.
Accommodations
To deliver a more user-friendly exterior, designers began with the windshield. They learned that if they moved it forward everything situated on the main deck could be bigger. From the start, they knew that the vessel would be motorized by IPS or stern drives, which would push the engines far back and allow for a more open lower deck. This would make for a spacious amidships cabin with full beams. The designers decided that they would move the windshield three and a half feet forward and still keep a sleek profile. The main deck was then made with one hundred fifty-seven square feet that could be used. In either rear corner, L- shaped couches are placed for seating. This leaves a remarkable amount of space to move around for dining at a convenient fold out table. The port-side sofa is set on hidden tracks that make it easy to move toward the center. A tighter, more intimate dining and lounging space is created. With the sun lounge package, a drop down dining table is available that creates a large sun pad and cushions for the back that can flatten out and expand it even further.
The cabin is very roomy and comfortable thanks to the engines at the rear. The amidships cabin is spacious enough that a six-foot-tall person and sit on the bed without worrying about hitting their head. The starboard glass and port brighten up the area along with the whole lower deck because they extend far forward. In the forepeak, there is another sleeping area that consists of a settee with a table that lowers down to produce a V-berth.
LOA: 39’0″
BEAM: 12’8″
DRAFT: 3’3″
DISPL.: 20,000 lb. (gas engines)
FUEL: 230 gal.
WATER: 70 gal.
TEST POWER: 2/430-hp Mercury 8.2 HO gasoline stern drives
STANDARD POWER: 2/380-p Volvo Penta DuoProp gasoline stern drives
OPTIONAL POWER: Various Mercury gas and diesel stern drives up to 430 hp; Volvo Penta diesel stern drives and IPS up to 370
TRANSMISSION: Bravo 3X with 2.2:1 gear ratio
PROPELLERS: Quicksilver XR 24 propset
WARRANTY: 5 years on all structural components, three years on blistering, one-year on remaining components
BASE PRICE: $522,000
PRICE AS TESTED: $596,000
| RPM | KNOTS | GPH | RANGE* (NM) | dB(A) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 5.5 | 4.8 | 239 | 66 |
| 1500 | 7.6 | 7.9 | 198 | 67 |
| 2000 | 9.1 | 12.5 | 151 | 68 |
| 2500 | 10.7 | 18.5 | 120 | 71 |
| 3000 | 15.3 | 26.0 | 122 | 73 |
| 3500 | 23.0 | 35.0 | 136 | 76 |
| 4000 | 28.9 | 43.0 | 139 | 78 |
| 4500 | 33.3 | 61.0 | 113 | 79 |
| 5000 | 37.2 | 78.0 | 99 | 79 |
Performance
With the windshield placed farther forward as well as the helm, the boat appears to be much smaller than it actually is. It works with stern drives that are controlled with an Axius joystick, resulting in nimble handling. The 390 turns quickly without any hesitation. In appreciation of the 15-degree dead rise running surface that was created by C. Raymond Hunt Associates, gliding is a steady and seemingly bumpless process. Additionally, the 10-ton boat seems comparatively light due to the no-nonsense acceleration of the vessel. The windshield has no center division and side and isinglass make for great sightlines. As a way to mitigate higher prices, the base engines are motorized by gasoline.
The designers took a risk with this boat, but the risk was well worth it. The sizing seems accurate and the yacht is aesthetically pleasing.
