Najad
Najad 390
We reply within 2-3 days.
Last reviewed: - Vadim Nareyko
On Swedish Blocket and on international YachtWorld, two listings can share the same model name. One matches Thorwald Karlsson’s Najadvarvet boat: built 1984–1995, LOA about 11.75 m. The other carries years 1997–2005 and the name Enderlein: that is a neighbouring catalogue line, not this hull. Before you shortlist, check year and hull number, or you are comparing different generations.
Key figures from sailboatdata and Yachting Monthly tables: LOA 11.75 m, beam 3.50 m, displacement about 9.5 t, standard draft 1.85 m. A sheltered centre cockpit, solid GRP, an encapsulated long keel and a skeg-hung rudder is the ownership pattern for comparing centre-cockpit Hallberg-Rassy sisters. Dense mahogany joinery still sells the boat; it does not cancel deck-core moisture at the fittings.
On northern and German boards, liquidity is thinner than the HR 36 class. Waiting for a clean invoice folder is normal. Fresh varnish or a new plotter without engine and deck history is a reason to pause, not a “nearly ready” signal.
At a glance
Quick facts
- Production
- 1984-1995
- LOA
- 11.75 m
- Beam
- 3.5 m
- Model
- Najad 390
Key takeaways
- Best for: Karlsson classic Najad centre-cockpit (1984-1995)
- Common issue: deck core moisture and mixed electrical upgrades on 1980s - 1990s hulls
- Typical price: premium Scandinavian cruiser band; reject 1997-2005 catalogue drift
Offshore rating & survey verdict
- CE Category
- -
- Capsize Screening (CSF)
- 1.67
From the builder plate / sheet when known; not computed from dims.
Traditional ocean screen often cites CSF ≤ 2.0; not a legal rule.
Top 3 survey red flags
- Which years and which designer should you check first on a Najad 390
- Which dimensions should match the yard-era record
- How serious is deck-core moisture
Technical data
- Length overall (LOA)
- 11.75 m
- Beam
- 3.5 m
- L/B
- 3.36
- LWL
- 10 m
- Displacement
- 9,500 kg
- Ballast
- 4,000 kg
- Keel
- fin
- Rig
- masthead
- Designer
- Thorwald Karlsson
- Production years
- 1984-1995
Embed seaworthiness badge
<iframe src="https://fairhelm.com/en/embed/model/najad/najad390/" title="FairHelm Seaworthiness Badge" width="360" height="280" loading="lazy" style="border:0;border-radius:8px;max-width:100%;" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></iframe>
Calculations and ratios
Brochure numbers need matching units. Open a FairHelm formula page for the classical form, rule of thumb, and limits before you compare listings.
Design history
In the 1980s–1990s Najad kept a line of heavy Scandinavian centre-cockpit cruisers: Karlsson, encapsulated long keel, skeg rudder, cored deck sandwich. The 390 sits in that line beside neighbouring yard lengths, not as a one-off hull.
The typical power plant of the era is a Volvo Penta MD30; the exact install and hours belong only to the plates and service file on that hull. Shallow-draft keels appear in listings; draft and berthing then differ from the standard table draft of about 1.85 m. Open cards often leave “how many built” blank: do not fill that field from another listing.
Later catalogues and secondary cards sometimes shift years and designer onto a neighbouring line. Do not mix an Mk stern or later redesigns onto this hull without proof on the boat in front of you.
Typical problems
Buyer FAQ
- Which years and which designer should you check first on a Najad 390?
Production 1984–1995 at Najadvarvet, designer Thorwald Karlsson. Reject ads or catalogues that give 1997–2005 or Olle Enderlein for this model; that is the wrong era and the wrong designer.
- Which dimensions should match the yard-era record?
LOA about 11.75 m and beam about 3.50 m with displacement about 9.5 t. Fixture figures 11.9 m / 3.75 m are catalogue drift.
- How serious is deck-core moisture?
Soft spots at winches and cleats are a common ownership cost on Baltic boats without a firm winter cover. Moisture-meter grids after drying ashore matter more than joinery photos.
- What about underwater osmosis on 1980s–1990s hulls?
Solid laminate lowers sandwich risk, but gelcoat moisture and barrier history still matter. Separate hull Tramex readings from bilge leaks and deck-core work orders.
- How thin is the secondary market versus the HR 36?
Thinner. Liquidity exists, but waiting for a clean invoice folder is normal. Do not skip a day ashore for a rare badge.
- What are realistic annual Baltic costs?
Berth, insurance, wintering, and reserves for deck or systems sit on top of the purchase price. See the ownership-cost table; osmosis or deck campaigns sit outside a normal annual band.
Annual ownership costs
| Item | Low (SEK) | High (SEK) | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Berth | 24 000 | 55 000 | ~11.8 m class, Stockholm/Gothenburg |
| Insurance | 12 000 | 28 000 | agreed value and cruising area |
| Lift + winter | 14 000 | 34 000 | crane and keel supports |
| Antifouling + hull | 7 000 | 20 000 | materials and labour |
| Engine / drive | 7 000 | 24 000 | Volvo MD30 packages |
| Rig reserve | 10 000 | 28 000 | wire or rod age |
| Deck / osmosis / systems | 14 000 | 48 000 | deck core, barrier, electrics |
| Annual total | 95 000 | 240 000 | excluding major refit years |
Table of routine ownership costs for a Najad 390 in the Baltic. Planning bands from northern-yard practice and survey notes, not an offer from your marina. A full deck-core repair, an underwater barrier campaign, or a large electronics rebuild sit outside the annual band.
Calculators for this boat
Indicative figure for weekend use. The country supplies berth and winter. The insurance line stays the Swedish planning band - not a Danish, German, or Dutch premium. Maintenance stays Swedish too. Not a marina quote.
- Netherlands (annual contract)€4,480 - €7,571
- Sweden (planning bands)€6,000 - €10,300
- Denmark (two harbours, season)€4,590 - €7,497
Antifouling
Litres need waterline length and draft. This page only has length overall and beam, so litres are not calculated here.
Open the antifouling calculatorWetted surfaceSail planAll calculators
Pre-purchase survey checklist
Pre-purchase survey checklist: Najad 390
Hull, keel and underwater
- Moisture map of the underwater hull after drying ashore; note barrier or blisters on 1980s–1990s gelcoat eras.
- Build year 1984–1995 and hull number before comparing systems or sisters such as the Najad 391.
- Access to keel encapsulation and skeg-rudder bearings under load underway.
Deck core, windows and hardware
- Map stains and high readings under winches, cleats and stanchions; soft deck at fittings needs action.
- Check 1980s–1990s windows and hatches for sealing separately from underwater moisture.
- Sound teak toe rail and rubbing strake; fastener corrosion moves the budget.
Spar and sails
- Standing-rigging invoices; undocumented terminals count as near-term spend.
- Mast step, spreaders and furling-swivel wear under load.
- Cutter stay or removable inner forestay only with proof for a storm jib.
Machinery and systems
- Volvo MD30 history including cooling, shaft seal and tank biocide.
- Electronics map: charging, inverter, plotter generations and battery chemistry on the panel.
- Owner heaters and circuits against labels before praising a modern options list.
Expert verdict
FairHelm rating: 8.5/10: The Najad 390 is a Thorwald Karlsson centre-cockpit cruiser (1984-1995). Quality joinery is real; liquidity is thinner than HR 36, and catalogue years 1997-2005 or Enderlein credit are drift.
- Pros
- Protected centre-cockpit living, dense mahogany finish, and Nordic resale that still recognises the Najad badge on serious coastal boats.
- Cons
- Deck-core moisture, mixed electrical upgrades, and standing-rigging age show up often. Waiting for the right invoice file can stretch months.
- Who it suits
- Owners who prefer Najad finish over the deepest listing pool and will walk away if moisture meters stay high. Unknown: prior yard invoices until the seller opens the file.
Vadim Nareyko, FairHelm Editorial, Last reviewed: 2026-08-29
View current listings
FairHelm does not sell boats or host inventory. These links open third-party marketplaces with a search for this model. Prices and availability change on those sites: verify there before you travel or make an offer.
External site (opens in a new tab)
Owner reviews
Share your experience owning this model. Reviews are moderated before publication.
Owner story
Real ownership experience from a moderated FairHelm community member.
West-coast cruiser★★★★☆We bought after comparing Hallberg-Rassy listings. Build quality shows in joinery — survey chainplates and standing rigging before offshore plans.
- West-coast cruiser★★★★☆
We bought our Najad 390 after comparing Hallberg-Rassy and Najad 380 listings. The build quality shows in the deck hardware and interior joinery — but survey the chainplates and standing rigging age before you commit. It sails confidently in Öresund chop with two reefs.