Scanyacht 399DS

Integrated 'deck saloons' have been one of the major innovations of cruising yacht design during the past decade or two. The benefits of a raised saloon with direct access to the cockpit and shelter from the weather, plus airiness, light and excellent views of the outside world, have long been evident. But so too have been the challenges of producing hull lines which remain sleek, rather than the highsided deckhouse look, and a superstructure which will retain structural integrity in storm conditions, in spite of all that glass or perspex.

Boats with 'sheds' have always been a feature of cold-climate ports; one obvious local example being Hobart. But in recent years the lack of protection from the elements offered by standard aft cockpit yachts has become an increasingly topical issue in warmer waters, too. Trying to stay out of the sun's harmful rays is a health issue these days, but who wants to skulk around below decks if you can't really see or participate in what's going on in the beautiful day outside?

So it's no surprise that we've seen the move towards deck saloons for private custom yachts, just one example of many being the striking Sydney-based Jutson/McConaghy 50, Southern Cross. In the mass production field the influence of the deck saloon concept can be seen widely, from the subtle incorporation of more windows for better light and vision in the saloon of Beneteau's new Oceanis Clipper 393, to the other extreme of Dufour's Atoll range for charter, dubbed 'inside-out' craft because they have all the sailing, entertaining and navigating functions merged into one extended cockpit/saloon area, while only the sleeping quarters and heads are below deck.

Claiming the credit for the move towards deck saloons is the British yacht builder Oyster Marine, which says: "While imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, the fact remains that Oyster introduced the Deck Saloon, as it is known today, in 1978, with the introduction of the Oyster 46."

We will see the latest thinking on the concept from the self-proclaimed originator when the first New Zealand-built Oyster 53 arrives on our shores for the Sydney International Boat Show. In the meantime, we've seen the arrival in recent months of a couple of other European companies' new deck saloon models, one being the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 43 DS and the other being the subject of this test, the Scanyacht 399DS.

ALL-DAY TEST
Fortunate timing allowed our introduction to Scanyacht's take on the deck saloon concept to be more than just an hour or two of sailing. In fact, we had the whole day to deliver the 399DS back to Pittwater after the Welcome to Sail Expo at Rozelle on Sydney Harbour.

Which was nothing less than the Swedish import deserved. It's a yacht designed for lazing about onboard, with a number of features and design details which set it apart from most production yachts in its size range and merit closer inspection.

The 399DS utilises the same hull as the Scanyacht 391, a conventional aft cockpit yacht which was introduced to the Australian market in 1998 by the Australian agent Windcraft. The 391 has impressed revieers and buyers around the world for its sailing ability, quality of finish and fitout and handsome lines. Windcraft's Peter Hrones says that 150 of this model have been built over seven years, including 10 he has sold into Australia to date, in spite of the premium pricing involved with a product which he labels "basically a hand-built boat".

According to Hrones, the yacht's Swedish designer/builder, Nils-Eric Olofsson, is an engineer who has been involved in yacht production for many years, previously building the Scanmar range.

He decided to introduce a deck saloon version of the Scanyacht a couple of years ago, producing new deck moulds and six boats, one of which he took cruising to Norway to study how the layout worked or didn't work in practice. A number of minor modifications have been incorporated to the 399DS which is now on the market. Hull number seven is the first to arrive in Australia, intended for a Melbourne buyer.

CONSTRUCTION
Construction is to CE Category A Ocean, with solid fibreglass below the waterline, and GRP/foam sandwich using closed-cell Divinycell core for the topsides and deck. Hrones says the foam is double thickness for extra insulation.

The keel contains 2400kg of lead ballast (200kg more than the Scanyacht 391, to counterbalance the addition of the deck saloon) and is bulb-footed for lower centre of gravity, while the GRP stub provides a deep bilge sump.

RIG AND DECK LAYOUT
Fractional or masthead rig versions are available, though the former is likely to be the rig of choice, especially given Windcraft's emphasis on the virtues of non-overlapping, self-tacking headsails.

The mast and boom are Selden anodised aluminium spars, with double swept-back spreaders. Sails are an extra: this boat was set up with Quantum dacron cruising sails.

The mainsail is semi-full-battened, if such a name exists: the two top battens are full-length while the lower ones are short, to reduce the load on the boltrope so that batten cars are not essential for sail handling, reefing, etc.

The mainsail falls between jack lines into a permanent sail bag on the boom, and the neat Selden single-line reefing system provides two slab reefs.

The headsail is set up with roller furling/reefing and a self-tacking traveller track, running in a transverse arc across the deck immediately forward of the mast. According to Hrones, it has taken some refinement by the sailmaker to get the sheeting angle right; success appears to have been achieved, and there are numerous optional positions available on the heavy-duty clewboard.

The cockpit is well protected by a dodger and a bimini, both options added to the boat after its arrival in Australia.

Primary winches are stainless steel two-speed Andersen 46 self-tailers, within easy reach of the steerer. The headsail sheet (that's right, there's only one) trims to the starboard-side winch, while the mainsheet, which runs on a coachhouse-mounted traveller, leads back to the other side. Virtually no trimming needs to take place at all through manoeuvres.

There is also an Andersen 28 two-speed halyard winch on the coachhouse, plus Lewmar rope clutches for control lines and halyards.

Teak cockpit seating and floor are standard; this boat also had the optional laid teak side and foredecks.

There is a substantial steering pedestal with room to mount instruments and binnacle compass. This boat is set up with an Autohelm 5000, with a remote control allowing the boat to be sailed from down below.

There seems to be lashings of stainless steel everywhere, with good quality double-railed pulpit and pushpit, double guard wires and stanchions with stainless steel bases, sturdy mooring cleats at bow, stern and amidships, gas bottle, anchor, skin fittings and seacocks. And even a s/s grille at the aft house of the coachhouse for which we could attribute no function beyond decoration.

DECK SALOON
When you step through the companionway into the saloon, you can slide straight into the seating around the dinette on the port-side, or step down towards the galley via several steps to starboard (a bit of a trap for first-timers, who almost inevitably have a bit of a stumble). Aft on this lower level is a bathroom on the starboard side and a large, private double cabin to port.

Forward is another large double-berth cabin forward, and a good-sized bathroom on the port-side.

Both bathrooms include manual marine toilets, washbasins and showers with electric pump-out from the shower tray. There are 60lt stainless steel toilet holding tanks to both compartments.

There are no less than four showers - two in the main head, one in the aft head and another at the transom. The hot and cold pressurised water system includes a 22lt heat-exchange tank with 240V capability so it can be run at the marina by shore power.

The finish is very impressive, with matt-finished mahogany timbers (veneer is used on closed-cell foam cores to lighten the weight of the doors, etc), teak-and-holly cabin soles and brass fittings.

There is ample storage space, for example in the large lockers aft of the galley on the starboard side, and even in the companionway steps. Inspection of internal spaces like these reveal the quality of finish, with all timber surfaces properly sealed and no sawdust or raw edges to be found anywhere.

The galley includes an 85lt capacity refrigerator, two stainless steel sinks, mixer tap for hot and cold pressurised water, oven and two burners with grill.

The chart table is forward-facing, and forms part of the internal helm position for steering with the Autohelm remote control. In a rather nifty arrangement, the forward seat of the dinette can be inverted backwards to provide a steering seat with excellent all-round visibility.

The engine, a Volvo 2040 freshwater-cooled 40hp saildrive with three-bladed folding propeller, is housed under the dinette area, which hinges up to provide good all-round access, and provides very quiet running.

The testboat was also set up with a German Ebrespacher ducted heating system, giving away its cold-climate heritage which could nonetheless prove very handy in southern Australian waters.

PERFORMANCE
We had one of those brilliantly sunny Sydney autumn days, starting with a piping westerly breeze which gave us a good push out of Sydney Heads and an easy reach along the cliffs of North Head. The breeze soon faded out until there was only a zephyr or two, at which point motorsailing (while enjoying lunch at the demountable cockpit table) was the obvious choice to get us to Barrenjoey. There we found some more wind funnelling out of the Hawkesbury River, and were able to switch off the engine for another spell of sailing before furling the sails and motoring down a near-windless Pittwater.

The boat is genuinely suited to single or short-handed sailing. The sails involved very little effort to set, and you could then almost forget them, tacking at leisure without having to touch a rope.

As is so often the case with new yachts, the log was not yet operational, but I would guess the boat happily reached along at 6-7kt while the wind was in the 12-14kt range. When the wind dropped down to 5-10kt, we were still able to forge along, albeit at a reduced pace. Acceleration was impressive, the steering felt very direct and the boat certainly gave every indication that its sailing qualities have been maintained.

I found the bimini cover a bit oppressive, especially when wanting to sight the mainsail, although a window is provided for just that purpose. I think this was just a matter of getting used to something different.

CONCLUSION
Spending all day aboard the Scanyacht 399DS was a true pleasure, which I would happily have extended into several days' coastal cruising if real life had not intervened.

With the addition of protective washboards capable of covering the tinted safety-glass saloon windows in extreme conditions, I can see nothing to prevent this yacht from being a true bluewater cruiser.

They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder; the 399DS is obviously a far different proposition from its handsome and sleek sister, the 391, but the addition of the deck saloon has not transformed the boat into a 'block of flats', and to my eye this is a yacht which achieves a successful blend of function and aesthetics.

The cockpit is small by Australian standards, but on this boat you will undoubtedly do most of your entertaining and relaxing in the deck saloon area - and that's a very pleasant place to be.

So pleasant, in fact, that I'll make this prediction: expect to see more deck saloon yachts in your neighbourhood soon.