Any views on Najad Yachts

[Andy]

Hi,

After many years of owning yachts built by Westerly (Centaur, Konsort,
Discuss, Sealord), and a recent small break in boating, we are considering
purchasing another yacht. This time we are looking at the Najad boats. We
have seen an 1985 Najad-343 and an 1989 Najad-360. These boats are in
remarkable condition for their age, and appear to be well looked after.

Just wondering if anyone on the group has any experience of Najad Yachts and
what you thought of them, for sailing performance, sea keeping, ease of
handling under power, and overall build.

Many Thanks

Andy

[Martin]

Post by Andy
Hi,
After many years of owning yachts built by Westerly (Centaur, Konsort,
Discuss, Sealord), and a recent small break in boating, we are considering
purchasing another yacht. This time we are looking at the Najad boats. We
have seen an 1985 Najad-343 and an 1989 Najad-360. These boats are in
remarkable condition for their age, and appear to be well looked after.
Just wondering if anyone on the group has any experience of Najad Yachts and
what you thought of them, for sailing performance, sea keeping, ease of
handling under power, and overall build.

I think there is a review in the August PBO.

[Alan Frame]

Post by Martin

Post by Andy
Just wondering if anyone on the group has any experience of Najad Yachts and
what you thought of them, for sailing performance, sea keeping, ease of
handling under power, and overall build.

I think there is a review in the August PBO.

Indeed - ISTR a head-to-head test between a Najad, Hallberg-Rassy and a
Sweden Yachts in one of the mags a while ago - that might be more use
than PBO's "It's better than a BenJenBav, but twice the price" summary
;-)

<tap-tap>
<http://marinedirectory.ybw.com/reprints/search2.jsp>
Ah, here you go:
Yachting World, Dec 2004 _Swedish Match_ "On Test
Malo 36, Najad 380 and Hallberg-Rassy 37"

HTH, Alan

[Chris Lowe]

Post by Andy
Hi,
After many years of owning yachts built by Westerly (Centaur, Konsort,
Discuss, Sealord), and a recent small break in boating, we are considering
purchasing another yacht. This time we are looking at the Najad boats. We
have seen an 1985 Najad-343 and an 1989 Najad-360. These boats are in
remarkable condition for their age, and appear to be well looked after.
Just wondering if anyone on the group has any experience of Najad Yachts and
what you thought of them, for sailing performance, sea keeping, ease of
handling under power, and overall build.
Many Thanks
Andy

very nice, well built and very seaworthy. Last winter I was in a new
Oceanis 323 sailing in company with a Najad 331. given a week of strong
winds (up to and including a solent crossing in a force 10) it was very
plain which boat was was the better one and it certainly wasn't made in
france!

[Pete Verdon]

Post by Andy
Just wondering if anyone on the group has any experience of Najad Yachts and
what you thought of them, for sailing performance, sea keeping, ease of
handling under power, and overall build.

The Army use Najad 331s for Adventure Training in Kiel, which I have
taken part in a few times. Very nice boats, and seem to stand up well to
constant use by novice crews used to indestructible military equipment.
They seemed pretty seaworthy compared to the usual amphibious caravans -
even racing in conditions where the boat next to us was exposing its
keel out the front of the waves I had no worries about the boat letting
us down. No idea about handling under power as I didn't do any of that,
but the skipper seemed happy.

I'd say go for it.

Pete

[corby]

Post by Andy
Just wondering if anyone on the group has any experience of Najad Yachts and
what you thought of them, for sailing performance, sea keeping, ease of
handling under power, and overall build.

I've sailed on a Najad 39 ... very comfortable ride when it was
blowing sixes outside... bit too much of a crusiing boat for me ...
good accomodation down below and build quality looked rather good.

Corby


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Clickyachting :: sell your boat for FREE online
http://www.clickyachting.com

[Adam]

Post by Andy
Just wondering if anyone on the group has any experience of Najad Yachts
and what you thought of them, for sailing performance, sea keeping, ease
of handling under power, and overall build.

Like Pete, I have sailed the Kiel boats on a few occasions - and if I could
afford one I would have no hesitation in buying. The build quality is
amazing, with great attention to detail. Compared to your average modern
mass-produced boat the Najad is a BMW whilst the rest of the field is in the
Ford Focus category. I'd say they are definitely a good cruising boat under
sail and power, they feel solid and safe, and the helm balance always felt
good - very forgiving for novices (which is why Kiel buy them). I'm not a
racer myself so I would not like to pass an opinion in that area.The Najad
331s at Kiel are changed every 3 years - they are incredibly well maintained
by the Army and always sell without any bother - I last sailed there about 2
years ago and the fleet was brand new, so they will be getting sold in the
near future. The Army does not lose any money running this fleet - the boats
always fetch good prices. The club is called the British Kiel Yacht Club and
if you search on google you'll find their phone number - even if you did not
want to buy one of their boats I'm sure they would have lots of advice to
offer on Najads (they have close links with the manufacturer).

[Wolfgang Kommerell]

Post by Adam
The Najad
331s at Kiel are changed every 3 years - they are incredibly well maintained
by the Army and always sell without any bother - I last sailed there about 2
years ago and the fleet was brand new, so they will be getting sold in the
near future. The Army does not lose any money running this fleet - the boats
always fetch good prices. The club is called the British Kiel Yacht Club and
if you search on google you'll find their phone number - even if you did not
want to buy one of their boats I'm sure they would have lots of advice to
offer on Najads (they have close links with the manufacturer).

The BKYC have had different fleets over the last years - ATM, I think,
they're running Comfortina 35s (?), but just recently I read they just
ordered their new fleet of ten Hallberg Rassy 342.

Wolfgang

[Wolfgang Kommerell]

Post by Adam
The Najad
331s at Kiel are changed every 3 years - they are incredibly well maintained
by the Army and always sell without any bother - I last sailed there about 2
years ago and the fleet was brand new, so they will be getting sold in the
near future. The Army does not lose any money running this fleet - the boats
always fetch good prices. The club is called the British Kiel Yacht Club and
if you search on google you'll find their phone number - even if you did not
want to buy one of their boats I'm sure they would have lots of advice to
offer on Najads (they have close links with the manufacturer).

The BKYC has run different fleets over the last years - ATM, I think,
they're sailing Comfortina 35s (?), but recently I read they just
ordered their new fleet of ten Hallberg Rassy 342.

Wolfgang

[Pete Verdon]

Post by Wolfgang Kommerell

The Najad 331s at Kiel are changed every 3 years

The BKYC has run different fleets over the last years - ATM, I think,
they're sailing Comfortina 35s (?), but recently I read they just
ordered their new fleet of ten Hallberg Rassy 342.

I helped deliver the February 2001 batch (the 5s[1]), which were Najad
331s. These will have been sold since (in fact I think I've seen one of
them in the Solent) and as far as I know they were planning to go with
Najad 331s again - which fits with what Adam said. I don't know where
your Comfortinas fit into that, although be aware they do have some
yachts that are not part of the matched fleet of ten. Hallberg Rassies
as a replacement sounds feasible - I think they used those before the
last few batches of Najads, and some of the regimental boats (eg the
REME's Seahorse) are HRs.

Pete

[1] ie Tern V, Curlew V, etc

[Wolfgang Kommerell]

Post by Pete Verdon
I helped deliver the February 2001 batch (the 5s[1]), which were Najad
331s. These will have been sold since (in fact I think I've seen one of
them in the Solent) and as far as I know they were planning to go with
Najad 331s again - which fits with what Adam said. I don't know where
your Comfortinas fit into that, although be aware they do have some
yachts that are not part of the matched fleet of ten. Hallberg Rassies
as a replacement sounds feasible - I think they used those before the
last few batches of Najads, and some of the regimental boats (eg the
REME's Seahorse) are HRs.

Wow, isn't the internet just an amazing thing? ;-)

<http://www.bkyc.de/html/training_fleets.html>

Seems my memory still works ok ...

W.

[Chris Lowe]

Post by Wolfgang Kommerell

Post by Pete Verdon
I helped deliver the February 2001 batch (the 5s[1]), which were Najad
331s. These will have been sold since (in fact I think I've seen one of
them in the Solent) and as far as I know they were planning to go with
Najad 331s again - which fits with what Adam said. I don't know where
your Comfortinas fit into that, although be aware they do have some
yachts that are not part of the matched fleet of ten. Hallberg Rassies
as a replacement sounds feasible - I think they used those before the
last few batches of Najads, and some of the regimental boats (eg the
REME's Seahorse) are HRs.

Wow, isn't the internet just an amazing thing? ;-)
<http://www.bkyc.de/html/training_fleets.html>
Seems my memory still works ok ...
W.

both the HRs and the Niads are very nice boats. I know the owners of
one of the fleet 3 HR31s and have sailed in company of one of the fleet
4 najads. both are boats I would be very happy to own

[Pete Verdon]

Post by Wolfgang Kommerell
<http://www.bkyc.de/html/training_fleets.html>
Seems my memory still works ok ...

Seems it does. Obviously Adam's is a bit dodgy, though :-)

Pete

[Andy]

Many Thanks for all the input. We are still negotiating on the price. But
now more convinced than ever the Najad is the boat to go for.

Many Thanks

Andy

Post by Andy
Hi,
After many years of owning yachts built by Westerly (Centaur, Konsort,
Discuss, Sealord), and a recent small break in boating, we are considering
purchasing another yacht. This time we are looking at the Najad boats.
We have seen an 1985 Najad-343 and an 1989 Najad-360. These boats are in
remarkable condition for their age, and appear to be well looked after.
Just wondering if anyone on the group has any experience of Najad Yachts
and what you thought of them, for sailing performance, sea keeping, ease
of handling under power, and overall build.
Many Thanks
Andy