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| April was an interesting month to test a boat. Good news, lots of wind; bad news, very cold and rainy. But what better time to test a boat for the Northwest, right? Heading out from the Signature Yachts’ docks with Allan Johnson, it was apparent right away that the boat handled well under power. One thing that took a little getting used to was the electronic shifting. You don’t feel the gear change, but rather you changed the gear, gave it some throttle and smoothly accelerated. A folding three-bladed prop is standard. Power was a Volvo D1 30S producing 28 hp. We did 6.6 knots at 2000 RPM. – an important fact for those cruising the San Juans in the summer. The saildrive was very quiet, and with the wind blowing, it was hard to tell if it was even on. We put up the loose-footed main and unrolled the jib (UK sails come with the boat, furler is Furlex). I was expecting a heavier feel for a boat touted as an offshore cruiser, but she heeled over and took off quickly. The narrow entry and wide stern, spade rudder and bulb keel, gave her very nice performance on or off the wind. The control lines are all run back to stoppers on the cockpit coamings. This really made halyards and lines accessible to the helmsman and kept the cabin top next to the companionway clear, not to mention dry, as there are no holes in the fixed windshield for water to come through. There is a small hatch aft of the cockpit winches where the lines go into a compartment to get them out of the way. Nice touch to keep things clean underway, but I always worry about tangles when multiple lines get shoved into one spot. The very large wheel with rack and pinion gears and chain loop, gives a very nice feel and is easily reached from either side of the cockpit. The starboard side has a very large lazarette for stowage, and a special mount where the stainless steel, emergency tiller is kept. Teak covers the deck and cockpit seats and sole. There is a space between the teak decking and the edges, creating a channel for water to run down. This should also help keep dirt and whatever from collecting where the decking usually butts up against toe rails, seat backs and cockpit soles. Below decks is very nicely appointed in African mahogany and Jatoba. The joinery is excellent. Layout is pretty standard with a double berth forward, two settees and midline table in the main salon, L-shaped galley and double berth portside aft. The galley has Corian counters and a nice little fold-up table for more working room. The aft-cabin is queen size and has a larger feel than you would expect. The head is suprisingly large, featuring a doored separate shower, a real luxury. There is a wet locker which, like all the lockers, is ventilated. Very important in the soggy Northwest. The main salon is quite comfortable, with open and doored cabinets and shelves deep enough to actually store larger items. Having no lines on the cabin top allows two large, translucent panels to be put on each side of the companionway, bringing a lot of light into the cabin. Construction of the hull on the 355 uses the Vacuum Infused Epoxy Resin Construction method because “laminates created with epoxy resin are stronger, lighter and give out less noxious emissions than traditional polyester GRP… creates a more homogenous bond and a better transfer of load between the different components of the hull… a significantly stiffer hull (from Najad website).” In looking over this review I notice that I say “surprised” or “than exected” more often than usual. No wonder it was Cruising World’s Small Cruising boat of the Year for 2007. When you consider the sturdy construction and cruising reputation, to also find a responsive boat that’s fun to sail is a treat. Thanks to Signature Yachts for the sail. For more information visit the Najad 355 website. ... continue to page two - photos |