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Nautor 39
Designer: S&S  ·  Builder: Nautor  ·  First built: 1977
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About the Nautor 39

From the prestigious Finnish shipyard Nautor comes this rare masthead ketch, representing a brief but notable chapter in the builder's storied history. Designed by Sparkman & Stephens and produced for just two years in the late 1970s, only four examples of this distinctive 39-footer were ever built, making it an exceptionally uncommon find in today's market. The design showcases classic S&S proportions with a moderate fin keel and skeg-hung rudder configuration that balances performance with seakindliness. Her substantial displacement of 28,660 pounds and generous ballast ratio provide the stability and sea-keeping abilities expected from a serious offshore cruiser. The masthead ketch rig offers excellent sail handling flexibility, particularly valuable for short-handed sailing or when managing varying wind conditions on extended passages. With a comfort ratio of 42.77, this Nautor strikes an appealing middle ground between comfort and performance, while the capsize screening value of 1.72 indicates good offshore capability. The fiberglass construction benefits from Nautor's legendary build quality, known throughout the industry for durability and attention to detail. This rare yacht would suit experienced sailors seeking a distinctive, well-built vessel capable of serious coastal and offshore cruising adventures.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 39.21 ft / 11.95 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 31.00 ft / 9.45 m
Beam 13.16 ft / 4.01 m
Max Draft 5.58 ft / 1.70 m
Displacement 28,660.00 lb / 13,000 kg
Ballast 9,039.00 lb / 4,100 kg
Ballast Type Lead
Sail Area (Reported) 793.00 ft² / 73.67 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin with rudder on skeg
Rigging Type Masthead Ketch
Construction FG
Designer S&S
Builder Nautor
First Built 1977
Last Built 1978
Number Built 4
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Performance Ratios
SA/Displacement Sail Area to Displacement ratio measures how much sail power a boat has relative to its weight. Higher values mean more performance and speed.
Under 14 — Heavy cruiser, slow14–18 — Cruising sailboat18–22 — Cruiser/racerOver 22 — Performance racer
 13.6
Ballast/Displacement Ballast to Displacement ratio shows what percentage of the boat's total weight is ballast. Higher values generally mean better initial stability and stiffer sail carrying.
30–35% — Typical cruiser35–45% — Stiff performance boatOver 45% — Racing oriented
 31.54
Displacement/Length Displacement to Length ratio measures how heavy a boat is relative to its waterline length. Lower values mean a lighter, faster boat.
Under 100 — Ultralight racer100–200 — Light cruiser/racer200–300 — Moderate cruiser300–400 — Heavy cruiserOver 400 — Very heavy
 429.48
Comfort Ratio Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio predicts how comfortable a boat will feel in offshore conditions. Higher values mean a steadier, more comfortable motion in a seaway.
Under 20 — Uncomfortably rough20–30 — Acceptable coastal30–40 — Good offshore comfortOver 40 — Very comfortable offshore
 42.77
Capsize Screening Formula The USHS Capsize Screening Formula estimates offshore capsize risk. Lower is safer — values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing.
Under 2.0 — Safe for offshore2.0–2.2 — Borderline offshoreOver 2.2 — Coastal use recommended
 1.72
Hull Speed Hull Speed is the theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull, calculated from waterline length. Most cruising sailboats reach this speed in moderate conditions. 7.46 kn
S# (Speed Number) The Speed Number (S#) is a quick performance index. Higher values indicate a faster, more powerful design relative to its size.
Under 3.0 — Slow cruiser3.0–5.0 — Average cruiser5.0–7.0 — Performance cruiserOver 7.0 — Racer
 0.7
Pounds/Inch Immersion Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline. 1,457.69 pounds/inch
SA/Displacement (Calc) Calculated Sail Area to Displacement ratio using actual measured sail dimensions rather than reported values. More precise than the reported SA/Disp figure. 11.29
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 50.98 ft / 15.54 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 14.99 ft / 4.57 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 43.24 ft / 13.18 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 12.76 ft / 3.89 m
SA Fore 382.10 ft² / 35.50 m²
SA Main 275.87 ft² / 25.63 m²
SA Total (100%) 657.97 ft² / 61.13 m²
Est. Forestay Length 53.14 ft / 16.20 m
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make Perkins
Engine Type Diesel
Horsepower 73
Fuel Capacity 243 gals / 920 L
Water Capacity 297 gals / 1,124 L
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