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But don't let its aerodynamic profile and express cruiser deck arrangement deceive you. The 390 Motor Yacht is intended more for cruising comfort than sporty performance. Still, it provides enough oomph to run inlets with confidence. Turn the key and shift into gear. The boat rises to plane without exceeding five degrees of inclination. Of course, from the height of this helm, you're not likely to lose visibility over the bow (although we've tested some boats that pushed the inclinometer's bubble to eight!). Five degrees is the boat's natural running angle-without tabs-at cruising speed. You'll top 30 mph with the levers pinned to the helm. The twin 370-hp MerCruiser 8.1S Horizon engines provide enough punch so that you accelerate with authority-although you'll never "jump." Minimum plane, achieved with trim tabs fully deployed, occurs at 15 mph. Get caught in a blow, and you won't have to bang your way back to the dock to stay in control. Loop around, parallel your wake, and come to a stop. Laying beam-to, our own wake revealed that the 390 Motor Yacht rolls without undue snap. Best economy? I found it at 3500 rpm, where speed is 21.8 mph and the boat burns 34.4 gph for a range of 171 miles.
This test boat exhibited excess vibration underway, so much so that I could see the hardtop and bowrail shivering. Sea Ray said it was still dialing in the props and that the problem would be corrected in future models. Watch for it during your test drive.
THE OUTSIDERS. Weather boards-removable, clumsy-to-handle-and-store panels used to provide weather protection for the aft deck of a traditional motoryacht-are thankfully absent aboard the 390 Motor Yacht. Instead, thigh-high bulwarks ring this area. You can seal out the rain with clear canvas between these and the hardtop. These bulwarks also provide stowage. Try that with tubing and a teak caprail. Clear acrylic doors to port and starboard provide additional protection and access to the sidedecks and bow. These swing on full-length hinges secured by bolts and barrel nuts. The installation is rugged and looks good. A boarding gate, consisting of a cable strung between the rail and the bulwarks, is outside each of these doors. But a hinged or telescoping section of railing would make it more secure.
There's a large wetbar on the aft deck. It has a sturdy grabrail and a big stowage compartment below. The icemaker is standard. A fitting allows you to plug a blender into the 110-volt outlet inside the cabinet and close the door without crimping the power cord.
INSIDE STRAIGHT. Belowdecks, the 390 Motor Yacht is a waterborne getaway for long weekends. Set on two levels-the galley, forward stateroom, and aft master stateroom are "down"-it's beautifully detailed. The fiberglass headliner is inset with a burled-wood medallion. More burl tops the movable table. Wood-laminate cabinets, faux-granite countertops, lots of natural light, and Ultraleather upholstery complement plush carpeting (runners are standard) and designer door, light, and sink fixtures.
The master stateroom features an innerspring mattress, two illuminated hanging lockers, and a private head, which is laid out in three sections. The sink and vanity are open to the stateroom. On either side of the vanity is a door-open one and find the commode, open the other and find the shower. The window on the aft bulkhead can be kicked out to serve as an emergency exit.
