From its “ocean-rated” windows to the six sealed flotation compartments, the Broadblue 385 is meant to sail safely. Its skeg-hung rudders are the same depth as the hollow keels, which have a reinforced shoe so the boat can be grounded-a handy attribute when beaching for a bottom scrub. In its native Britain, many are kept on moorings that dry out in the large tides there.
On my test sail in light air, the 385 seemed underpowered, and it slammed to a stop in some powerboat wakes we crossed. Most cruisers, presumably, would put its twin 20-horsepower Volvos to work in those conditions.
For a cat of this length, there’s a lot of room below, much of it used for storage. The saloon is compact-for a cat-and comfortable, with a great view from the well-designed galley, which is forward to port. Next to it is a large U-shaped dinette to starboard. A nav table is in the aft port corner.
Descending into the port hull on the boat we sailed, we entered a cabin aft with a large double berth; an office desk is midships, with a good-sized head and shower forward.
At the base of the steps in the starboard hull is a sizable storage area that’s large enough for the installation of a small washer and dryer and a large freezer. Aft is another comfortable double, and forward is the twin of the head on the other side.
Broadblue 385 Specs
LOA: 38′ 8″
LWL: 35′ 9″
Beam: 19′ 7″
Draft: 3′ 5″
Sail Area (standard): 777 sq. ft.
Displacement: 15,876 lb.
Water: 125 gal.
Fuel: 132 gal.
Engines: 20-hp. Volvos
Designer: Stuart Davidsen and Robert Underwood
Price: $356,000
Broadblue Catamarans Ltd., (252) 249-0358, www.broadblueusa.com
