JEANNEAU NC 895 Sport
You’d expect voluptuous lines from a French boat, right? While attractive, the Jeanneau NC 895 Sport borrows from the ultimate functionality of a commercial fishing boat and takes an upright stance with a square pilothouse, the top of which rakes slightly forward. And that’s great because, in addition to looking salty, this geometry helps deliver one of the most unique layouts in boats under 40 feet (length overall).
For example, that big pilothouse gives you a bright interior, with windows that start below seating level and go right to the ceiling. Want to feel cool and taste the tang of the breeze? Two big sunroofs slide open separately, a big opening window opens on the port side, and the skipper has a walk-through sliding door next to the helm seat, which is perfect for talking to the deck crew without yelling, or for grabbing lines if you’re short-handed.
We loved the cockpit, with a sliding bench seat so the outboards tilt clear of the water (no corroded zincs) and optional seating for an alfresco dining table.
But the cabin is particularly cool, with two real staterooms (each with a door) plus an enclosed head, complete with shower and nearly 6 feet of headroom.
The forward berth is 7 feet long—no tangled toes—while the aft berth is nearly queen-size; both cabins have 6 feet of headroom. Each gets great light from hull-side windows.
The pilothouse has a compact galley (single-burner stove/fridge/sink), plus a four-seater dinette with the forward seat converting into a companion seat while underway. Bonus points for one-level sole from helm to transom.
The skipper gets a tidy dash with room for dual monitors, and our test boat had a bow thruster to ease docking woes.
Power is your choice of either twin Yamaha 200 hp or 250 hp outboards (get the 250s), which pushed us to 47 mph even while the Yamaha guys fooled with props.
By the way, this Jeanneau is solidly built by craftsman in Poland, and more than 1,500 are plying the water in Europe. French-designed, Polish-built, this American boat tester loved it.