The Afina 3950 was born out of frustration. When Wayne Floe, CEO of dock and boat-lift builder Floe International, couldn’t find just the right boat, he designed his own. Now his dream boat can be yours. The semicustom Afina 3950 is in production from an all-new, state-of-the-art facility near McGregor, Minnesota, with a base price of about $500,000. And there is really nothing like it on the water.
This 39-foot-6-inch-long, 11-foot-beam fiberglass craft has a single-level design that makes it usable from stem to stern. Designed to stretch the season, provide climate-controlled comfort and all-weather protection, the Grand View cabin can be completely closed or opened up in various stages — open the forward and aft glass doors, roll down (electrically) the huge side windows, and roll back (electrically) the soft-top section. Collectively, Afina calls these features the Weather Right System.
The day we ran the Afina in hot, muggy Florida, we opened all the glass, but kept the roof closed for shade, and were very comfortable on a 90-degree day thanks to the natural breeze and the one provided by the boat itself. We truly enjoyed the bright, airy house area with great views all around. Heat and air conditioning will allow the owner to further manipulate the environment and the comfort of guests in just about any season or locale.
There’s a galley in the main house area, where a wraparound cushion pulls out to create a berth. The head compartment forward to port has a shower and almost 6 feet of headroom. Access to the Hideaway Suite cabin is down three steps after lifting a hatch in the walk-through to the bow. Below are a settee and a midcabin-style berth. At the dock, we enjoyed hanging out on the aft deck where there’s yet another settee.
A pair of 430 hp MerCruiser Bravo Three drives equipped with joystick piloting pushed the sharp-handling Afina 3950 to a top speed of 48 mph. Running angles are moderate and sound levels are low, both of which add to the experience of comfort aboard this boat.
The Afina 3950’s inverted V-hull delivers shallow draft and quick-planing performance. It proved super-stable during our test. We put it through its paces, carving neat turns and enjoying brisk acceleration. Look for an outboard- powered version in 2018.
High Points
* Fabulous fit and finish, and it’s semicustom, so you can get cabinets, counters, upholstery and the helm built to order.
* Much more attractive than a houseboat but offers the same all-season versatility.
* Running surface carves in turns and allows air to lift the bow at cruising speed for improved economy.
Price: $550,000 (approx.)
How We Tested
Engine: Twin 430 hp Mercury MerCruiser 8.2L sterndrives
Drive/Prop: Bravo Three/25″ pitch stainless-steel propset
Gear Ratio: 2.00:1
Fuel Load: 175 gal.
Crew Weight: 700 lb.
More Information
Afina Yachts – McGregor, Minnesota; 800-336-6337; afinayachts.com
