Boat test for the 2006 Meridian 391 with boat pictures, boat specifications, and boat test results. Includes pricing, videos, engine test reviews, and ratings for the 2006 Meridian 391.

The Brunswick Boat Group builds more pleasureboats than anyone else in the world. Twenty builders produce myriad types of vessels, from Keys-friendly skiffs to 100-foot motoryachts, under the Brunswick umbrella. Many of those companies were purchased by Brunswick, but not Meridian Yachts. Four years ago it was created to fill a niche that the corporation’s executives felt was underrepresented among its line of boats: the livability market.

When Meridian’s vice president of yachts, Paul Cherney, met me dockside in Sarasota, Florida, he was quick to explain what that meant in general and as it relates to the model I was about to test, the 391 Sedan Bridge: “Meridian’s goal is to deliver the amenities that boaters would find in their homes to their boats. Families should be able to go to their boats on a Thursday evening and have everything they need for a long weekend.” The 391 is part of the family-friendly Sedan Bridge line that also includes a 34 and 41, and many of the features that apply to this formula are obvious, most notably her galley’s stowage. There’s enough room in its cabinets and standard 7.5-cubic-foot Nova Kool ‘fridge/freezer to keep four adults well-fed for a week. Add this to the two-stateroom accommodations, split head and shower, and dinette that converts into a single berth, and you can see how the 391 meets Cherney’s criteria.

I also recognized this right away on entering the saloon (via a sliding glass door) in the placement and size of the 391’s windows: The area was awash in natural light, both from the huge forward-facing windows and two side windows, which provide the saloon with an airy, alfresco feel. When I looked in all directions from anywhere in the saloon, galley, or dinette—standing or seated—I could quickly pinpoint the horizon, something that helps me and a lot of people feel comfortable aboard.

Cherney remarked that for boaters who will retreat to their yachts for solitude, a quiet saloon is another key aspect in attaining comfort. He then led me to the cockpit and told me to look over the port side. I could see cooling water being dispersed under water from the optional 9-kW Onan genset, which spared us from the incessant splash from the typical above-water setup. A small thing but a good start, as that sound can be irritating while you’re on the hook. But the true test of her quietude would come with both engines and genset running.

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