Silverton 39 Motor Yacht, Specs, Performance and Ownership

The Silverton 39 Motor Yacht grew out of the 392

Silverton built a loyal customer base in the 1990s and 2000s by offering a lot of boat for the money, and the 392 Motor Yacht was one of its strongest sellers. When the company refreshed it for the 2002 model year, the result was the Silverton 39 Motor Yacht, a redesign rather than a clean sheet, which kept what owners liked about the 392 while updating the styling, the bridge and the interior.

Yachting magazine's review, posted in October 2007, reported a top speed of 27.5 knots and a cruise of 21.3 knots at 2,400 rpm with 385 hp Caterpillar diesels. The base price quoted with those engines was $330,765, and a typically optioned boat with a Raymarine electronics package came to about $416,000. Those numbers are the best reference points available for this model and are worth keeping in mind when you look at a listing today.

Silverton was a Luhrs family company in Millville, New Jersey, part of the same group that built Luhrs sportfishermen and Mainship trawlers. Production ended in the early 2010s, which makes every Silverton 39 Motor Yacht a used purchase.

A Michael Peters hull with a 13 degree transom

Michael Peters is better known for offshore race boats and high-speed sport yachts than for family motor yachts, and his involvement shows in the 39's running surface. The hull has a 13 degree transom deadrise, a moderate figure that balances lift and efficiency at cruise with acceptable ride comfort in a short chop. It is not a deep-V offshore hull, and owners should not expect it to slice through a steep head sea, but in bays, sounds and the Intracoastal it runs flat and predictable. Silverton's specification sheet lists the 39 Motor Yacht at 43 feet 7 inches overall with a 14 foot beam, a 3 foot 11 inch draft and a dry weight of about 24,900 pounds, carrying 334 gallons of fuel and 100 gallons of water, with 16 feet 7 inches of clearance above the waterline.

The moderate deadrise also helps fuel economy. Compared with deeper hulls the 39 needs less power to plane and holds plane at lower speeds, which is useful for a boat that will spend most of its life at 18 to 22 knots.

SideWalk, the bridge-to-bow path that sets it apart

Silverton's SideWalk design is the feature most owners mention first. Instead of climbing down from the flybridge to the cockpit and then walking forward along narrow side decks, SideWalk provides a path from the bridge level forward toward the bow. On a boat this size that makes line handling and anchoring much safer for a couple, because one person can move from helm to foredeck without negotiating a ladder and a cockpit full of gear.

The aft deck, sitting above the master stateroom, includes a wet bar and an ice maker in the specification Yachting reviewed and serves as a sheltered outdoor room under the bridge overhang. It is one of the best features of the aft-cabin motor yacht format and a big reason buyers choose this style over a sedan bridge.

• SideWalk access from bridge level toward the bow
• Aft deck with wet bar and ice maker
• Flybridge helm with companion seating
• Shaded aft deck under the bridge overhang

Two private staterooms at opposite ends

The aft-cabin layout is the 39's biggest advantage over a sedan bridge of the same length. The master stateroom sits aft under the aft deck with an island queen berth and its own head with separate shower and toilet compartments. The guest cabin is forward with a queen berth, served by a dual-access head with a separate shower that also works as the day head.

Putting the cabins at opposite ends of the boat gives two couples genuine privacy, which is rare at 39 feet. The saloon sits between them on the main deck, with an L-shaped sofa and entertainment center. The galley includes a cooktop, microwave, electric oven and dual-voltage refrigeration, enough for real cooking on extended trips.

What the Caterpillar diesels deliver

With twin 385 hp Caterpillar diesels, Yachting's test produced 27.5 knots at full throttle and 21.3 knots at 2,400 rpm. Expect fuel burn at that cruise in the low to mid 30s of gallons per hour combined, which is an estimate based on the engine size rather than a published figure. Slowing to 16 to 18 knots trims consumption noticeably.

Gas-powered boats are slower and thirstier at cruise and are generally less desirable on the used market. They are cheaper to buy and can make sense for owners who run 50 hours a year on protected water, but they are harder to sell and fewer lenders and insurers love them on a boat of this size.

The test reviewer noted that a 20-knot cruise mattered for this type of boat, and the 39 delivers it with some margin. That margin shrinks with age, extra weight and a fouled bottom, so do not be surprised if a heavily loaded older boat runs a couple of knots slower.

The quibbles the testers flagged, and how owners solve them

Yachting's reviewer noted three practical issues, and they are still relevant. The fender baskets fall outside the gunwale line, creating a potential snag when docking. There is only one boarding area, and a second gate further forward would help on side-tie docks. The generator is in an awkward position for servicing.

Owners usually solve the first two with fender placement habits and a portable boarding step, and the third with patience. None are deal breakers, but a surveyor should check that generator servicing has not been skipped because of the access.

Running costs for a 39-foot aft cabin

Plan for $20,000 to $40,000 per year excluding depreciation. Slip fees are the biggest variable, but a boat of about 44 feet overall with a 14 foot beam fits a standard slip in most marinas. Insurance, engine service, bottom paint, winterization in northern climates, canvas and electronics make up the rest.

Because Silverton no longer exists, factory parts for windows, hatches and trim can take time to source. Engines and mainstream systems are well supported, and an active owner community shares solutions for common problems.

Buying a Silverton 39 Motor Yacht in 2026

Target a diesel boat with documented service, a dry and clean engine room, and evidence that windows and deck hardware have been rebedded. Check the flybridge and SideWalk areas for soft spots, and inspect the aft deck where water can find its way into the master stateroom.

Compare listings against the Meridian 391 Sedan and Carver aft-cabin models of the same era. The Silverton usually wins on accommodation privacy and value, while some rivals offer larger saloons or newer interiors.