2002 Najad 490 for Sale – 49 ft – Ardrossan, S06, United Kingdom

Beautifully appointed twin-stateroom centre cockpit Judel/Vrolijk & Co. Najad with a superb blue water spec, much loved and continuously upgraded by her current owners. A change in plans makes her available for more ocean adventures.

FURTHER BROKER’S COMMENTS:

Originally ordered with the specific brief to create a safe, comfortable and easily-managed world-cruiser for a husband & wife crew, LA CONTENTA has proven herself to be all of this and more.  

Particular attention was given to creating essential additional storage and also logical choices in terms of rig, machinery and electrical selection and location. A major requirement of her original owners was the ability to service systems at sea safely and with ease; something which is particularly important but frequently overlooked in so-called ‘blue water cruisers’.

First launched in 2002, LA CONTENTA cruised for on average 6 months of each year in her original ownership with her systems fully laid up in between. Sold to her second owners in 2012, LA CONTENTA underwent an extensive 2-year £100k refit.  A change in health and plans saw LA CONTENTA change hands again in 2016 and she participated in ARC 2016 with her current owners, cruising the Caribbean and returning back to the UK in 2018.  Since then she has been sailed around Scotland and has benefitted from a further continual program of refit and update.

Her main specification highlights include:-

·    Twin stateroom interior layout with custom front cabin configuration affording substantially increased stowage over standard and drop-down saloon table to create occasional double berth.

·    Watertight bulkheads

·    Upgraded stainless steel rudder stock

·    Yanmar 96hp diesel engine with shaft drive and Flex-o-fold propeller

·    Max Power tunnel bowthruster

·    24vDC domestic electrical system

·    AGM service batteries

·    220vAC and 110vAC electrical circuits with dual inverters and dual voltage isolation transformer allowing connection to 220vAC or 110vAC shore connections

·    Fischer Panda 8kw 220vAC generator

·    Twin 12vDC and 24vDC alternators

·    Rutland wind generator

·    440w solar panel array with MPPT Controller

·    Spectra 24vDC watermaker

·    Calorifier tank with twin coils and titanium element

·    Eberspacher Hydronic diesel-fired hot water cabin heating and water heating system

·    Climma 220vAC reverse-cycle air-conditioning system

·    800 litres of fuel capacity

·    730 litres of fresh water capacity

·    Holding tanks

·    Raymarine instrument package with chart plotters, radar, autopilot, and AIS transceiver 

·    Icom SSB radio with insulated backstay

·    GN Espace galley stove

·    Bosch combination microwave

·    3x fridge/freezers

·    Washing machine

·    Electric Jabsco heads (owner’s cabin) with manual heads for guest cabin

·    KVH Tracvision M2 satellite TV antenna with Samsung 43” TV

·    Cutter-rigged sloop with Furlex furlers for genoa and staysail.

·    Standing rigging replaced 2026

·    Leisurefurl in boom furling for fully battened mainsail. 

·    Twin spinnaker poles

·    Andersen 68ST 2-speed electric self-tailing primary genoa winches

·    Andersen 46ST 2-speed electric self-tailing mainsheet/furling winches

·    North Spectra mainsail, genoa and staysail

·    Cruising chute

·    Retractable Bessinzoni davits. 

·    Aft radar tower with davit for outboard motor/MOB recovery. 

·    Combined bimini and tent with standing head room

·    Comprehensive safety equipment package

RECENT REFIT HIGHLIGHTS:

·    Rig inspection and new back stay 2025

·    Seacocks and valves inspected and 2 replaced 2025

·    Solar panels added 2024

·    All Batteries replaced in 2023

·    New Raymarine electronics 2023

·    Perspex hatches, seals and ports replaced by Eagle Boat Windows 2022

·    Sprayhood and bimini replaced with a new tent system  by Goacher Sails 2022

·    Fully reupholstered internally 2022

·    Internal and external CCTV and Yale Alarm fitted 2022

·    Saloon table replaced and hydraulic pedestal added to enable double berth conversion (Original saloon table and fixings available) 2021

·    Anchor chain replaced 2020

·    Wind generator fitted 2018

·    Bowthruster replaced 2017

·    Cruising Chute by Goacher sails 2016

OWNER’S COMMENTS:

LA CONTENTA has looked after us for the past nine years and thousands of miles of sailing.  For our part we have looked after her and maintained her in tip-top condition, adding to and upgrading items along the way. She is built for world cruising and is ready to do that with her new owners.  

We believe she is the perfect boat to have eight for drinks, six to dine, four to sleep and just two to sail.  As part of our upgrades we changed the saloon table making it smaller to ease access on passage and by using a hydraulic pedestal it can be converted to a double berth when family and friends visit.  We have kept the original table and fittings and is included in the sale.

We have sailed LA CONTENTA mainly double handed and developed a crew overboard recovery aid, COBRA, so that one person can physically recover an unconscious casualty from the sea.  This will be included with the sale.  It’s the first of its kind, featured in the Ocean Cruising Club magazine and has gone on to be manufactured and sold world-wide.  The design is freely available with contributions being made to local rescue services such as the RNLI.

Cruising is often defined as maintenance in exotic places and LA CONTENTA comes with an army of spares for those moments when you are remote from chandlers. She comes with a comprehensive set of manuals and drawings that enables every detail of her to be understood.

Tom Cunliffe wrote an article extolling the virtues of in-boom furling at the time we were looking for our first boat. I am a convert. The system provides well controlled and excellent sail shape in all reef positions.  

LA CONTENTA is a fast and comfortable boat and responds quickly to changes in the wind. She is a joy to sail and very comfortable to live on.

We will be sad to hand over but our sailing is now more coastal passage making than ocean crossing.  She is ready for new adventures.

BUILDER’S COMMENTS:

Designing a sailing yacht, capable of sailing all over the world and at the same time being comfortable and safe for the crew, requires a great experience of long distance cruising yachts. The result is the Najad 490. A 49 foot sailing yacht with a powerful, extremely seaworthy hull of modern design.

CONSTRUCTION

RCD Status:

•    We understand the vessel is CE certified by Germanischer Lloyd and a CE plaquette for category A (unlimited ocean voyages) is supplied.

Hull Deck & Superstructure Construction:

·    The hull is built in a sandwich construction and handlaid with multiaxial glass fibre reinforced ISO polyester; full forward of the mast reinforced with kevlar. 

·    The surface layer is of NGA gelcoat with maximum protection against water penetration. 

·    An integral swimming platform with a bathing and safety ladder in the transom. 

·    The bilge is reinforced with a longitudinal and transverse floor plate construction, which supports the keel fittings, mast, engine frame, tanks and cabin soles. 

·    Additional reinforcements longitudinal in the hull as stringers. 

·    All main bulkheads and the transverse chain plate fittings are laminated to the hull. 

·    2 x Watertight bulkheads. 

·    The rubbing strake is combined with the toe rail and is fitted with a brass capping for protection. 

·    The colour is white with a blue trim line and water lines laid in the gelcoat. 

Keel & Rudder:

·    The lead fin keel is bolted on with 16 x 20mm acid resistant steel bolts - torque checked  2022

·    Semi-balanced rudder in GRP reinforced polyester with upgraded stainless steel rudder stock – October 2012 

·    Rudder bearings replaced – October 2012

·    Rudder fitting in acid resistant stainless steel, bolted to the skeg. 

MACHINERY

Engine & gearbox:

·    Yanmar 4JH3-HTE 96hp 4-cylinder turbo-charged diesel engine. 

·    Twin Racor fuel filters. 

·    Aqua drive for vibration reduction.

·    ‘Speed Seal’ raw water pump cover. 

·    Engine room insulated.

Maintenance & Performance:

·    Engine hours: Approximately 5,100 hours as of Summer 2025

·    Turbocharger refurbished 2026

·    Engine-out comprehensive overhaul August 2015 including full service, replacement rear crankseal, flywheel drive plate, starter motor, oil pressure sender, gearbox seals and cosmetic clean-up 

·    Engine mounts replaced August 2015

·    Complete service records, oil changes at half the recommended hours, spare filters and belts

·    Factory manual available. 

Propulsion & Steering:

·    Flex-o-fold 3-bladed folding propeller. 

·    ‘Spurs’ prop protector overhauled 2018 - with spare maintenance kit

·    Max Power 24vDC tunnel bowthruster. 

·    Steering pedestal in GRP reinforced polyester with leather covered stainless steel 1100mm wheel, compass and top-fitted single lever control for the engine and engine board. 

·    MAMBA electrical autopilot drive and spare drive unit. 

·    Emergency steering on rudderpost by tiller. 

·    Spare Cutlass bearing

ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS

Voltage systems:

•    24vDC domestic onboard power system and 12vDC start power circuit with 220vAC/110vAC via inverters, generator or shore power system.

•    24vDC-12vDC dropper for powering instruments from domestic power system

Battery Banks:

·    2x banks of 4x Victron 100Ah 12vDC AGM batteries joined in parallel and series and combined to supply 400Ah @ 24vDC - 2023

·    12vDC sealed engine/generator start battery - 2023

·    New battery cables and buzz bars fitted – 2015

Charging & Inverters:

·    Victron Phoenix Multi Plus 3000/70 220vAC automatic battery charger with 70Amp output at 24vDC and with integral 3,000w 220vAC 50Hz inverter

·    Victron VW Bus multi-control at chart table

·    Mastervolt 1,500w 110vAC 60Hz inverter with inverter charger at chart table

·    Dedicated 220vAC battery charger with 12vDC output for charging start battery - 2024

Alternators:

·    Balmar 24vDC 90Ah engine-mounted alternator for service battery banks - Serviced 2024

·    12vDC 55Ah engine-mounted alternator for engine start battery bank – Overhauled 2013

Generator:

·    Fischer Panda P-8000NE 8kw 220vDC genset

·    Generator hours: approx. 3200 as of Summer 2025

·    Generator fully serviced – July 2025

·    Complete service records plus spares and factory manual available. 

Wind Generator:

·    Rutland 1200 wind generator - 2018 

Solar Panels:

·    4x 110w PV (2 x 110W @24vDC) solar panels fold-down mounted in pairs to port and starboard guardrails 

·    Spectra MPPT Solar Regulator - 2023

Battery Monitor:

·    Mastervolt BTM-11 battery monitor at chart table

Shore Power:

·    Dual voltage isolation transformer 220vAC/120vAC 50/60hz allowing connection to shore power in both Europe and the US.

Other Electrical:

·    On board European 220vAC 50Hz and US 110vAC 60Hz outlets 

·    4 x 12vDC outlets. 

·    USB socket at helm

·    Folding switchboard located in navigation area for easy access; equipped with circuit breakers and prepared for additional circuits. 

PLUMBING & GAS SYSTEMS

Fresh Water:

•    Fully pressurised hot and cold water system with Seaflow 2.5 bar 24vDC high pressure pump and 10 litre accumulator tank 

•    Surejust twin-coil 65 litre engine-driven calorifier tank with titanium 220vAC immersion heater element

•    Fresh water can also be heated via Eberspacher Hydronic diesel-fired system

•    3M fresh water filter system 2022

•    Fresh water manual foot pump in galley. 

•    Hot & cold pressurised fresh water transom shower

Watermaker:

·    Spectra 24vDC Santa Cruz System 200 reverse-osmosis watermaker with MPC3000 controller at chart table

·    Installed in easy access lighted locker

·    Watermaker checked and pickled  – 2024

·    Spare primary pumps, connectors and pipe fittings

Grey Water:

•    Grey water draining directly overboard by gravity or pumps.

•    Shower sumps is electrically pumped overboard.

Black Water:

•    Black water discharges to sea or to holding tank via diverter valves.

Bilge Pumps:

·    3x electric bilge pumps. 

·    Whale Gusher manual bilge pump. 

·    Bilge alarm

Gas System:

·    Dual system gas locker holding 2 bottles camping gas and 2 bottles calor gas

·    Fixed gas pipes with remote controlled shutoff valve between cooker and gas bottle. 

·    Nereus WG200 gas control/alarm unit with sensors in main bilge and galley

·    Flexible gas hose replaced 2025

Seacocks:

·    Skin fittings overhauled and replacement where necessary – August 2015 and 2025

TANKAGE

Fuel:

·    Total fuel capacity of 800 litres in acid resistant stainless steel tanks. 

·    Fuel transfer pumps replaced – August 2015

·    Fuel lines replaced – August 2015

·    Tanks cleaned 2019

·    Manual fuel tank gauges at chart table

Fresh Water:

•    Approx 730 litres fresh water tank capacity.

•    Manual water tank gauges at chart table

Hoilding Tank:

•    Holding tanks on both fore and aft heads. 

•    Tank discharge to sea or via deck extraction point.

NAVIGATION & COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT

On Deck:

·    Raymarine E120 colour radar chart plotter at companionway – 2015

·    2x Raymarine i70 multifunction displays  and 1x i60 (speed, depth and wind) display at companionway - 2023

·    Raymarine HD radar scanner - 2015 

·    Raymarine Raystar 112LP GPS receiver

·    Interphase forward-looking sonar probe with display at helm

·    Evolution Autopilot with P70s  control head, ACU-400, and EV1 Sensor Core - 2023

·    ST600R Hand-held remote (full function) wired to alternate bus

·    Suunto steering compass

At Chart Table:

·    Raymarine E7 colour radar chart plotter repeater with Wi-fi at chart table – 2015

·    Raymarine Class B AIS transponder – 2015

·    Youshiko radio controlled colour display weather station with external sensor

·    Weams & Plath clock & barometer in saloon

Communications Equipment:

·    Icom VHF IC-M505 VHF with DSC - 2015

·    Icom Command mic in cockpit - 2015

·    Cockpit speaker switchable between stereo and VHF

·    Icom SSB IC 710 with ham frequencies, fully grounded system with AT 130 E tuner

·    Furuno DFAX 208 weather fax. 

·    Icom IC-M91D handheld VHF with charger

·    Loud hailer / horn speaker on mast

·    Digi Yacht Wi-Fi stealer system with aerial and Cisco router - 2015

DOMESTIC EQUIPMENT

Galley:

·    GN Espace Levante stainless steel gimballed gas stove with 3 burners, oven & grill 

·    Bosch Microwave oven and grill - 2023. 

·    Extractor fan over cooker. 

·    3x 24vDC air-cooled refrigerators, all with freezer capability 

·    Twin stainless steel sinks with single lever mixer tap and manual fresh water supply. 

Heads:

•    Jabsco 24vDC ‘Hush Master’ electric marine WC in owner’s cabin ensuite bathroom aft. New outlet hose, pedestal, seals and macerator - 2025 

•    Manual Jabsco marine head in forward VIP cabin ensuite bathroom forward. 

•    Bathroom showers with 24vDC pump out.

Laundry:

·    Soba Baby Nova 220vAC washing machine - 2023 

Heating, Air-Conditioning & Ventilation:

·    2x Climma 220vAC reverse-cycle air-conditioning systems with dual controls in saloon and owner’s cabin aft – replacement sea water pump – August 2015 

·    Eberspacher Hydronic 10 24vDC diesel-fired hot water heating system with 3x matrix fan units and digital programmer  – March 2013

·    Heated towel rail in aft ensuite bathroom

·    Heated dry locker for clothes

·    4x Hella 24vDC ventilation fans. 

·    Natural ventilation consisting 5x skylights, 7 x dorade ventilators, 8x opening and 4x fixed portlights -  Refurbished by Eagle Boat Windows 2022

Lighting:

·    LED lighting throughout with dimmable unit where appropriate and dedicated Victron 24v-4v regulator

·    Ample overhead lights and reading lights at settees and berths. 

·    Lights over work area in galley. 

·    Chart lamp in navigation area. 

·    Red lighting at floor level for night sailing.

Entertainment:

·    KVH Tracvision M2 satellite TV antenna system – 2015

·    Manhattan satellite decoder - 2019

·    Samsung 43” UHD smart LCD TV in saloon and Sonos bluetooth soundbar – 2025

·    Sony CD/Radio system with Blaupunkt and Sea Symphony stereo speakers in cockpit and main saloon. 

·    Cabling for TV in aft cabin

ACCOMMODATION

 

Summary of Accommodation:

·    Twin-stateroom interior layout version with the useful addition of custom stowage in both the companionway aft and the forward cabin offering a dedicated compartments for dry locker, washing machine and water maker. Two ensuite bathrooms.

Accommodation Finish:

·    Interior joinery in handcrafted unstained African Mahogany, hand polished and varnished to a satin finish - refurbished 2023

·    Profile milled cupboards and doors. 

·    The isolated moulding above the berths is lined in mahogany. 

·    Flooring of varnished teak plywood with holly inlay - Revarnished 2019 

·    Removable hatches for the bilge and tank gauges. 

·    Headlining of white vinyl covered panels with mahogany strips. 

·    Washable carpet throughout. 

·    Saloon settees - reupholstered 2022

·    Upholstery - all cushions are covered with light-hardy and durable furniture fabrics -2022. 

·    Leather upholstery to saloon armchairs and nav station seats – 2022

·    Custom sprung split mattresses in forward and aft cabins with mattress protectors and fitted bed linen 

Description of Accommodation from Forward: 

Forward VIP Guest Stateroom:

·    Large offset double berth to port. 

·    Stowage in shelves and lockers above and outboard.

·    Stowage beneath berth

·    Custom lockers and drawers to starboard with shelves above.

Forward Ensuite Bathroom:

·    Bulkheads and lockers in white laminate. 

·    Corian grating. 

·    Wash basin and countertop in Corian. 

·    Mirror. 

·    Hot & cold water supply with additional shower handset

·    Jabsco manual marine heads

·    Stainless steel holding tank 

·    Cupboards above and below the washbasin. 

·    Ventilation through opening deck hatch

Main Saloon:

·    Large L-shaped settee to port.

·    Lockers and shelf stowage outboard

·    Fixed dining table. Original larger table available

·    Twin armchairs to starboard with drinks lockers in between

·    Stowage lockers outboard

·    Ample bookshelves and cupboards. 

·    Grab rail on both sides of the companionway stairs. 

·    Ceiling grab rail on starboard.

Galley:

·    The galley is located amidships starboard side. 

·    Large work areas in easily cleaned and durable Corian. 

·    Stowage for groceries. 

·    Cupboards with fiddles for plates, cups and glasses. 

·    Cupboard under cooker for pans, etc. 

·    5x Drawers, 1x for cutlery. 

·    Custom built wine storage; 2x cabinets. 

Navigation Station:

·    The navigation area is located amidships close to the companionway on the port side. 

·    Chart table with stowage for charts. 

·    Drawers and a separate chart stowage area under the deck. 

·    Ample space for individual instrumentation and modern navigation equipment

Owner’s Aft Stateroom:

·    A passageway on the port side leads to the aft cabin. 

·    Amidships a large, wide double berth. 

·    Berth bottoms are unvarnished and ventilated with holes to avoid dampness. 

·    4x Portholes and a skylight than can also be used as an emergency exit. 

·    1x Fixed port light and 1 x opening port light in the transom. 

·    A settee and cupboards to port side. 

·    2x Large wardrobes to starboard side. 

Aft Ensuite Bathroom:

·    Bulkheads and lockers in white laminate. 

·    Corian grating. 

·    Wash basin and countertop in Corian. 

·    Mirror. 

·    Separate shower cubicle with hot & cold water supply 

·    Jabsco electric marine heads

·    Stainless steel holding tank 

·    Cupboards above and below the washbasin. 

·    Ventilation through opening deck hatch

·    Heated towel rail.

DECK EQUIPMENT

 

 

Rig:

·    Selden aluminium anodized mast 

·    Keel-stepped cutter-rigged mast with 3-sets of spreaders

·    Stainless steel wire standing rigging – replaced 2026

·    Leisurefurl in-boom furling system for fully battened mainsail. 

·    Furlex 400S genoa furler

·    Furler 300S staysail furler

·    Running rigging replaced 2013, 2016 (main halyard) and 2022 (new mainsheet)

·    Spare genoa halyard

·    Navtec hydraulics for backstay, boom and babystay with cockpit control panel

·    Vang strut refurbished and re pressurised – 2018

·    Twin mast-mounted Selden aluminium anodized spinnaker poles with tracks and Andersen line tenders. 

·    Boom-brake

Winches:

·    2x Andersen 68ST 2-speed self-tailing electric primary cockpit winches

·    2x Andersen 52ST 2-speed self-tailing manual staysail cockpit winches

·    Andersen 46ST 2-speed self-tailing electric mainsheet/mainsail furling cockpit winch 

·    Andersen 46ST 2-speed self-tailing manual mainsheet cockpit winch 

Sails:

·    North Sails Spectra fully-battened in-boom furling mainsail – 2015

·    North Sails Spectra furling genoa – 2015. UV strip replaced 2022

·    North Sails Spectra furling staysail – 2015. UV strip replaced 2022

·    Spare staysail - 2002

·    Goacher Sails cruising chute - 2016

General:

•    Stainless steel pulpit and pushpit rails.

•    Pushpit seats

•    Stainless steel guard wires. – replaced 2019

•    Port and starboard guardwire gates.

•    Bessinzoni retractable davits.

•    LED under-boom strip light colour switchable

•    Aft radar tower with davit for outboard motor/MOB recovery. 

•    Swimming ladder mounted on sugar scoop.

•    Folding cockpit table with drop leafs port and starboard.

Anchoring & Mooring:

·    Lofrans 24vDC reversing anchor windlass with switch operation from anchor locker

·    Bruce 50kgs primary anchor with 60m of 10mm high tensile chain. 

·    Spare Bruce anchor and rode port aft 

·    Spare Fortress anchor and rode starboard aft

·    Sea water anchor wash down system  -2023 

·    Bow, stern and mid ship mooring cleats. 

·    Fore and aft mooring lines

·    Fenders

Covers, Cushions & Canvas:

·    Sprayhood with stainless steel frame – 2023

·    Combined bimini and standing -room cockpit tent with stainless steel frame – 2023

·    Sun awning with easy velcro closes. 

·    Leisure furl main  sail cover in black  -2019

·    Cockpit cushions in burgundy - 2023

SAFETY EQUIPMENT:

General note on safety equipment: Any safety equipment such as liferafts, Epirbs, fire extinguishers and flares etc. are usually personal to the current owner(s) and if being left on-board as part of the sale of a used vessel may require routine servicing, replacement, or changing to meet a new owners specific needs.

Navigation Lights:

·    LED navigation lights - 2019

Life saving:

·    Avon 4 person liferaft with pushpit mounting bracket and hydrostatic release - serviced and replaced 2025

·    2x Horseshoe buoys with  led light

·    2x Rescue throwing line (at helm and on the stern)

·    Jonbuoy inflatable danbuoy by Ocean Safety on starboard side aft

·    SeaMe active radar target enhancer – 2013

·    Rescueme LED flare at companionway

·    Kannad Sportpro+ GPS 406mhz EPIRB – 2016 (Battery good to Sep 2028)

·    COBRA (Crew Overboard Recovery Aid) with halyard rigged to Port side of mast

Fire Control:

·    Fire extinguisher fitted under the saloon table. 

·    4x Fire extinguishers. Forward, aft, under chart table seat and cockpit lazarette. 

·    Automatic extinguisher fitted in engine compartment