Jeanneau NC 895 Review

The new Jeanneau NC 895 is a pocket cruiser with a lot to offer and it will appeal to a huge number of people who appreciate its comfortable accommodations.

A lot of eyebrows were raised at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show when the all-new Jeanneau NC 895 was unveiled. The 29-foot, outboard-powered pocket cruiser seems to think it’s a super yacht, thanks to an innovative design and some truly imaginative engineering from the French boat builder. The NC 895 manages to offer far more interior space and a much greater range of amenities than one would ever expect to see in a boat of this size. Little wonder it’s attracting a ton of interest from buyers worldwide.

The NC 895 – or Merry Fisher, as Jeanneau calls it – gets its power from outboard engines mounted on a stern bracket, which is surrounded by a split swim platform. The portside platform offers easy access to the shore power connection, while the platform to starboard holds a four-step retractable boarding ladder, a convenient grab bar, and cockpit access through a stainless steel gate. That gate also provides the easiest access from the dock.

The outboard-powered NC 895 makes the most of its length for a spacious and inviting layout.

As you step through into the cockpit of the Jeanneau NC 895, the delightful artificial teak flooring that began on the swim platform continues on board, creating a stunning looking space with an inviting, near full-width transom bench seat and a port-side lounge that extends all the way forward to the main cabin entry. Look carefully and you’ll note that the transom bench is mounted on a sliding base. In its normal position this makes the most of the cockpit’s available space. But should you need to raise the engines up and out of the water, flipping a small lever allows the bench seat to slide forward, creating extra room for the engines to clear. Look closer still at the floor and you’ll spot an aluminum plate that accepts a removable, pedestal-mount table, allowing fine dining al fresco. Twin catwalks on either side of the deck provide pass-through access to the bow.

The dinette easily converts to a comfortable lounge by lowering the table and installing a filler cushion.

Most people will continue their tour of the Jeanneau NC 895 by stepping into the main salon, accessed through a large sliding glass door. The port-side dinette offers plenty of space for dining indoors, with a large table and seating or four. Huge, opening picture windows throughout the salon give this boat an unusually bright and airy feel, with unobstructed 360-degree views from pretty well anywhere. After meals, the table can be lowered and a padded insert cushion installed to convert this space to a comfy lounge or a double bed for extra overnight guests.

The galley is small, but well equipped and intelligently laid out.

Opposite the dinette, on the starboard side of the salon, is a small but well equipped galley, complete with a stainless steel sink, a two-burner gas stove and a refrigerator. There’s plenty of storage space for utensils, and its position just inside the salon door lets the galley easily serve guests seated either indoors or out.

The helm offers plenty of space for aftermarket electronics. Note how the dinette converts to form a companion seat.

Just forward of the galley is the ergonomically designed helm station. The smartly-designed dash provides full controls at the driver’s fingertips, with plenty of space for aftermarket electronics, a stereo such as the high-end Fusion system installed in our review boat, and a full complement of lighted rocker switches to control lights and other electric accessories. The Captain’s chair is mounted on top of the galley’s refrigerator; with a shelf-style footrest, this arrangement not only maximizes interior space, but permits comfortable operation from either a seated or standing position.

Huge opening windows, overhead twin sunroofs, and an opening helm door give the NC 895 full 360-degree views from anywhere inside.

The Jeanneau NC 895 is full of surprises, though, and one of them is right beside the helm in the form of a full height sliding door, allowing the driver to step outside onto the side deck without having to walk through the full length of the salon. This is a tremendous feature, not only from a safety and convenience standpoint, but also in how it allows the owner to completely open up the boat and let the fresh air through. Overhead, a pair of independently controlled sun roofs further add to that spacious, open feeling.

Yet another Jeanneau NC 895 surprise is just outside of the salon on that starboard-side deck. You can head aft to the cockpit, walk forward to the bow, or open a neatly concealed door to step directly out onto the dock – again without having to return through the salon and all the way to the swim platform. This is a huge convenience when boating on your own, or just any time you want to save a few steps at the dock.

Below decks you’ll find a full head compartment and two bright, inviting berths.

If you were to continue up front to the bow you’d find a large, attractive sun pad waiting for you and inviting you to sprawl out and enjoy the warmth. This space can be easily converted to a forward-facing bench seat if desired.

Returning indoors, a couple of short steps past the helm console takes you down below where not one, but two spacious guest cabins await. Up in the bow you’ll find a large cabin with a comfy V-berth, which is accessible from either side. Like the salon above, the cabin is bright and airy, courtesy of some surprisingly large windows that really let the light shine in. Thanks to Jeanneau’s beam-forward design and generous deck elevation, it’s a much larger cabin than one might expect.

An equally spacious aft cabin, actually positioned under the salon, has a full-sized berth and is also well lit through oversized windows. Mid-cabins often look dark and unappealing on boats of this size, but Jeanneau has done a wonderful job opening up the space to give it the space and appeal it deserves.

Both cabins share the same spacious and bright head, which is located on the starboard side just forward of the helm station.

Built for the open sea, Jeanneau’s NC 895 handles big water with ease while delivering excellent fuel economy with a single 300 or twin 150s.

Being a Jeanneau, the NC 895 is built to an extremely high quality level and is tough enough for use on the open sea. Powered by a single 350 horsepower outboard or, more likely, a pair of 150s, the Jeanneau NC 895 offers low maintenance and outstanding fuel economy, making the most of its twin 53-gallon fuel tanks for comfortable long-range cruising. This boat has a lot to offer, and will appeal to a huge number of people who appreciate its comfortable accommodations, fresh design, low maintenance requirements, and bright, spacious layout.

Jeanneau NC 895