Design and Hull Character
The 373 is from the design board of Berret/Racoupeau, whose resume spans Open 50s, Open 60s, Mini 6.50s, and four previous Beneteau models including the 361 and 381. Despite that pedigree, the designers chose to buck contemporary trends. Where the industry was marching toward bigger mainsails and smaller headsails, Berret and Racoupeau chose a larger headsail than mainsail, with the genoa sheeting outboard of the rigging rather than to an inboard track. This configuration means more sail area forward, which places outsized importance on forestay tension and headfoil shape management — a design choice that cuts both ways. The hull carries a beam of 12 feet 4 inches and a waterline length of 32 feet 10 inches, numbers that point toward interior volume over outright speed. Construction is GRP throughout, with cast-iron ballast on a fin keel with bulb — available in a deep-fin standard option of six feet three inches or a shoal alternative at roughly five feet one inch.
Rig, Sail Plan, and Handling
The 373 is rigged as a fractional nine-tenths sloop with a mast standing just over fifty feet above the waterline. The sail area-to-displacement ratio lands in the low-to-mid range for a cruising boat of this size, which tells a practical story about her intended mission. Upwind, the boat is sensitive to rig setup in a way that the press-boat experience at launch laid bare: rig tension was lacking both laterally and fore-and-aft, the mast bent sideways, leeward rigging went slack, and the genoa became hopelessly full. The boat heeled readily and rounded up frequently under those conditions, with helm feel so light that warning of an impending broach was faint. That said, careful attention resolved much of the issue — easing the genoa cars aft, tensioning the halyard substantially, and managing traveler position carefully improved pointing and control. Downwind the picture was considerably brighter: the boat ran happily, hove-to willingly, and could be gybed with sheets pinned without bringing the headsail across. Self-tailing Lewmar 44 primaries sited well aft of the wheel made singlehanded tacking workable. The takeaway for prospective owners is that the 373 is not a set-and-forget cruiser upwind; she rewards an attentive hand on the running rigging.
Motoring and Under Power
The 373's engine is a 40-horsepower diesel — generous for a six-and-a-half-ton cruiser — driving a three-bladed propeller. At 2,000 rpm it pushed the boat beyond six knots; opening the throttle fully brought speed up to eight knots, and reverse was powerful enough to arrest way in seconds. Maneuverability at close quarters was predictable, aside from an initial kick to port. For a boat with the 373's generous tankage — 33 gallons of fuel and 99 gallons of water — this kind of motoring range and performance translates directly into real-world passage-making confidence, particularly when entering harbors after light-air passages where the sail plan's sensitivities might otherwise frustrate.
Accommodations and Layout
Two layout options exist: a two-cabin configuration with a more spacious heads and galley, and a twin-double after-cabin layout available for additional cost. The twin-cabin variant introduces tradeoffs — a smaller heads, a shorter port saloon berth, and a more compressed galley and chart table footprint. Headroom reaches six feet ten inches, which is genuinely generous for a boat under 37 feet. The companionway steps hinge up to provide engine access, a small detail that reflects the quality-of-life advantages larger boats can offer over stripped-down cruisers. A neat and accessible switch panel below was noted as an improvement over the 323. On deck, the cockpit carries half-depth lockers port and starboard and a full-depth locker in the stern, with a hinging central seat providing access. Three hatches forward of the mast and a single cowl vent over the saloon provide ventilation.
Known Issues
The 373's principal weakness is its sensitivity to rig setup. The large percentage of total sail area carried in the headsail amplifies the effects of headstay sag — a structural characteristic of the design rather than a simple tuning error. Once a furling headsail is reefed around the headfoil it loses much of its shape, and genoa car position must be adjusted when reefing and again when shaking out, a step that is easily overlooked with serious performance consequences. The light helm, while pleasant in moderate conditions, provides little tactile warning before a round-up, which demands active attention from anyone sailing upwind in building conditions. The capsize screening formula at 2.02 sits fractionally above the conventional two-point threshold for offshore passages — a worth noting figure for those considering extended bluewater work, though the boat holds a European RCD Category A ocean certification.
The Verdict
The Beneteau 373 is a purposeful cruiser built around interior volume, motoring range, and comfortable passagemaking rather than racing performance or singlehanded simplicity. Its design pedigree is genuine, but the headsail-dominant sail plan demands informed ownership — particularly disciplined rig tuning and active sail trim upwind. Under power it is frankly impressive, and the accommodation space, headroom, and tankage make extended cruising practical. Buyers who sail with crew and prioritize a comfortable ship over a responsive one will find the 373 well-suited to its mission; those who expect a French production boat to perform on autopilot upwind will need to invest time in understanding the rig.
Pros
- Spacious, well-lit interior with generous six-foot-ten headroom
- Powerful 40-hp engine delivering strong motorsailing and harbor performance
- Large water tankage supports extended passages
- Hinging companionway steps for clean engine access
- Available in deep-fin or shoal-draft keel options
- Downwind behavior is predictable and forgiving
Cons
- Headsail-dominant sail plan is highly sensitive to forestay tension and requires constant rig management
- Very light helm provides minimal warning before a round-up in stronger winds
- Twin-cabin layout compromises galley, heads, and saloon berth space
- Capsize screening figure marginally above the offshore threshold
- Reefing the furling genoa degrades sail shape substantially unless car position is re-adjusted
