Design and Hull Form
Berret and Racoupeau approached the 393 by taking lessons from contemporary long-distance racers and applying them selectively to a cruising hull. The boat is very beamy for her size, pushing the 381's already generous 12-foot-11 beam out to a full 13 feet. That width is not merely about cabin volume: the designers used beam for speed, with powerful after sections that permit faired waterlines and a flattened stern shape that minimizes wave-making resistance. Semi-circular sectional shapes ease the turn of the bilge to reduce parasitic drag in light air. The result is a hull that reaches and runs with genuine enthusiasm, and a fairly fine entry at the bow with a broad flat section aft that turns a breezy reach into a vivid experience.
The waterline is notably long at 35 feet 1 inch — a full two feet and three inches more than the 381 it replaced. That longer waterline provides a more open-ended speed potential that translates into better passage times, and it shows. On the wind at 30 degrees apparent the boat tends to skate sideways, but sailed full and by, closer to 40 degrees, she becomes balanced and weatherly, tacking consistently within 85 degrees. The balanced spade rudder gives responsive helm feedback and makes tacking a pleasure. Deep-keel owners gain a 6-foot-3-inch draft option that meaningfully improves upwind lift over the standard 5-foot-1 shoal fin.
The keel itself is cast iron rather than lead — a deliberate Beneteau choice. Iron costs less, and making the foil as thin as possible at the keel root reduces turbulence there, which Beneteau argues is easier with cast iron than with lead. The trade-off is that iron keel coatings must be scrupulously maintained to prevent ferrous corrosion; a neglected iron keel can develop rust staining or structural degradation that a lead keel would not. The ballast-to-displacement ratio sits at 31 percent, meaning the 393 draws its initial stiffness from beam rather than from ballast — a design philosophy worth understanding before setting out in challenging conditions.
Rig and Sail Handling
The 393 is a masthead sloop with a 46-foot-1-inch I measurement and 638 square feet of reported sail area. The sail area-to-displacement ratio climbs meaningfully from the 381's 14.45 to a more robust 16, placing the boat right at the threshold between adequately powered and genuinely lively. A furling genoa is standard, and the long genoa track and traveler across the cabin top allow for precise sail trimming with all lines led aft. Single-line reefing is straightforward and quick.
The mast is deck-stepped, a choice the Practical Sailor review questioned for a boat this size. The consequence is a babystay required to help keep the rig in column, adding a stay that can complicate tacking with a large headsail and demands more rigorous inspection. Sailors planning extended passages are advised to dote on the rig and all its terminals, as the deck-stepped arrangement concentrates loads at the partners in ways that keel-stepped masts distribute more benignly through the hull.
The standard furling mainsail lacks the effective area of a conventional main, and Beneteau offered a "classic" mainsail arrangement as an option. Sailors who push the boat hard upwind consistently find the conventional main superior for pointing and power. Running downwind, the boat is well suited to a poled conventional spinnaker for cruising versatility, though the masthead configuration does support a large asymmetric as well.
Accommodations
The 393's interior can be configured two ways, and the choice matters more than it might initially appear. The two-cabin layout puts a large athwartship double berth to starboard under the cockpit, a U-shaped galley to port, and a navigation station to starboard; forward of the nav station sits a bar and cabinet in place of a settee. The three-cabin version substitutes two fore-and-aft quarter berths, moves the nav station to port, and replaces the bar and cabinet with a linear galley.
Both layouts share a forward double berth with its own head and shower, plus a second head aft — a luxury at this length. Seating for eight at a U-shaped dinette with an inboard bench makes the saloon genuinely social. Headroom in the after saloon approaches 6 feet 6 inches, which is exceptional for this class, and light floods in through three acrylic windows in the cabin top and six deadlights plus seven overhead hatches, six house ports, and six hull ports.
The practical trade-offs between layouts are real. The U-shaped galley in the two-cabin version is safer in a seaway and more convivial than the linear galley of the three-cabin; the two-cabin layout also yields a deep cockpit locker that the three-cabin sacrifices. Conversely, the three-cabin provides a dedicated navigation station, an extra hanging locker, and the additional sleeping cabin — useful for charter operators or families. The hanging lockers are cedar-lined and larger than average, and the wood shop's computer-controlled milling produces furniture and cabinetry that live up to custom standards of fit, precision, and harmony.
Tankage runs to 36 gallons of fuel and 119 gallons of water — substantial for a boat like this but not encouraging world-girdling passages. The shallow bilge is an unfortunate byproduct of the flat-bottomed design, though a deep sump is fitted to keep water from reaching critical areas.
Known Issues and Weaknesses
Several structural and design decisions invite scrutiny from prospective buyers. The hull-deck joint uses an inward-turning flange bedded in sealant, bolted through in high-load areas and machine-screwed on 6-inch centers elsewhere — a method described by Beneteau as relying on chemical bond plus mechanical fastening plus shear-load efficiency, but one that some critics consider minimalistic relative to the boat's size.
Upwind performance in steep chop is genuinely limited. Above 17 knots of wind with built-up waves, the boat pounds, sometimes halting forward motion under engine. The relatively light iron keel and wide beam mean she heels more than other boats of comparable size, and the shallow standard draft restricts upwind bite. Opening the upwind angle to 55 degrees or more relative to the wave face alleviates the pounding significantly, but sailors accustomed to stiffer, deeper-keeled designs will notice the difference.
The deck-stepped mast, as noted, requires a babystay and demands more rigorous rig inspection than a keel-stepped alternative. The chainplate anchoring was flagged as a potential weak point by Practical Sailor — not that failures were documented, but the anchorage design drew comment. On longer passages, rigging inspection should be a standing item on the maintenance schedule.
The capsize screening number of 2.02 places the boat marginally above the 2.0 threshold generally associated with blue-water-capable hulls. She is better suited to ocean passages if the CSF is 2.0 or less — so the 393 sits right at that boundary, a signal that she is primarily a coastal and offshore cruiser rather than a dedicated bluewater passage-maker.
Refits and Upgrades
Owners who have taken the 393 beyond coastal sailing generally arrive at a consistent list of modifications. Fitting an inner forestay for a storm jib addresses the boat's limited heavy-weather sail inventory and is the single upgrade most often cited by passage-making owners. A boom brake improves downwind safety and control when conditions deteriorate. Renewing standing rigging on an aged example is prudent given the deck-stepped mast's demands on chainplates and spreader angles.
Choosing the deep-keel option — 6 feet 3 inches versus the standard 5 feet 1 — is the most consequential decision when buying a used example for anything beyond day-sailing. Practical Sailor's reviewers specifically recommended the deep-keel option for any owner planning passage work. The extra lateral plane sharpens upwind performance measurably and improves tracking in a steep sea.
Owners upgrading from the standard furling mainsail to a conventional main with full-length battens report improved pointing ability and better sail shape across the wind range. The mast configuration supports the conversion without structural modification.
The Verdict
The Beneteau 393 is the product of a builder at the top of its manufacturing game applying genuine naval architecture talent to the question of what coastal cruisers actually want. The answer Berret and Racoupeau delivered is a roomy, light, fast-reaching 38-footer that is gratifying to sail and honest in its compromises. It is not a boat for clawing off a lee shore in a gale or for passages where the waves are bigger than the boat; those conditions demand a heavier boat with lower freeboard and more ocean-going capability. Within its intended envelope — coastal cruising, moderate offshore passages, club racing — it excels.
Pros
- Exceptional cockpit volume and ergonomics for a 38-footer
- Broad beam delivers lively reaching and running performance
- Well-lit, genuinely roomy interior with flexible two- or three-cabin layouts
- Cedar-lined hanging lockers and cabinetry quality above class average
- Responsive balanced spade rudder with consistent tacking angles
- Good engine access to the 40-hp diesel from multiple entry points
Cons
- Deck-stepped mast requires babystay and rigorous rig inspection
- Iron keel demands consistent antifoul and coating maintenance to prevent corrosion
- Pounds in steep chop above 17 knots; limited heavy-weather upwind comfort
- Low ballast-to-displacement ratio (31%) means heels more than stiffer designs
- Standard shallow draft limits upwind performance; deep-keel option is strongly preferred for passage work
- Capsize screening figure sits marginally above the blue-water threshold
