Design and Construction
The 393 is built of solid fiberglass reinforced with a fiberglass structural grid, a method Beneteau had refined over two decades, with the molded cabin liner and bulkheads bonded to the hull on all sides for structural support. The deck is balsa-cored except where hardware lands and along its outer rim, and the hull-to-deck joint turns inward to receive the deck, bedded on a heavy sealant and drawn down with machine screws on 6-inch centers. A cast-iron keel grounds the 5 ft 8 in bulb fin, and the hull itself shows a fine entry forward opening to a broad, flat section aft—a shape that trades a shallow bilge for a deep sump to keep water from sloshing underfoot. With a comfort ratio of 24.18 and a capsize screening figure of 2.02, she reads as a moderate coastal and bluewater-capable cruiser rather than a lightweight racer.
Rig and Handling
Her masthead sloop rig is deck-stepped and needs a babystay to hold the column true, with a long genoa track and a cabin-top traveler that let a short-handed crew trim precisely from the cockpit, all lines led aft. Single-line reefing proved quick and easy in period tests. The standard mast-furling mainsail gives up some effective area to the optional conventional "classic" main, a trade a buyer should weigh. Under sail, writing in Cruising World, test sailors found her punching through steep, tide-opposed waves at about 6.5 knots hard on the wind in 17-knot gusts, and her balanced spade rudder made tacking consistently inside 85 degrees a pleasure. Cruising World also noted the cockpit stayed surprisingly dry without a dodger, and that she handled exceptionally under power with the 40-hp Westerbeke. Owners report she heels more than other boats her size because the keel carries less weight than usual, and in stronger winds above 17 knots with built-up seas she can pound harder than some would like.
Accommodations
Two layouts were offered. The two-cabin version emphasizes privacy with a deep cockpit locker and places the galley in a traditional portside nook by the companionway, a U-shaped counter to port, and a large athwartship double berth tucked to starboard under the cockpit; a navigation station sits to starboard with a large bar and cabinet forward of it that adds storage but occupies what might have been a saloon sea berth. The three-cabin version spreads two fore-and-aft doubles under the cockpit with two quarter cabins aft, moves the nav station to port, gains an extra cedar-lined hanging locker, but loses the good cockpit locker. Both layouts seat eight at a U-shaped dinette with an inboard bench, carry a head and shower forward of a roomy double plus a second head and shower aft, and brighten a cherry-stained interior with three acrylic cabin-top windows, six deadlights, and seven overhead hatches. Headroom aft in the saloon approaches 6 ft 6 in. The cockpit itself has a walk-through coaming that balances openness with security, though the well is too wide to brace across without the one footbrace-equipped table version of three offered, and a foldout binnacle table spreads the fare.
Known Issues
The flat-bottomed hull form brings a shallow bilge, mitigated but not erased by a deep sump. A pair of cowl vents would be welcome on wet passages. The mast-furling main's reduced area versus a conventional sail is a design compromise rather than a defect. The most cited dynamic shortcoming is upwind pounding above 17 knots with built seas, and the light-ballast keel's tendency to heel readily—both inherent to the 31 percent ballast ratio and shape-driven stability.
Refits and Ownership
Engine access to the 40-hp Westerbeke diesel is superb, easing routine service, and the boat is well set up to take a dodger. Tankage of 35 gallons fuel and 130 gallons water does not encourage circumglobal passages, so owners extending range typically add capacity or solar. The removable overhead—an amalgam of fiberglass, fabric, and wood—eases wiring or rigging access though it comes out with difficulty. Cedar-lined hanging lockers and ventilated galley cabinet fronts show the original spec already aimed at liveaboard wear.
The Verdict
The Beneteau 393 is a thoughtfully laid-out cruiser whose Berret-Racoupeau hull uses beam and a flat run aft to deliver volume and dry motion in ordinary conditions, accepting livelier heel and upwind pounding when the wind builds. She rewards a buyer who values cockpit security, ventilation, and practical engine access over absolute ballast-driven steadiness.
Pros
- Bonded liner and bulkheads with a sealed, bolted hull-deck joint for structural integrity
- Two flexible cabin layouts with excellent ventilation and headroom near 6 ft 6 in
- Precise, all-lines-aft trim with easy single-line reefing and a 40-hp diesel with superb access
Cons
- Light 31 percent ballast ratio heels more than peers and pounds upwind above 17 knots
- Standard furling main sacrifices area versus the optional classic main
- Modest 35-gallon fuel and 130-gallon water tankage limits long-range autonomy
