This is a substantial cruiser: 38 ft 2 in overall, with a 35 ft 1 in waterline, 13 ft beam, and 17,152 lb displacement. Its 5 ft 8 in bulb fin carries 5,357 lb of iron ballast, giving a ballast-to-displacement ratio of just 31 percent. The design therefore relies more on hull form than ballast to stand the boat up.
Design and Construction
The 393 has a solid-fiberglass hull reinforced by a fiberglass structural grid, using a construction method Beneteau had refined over two decades. The molded cabin liner and bulkheads are bonded to the hull on all sides to provide structural support.
The deck is balsa-cored except beneath hardware and around its outer edge. At the hull-to-deck joint, the hull turns inward to receive the deck. The joint is bedded in heavy sealant and secured with machine screws on 6-inch centers.
The cast-iron keel forms the bulb fin. The hull has a fine entry forward, broadening into a wide, flat section aft. That shape results in a shallow bilge, though a deep sump helps keep water from sloshing underfoot.
With a comfort ratio of 24.18 and a capsize screening figure of 2.02, the 393 reads as a moderate coastal and bluewater-capable cruiser rather than a lightweight racer.
Rig, Sailing Performance, and Handling
The masthead sloop rig is deck-stepped and uses a babystay to keep the mast column true. A long genoa track and cabin-top traveler allow precise trimming by a short-handed crew, with all lines led aft. Period tests found the single-line reefing quick and easy to use.
The standard mast-furling mainsail gives up some effective area compared with the optional conventional “classic” main. That compromise is worth weighing when comparing boats.
Writing in Cruising World, test sailors reported that the 393 punched through steep waves opposing the tide at about 6.5 knots, hard on the wind in 17-knot gusts. Its balanced spade rudder made it a pleasure to tack consistently inside 85 degrees. Cruising World also noted that the cockpit remained surprisingly dry without a dodger and that the boat handled exceptionally well under power with the 40-hp Westerbeke.
Owners report that the 393 heels more than other boats of similar size because its keel carries less weight than usual. In winds above 17 knots, with built-up seas, it can also pound harder than some sailors would like.
Cockpit and Accommodations
Beneteau offered two interior layouts. The two-cabin version emphasizes privacy and retains a deep cockpit locker. Its galley occupies a traditional portside nook by the companionway, with a U-shaped counter to port. A large athwartship double berth is tucked to starboard beneath the cockpit. The navigation station is also to starboard, with a large bar and cabinet ahead of it. That arrangement adds storage but takes up space that might otherwise have served as a saloon sea berth.
The three-cabin version has two fore-and-aft doubles beneath the cockpit, creating two aft quarter cabins. It moves the navigation station to port and adds a cedar-lined hanging locker, but loses the useful cockpit locker.
Both layouts seat eight around a U-shaped dinette with an inboard bench. Each has a head and shower forward of a roomy double berth, plus a second head and shower aft. Three acrylic cabin-top windows, six deadlights, and seven overhead hatches brighten the cherry-stained interior. Headroom in the aft end of the saloon approaches 6 ft 6 in.
The cockpit has a walk-through coaming that balances openness with security. However, the well is too wide for most sailors to brace across unless the boat has the footbrace-equipped table—one of three table versions offered. A foldout binnacle table provides room to serve meals.
Systems, Access, and Ownership
Access to the 40-hp Westerbeke diesel is superb, which should make routine servicing easier. The boat is also well arranged to accept a dodger.
Tankage consists of 35 gallons of fuel and 130 gallons of water. That capacity doesn’t encourage circumglobal passages, so owners seeking more range typically add capacity or solar.
The removable overhead, made from a combination of fiberglass, fabric, and wood, improves access to wiring and rigging, although it is difficult to remove. Cedar-lined hanging lockers and ventilated galley-cabinet fronts suggest that the original specification was intended to stand up to liveaboard use.
Known Issues and Compromises
The flat-bottomed hull form produces a shallow bilge. A deep sump reduces the problem but doesn’t eliminate it. A pair of cowl vents would also be welcome on wet passages.
The smaller effective area of the mast-furling mainsail, compared with a conventional sail, is a design compromise rather than a defect. The most frequently cited handling shortcomings are readily heeling with the lightly ballasted keel and pounding upwind in winds above 17 knots with built-up seas. Both are inherent in the 31 percent ballast ratio and shape-driven stability.
The Verdict
The Beneteau 393 is a thoughtfully arranged cruiser. Its Berret-Racoupeau hull uses beam and a flat run aft to provide volume and a dry ride in ordinary conditions, while accepting more lively heel and upwind pounding as the wind builds. It should appeal most to buyers who value cockpit security, ventilation, and practical engine access over ballast-driven steadiness.
Pros
- Bonded liner and bulkheads, with a sealed and bolted hull-to-deck joint
- Choice of two flexible cabin layouts
- Excellent ventilation and saloon headroom approaching 6 ft 6 in
- Precise sail trim, with all lines led aft and easy single-line reefing
- Superb access to the 40-hp diesel
Cons
- Light 31 percent ballast ratio contributes to more heel than comparable boats
- Can pound upwind above 17 knots in built-up seas
- Standard furling main gives up area compared with the optional classic main
- Modest 35-gallon fuel and 130-gallon water capacity limits long-range autonomy
