Beneteau First 38 Buyer's Guide
The Beneteau First 38 is a Jean Berret-designed 1982–1985 performance cruiser of which over 200 were built, and a used-market shopper will find both owner and ex-charter three-cabin layouts afloat. Its short production run makes it a recognizable, if not ubiquitous, brokerage prospect across several Atlantic basins.
Layouts on the Used Market
Owner three-cabin arrangements are the more common find, though the alternative owner layout also appears, and ex-charter examples are common. The three-stateroom plan places a V-berth forward, a convertible U-settee saloon, and twin aft doubles around a centerline heads behind the companionway. Many boats have had the cramped pilot berths converted to cupboard space, and some bluewater-oriented owners reworked the tiny aft head into a pantry or locker, so a buyer should confirm whether the original berth or head count survives.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Power and energy systems on these boats commonly include solar and autopilot, while chartplotter, inverter, and ais are often seen; lithium batteries are a less common owner upgrade. For sail handling and canvas, a bimini and often a spinnaker or asymmetric spinnaker appear, with a dodger a rarer addition. Navigation and safety frequently cover radar and a life raft. A buyer should verify the Perkins diesel and the removable cockpit sole that eases engine removal rather than treat electronics as standard.
What to Inspect
The class has had more than its fair share of osmotic blisters, so hull moisture testing below the waterline is the first order of business. The exposed spade rudder carries no skeg protection and is vulnerable to impact damage, and the aft-cabin headlinings are known to droop. Check the foam-backed vinyl liner glued throughout and the balsa-cored deck for past water intrusion around the solid-laminate hardware mounts.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These yachts typically appear in the United States, Portugal, Martinique, Puerto Rico, France, and Spain. For a shopper, the checklist is brief: confirm layout integrity after pilot-berth or aft-head conversions, test for osmosis, inspect rudder and deck-core water paths, and verify the engine access and Perkins condition.
- Prefer owner three-cabin but inspect ex-charter wear
- Survey hull for blisters; examine rudder blade and deck core
- Confirm any head or berth conversions suit your plans
- Check solar, autopilot, and plotter are functional
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Beneteau First 38. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 15 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 25 | 1 | $27,000 | — |
| Apr 25 | 1 | $29,000 | +7.4% |
| Jun 25 | 1 | $52,437 | +80.8% |
| Aug 25 | 1 | $51,855 | -1.1% |
| Sep 25 | 2 | $46,450 | -10.4% |
| Oct 25 | 1 | $44,500 | -4.2% |
| Nov 25 | 3 | $52,437 | +17.8% |
| Dec 25 | 5 | $27,000 | -48.5% |
| Jan 26 | 3 | $19,900 | -26.3% |
| Mar 26 | 1 | $23,000 | +15.6% |
| Apr 26 | 8 | $34,842 | +51.5% |
| May 26 | 4 | $36,169 | +3.8% |
| Jun 26 | 1 | $37,872 | +4.7% |
| Jul 26 | 3 | $52,437 | +38.5% |
| Aug 26 | 2 | $39,351 | -25.0% |
Where they're listed
Beneteau First 38 listings appear across 10 countries. United States has the most listings with 12 (37.5%), followed by Martinique and Portugal.
Country view
32 listings · 10 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $27,000 | 12 | 1 | 37.5% |
| Martinique | $34,842 | 5 | 0 | 15.6% |
| Portugal | $52,437 | 5 | 2 | 15.6% |
| Puerto Rico | $19,900 | 3 | 0 | 9.4% |
| France | $42,283 | 2 | 1 | 6.3% |
| Belgium | $37,872 | 1 | 1 | 3.1% |
| Denmark | $45,991 | 1 | 1 | 3.1% |
| Spain | $68,169 | 1 | 0 | 3.1% |
| Finland | $44,863 | 1 | 1 | 3.1% |
| United Kingdom | $45,540 | 1 | 0 | 3.1% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
5 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sabre 38 | 37.83' | $ 49,999 | 49 | 17 |
| Dufour Classic 38 | 37.58' | $ 78,656 | 47 | 12 |
| Beneteau First 38You are here | — | $ 34,842 | 34 | 7 |
| First First 42 | 42.92' | $ 49,500 | 24 | 7 |
| Northshore 38 | 37.99' | $ 52,005 | 11 | 5 |