Beneteau Oceanis 320 Sailboats for Sale

Layouts on the Used Market

The three-cabin layout is the more common configuration encountered when browsing used listings, making it the de-facto standard to expect. A forward owner's cabin, aft port sea berth or quarter cabin, and a central saloon with port and starboard settees is the typical arrangement. Two-cabin versions do appear, usually offering a more spacious saloon in exchange for the aft cabin, and these suit couples or serious short-handed sailors who prefer storage over sleeping capacity. Both layouts share the same galley and nav station footprint, so the practical differences are mostly aft of the companionway. Neither arrangement is rare enough to command a strong premium or discount on its own — condition of the interior joinery, upholstery, and through-hulls will matter far more than which layout you find.

Equipment and Common Upgrades

Most Oceanis 320s on the used market have accumulated a reasonable electronics and comfort package over the years. Autopilots are commonly fitted — almost expected at this point given how long owners have had to add one — and some form of cabin heating is often seen aboard boats that have spent time in Northern European waters. A chartplotter has become a standard upgrade on most actively-sailed examples, typically replacing older integrated instruments or sitting alongside them. Spinnaker gear and hot water systems appear regularly, indicating owners who pushed the boat toward coastal cruising rather than pure daysailing.

Biminis and swim platforms are a frequent owner upgrade, particularly on boats based in the Mediterranean or that have done extended summer cruising. Radar and AIS transponders are seen less universally — perhaps more common on UK and Northern European examples where reduced-visibility passages are routine — but neither is rare. Short-handed sailing setups, including furling headsails already standard from the factory, roller-furling mains, and running backstay simplifications, are sometimes found on boats whose owners prioritized singlehanded or two-handed sailing.

What to Inspect

On a boat of this age, the inspection must go deeper than cosmetic assessment. The hull-to-deck joint is a known concern on production boats of this era; probe for delamination or weeping along the toerail, and have the surveyor tap the deck systematically for soft spots, particularly around chainplates and stanchion bases where water has had decades to work in. Beneteau's late-1980s osmotic blistering history is worth investigating on any hull: demand a thorough below-waterline survey, and if the boat has not been treated or barrier-coated, factor that into your planning.

Chainplates deserve close attention. On boats of this vintage, hidden backing plates and tabbing to the hull liner can conceal corrosion or fatigue cracks until they are serious. Pull the interior liner panels if necessary to inspect the attachment. Similarly, check standing rigging comprehensively — swage fittings, toggles, and turnbuckles on a boat this age warrant replacement as a matter of course if they haven't been touched recently. The mast step and keel-bolt area reward careful inspection; any evidence of movement, rust staining, or soft substrate around the keel should be investigated before commitment. The engine, typically a small diesel in the 18-horsepower range, will likely have seen moderate to heavy hours depending on the previous owners' style — inspect for weeping at the heat exchanger, impeller service history, and raw-water system condition.

Below deck, check the bilge pump system and all through-hulls and seacocks. On a 30-footer of this age it is not uncommon to find original seacocks that have never been serviced or replaced; budget accordingly.

Availability and Buyer's Takeaway

The Oceanis 320 circulates most actively in the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain, with a smaller but genuine presence in Canada. Mediterranean buyers will find examples in Spanish and Portuguese ports, while Northern European markets — particularly the UK and Germany — tend to surface boats that have been maintained for variable-weather sailing with the heating and electronics packages to match. The boat is not universally abundant, but patient searching in any of these markets will turn up options across a range of conditions.

The Oceanis 320 offers real value as a first offshore-capable boat or a low-cost coastal cruiser, but it demands a disciplined approach to the buying process. A qualified marine surveyor with experience in production GRP boats of this era is non-negotiable. Use the checklist below as a starting framework:

• Obtain a full out-of-water survey including osmotic blister assessment
• Inspect hull-to-deck joint along the full perimeter for weeping or separation
• Tap the deck methodically for soft spots, especially around chainplates and stanchion bases
• Pull interior panels to inspect chainplate backing plates and tabbing for corrosion or cracking
• Survey keel bolt area for rust staining, movement, or soft substrate
• Inspect all through-hulls and seacocks for serviceability
• Review standing rigging age — replace swage fittings and toggles if history is unknown
• Assess engine condition including heat exchanger, raw-water impeller history, and mounts
• Confirm electrical system is safe, with shore power and bilge pump systems functional
• Verify the autopilot, any chartplotter, and instruments actually work under load