The boat has real wow factor below and offers a genuinely new approach to cruising within its intended brief. It was never designed for challenging offshore work.
Design and Construction
The hull is molded in solid polyester laminate. A liner is glued in for structural stiffness, and a bonded hull liner is added at the start of assembly to increase rigidity. The deck is injection molded with a Saerfoam foam core to add strength while keeping weight down. It is secured to the hull with adhesives and screws, then finished with a 1-inch toerail. Discontinuous teak toerails also give the crew something to brace their feet against on deck.
Beneteau gave the Oceanis 38 angular lines, a nearly plumb bow, and a slightly reverse transom. The low cabintop creates a clean profile while disguising the volume and headroom below. Beam is carried well aft into a wide stern. At some 16 inches wider than a Hallberg-Rassy 372, the boat has prodigious beam and considerable form stability. Cast-iron ballast is deployed efficiently in a trailing bulb.
A hard chine runs from well forward to the transom, helping the boat sail up to five degrees flatter than it otherwise would.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
The Oceanis 38 carries a 9/10ths fractional rig on a deck-stepped Z-Spars mast. The mast is stepped farther aft, centered over the keel, which opens a slightly larger foretriangle for more power. Double sweptback spreaders and an adjustable split backstay support the rig.
The sail plan is 748 square feet, split between a 103 percent genoa on a Facnor furler and a traditional Elvstrom mainsail. Twin rudders with stainless steel stocks help the hull grip the water regardless of heel angle, while twin helms leave the center of the cockpit open.
Writing in Yachting Monthly, one tester found that the boat manoeuvred in a spritely way at the wheel. However, the steering system on that test boat was so stiff that the reviewer repeatedly checked for a wheel lock.
The relatively light hull weighs 14,930lb. Under the standard 30hp Yanmar saildrive, it reached 7.1 knots at 2,700rpm in flat water with no headwind. The optional Dock & Go system substitutes a 40hp engine, swiveling drive leg, joystick, and bow thruster.
Cockpit and Deck Layout
Weekender and Cruiser versions come standard with a mainsheet arch over the cockpit. The arch keeps the sheet clear of the crew and makes it easier to fit a sprayhood, bimini, and cockpit tent. It also carries grabrails and lights.
Most of the deck hardware is Harken, including the primary and cabintop winches. Navigation electronics are B&G throughout, with a factory B&G pack available.
The side decks are wide and easy to move along. The cabintop provides good handholds, supplemented by grabrails outboard of the arch. At the stern, the signature hinged transom lowers to form a swim platform. Flip up the helm seats, and the cockpit has a clear walk-through to the water.
Flexible Accommodations
Beneteau offered the Oceanis 38 in three versions—Daysailer, Weekender, and Cruiser. Each takes a different approach to how the boat is used, allowing the original owner to choose a layout while retaining the potential to change it later.
The Daysailer removes the interior bulkheads to create a single, floating-loft-style room with unobstructed views. The Weekender offers the greatest potential for future changes and the widest choice of layouts. Its open or enclosed cabin arrangements allow an owner to develop the boat from a daysailer toward a full cruiser without changing the hull or rig.
The Cruiser is more conventional. It has a large galley facing the saloon, a bathroom with a separate shower, and a choice of two or three cabins. A removable forecabin bulkhead can restore the open, loft-like feeling. The optional forward bulkhead can also be removed to open the saloon.
One unusual feature for a cruiser of this size is a forecabin bed with its head aligned with the boat’s axis. Beneteau even partnered with Longchamp on a rolling locker that hangs from handles beside the V-berth.
Saloon headroom ranges from 6ft 5in to 6ft 7in. The gently sloping 45-degree companionway provides good access, extending aft toward large stern stowage and a hanging locker. The three-cabin version helped popularize a separate shower compartment, and owners report a tremendous first impression below.
Ownership and Refits
The modular design means a used Oceanis 38 can be reconfigured well beyond its as-delivered layout. Access to seacocks, hardware, and systems is good throughout, which simplifies routine maintenance.
The standard power plant is the 30hp Yanmar saildrive, while the Dock & Go upgrade represents the main factory power evolution.
The Verdict
The Oceanis 38 is a clever, beamy family cruiser that exchanges offshore ambition for adaptable interior volume and stability at modest angles of heel. Its rig and deck layout favor short-handed comfort, while the modular interior allows owners to reconfigure the boat as their needs change.
Pros
- Modular Daysailer, Weekender, and Cruiser interiors can be rearranged after purchase
- Twin rudders and a hard chine help maintain grip and keep the boat sailing flatter when heeled
- Wide beam aft, a low cabintop, and headroom of 6ft 5in or more create considerable space below
- Good access to systems and seacocks helps with maintenance
Cons
- Not designed for challenging offshore work
- Steering on the test boat was markedly stiff, and the helm-seat position doesn’t allow a comfortable slouch
- The two-aft-cabin layout limits cockpit stowage to a sole locker and lazarettes
