Beneteau Oceanis 38 Buyer's Guide
The Beneteau Oceanis 38 on the brokerage market is a 37ft 9in Finot-Conq and Nauta design built as a modular cruiser that can be had from a minimal dayboat to a three-cabin family vessel. Most used Oceanis 38s trace to the Weekender or Cruiser trims, and ex-charter boats are common, so a shopper should expect a boat whose interior may already have been reconfigured from its original layout. Knowing which layouts and upgrades tend to appear helps separate a well-specified cruiser from a bare bones former daysailer.
Layouts on the Used Market
Owner three-cabin layouts are the more common on the used market, but both two- and three-cabin versions are available. The Cruiser version offers two or three fitted cabins with a large galley facing the saloon and a bathroom with separate shower; the three-cabin layout popularizes a separate shower compartment, while the two-cabin arrangement moves the shower aft of the heads for a more spacious set-up. A removable forecabin bulkhead lets the master stateroom open into a loft-style saloon, and the Weekender is noted as offering the greatest evolving potential over time. If you want two aft cabins, expect cockpit stowage limited to a sole-depth locker and two lazarettes; the alternative single aft cabin frees huge quarter stowage.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Commonly fitted gear on used Oceanis 38s includes chartplotter, autopilot, swim platform, furling main, bimini, and cockpit shower. Often-seen additions are solar, hot water, heating, and bow thruster. Less common owner upgrades run from air conditioning and freezer to code zero, spinnaker, lithium batteries, inverter, and self-tacking jib. For a buyer, the power-and-energy cluster (solar, lithium, inverter) matters most for anchor-life autonomy; a bow thruster and the factory Dock & Go joystick system change close-quarters handling; and canvas such as dodger and bimini affects livability rather than capability.
What to Inspect
The steering on the 38 uses twin wheels with cables to a single quadrant linked by rods to stainless rudder stocks; one period test boat showed a steering system so stiff the reviewer repeatedly checked for a wheel lock, so verify free movement and listen for linkage play. The helm position on that same boat failed to provide a comfortable slouch, a fit issue worth confirming for your own stature. Access to seacocks, hardware, and systems is good throughout, which aids inspection of the Yanmar saildrive and the bonded deck-to-hull joint. Where the optional Dock & Go is fitted, note the aft berth is shortened by the gearbox housing.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These boats typically appear in the United States, Croatia, Greece, Spain, French Polynesia, and France. When viewing an Oceanis 38, check: three-cabin versus two-cabin layout and remaining cockpit stowage; whether the forecabin bulkhead is present or removed; confirmed free twin-wheel steering without stiffness; presence of commonly fitted nav and canvas gear versus often-seen solar and heating; and evidence of the Dock & Go system if a shortened aft berth is seen.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Beneteau Oceanis 38. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 17 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 25 | 1 | $128,180 | — |
| Feb 25 | 1 | $150,321 | +17.3% |
| Mar 25 | 3 | $175,000 | +16.4% |
| May 25 | 3 | $165,000 | -5.7% |
| Jul 25 | 1 | $104,875 | -36.4% |
| Aug 25 | 3 | $162,000 | +54.5% |
| Sep 25 | 9 | $115,362 | -28.8% |
| Oct 25 | 3 | $160,000 | +38.7% |
| Nov 25 | 1 | $220,000 | +37.5% |
| Dec 25 | 6 | $161,301 | -26.7% |
| Jan 26 | 13 | $162,000 | +0.4% |
| Mar 26 | 2 | $157,895 | -2.5% |
| Apr 26 | 10 | $127,540 | -19.2% |
| May 26 | 8 | $170,404 | +33.6% |
| Jun 26 | 8 | $184,000 | +8.0% |
| Jul 26 | 6 | $174,950 | -4.9% |
| Aug 26 | 6 | $170,471 | -2.6% |
Where they're listed
Beneteau Oceanis 38 listings appear across 15 countries. United States has the most listings with 27 (38.6%), followed by Croatia and Greece.
Country view
70 listings · 15 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $179,000 | 27 | 13 | 38.6% |
| Croatia | $116,528 | 10 | 1 | 14.3% |
| Greece | $142,164 | 6 | 1 | 8.6% |
| France | $190,025 | 5 | 2 | 7.1% |
| Spain | $160,493 | 4 | 0 | 5.7% |
| Denmark | $206,181 | 3 | 0 | 4.3% |
| French Polynesia | $138,668 | 3 | 0 | 4.3% |
| Germany | $138,668 | 2 | 0 | 2.9% |
| Saint Lucia | $109,000 | 2 | 0 | 2.9% |
| Sweden | $179,133 | 2 | 0 | 2.9% |
| British Virgin Islands | $95,000 | 2 | 0 | 2.9% |
| Austria | $268,014 | 1 | 0 | 1.4% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
11 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bluewater Cruiser 38 | 40.35' | $ 80,987 | 197 | 45 |
| Performance Oceanis 38.1 | 37.73' | $ 215,000 | 170 | 36 |
| Jeanneau Sun Sun Odyssey 389 | 38.5' | $ 145,660 | 138 | 28 |
| Hunter Marine 38 | 38.17' | $ 104,078 | 124 | 27 |
| Beneteau Oceanis Oceanis 37 | 37.67' | $ 119,000 | 120 | 29 |
| Jeanneau Sun Sun Odyssey 380 | 36.8' | $ 299,000 | 93 | 12 |
| Bavaria Yachts C38 | 37.34' | $ 299,821 | 88 | 14 |
| Performance Sun Odyssey 379 | 37.2' | $ 145,000 | 74 | 23 |
| Beneteau Oceanis 38You are here | — | $ 163,491 | 72 | 20 |
| Dehler 38 | 38.71' | $ 244,635 | 50 | 16 |
| Beneteau Oceanis 35 | 32.78' | $ 149,000 | 50 | 12 |