Design and Construction
Beneteau built the 393 of solid fiberglass with a structural grid, and the molded cabin liner and bulkheads are bonded to the hull on all sides for ample structural support. The deck is balsa-cored except where it receives hardware and along its outer rim, and the hull-to-deck joint uses an inward-turning flange bedded on a heavy sealant, with machine screws on 6-inch centers finishing the connection. Underneath, a cast-iron keel and a balanced spade rudder define the fin-with-bulb hull; the shape itself has a fairly fine entry at the bow widening to a broad, flat section aft. A shallow bilge is the trade-off of that flat-bottomed form, though a deep sump helps keep water from sloshing across the cabin sole. With a ballast-displacement ratio of only 31 percent, the design leans on hull shape rather than lead for stability, and owners report she heels more than other boats her size because the keel carries less weight than usual.
Rig and Handling
The 393 is a deck-stepped masthead sloop whose rig needs a babystay to help the mast stay in column. Sail trimming is precise thanks to a long genoa track and a cabin-top traveler, with all control lines led aft to the cockpit; single-line reefing proved quick and easy in period tests. The standard mast-furling mainsail gives up some effective area versus a conventional main, which Beneteau later offered as the optional "classic" rig. On the water, the balanced spade rudder made tacking consistently inside 85 degrees a pleasure, and the boat showed healthy behaviour and easy maneuvering well suited to a small crew. Test sailors found her punching through steep, tide-opposed waves at about 6.5 knots hard on the wind in 17-knot gusts, and the cockpit stayed surprisingly dry even without a dodger. Under power, the 40-horsepower Westerbeke or Volvo diesel gave exceptional handling for slipping in and out of a berth in gusty harbor winds.
Accommodations
Two layouts were offered. The two-cabin version emphasizes privacy with a large athwartship double berth tucked to starboard under the cockpit, a U-shaped galley to port, and a navigation station to starboard with a large bar and cabinet forward of it; that cabinet yields extra storage but takes saloon space that might otherwise serve as a sea berth. The three-cabin layout places two fore-and-aft double berths under the cockpit, moves the nav station to port, and adds a quarter cabin aft on each side. Both versions seat eight at a U-shaped dinette, carry a head and shower forward of a roomy double berth plus a second head and shower aft, and bring in light through three acrylic cabin-top windows, six deadlights, and a total of six house ports, six hull ports, seven overhead hatches, and two cockpit ports. Headroom in the after saloon approaches 6 feet 6 inches, hanging lockers are cedar-lined and generous, and the cherry-stained interior with removable overhead reads open and bright. The cockpit itself has a walk-through coaming aft for security and openness, a foldout binnacle table, and a deep locker in the two-cabin version; the well is a bit wide to brace across, and only one of three table versions gives a footbrace.
Known Issues
Owners report that when beating to windward in a fresh breeze past 17 knots with a developed sea, the 393 will pound, sometimes harder than liked. Period reviewers noted the cockpit stayed dry without canvas but suggested a pair of cowl vents would be welcome on wet passages for better ventilation below.
Refits and Ownership
The 393 is straightforward to live with and upgrade. Engine access to the 40-horsepower Westerbeke is superb, and the boat is well set up to accommodate a dodger. The standard galley includes a two-burner propane range and oven with good handholds and ventilated fronts, and original tankage of 35 gallons fuel and 130 gallons water does not encourage world-girdling but suits coastal cruising. A deep-keel option was offered for better lift, and the "classic" mainsail remains a worthwhile retrofit for those wanting more drive upwind.
The Verdict
The Oceanis 393 is a thoughtfully laid-out cruiser that punches above her ballast weight through shape and rig precision, easy to handle short-handed and roomy enough for eight to sit down below. She trades ultimate upwind composure in a chop for volume and simplicity, and the wide cockpit well is a minor brace compromise, but as a discontinued 600-boat generation she represents a mature expression of Berret-Racoupeau cruising design.
Pros
- Easy maneuvering under sail or power, well suited to small crews
- Bonded liner and structural grid hull for stiffness
- Two flexible cabin layouts with excellent light and ventilation
- Superb engine access and dodger-ready cockpit
Cons
- Pounds upwind in stronger winds with built-up seas
- Low ballast ratio means she heels more than comparable boats
- Wide cockpit well hard to brace across without the right table
- Modest tankage limits long-range passage making
