Beneteau Oceanis 393 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

The 393 combines the space and simplicity of a substantial cruising boat with a rig and hull intended for manageable short-handed sailing. She measures 38.16 feet overall, with a 35-foot waterline, a 13-foot beam, and a displacement of 17,152 pounds.

Design and Construction

Beneteau built the 393 with a solid-fiberglass hull reinforced by a structural grid. The molded cabin liner and bulkheads are bonded to the hull on all sides, providing ample structural support.

The deck is balsa-cored except around hardware and along its outer rim. At the hull-to-deck joint, an inward-turning flange is bedded in heavy sealant and fastened with machine screws on 6-inch centers.

Below the waterline, the 393 has a cast-iron keel and balanced spade rudder in a fin-with-bulb configuration. The hull has a fairly fine entry at the bow, widening to a broad, flat section aft. One trade-off of that flat-bottomed form is a shallow bilge, although a deep sump helps prevent water from sloshing across the cabin sole.

With a ballast-displacement ratio of only 31 percent, the 393 relies more on hull shape than lead for stability. Owners report that she heels more than other boats of similar size because her keel carries less weight than usual.

Rig, Sailing, and Handling

The 393 is a deck-stepped masthead sloop, with a babystay helping to keep the mast in column. A long genoa track and cabin-top traveler allow precise sail trim, while all control lines lead aft to the cockpit. In period tests, the single-line reefing system proved quick and easy to use.

The standard mast-furling mainsail sacrifices some effective area compared with a conventional main. Beneteau later offered the conventional sail as the optional “classic” rig, which remains a worthwhile retrofit for sailors seeking more drive upwind. A deep-keel option was also available for better lift.

Under sail, the balanced spade rudder helped the boat tack consistently through less than 85 degrees. The boat showed healthy behavior and easy maneuvering well suited to a small crew. In 17-knot gusts, the boat pushed through steep waves running against the tide at about 6.5 knots while hard on the wind. The cockpit remained surprisingly dry, even without a dodger.

Under power, either the 40-horsepower Westerbeke or Volvo diesel provided exceptional handling when slipping in and out of a berth in gusty harbor winds.

Cockpit and Accommodations

Beneteau offered two interior layouts. In the two-cabin version, a large athwartship double berth sits to starboard beneath the cockpit. A U-shaped galley is to port, while the navigation station is to starboard, with a large bar and cabinet forward. That cabinet adds useful storage but takes up saloon space that might otherwise serve as a sea berth.

The three-cabin version has two fore-and-aft double berths beneath the cockpit, moves the navigation station to port, and adds a quarter cabin aft on each side.

Both layouts seat eight around a U-shaped dinette. They include a head and shower forward of a roomy double berth, plus a second head and shower aft. Headroom in the aft saloon approaches 6 feet 6 inches, and the hanging lockers are generous and cedar-lined. Cherry-stained joinery, a removable overhead, and extensive glazing make the interior feel open and bright.

Natural light comes through three acrylic cabin-top windows, six deadlights, six house ports, six hull ports, seven overhead hatches, and two cockpit ports. Period reviewers suggested that a pair of cowl vents would be welcome on wet passages for better ventilation below.

The cockpit has a walk-through coaming aft, combining security with an open feel, along with a folding binnacle table. The two-cabin version also has a deep cockpit locker. The well is slightly too wide for easy bracing from side to side, however, and only one of the three table versions provides a footbrace. The cockpit is also well arranged to accommodate a dodger.

Galley, Tankage, and Engine Access

The standard galley includes a two-burner propane range and oven, good handholds, and ventilated fronts. Original tankage is 35 gallons of fuel and 130 gallons of water. That capacity doesn’t encourage world-girdling, but it suits coastal cruising.

Access to the 40-horsepower Westerbeke is superb, which should make routine service and upgrades more straightforward.

Known Issues

Owners report that the 393 can pound when beating to windward in a fresh breeze above 17 knots with a developed sea, sometimes more heavily than they would like.

Her low ballast ratio also means more heel than on comparable boats, according to owners. In the cockpit, the broad well can make bracing difficult unless the boat has the table version fitted with a footbrace.

The Verdict

The Oceanis 393 is a thoughtfully arranged cruiser that uses hull shape and precise sail controls to compensate for its relatively low ballast ratio. It’s easy to handle short-handed, maneuvers well under sail or power, and has enough room for eight people to sit together below.

The trade-offs are clear. The boat gives up some upwind composure in a developed chop, heels more than comparable designs, and has modest tankage for long-range passage-making. The wide cockpit well also presents a minor bracing compromise. Even so, with 600 boats built before the model was discontinued, the 393 stands as a mature expression of Berret-Racoupeau cruising design.

Pros