Grand Soleil 39 Sailboats for Sale

The hull form is the key to what makes the 39 distinctive: a flat-bottomed, beamy shape with high-aspect appendages, a deep-drafting T-keel with a lead bulb, and a rig positioned further aft than was typical of cruising boats of its generation. The result is a lively, quick-accelerating boat that moves through the water with genuine energy, but one that demands reasonably attentive seamanship when conditions build. Buyers should come in knowing this is not a soft-mannered cruiser — it is a performance cruiser, and the used examples you find will largely reflect how that potential was used.

Layouts on the Used Market

Two distinct interior configurations circulate in brokerage, and both are fairly accessible to the patient buyer. The three-cabin layout is the more commonly seen arrangement, with owner stateroom forward, two aft cabins separated by a dividing wall, and a single head — a format that works well for couples sailing with guests and that serves the charter market. The two-cabin alternative offers a larger lazarette accessible from below and a shower cabin integrated into the heads, giving a more generous owner feel aft. Ex-charter examples, which are particularly prevalent in Mediterranean markets, more often carry the three-cabin setup.

The saloon is bright by the standards of Italian production boats from this era, aided by large portlights in the coachroof that let in natural light. Mahogany veneers are the standard finish, with light oak and teak as options — teak-interior examples carry a warmer, more traditional feel. The L-shaped galley is practical, and the forward-facing nav station suits passagemaking. The yard offered some flexibility in cabin divider placement at build time, so the aft cabin proportions vary between hulls in ways that are worth checking on a walkthrough.

Equipment and Common Upgrades

The Grand Soleil 39 was sold with a meaningfully complete equipment specification, and most used examples reflect that. Spinnaker and gennaker sails are commonly fitted, frequently including asymmetric off-wind canvas that widens the boat's light-air range considerably. Teak decks appear on a large share of brokerage boats — an attractive feature, though one that requires inspection for wear and water ingress around the fastenings over time.

Chartplotters and autopilots are essentially universal on used examples. Electric winches are widely fitted, either factory or added by previous owners, and given the performance rig this is a genuine quality-of-life item worth confirming. Hot water systems, biminis, and cockpit showers are standard on the great majority of boats. Heating systems and inverters appear on many examples, particularly those kept in northern Mediterranean or northern European waters.

Solar panels, lithium battery upgrades, code zero sails, bow thrusters, and radar are the upgrades that tend to distinguish more developed cruising setups — present on a meaningful minority of boats but not yet universal. A code zero in good condition is worth looking for, since this boat benefits greatly from that sail in the light-to-moderate reaching conditions where it does much of its best work.

What to Inspect

The rig deserves close attention from any surveyor. The two-spreader Sparcraft rig is capable, but the shrouds are connected directly to the hull without a structural steel grid, routing rig loads through carbon-reinforced floor sections to the keel. This engineered solution is sound when maintained, but it means rig tune and shroud condition have direct implications for hull structure. A prototype test noted significant leeward shroud sag and mast flex under load in building breeze, pointing to the importance of verifying that rig tension has been properly maintained and adjusted over the boat's life. Check the mast base, chainplates, and the structural floor section at the base of the keel for any signs of stress, delamination, or weeping.

The deck hardware and running rigging arrangement is unusually clean for a production boat — lines are routed in hidden channels and recesses — which is elegant in service but can make inspection of sheaves and turning blocks more involved. Confirm that all hidden-channel components are accessible and in good condition. The cockpit mainsheet system, which routes under the cockpit sole to the coaming winches, is worth tracing in full.

The hardware and hinges on storage lockers and hatches were noted as somewhat undersized relative to the rest of the boat's specification, and after years of use these small fittings can work loose or fail. Check all locker and hatch hardware throughout the interior, particularly in high-use areas.

The teak deck, where fitted, warrants close inspection: press around every fitting and fastening for any softness in the substrate, and look at seam condition across the full cockpit and side decks. Teak decks are a desirable feature but carry real maintenance obligations, and deferred attention compounds quickly.

Engine hours and raw-water cooling service records matter more than they might on a less lively boat, since owners who sail the 39 hard tend to use the engine less — which means longer intervals between heat-exchanger flushes and impeller changes. Confirm service history is complete.

Availability and Buyer's Takeaway

The Grand Soleil 39 circulates widely across Mediterranean brokerage markets. France, Spain, Italy, Croatia, and Turkey account for the bulk of the inventory, with Spanish and Italian waters particularly well represented. North American availability is limited — buyers on that side of the Atlantic will generally be looking at an import, which adds logistics but is not unusual for this category.

Used examples that have spent their lives in charter service tend to be well-equipped but require attention to interior wear and engine hours; private-owner boats are more variable in specification but often carry more carefully maintained rigs and sails. Either can be an excellent buy — the difference is in knowing what to look for.

Before making an offer, confirm:

• Full rig inspection, including shroud terminals, chainplates, and structural floor section at keel
• Running rigging routed through deck channels is accessible and in sound condition
• Teak deck substrate is dry and firm at all fastenings
• Cockpit mainsheet routing under sole inspected for wear
• Locker and hatch hardware condition throughout the interior
• Engine service records, including cooling system and impeller history
• Sail inventory condition — spinnaker, gennaker, and code zero if fitted
• Rig tune history and whether spreader angles and stay tensions have been professionally set

The Grand Soleil 39 is a genuinely rewarding find for a buyer who wants more than a comfortable cruiser and is prepared to maintain a performance boat accordingly. Its combination of Italian build quality, lively sailing character, and clean deck design makes it stand out in its size range — and the right example, properly surveyed, offers a lot of sailing for the category.