Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 389 Sailboats for Sale

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, and ex-charter examples are common. The three-cabin fixed-keel arrangement reviewed at launch placed the cooking gas in a deep aft locker and gave a washroom that exceeded a Dufour 382’s footprint with additional shower volume. The v-berth in these boats has no hull windows and only one hatch for light, so expect a darker forepeak than later designs offer. Companionway steps read more like stairs than a ladder, and grab rails run above and below decks for safe movement in any conditions.

Equipment and Common Upgrades

On the used market, a swim platform, dodger, air conditioning, and autopilot are commonly fitted, while teak decks, chartplotter, electric winches, and bimini are often seen. For buyer consequence, the climate-and-steering cluster — air conditioning and autopilot — matters most on a cruiser this size, since both speak to how the boat was spec’d for liveaboard or charter use rather than weekend sailing. A furling main and reduced-crew sail handling appear as less common owner upgrades; the latter rewrites as sail handling set up for fewer crew, worth checking if single-handed use is planned. Less commonly seen still are life raft and EPIRB, which a buyer should verify are serviced rather than merely present.

What to Inspect

The practical record points to a few specific items. The swim ladder was much too short and there is no swim platform, only a step about the length of a size-eight foot, so check re-boarding ease from the water anchor. The galley cabinet above the stove opens down onto the range, knocking anything off when it drops — inspect for damage and consider a retrofit. The v-berth’s single hatch and absent hull windows are inherent; verify the hatch seals and screen. There is no salt-water foot pump, and galley cabinets are not soft-closing. When accessing the engine below, hydraulic arms hold it open — confirm those arms still function.

Availability and Buyer’s Takeaway

These boats turn up in the United States, Croatia, Greece, the British Virgin Islands, Spain, and Germany. For a shopper, the short list is: confirm the layout matches your cabin count need, check the galley cabinet and swim-access details, verify autopilot and climate equipment if fitted, and inspect the hydraulic engine hatch arms. The 389 rewards the careful buyer with a quick, well-thought-out cockpit cruiser whose few awkward corners are visible on a single walk-through.