Beneteau 393
This good-looking, midsize cruiser is a comfy liveaboard or passagemaker
From the drawing table of Berret-Racoupeau Yacht Design, more than 600 393s were built between 2002 and 2007, both in France and at what was then Beneteau’s expanding factory in Marion, South Carolina. The 393 was the first new model to be built at the U.S. plant.
As its digital designation implies, the 393 was part of Beneteau’s number series. A fiberglass masthead sloop, it replaced the Beneteau 381 and was frequently described in reviews as a passagemaker capable of venturing offshore though not around Cape Horn. The 393’s popularity is attributed to its open concept, creature comforts, smooth-running systems, and its departure from the boating industry trend of building narrow, cavelike designs that proved dark and sometimes gloomy below deck.
The natural light flooding the saloon and cabins from portlights and skylights put the 393 ahead of the competition. Most often categorized as a 39-foot recreational passagemaker, the 393 might not withstand rounding the seven capes, but was deemed strong enough by owners to safely cruise many parts of the globe by taking advantage of canals and other cut-throughs.
The sloop was introduced in the charter markets as the Oceanis 393 and Moorings 403. The design eventually morphed into the Beneteau Cyclades 39.3 for the yacht charter market in 2007, when the 393 was discontinued.
First impressions
The 393’s raked stem and reverse transom strikes a favorable chord with sailors in search of a cruising boat with style.
“Apparently Beneteau has found there are still sailors who want boats that actually look like boats. I bet they’ll sell a bunch of these handsome boats,” Robert Perry wrote in a 2001 review in SAILING Magazine.
It was generally agreed by potential buyers that the 393 was good looking, featured clean lines and was built to take them where they wanted to go, which primarily was safely along any coastline on long passages in relative comfort and style. The 393 build quality was noteworthy for a production boat.
Construction
Built by Beneteau in France and at the company’s former factory in Marion, South Carolina, the 393 has a solid fiberglass hull and a balsa-cored deck.
The deck was attached to the beefy hull with a 3M 5200 type sealant. Structural support was added by the molded cabin liner and bulkheads bonded to the hull.
The aluminum deck-stepped mast supports two sets of swept spreaders. Standard equipment includes aluminum spars and stainless steel wire standing rigging.
The 393 was offered in two keel versions, a deep-draft fin at 6 feet, 3 inches and a shorter, weighted bulb just over 5 feet. The spade rudder was controlled by a destroyer-style steering wheel. Ballast in both options was iron, the keels attached with stainless steel bolts.
The decision by Beneteau to use iron instead of lead as ballast caused skeptics to raise concerns about possible rusting. Using lead would have been more expensive, add unwanted keel weight, and change the center of gravity
What to look for
Like any boat built two decades ago, a careful inspection of the engine, standing rigging and through-hull fittings should be undertaken. Oil and fuel leaks, cracked rubber hoses and worn belts are all basic signs the engine needs attention.
Some owners report leaking at the curved deck windows above the saloon. Others recommend checking the keel for dings that could be telltale marks of a grounding.
The mainsail was designed to be raised by plastic slides in a track, equipment that could be stressed after two decades and cause the halyard to snag or resist. Harken rollers have been recommended by owners as a replacement.
On deck
The boat features a reverse transom with a slatted-teak swim platform, making it easy to board from an inflatable dinghy. A Bermuda rig masthead sloop, the 393 has a deck-stepped aluminum mast, which some sailors believe should have extended to the keel for strength.
The cockpit has teak seats. Control lines are directed to the cockpit and held fast by a row of clutches. Two Lewmar winches serve as primaries. A single, stainless steel, destroyer-style steering wheel occupies a central location in the cockpit.
The cockpit lazarette is spacious, providing abundant storage space for equipment or provisions. Four grabrails bolted to the cabintop provide a modicum of safety. Five hatches allow in light and ventilation to the saloon and cabins below.
Down below
their heads.
The 393 was offered in both two-cabin and three-cabin options, the latter typically found among charter fleets or families with more than four members.
The L-shaped galley to port on the two-cabin models was appointed with a four-burner stove, refrigerator, freezer and double-basin stainless steel sink.
The three-cabin model features a linear galley to starboard but owners complain its layout is less efficient and not as social as an L-shaped galley.
The U-shaped settee together with the large oval dinette can seat six. The sleeping quarters were designed to comfortably accommodate four to six sailors.
The three-cabin model has a double Pullman berth in the bow, a U-shaped settee in the main saloon and two aft cabins, each with a double berth. It also has a nav station with a partition, giving it the benefits of a small office. Communication electronics and navigation instruments can be mounted and paper charts spread out with the nav station.
The two-cabin model has a nav station and more locker space. It has a Pullman berth in the bow and additional berths in the saloon and aft cabin.
The 393 has two heads. One is forward of the bow cabin, another starboard aft.
The hanging lockers are cedar-lined.
Engine
The 393 was outfitted with a Swedish-built, 40-horsepower, Volvo diesel engine. Access is available from beneath the companionway steps and through two side panels. Engine noise is reduced by foam sound-proofing material inside the compartment. The engine bed is integrated into the hull liner. The engine control panel is located on the cockpit coaming. The boat has a stainless steel prop shaft.
The fuel tank holds 36 gallons, only marginally adequate for long passages.
Underway
Complaints about the boat’s performance in a seaway are few and far between. Hull speed is listed by the builder as 7.94 knots, enough to tantalize cruisers who harbor residual racing fever in their blood. The 393 is simple to reef.
Beneteau 393 owner Stephen Kelley bought his boat Mairead 20 years ago, keeps it in Salem, Massachusetts, and has cruised to the Bahamas with his wife Margaret.
“After I retired from a career as a mechanical engineer, we did a nine-month and an eight-month cruise to the Bahamas. We’ve also done several trips down the ICW,” Kelley said, noting the boat’s bulb keel lessened the likelihood of a grounding in shallow waters.
“We have the two-cabin version and the layout is great. We love the L-shaped galley. There’s a double Pullman berth just aft of the bow, and a head all the way forward,” he said. “We have a stack-pack on the boom that makes it easy to handle the full-batten mainsail.”
Frank and Jody Powers bought their 2006 Beneteau 393 Lehe Paine a dozen years ago in Vancouver, Canada, and have been living aboard with their two children ever since. Their travels followed a route that matched Jody’s station assignments as a U.S. Navy lieutenant commander, eventually taking them to Mississippi and later to Maryland by both water and land.
Despite the lack of a washer-dryer, the adventurous couple has found their boat a suitable tiny home.
Conclusion
The stylish Beneteau 393 is an affordable, well-built production cruiser ideal for passagemaking with four sailors aboard or a perfect liveaboard for a couple.
SAILING’s Value Guide
(5-star rating system)
Price: Prices for a Beneteau 393 in the United States in mid-2024 ranged from $99,000 for a 2006 model to $129,000 for a 2003 hull. 3 stars
Design Quality: The 393 was designed by Berret-Racoupeau Yacht Design in both two-cabin and three-cabin models. The designers were Jean Berret and Olivier Racoupeau, from the firm based in La Rochelle,
France. 3.5 stars
User-Friendliness: Owners report the boat is easy to sail, with lines led back to the cockpit and a helm strategically placed in order to reach them. There’s plenty of room below deck that’s well ventilated and illuminated by skylights. 3 stars
Safety: Four grabrails atop the coachroof, perimeter lifelines, bow pulpit and stainless steel stanchions help keep sailors aboard. The boat has adequate iron ballast to keep it upright. It could use more hand holds down below to increase safety during rough
seas. 3 stars
Typical Condition: The two-cabin owner’s model is preferred by couples and small families. These boats tend to be well maintained. The three-cabin version is more popular in the charter fleets where they were used by dozens of sailors for brief trips that can result in heavier wear and tear. 3 stars
Refitting: Hundreds of 393s were launched and as a result parts are easier to acquire compared to those for custom-built cruisers. Obtaining parts in the U.S. was made more difficult after the Marion plant was shut down. Owners recommend upgrades to a color chartplotter and radar display, and adding a radar arch that also supports the dinghy. Other recommendations include adding solar panels, an extra house battery to the electrical system, a high-output alternator, and a three-stage regulator. The boat’s relatively small fuel tank means lashing extra jerry cans on deck when long-range cruising. Beneteau stocked the boat with two halyards, main and genoa, but that doesn’t take into consideration use of a spinnaker or help if one halyard gets hung up. 3 stars
Support: Beneteau’s production operation in Marion, South Carolina, has been moved to France, but customer support for parts and service in the United States is still managed domestically. The company’s website www.beneteau.com advises boat owners to contact their local dealers when seeking support. The website lists 71 dealers in the U.S. 2.5 stars
Beneteau previously received the boating industry’s CSI award for its excellence in boat production and customer service. Some information can be found online through lively discussion groups of Beneteau owners at www.groups.google.com/g/beneteau-owners. Owner and fan groups are also active on Facebook.
Availability: Of the 600 built, at least nine 393s were for sale during summer 2024 in the United States. Others were for sale in Europe, particularly in France. 3.5 stars
Investment and Resale: The 393 was priced at $140,000 when launched in 2002. Even the earliest hulls, now over 20 years old, have continued to hold their value, typically selling for over $100,000. 4 stars
Overall ‘SVG’ Rating: 3 stars
Principal dimensions: LOA 39’3’; LWL 35’1”; Beam 13’; Draft (bulb) 5’1”; Draft (deep fin) 6’3”; Displacement 17,152 lb.; Ballast 5,357 lb.; Sail area 638 sq. ft.
General Market Price Data
2003 Massachusetts $129,000
2002 Mississippi $110,000
2006 Florida $99,000
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