Beneteau Oceanis 38 Review: Still the Sensible Choice?
A decade on from launch, the modular Oceanis 38 remains one of the smartest used buys in the 38ft class.
Jack & Anchor Editorial3 August 2026 6 min read
The idea
Beneteau launched the Oceanis 38 with a genuinely novel proposition: one hull, three interiors. Buyers could order her as a day sailer, a weekender or a full three-cabin cruiser, and the modules could be added later.
Under sail
With the standard sailplan she is docile rather than exciting, and the self-tacking jib makes short-handed sailing easy. The shallow-draft version gives away noticeably more to windward, which matters less in the Mediterranean than in a Solent spring tide.
Below
Headroom and light are excellent for the length. Stowage in the two-cabin version is generous; the three-cabin version is tight but workable for a family of five.
Buying used
Look for chainplate weeping, saildrive diaphragm age and the condition of the in-mast furling gear where fitted. Well-kept examples in the Mediterranean typically ask €140,000-180,000.
