The Beneteau Oceanis 38 was never designed to be the yacht that made people stop in the marina and stare. It was designed to be the yacht that made sense once you stepped aboard.
More than a decade after its launch, that's still much of its appeal. The Oceanis 38 sits in a useful part of the used sailing yacht market: large enough for proper family cruising and longer trips, but still manageable for a couple without needing a big crew every time you leave the berth.
So, with plenty of newer designs available, is a used Beneteau Oceanis 38 still a good buy?
For many buyers the answer is yes, although choosing the right example matters. Below we've set out Beneteau's own specification, what the three versions included, what Oceanis 38s were listed for when we searched on 29 October 2026, what to check, what a year of ownership costs on the south coast and how it compares with three rivals.
A Lot of Boat in 38 Feet
The hull was designed by Finot-Conq, with the interior and deck by Nauta Design. Beneteau sold it in Daysailer, Weekender and Cruiser versions, so buyers could choose anything from a fairly bare sailing boat to a fully equipped family cruiser.
The result is that two Oceanis 38s on the used market can be quite different boats.
The beam is 3.99 metres, which is wide for the length, and it's carried well aft. That gives the broad cockpit and big accommodation that have become typical of Beneteau's cruising yachts.
It won the Family Cruiser category in the European Yacht of the Year awards for 2014, according to Yachting Monthly's test.
Oceanis 38 specification
These figures come from Beneteau's own brochure for the boat.
| Item | Oceanis 38 |
|---|---|
| Length overall | 11.15m (Daysailer), 11.50m (Weekender and Cruiser) |
| Hull length | 11.13m |
| Beam | 3.99m |
| Light displacement | 6,095kg (Daysailer), 6,850kg (Cruiser) |
| Deep keel | 2.08m draught, 1,790kg ballast |
| Shallow keel | 1.64m draught, 2,060kg ballast |
| Air draft | 16.55m |
| Water | 130 litres (200 litres optional) |
| Fuel | 130 litres |
| Engine | 30hp |
| Mainsail | 32.7m² classic, 30m² furling |
| Self-tacking jib | 25m² |
| Asymmetric spinnaker | 114m² |
| Code 0 | 65m² |
| CE category | A for 8 people |
| Keel | Cast iron, bolted with stainless steel backing plates |
Source: Beneteau Oceanis 38 brochure (US edition).
The shallow keel carries more ballast than the deep one, which is the usual way of getting back some of the stiffness lost by making the keel shorter.
SAIL magazine's 2014 test gives the engine as a 30hp Yanmar on a saildrive, and recorded 7.1 knots at 2,700rpm under power.
Daysailer, Weekender and Cruiser
This is the most important thing to understand when you look at a used Oceanis 38. The name on the listing doesn't tell you which boat you're getting.
SAIL magazine described the three versions like this when the boat was new. It grouped the Weekender and Cruiser together, so the table below doesn't separate them any further than SAIL did.
| Version | What SAIL described |
|---|---|
| Daysailer | Open interior with a galley sink only |
| Weekender | Galley modules, mainsheet arch and drop-leaf cockpit table |
| Cruiser | Galley modules, mainsheet arch and drop-leaf cockpit table, as on the Weekender |
Two or three cabins were available, the forward bulkhead could be taken out, and there was an optional Dock & Go system for close-quarters handling. Beneteau's brochure gives a different length overall for the Daysailer (11.15m) and the other two (11.50m), and a lighter displacement for the Daysailer.
Yachting Monthly's tester noted that the Daysailer keeps the sink and some stowage below it, with seating forward of that.
So before you compare prices, find out which version each boat started as and what has been added since. A Daysailer that has had a galley fitted later is worth a careful look at how the work was done.
What Is the Oceanis 38 Like to Sail?
The Oceanis 38 isn't a performance yacht and it doesn't pretend to be. It is a comfortable production cruiser designed to make sailing easy.
That said, it sails better than the floating-apartment stereotype. Yachting Monthly's Chris Beeson tested one in 11 to 13 knots of true wind.
| Point of sail | Apparent wind | Boat speed |
|---|---|---|
| Fetching at 50 to 60 degrees | 13 to 15 knots | 6.8 to 7.4 knots |
| Close-hauled at 35 to 40 degrees | 14 to 15 knots | 5.9 to 6.4 knots |
| Beam reach with gennaker | 12 to 13 knots | 7.4 to 8.1 knots |
| Broad reach | 6 to 7 knots | 4.5 to 4.7 knots |
Source: Yachting Monthly test, first published October 2014.
He thought she should have managed about half a knot more upwind, but said that otherwise she doesn't let herself down. She tacked through 85 degrees.
He had three criticisms. The steering on the test boat was so stiff that he checked several times the wheel lock wasn't on. The helm position didn't give a comfortable place to sit. And the mainsheet is worked from a coachroof winch rather than being led back to the wheel, so gybing single-handed isn't easy and one of the crew has to look after the main.
That's the Oceanis 38's character in a nutshell. It isn't especially exciting, but it doesn't do much to frighten you either. For a couple cruising the English Channel or a family spending summers around the Balearics, that's probably exactly what you want.
Where the Oceanis 38 Really Wins
Space.
If you compare an Oceanis 38 with older yachts of a similar length, the difference below can be striking. Yachting Monthly called her "sensational below decks". Without the optional forward bulkhead the boat feels very open, and the hull ports in the forecabin add to it. There's 6ft 5in of headroom in the aft cabins.
The cockpit is good for warm-weather cruising. The helm seats flip up and the transom folds down, which gives you a clear walk from the cockpit to the water. The cockpit seats are 1.65m long with backrests of at least 30cm, according to YM.
It's one reason the Oceanis 38 is popular as a Mediterranean cruising yacht. Spend a week aboard one in Mallorca, Croatia or Greece and you soon find that cockpit space, swimming access and ventilation matter more than whether the boat points two degrees higher. If you're thinking of keeping one in Spain, our guide to cruising the Balearics is a good place to start.
There are compromises. YM found the saloon table had almost no fiddles, and the Dock & Go gearbox housing shortens the aft cabin berth from 6ft 6in to 4ft 2in at one corner. If you want two aft cabins, cockpit stowage is limited.
How the Oceanis 38 Is Built
Yachting Monthly's test describes the construction. The hull is solid laminate with a liner bonded in for stiffness, and the deck is foam-cored. The twin wheels' steering cables run to a single quadrant, connected by link rods to stainless steel rudder stocks. Beneteau's brochure says the cast iron keel is bolted on with stainless steel backing plates.
YM also noted that access to seacocks, hardware and systems is good throughout. That's worth a lot on a used boat, because it makes a survey quicker and maintenance cheaper.
What Oceanis 38s Are Listed For
We searched Rightboat on 29 October 2026. Apollo Duck had no Oceanis 38 listed, and YachtWorld and TheYachtMarket wouldn't let us read their pages.
| Year | Location | Asking price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Gloucester Point, USA | $135,000 | Listed twice on Rightboat, counted once |
| 2014 | Le Marin, Martinique | €125,000 | |
| 2016 | Split, Croatia | €84,800 | |
| 2016 | Corfu, Greece | €122,000 | |
| 2016 | Cannigione, Sardinia | €109,000 | Ex-Sunsail charter boat. The listing calls it a 38.1 |
| 2017 | Kemah, Texas, USA | $169,000 |
That's six boats, and none of them in the UK. We've left the prices in the currency each seller used rather than converting them, because the exchange rate changes and the boats are in very different markets.
With so few boats spread over three continents, we haven't worked out an average. What the list does show is that European asking prices for 2016 boats ran from €84,800 to €122,000 on the day, and that the cheapest boat we found is in Croatia, a big charter market. YM gave the base price new as £95,000 in 2014, though very few boats left the factory without options.
If you're shopping from the UK, you'll probably end up looking at boats in the Mediterranean, and possibly an ex-charter one. Browse the Beneteau boats for sale on Jack & Anchor too.
What Should You Watch For When Buying One?
The biggest issue isn't a known Oceanis 38 weakness. It's specification and history.
Because Beneteau offered three versions and a long list of options, don't assume one boat has the same equipment as another. Establish exactly what you're getting.
Check the sail inventory, standing rigging, electronics, batteries, charging system, heating or air conditioning, refrigeration, windlass and bow thruster where fitted. None of those items alone makes or breaks the boat, but replacing several tired systems right after purchase can quickly turn a cheap Oceanis into an expensive one.
We haven't found a builder recall or a well-documented common defect for the Oceanis 38, so we're not going to claim one. But there are three areas we'd ask a surveyor to look at on any boat of this type and age.
| Area | Why it matters on this boat | What to ask for |
|---|---|---|
| Keel and keel bolts | Cast iron keel bolted through the hull. Groundings, especially on charter boats, load the keel and the structure around it | Any grounding history and repairs. Check the bolts, backing plates and the join between keel and hull |
| Rudders and bearings | Twin rudders on stainless stocks, linked to one quadrant | Play in the rudder bearings, condition of the link rods, and how stiff the steering is (YM found it very stiff on the test boat) |
| Saildrive seal | 30hp Yanmar on a saildrive | When the saildrive diaphragm seal was last changed. Yanmar's current SD25 manual says every 7 years |
Engine maintenance matters just as much. The number of hours is less useful than proof of regular servicing and proper winterisation.
As with any used GRP yacht, get an independent marine survey. Also look at moisture levels, the standing rigging, the seacocks and any sign of earlier repairs.
Charter history shouldn't rule a boat out. Plenty of Oceanis 38s went into charter fleets, especially in the Mediterranean, and one of the boats we found was ex-Sunsail. A former charter yacht may have high hours and a lot of cosmetic wear, but it may also have been maintained professionally. Ask for the maintenance records.
What a Year Costs on the South Coast
Here's a rough first-year bill for an Oceanis 38 Cruiser at 11.50 metres (about 37.7 feet), using prices we read ourselves.
| Item | Low | High | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual berth | £4,577 | £13,070 | Royal Quays at £398 per metre. Lymington Yacht Haven at £12,650 for a berth up to 12.2m plus £36.56 per metre harbour dues, VAT included |
| Insurance | £440 | £440 | GJW Direct's average across its yacht customers (778 policies, July 2026). Expect more for a boat of this value |
| Pre-purchase survey | £566 | £943 | £15 to £25 per foot, from our survey costs guide |
| Lift-out for survey | £357 | £529 | £31 to £46 per metre, same guide |
| Antifoul paint, three tins | £330 | £330 | International Micron 350 at £109.95 for 2.5 litres. Three tins is our assumption |
| Standing rigging contingency | £2,490 | £2,490 | AS Yacht Services guideline for a full re-rig of a Beneteau Oceanis 411 |
| Total | £8,760 | £17,802 |
A few notes on that table:
- We've assumed the berth is charged on length overall. The figures come from the marinas' own price lists, which we also used in our guide to berthing costs in the UK and Spain. Electricity is metered on top at Lymington.
- The insurance figure is an average across all GJW Direct's yacht customers, most of whom will have cheaper boats than this. Get a quote for the actual boat.
- The rigging figure is for an Oceanis 411, which is a bit bigger. It's a ballpark, and you'd only spend it if the survey says the rig needs replacing.
- We couldn't find a published price for an engine service or a saildrive seal change that we could use, so neither is in the table. Get a quote from a Yanmar dealer before you buy, especially if there's no record of the seal being changed.
Oceanis 38 vs Oceanis 38.1
Anyone looking for an Oceanis 38 will also come across the later Beneteau Oceanis 38.1.
They aren't quite the same boat. According to Beneteau's current specification, the 38.1 is 11.8m overall with the same 3.99m beam, 6,850kg light displacement, a 200 litre water tank as standard, and a maximum engine size of 40hp. Draught is 1.64m or 2.09m.
If prices are close, the 38.1 deserves serious thought. But the original Oceanis 38 can be better value because buyers tend to go for the newer badge. A well-maintained 38 with good sails, recent rigging and upgraded electronics is likely to be a better purchase than a neglected 38.1.
Oceanis 38 vs the Rivals
The obvious alternatives are the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 389, the Hanse 385 and the Bavaria C38. Here are the builders' own figures.
| Item | Beneteau Oceanis 38 | Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 389 | Hanse 385 | Bavaria C38 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Length overall | 11.50m (Cruiser) | 11.75m including bowsprit | 11.40m | 11.31m (11.90m with bowsprit) |
| Hull length | 11.13m | 10.98m | 10.90m | 10.99m |
| Beam | 3.99m | 3.76m | 3.88m | 3.98m |
| Displacement | 6,850kg (Cruiser) | 6,920kg | about 7,600kg | 9,386kg |
| Standard draught | 2.08m | 1.98m | 1.99m | 2.00m |
| Fuel | 130 litres | 130 litres | not captured | 180 litres |
| Water | 130 litres | 200 litres | not captured | 180 litres |
Sources: Beneteau brochure, jeanneau.com, Hanse 385 brochure, bavariayachts.com data page.
The Oceanis is the widest of the four on the shortest hull, and the lightest. The Bavaria C38, a much newer design, is more than 2,500kg heavier. We've reviewed the Sun Odyssey's bigger sister in our Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 410 review.
What the rivals were listed for
| Model | Boats on Rightboat, 29 Oct 2026 | Asking range | UK boats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 389 | 7 | €89,000 to €157,080 | None. All in Greece and Croatia |
| Hanse 385 | 6 | £99,950 to £129,990 in the UK, €95,000 to €134,950 abroad | 3: Craobh 2015 £99,950, Ipswich 2013 £112,000, Hamble 2015 £129,990 |
| Bavaria C38 | 17 | €155,000 to €280,000 for used boats from 2021 to 2024 | Southampton 2023 at £189,950, plus new boats at £236,238 and £243,674 |
The Sun Odyssey 389s were mostly 2019 boats at €89,000 to €100,000. The Hanse 385 was the only one of the four with several boats for sale in Britain. The Bavaria C38 is a newer boat and sits in a different price bracket, so it's really a comparison for someone with a bigger budget.
On these figures, an Oceanis 38 in Europe was asking roughly what a Sun Odyssey 389 was, and less than a UK-based Hanse 385.
Is the Beneteau Oceanis 38 a Good First Yacht?
Potentially, yes.
It's a big step up from learning on a 25-footer, but for someone with the right training and experience the Oceanis 38 is manageable for its size. If you're building up to it, plan on doing the RYA courses first.
Twin wheels give good access around the cockpit, the primary winches are within reach of the helm, and the boat was designed with short-handed cruising in mind. The one thing to sort out for a couple is the mainsheet, because it isn't led to the helm.
It's also a boat you're unlikely to outgrow quickly. A couple could cruise aboard it comfortably, and the three-cabin layout makes family holidays or trips with friends realistic.
The Verdict: Is the Oceanis 38 Still Worth Buying?
You won't buy an Oceanis 38 for the sharpest helm or the most exotic construction. People buy it because it does nearly everything reasonably well.
It's comfortable, spacious, easy to sail, widely supported and capable of taking a family a long way further than the local marina. Beneteau's size means parts, knowledge and specialist support are easy to find in the UK and Europe.
What counts against it: the steering on the test boat was stiff, the mainsheet arrangement isn't ideal short-handed, and there were no UK boats for sale when we looked, so most buyers will be shopping abroad.
Its biggest weakness is also part of its strength: it's a sensible boat. In the used yacht market, sensible is underrated.
Find an Oceanis 38 with a good maintenance history, decent sails, healthy rigging, a recent saildrive seal and the right version for you, and there's little reason it shouldn't give another decade or more of cruising.
Our rating: 8.5/10
For buyers looking for a comfortable 38-foot family cruising yacht, rather than something built for racing, the Oceanis 38 is one of the easiest used boats to recommend.
Before buying a used Oceanis 38
If you've found a Beneteau Oceanis 38 for sale, Jack & Anchor's BoatCheck can help you investigate the boat before you commit, including its advertised specification, documentation, vessel identity, listing history, valuation and other potential warning signs.
A BoatCheck isn't a substitute for a professional marine survey, but it can help you decide whether a particular boat deserves the next stage of your time and money.
Sources
All pages read in October 2026.
- Yachting Monthly, Beneteau Oceanis 38 test
- SAIL magazine, Beneteau Oceanis 38 review (30 July 2014)
- Beneteau Oceanis 38 brochure, US edition, via Sail Place
- Beneteau, Oceanis 38.1 specification
- Jeanneau, Sun Odyssey 389
- Hanse 385 brochure
- Bavaria C38 data and options
- Yanmar SD25 saildrive operation manual
- Rightboat, Beneteau Oceanis 38 listings searched 29 October 2026
- Lymington Yacht Haven berthing rates
- GJW Direct, yacht and sailing boat insurance
- Force 4 Chandlery, International Micron 350 2.5L
- AS Yacht Services, standing rigging pricing
