Beneteau Oceanis 38

BoatsBeneteau Oceanis 38

See her sail

The Beneteau Oceanis 38, on the water

The fleet's own footage — the truest look at how she really moves.

Footage from Lady K Sailing

Is it for you?

Character

Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.

LivelySea-kindly

Her light displacement on a moderate beam gives 21 — a moderate, middle-of-the-road motion.

Comfort ratio 21

CoastalBluewater

2.12 — right around the 2.0 line, the edge between coastal and offshore.

Capsize screening 2.12

LightHeavy

155 — light for her waterline, so she is easily driven and quick to accelerate.

Displacement / length 155

EasygoingPowered-up

17.4 — moderate power for her weight; steady, all-round performance.

Sail area / displacement 17.4

TenderStiff

26% of her weight is ballast — on the tender side; she'll heel readily and want a reef sooner.

Ballast 26%

Light and lively — happiest day-sailing and coastal-hopping in settled weather.

Draws more than ~82% of boats her size on file
Beamier than ~84% of boats her size on file

Compared with 2908 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

What the fleet has seen

The Beneteau Oceanis 38, as the fleet has seen it

Derived from the videos the fleet has analysed of this model. ▶ marks open the moment aboard.

The Beneteau Oceanis 38 is a fractional sloop designed by FINOT-CONQ and built by Beneteau from 2013 to the present, featuring a fin keel with bulb and dual rudders. It measures 11.5 meters LOA, with a 4.0-meter beam, 2.1-meter draft, and 6850 kg displacement. The model was available in Daysailer, Weekender, and Cruiser versions, primarily differing in interior layout, and was updated and renamed the Oceanis 38.1 in 2017. It offers three keel options: deep, shallow (1.64m draft), and lifting (1.26m up / 2.4m down).5:53 The Beneteau Oceanis 38, specifically early 2000s models, is noted in the used sailboat market for prioritizing modern interior volume and amenities over offshore capability.6:11

The living fleet

Sailed by the fleet

Where the fleet has filmed this boat.

Basemap © Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

The record

Full specifications

The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.

Dimensions

Weights

Ballast / displacement

26.1%

Rig & sail area

Rig

Fractional Sloop

Ratios

SA / displacement

17.4

Displacement / length

155.0

Comfort ratio

21.1

Capsize screening

2.12

Hull speed

8.0 kn

Pounds / inch immersion

1645

Hull

Hull type

Fin w/bulb & dual rudders

Construction

Fiberglass

Production

Years built

First built 2013

Designer

FINOT-CONQ, Jean Marie Finot (Groupe Finot)

Builder

Beneteau

Boats like this, on the water

More boats like her, on the water

Comparable boats the fleet has on camera: same type, within a quarter of her length. Open the boat, or watch the video — a timestamp means she only appears in passing.

Beneteau 39311.63 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA masthead sloop offering a shallow 1.55m draft option for coastal access, built with a high-volume hull since 2002

Orcas Vs Beneteau 393. They nearly sank the yacht! Coastguard and Helicopter Rescue Required.5:51 from Halcyon Yachts - International Yacht Delivery

Hunter Marine 37611.35 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterA spacious cruiser featuring a B&R rig and wing keel, sharing a proven hull design with the later 380 and 386 models

Hunter 376 - The Aegean Tragedy: What Really Happened in the Newport–Ensenada Race0:47 from Practical Sailor

Etap 38i11.57 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA masthead sloop featuring a shallow-draft wing keel, designed for stable cruising and built between 1989 and 1997

I DIDN'T THINK I'D SEE THAT...28:00 from VOILIER ODIN

Hallberg-Rassy 37211.35 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterA fractional sloop with a 1.99-metre draft and a 38% ballast ratio, optimised for a stiff, stable cruising motion

Hallberg-Rassy 370 named Boat of the Year – See Magnus Rassy's reaction from SEILmagasinet

Sabre Yachts 3811.53 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA masthead sloop designed for performance, featuring a fin keel and spade rudder for responsive handling

Sabre 38's Cored Hull - Excellent sailboat, or one to stay away from? - Lady K Sailing - ep 330 from Lady K Sailing

Hunter Marine 38011.35 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterOffered with a deep 1.98m keel option, this high-volume cruiser features a spade rudder and a B&R rig

Everyone Hates This Sailboat… So Why Do People Love It?2:20 from Lady K Sailing

The family

Boats like this

Nearby designs by size, type, and era — worth a look alongside her.

Beneteau Oceanis 38.1A modular, Finot-Conq designed cruiser offering versatile keel options and a spacious layout for modern coastal sailing Beneteau Oceanis 37A Finot-designed fractional sloop with a shallow draft and wide beam, also marketed as the Moorings 37.2 Beneteau Oceanis 40A spacious fractional sloop from Berret-Racoupeau featuring a versatile optional shallow draft keel Beneteau Oceanis 41.1A versatile fractional sloop from Finot-Conq featuring multiple sail plan configurations and a shallow draft option Beneteau 37A 1.4-metre draught cruiser built for shoal water, featuring a balanced 30% ballast ratio and a 3.91-metre beam

Keep asking

The fleet has more to say

Search what's been said about the Beneteau Oceanis 38, or ask a specific question — the answer comes back written out, with links to the moments it draws on.

Search the fleet for boats like thisAsk the fleet about the Beneteau Oceanis 38

The newsletter

New boats, new stories. Every week, everywhere.

One email from the fleet — boats newly added, videos newly analysed. No noise.

Report an issue