Beneteau Cruising Sailboats

Beneteau 39.3 Cyclades Review and Ex-Charter Buying Guide

Beneteau took its proven Oceanis 393 hull, gave it twin wheels, a new deck and a balsa-cored hull, and sold it to charter fleets as the Cyclades 39.3.

2007 to present Discontinued Updated

Beneteau Oceanis 311 at anchor in the UK
For reference, Beneteau Oceanis 311 at anchor in the UK, not the Beneteau Cyclades 39.3. Photo: Timbow001, CC0, source
Length
39.3 ft11.97 m
Beam
13 ft3.95 m
Draft
6.2 ft1.9 m
Cabins
3 (forward V-berth cabin and two aft doubles)
Used price
$65K to $105K
On this page
  1. Overview
  2. The Beneteau 39.3 Cyclades and where it came from
  3. Twin wheels and a lighter build
  4. Under sail, by the numbers
  5. Three cabins, two heads and a charter galley
  6. Yanmar 40, tanks and electrics
  7. Buying a boat that has done charter time
  8. What a Cyclades 39.3 costs to buy and run
  9. Cyclades 39.3, Oceanis 393 and the bigger Cyclades
  10. Specifications
  11. Price and value
  12. Strengths and weaknesses
  13. Used buyer checklist
  14. Rivals
  15. Our verdict
  16. FAQ

The Beneteau Cyclades 39.3 is a Berret-Racoupeau designed 39 ft 3 in cruiser built for charter from about 2007. It shares the Oceanis 393 hull, adds twin wheels, has three cabins and two heads, a Yanmar 40 hp diesel and a 1.90 m cast iron keel.

Best for
  • Families cruising the Mediterranean or Caribbean
  • Buyers planning a refit project on a sound hull
  • Owners who host friends in three cabins
  • First cruising boat on a budget

The Beneteau 39.3 Cyclades and where it came from

The Beneteau 39.3 Cyclades was the smallest of three Cyclades models Beneteau built in the second half of the 2000s for one main customer: the charter companies. Beneteau sold the range on two words, simplicity and pleasure, and listed twin wheels, a cockpit where every maneuver is easy, genoa winches near the helm and instrument mounts on the cockpit table and helm consoles. The Cyclades range brochure that introduces the 39.3 alongside the 43.3, 43.4 and 50.3 to 50.5 is dated November 2006.

Under the new deck is a familiar hull. Writing in Practical Boat Owner, Rupert Holmes explains that the Oceanis 393, a Berret-Racoupeau design of 2001 of which more than 700 were built, was replaced by the Oceanis 40 in 2007, and that the same hull then reappeared as the Cyclades 39.3, with a different coachroof and a balsa sandwich hull instead of the original solid laminate. Sailboatdata likewise lists the Cyclades 39.3 as probably based on the Oceanis 393 and records 2007 as its first year.

Beneteau Cyclades 39.3 by the numbers

LOA 39' 3" / 11.97 mBeam 13' 0" / 3.95 mBow
Plan view drawn to scale from the published length and beam.
Sail area to displacement
17.8Balanced power for coastal and offshore cruising.
Displacement to length
163Light displacement for its length, quick but sensitive to added cruising weight.
Theoretical hull speed
7.9 knThe practical top speed of a displacement monohull under normal sailing, based on waterline length.
Ballast ratio
30%Relatively low ballast, form stability does more of the work.
Capsize screening
2.07Above 2.0, so this hull leans toward coastal stability over ultimate offshore resistance.
Motion comfort ratio
22.0A quicker motion in waves, typical of light, beamy hulls.
Length to beam ratio
3.03 : 1Moderate proportions.

Length compared with the 149 cruising sailboats we cover

22 ft63 ft

Twin wheels and a lighter build

The most visible change is at the back. The Oceanis 393 had a single, fairly small wheel; the Cyclades has two stainless wheels with cable steering and a compass in front of each. Holmes points out the benefits: a clear path from the transom to the companionway, which matters when you board stern-to in a Greek harbor or climb out of the water, and a better view of the headsail luff from the windward wheel. A liferaft locker is built into the deck aft of the cockpit with a hinged gate over it.

PBO also calls the Cyclades a pared-down version of the boat compared with the better equipped Oceanis Clipper variants, and that is fair. The deck gear is simple: a Profurl furler, two Harken 40.2 self-tailing primaries and a 32.2 on the coachroof, a mainsail with two reefs and lazy jacks, and the mainsheet led to U-bolts on the coachroof rather than a cockpit traveler. It is a set-up designed for charter guests who may not have sailed this boat before.

Under sail, by the numbers

We could not find a published sea trial of the Cyclades 39.3, so the numbers come from the design itself. Sailboatdata calculates a sail area to displacement ratio of 16.4, a ballast ratio of about 30 percent, a displacement to length ratio of 163, a comfort ratio of 22 and a capsize screening value of 2.08, with a theoretical hull speed of 7.9 knots on a 35 ft waterline. That profile is a light to moderate coastal cruiser: not a rocket, not a heavy offshore boat, and comfortable in the Mediterranean and Caribbean trade wind conditions it was built for.

The rig is a 9/10 fractional sloop on a deck-stepped mast with twin 20 degree swept spreaders, inner shrouds and a double backstay. With a 110 percent furling genoa and a slab-reefed main, handling is easy for two people. In-mast furling and an asymmetric spinnaker with sock were options, and an asymmetric is worth having if you plan any downwind passages, because the standard sail plan is modest in light air.

Three cabins, two heads and a charter galley

Beneteau offered only one layout: three cabins and two heads. The forward cabin has a 2.02 m triangular berth, hanging lockers and a deck hatch. Two aft cabins each have a 2.02 by 1.36 m double, a hanging locker and opening ports and hatches. Beneteau's equipment list places both heads forward of the saloon, one to port and one to starboard, each with a marine toilet, shower tray and washbasin and an electric shower drain pump. An 80 liter holding tank is standard.

The saloon has 2.00 m of headroom, a U-shaped settee around a central table, and a folding central settee on sliding rails. The galley is to port with a two-burner gimballed stove and oven, a 170 liter top-opening icebox with a 12 volt refrigeration unit, and a deep sink. A forward-facing chart table sits to starboard with the electrical panel. It is a layout designed to put six charter guests to bed and feed them, and it works equally well for a family.

Yanmar 40, tanks and electrics

Power is a Yanmar 40 hp diesel on a shaft with a three-blade fixed propeller, mounted on beds molded into the inner hull liner, with a soundproofed compartment reached under the companionway steps. Listings commonly identify it as a Yanmar 3JH4E. A 220 liter rotomolded fuel tank sits under the aft starboard berth and the 330 liter water tank under the forward berth, both with electric gauges, plus a 25 liter calorifier for hot water.

The electrical system starts with a 110 amp engine battery and a 140 amp service battery, a 25 amp charger and a back-lit panel with 16 twelve volt and three 230 volt circuits. That was sized for charter use with shore power every night. A private owner who anchors out will want more battery capacity, a better charger and solar or an alternator upgrade. A 26,000 BTU air conditioner and a third service battery were factory options.

Buying a boat that has done charter time

Charter is the defining fact of any Cyclades 39.3. The upside is that fleets service engines and rigging on a schedule and usually keep records. The downside is the wear that comes from hundreds of different skippers: chafed sheets and furling lines, worn winches, sun-rotted canvas, stressed stanchion bases, scuffed joinery and heads that have been abused. Groundings are common in charter, so the keel to hull joint and the internal structural molding around the keel bolts need a careful survey.

The balsa-cored hull is another point to discuss with your surveyor. Balsa sandwich construction saves weight and adds stiffness, but any through-hull or fitting where water has reached the core can lead to wet, delaminated areas. Use a moisture meter on the topsides and bottom and sound the laminate around through-hulls. Finally, confirm that the boat has left its charter program properly: VAT status, registration and any charter company liens all need checking.

What a Cyclades 39.3 costs to buy and run

European asking prices we found ranged from about 59,900 to 95,000 euros for 2007 and 2008 boats, which works out to roughly $65,000 to $105,000. A boat fresh out of charter with original sails will sit near the bottom; one that has been refitted by a private owner with new sails, upholstery and electronics can command the top. Very few are in the US, but shipping a 39-footer from the Mediterranean is a routine, if expensive, operation.

Running costs are typical for a 39-foot production cruiser: a slip, insurance, haul-out and antifouling, engine service, rigging checks and sail replacement over time. Plan for about $9,000 to $18,000 a year in most US regions, plus an initial refit budget if the boat comes straight from a fleet.

Cyclades 39.3, Oceanis 393 and the bigger Cyclades

If you see an Oceanis 393 and a Cyclades 39.3 listed side by side, the hull and the keel are close relatives but the boats differ. The 393 has a single wheel, a solid laminate hull, two- and three-cabin layouts and, in Clipper form, more equipment; the Cyclades has twin wheels, a cored hull, a three-cabin layout only and a simpler inventory. PBO quotes 7,780 kg for the Oceanis 393 with standard keel against 7,095 kg for the Cyclades, which is the lighter build showing up on paper.

The other Cyclades models are different boats: the 43.3 and 43.4 on a 13.26 m hull, and the 50.3, 50.4 and 50.5 on a 15.65 m hull.

Beneteau Cyclades 39.3 specifications

Length overall39.3 ft11.97 m
Waterline length35 ft10.67 m
Beam13 ft3.95 m
Draft6.2 ft1.9 m
Air draft54.8 ft16.7 m
Displacement15,642 lbs7,095 kg
Ballast4,619 lbs2,095 kg
Sail area694 sq ft64.5 m²
Fuel capacity58 gal22 L
Fresh water87 gal33 L
Cabins3 (forward V-berth cabin and two aft doubles)
Berths6 in cabins, plus the saloon table converts to a double with the Yacht Club pack
Heads2, each with shower
Maximum persons10
Standard enginesYanmar 40 hp diesel with shaft drive and three-blade fixed propeller
Maximum power40 hp
Hull typeModerate displacement monohull with fin keel and spade rudder
KeelCast iron bulb keel, 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in), about 2,095 kg
Rig9/10 fractional sloop, deck-stepped mast with twin 20 degree swept spreaders and double backstay, furling genoa
Hull constructionBalsa-cored GRP sandwich hull with bonded structural inner molding; balsa sandwich deck
CE design categoryA (8 people), B (9), C (10)
BuilderBeneteau, France
Naval architectBerret-Racoupeau (Jean Berret and Olivier Racoupeau)
Production2007 to present
StatusDiscontinued

Figures come from builder documentation and independent tests where available. Displacement is usually quoted light, so a loaded cruising boat will weigh more. Compare these specs with another model.

How much does a Beneteau Cyclades 39.3 cost?

New, typical sail-awayNo longer built
Used, typical asking$65K to $105K
Yearly running costs$9K to $18K

The Cyclades range was sold primarily to charter fleets, and most 39.3s for sale today are in Europe at roughly 60,000 to 95,000 euros. Boats that have been through a proper post-charter refit, with new sails, upholstery and engine work, sit at the top. PBO notes that comparable Oceanis 393s on the same hull usually sell in a similar band, so condition matters more than badge.

Estimated used asking prices by model year, US market, 2026
$60K$80K$100K20072007, $65,000 to $100,00020082008, $68,000 to $105,000

Estimate your yearly cost

A planning estimate using common rules of thumb: insurance near 1.5 percent of value, maintenance near 3 percent, haul out and bottom paint by length. Your marina, region and use will move these numbers. Open the full cost calculator.

Versions and options

Cyclades 39.3
Single layout with three cabins and two heads, twin wheels, Yanmar 40 hp.
Yacht Club pack
Sprayhood or bimini, teak cockpit seats, extra winch, leather wheels, convertible saloon table and mooring kit.
Options
In-mast furling, asymmetric spinnaker with sock, 26,000 BTU air conditioning, third service battery, rope cutter.

Beneteau Cyclades 39.3 timeline

  1. 2001Berret-Racoupeau Oceanis 393 premieres on the hull the Cyclades later uses
  2. 2006Cyclades range brochure dated November 2006 presents the 39.3
  3. 2007Oceanis 393 replaced by the Oceanis 40; Cyclades 39.3 enters production
  4. 2008Equipment list of March 2008 confirms one three-cabin, two-head layout

Strengths and weaknesses

What owners like

  • Proven Oceanis 393 hull with more than 700 sisters built
  • Twin wheels open the cockpit and the walk-through transom
  • Three cabins and two heads in 39 feet
  • Simple, easy-to-handle rig
  • Lower prices than most 39-foot cruisers of the period

What to weigh up

  • Ex-charter wear is almost universal
  • Basic deck gear and a modest sail plan
  • Balsa-cored hull needs careful moisture checks
  • Small battery bank for anchoring out
  • Few boats in the US

Used Beneteau Cyclades 39.3 buyer checklist

Take this list to a viewing. Your ticks are saved in this browser so you can come back to it.

Always commission an independent marine survey and an engine survey before you buy. How a marine survey works.

Rivals to consider

Beneteau Oceanis 393

Same hull with a single wheel, solid laminate and two- or three-cabin layouts.

Compare side by side

Bavaria 39 Cruiser

The German charter favorite of the same years, with a J&J design and similar three-cabin layout.

Compare side by side

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 39i

The sister group's 39-footer of the period, often better finished and priced a little higher.

Dufour 405 Grand Large

Another French charter regular with a more performance-oriented deck.

Compare side by side

Our verdict on the Beneteau Cyclades 39.3

The Beneteau 39.3 Cyclades is an honest charter boat built on one of Beneteau's best mid-size hulls, with twin wheels that make the cockpit work better than the original Oceanis 393. It is basic, lightly equipped and almost always ex-charter, so the purchase is only as good as the survey and the refit plan. Buy one with a dry hull, a straight keel joint and documented engine care, and you get three-cabin family cruising for less money than most rivals.

Beneteau Cyclades 39.3 questions answered

Is the Beneteau Cyclades 39.3 the same as the Oceanis 393?

It uses the same hull, according to PBO and sailboatdata, but has a different coachroof, a balsa-cored hull, twin wheels and a simpler specification.

How many cabins does the Beneteau 39.3 Cyclades have?

Three cabins and two heads, the only layout Beneteau offered.

What engine does the Cyclades 39.3 have?

A Yanmar 40 hp diesel with shaft drive, usually listed as a 3JH4E, and a 220 liter fuel tank.

What is the draft of the Cyclades 39.3?

1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) with the standard cast iron bulb keel.

How much is a Beneteau Cyclades 39.3 for sale?

European asking prices run about 60,000 to 95,000 euros, roughly $65,000 to $105,000.

Who designed the Cyclades 39.3?

Berret-Racoupeau, the studio of Jean Berret and Olivier Racoupeau, which also drew the Oceanis 393.

More cruising sailboats to explore

Other Beneteau models

Buying used? Our step by step used yacht buying guide Financing Work out monthly payments on a Beneteau Cyclades 39.3 Cruising Sailboats How this type compares and what to look for