Beneteau 390 Oceanis, What to Know Before Buying a 1987 to 1991 Boat

An enlarged Oceanis 350 for the late 1980s

The Oceanis line started in 1986 with Philippe Briand's Oceanis 350 and 430, and the Beneteau 390 Oceanis followed in 1987. Yachting Monthly described it as very much an enlarged version of the original 350 in both shape and style, and very successful in its day. Beneteau's heritage archive places it in the first Oceanis range of 1986 to 1991, alongside the 320, 350, 370, 430 and 500, under the slogan experience the sea intensely.

Those boats changed what buyers expected below decks. Beneteau USA's Wayne Burdick later told Practical Sailor that much of the shift from dark, deep cruising interiors to open, bright ones should be credited to the Oceanis line, and the 390 was a big part of that. Beneteau USA still showed the 390 in its earlier models archive in 1999, so boats were sold in America as well as Europe, although most survivors are in European waters.

Buyers searching for a 1989 or 1992 Beneteau Oceanis 390 should know that published production dates are thin. Sailboatdata starts the run in 1987, Beneteau's heritage range closes in 1991, and European listings we found covered 1988 to 1991 boats.

Specs that depend on whom you ask

Sailboatdata lists the 390 at 38 ft 4 in overall, 33 ft 3 in on the waterline and 12 ft 10 in in beam, with 14,300 lb of displacement, 5,180 lb of ballast and a 5 ft 5 in draft. Yachting Monthly's figures are a little different: 11.5 m (37 ft 9 in) overall, 10.15 m on the waterline, 3.9 m beam, 1.65 m draft and 6,500 kg. Differences of this size usually reflect whether the bow fitting and stern are counted, and light versus loaded weights.

On sailboatdata's numbers the ballast ratio is about 36 percent, the displacement to length ratio about 174 and the sail area to displacement ratio about 17 for a reported 630 sq ft. Tankage is listed as 45 gallons of fuel and 145 gallons of water. A wing keel option drew about 4 ft 6 in.

Treat all of these as approximate and measure what matters to you, especially draft and mast height, before planning a cruise through shallow water or under bridges.

Three interiors, every one with two heads

Yachting Monthly records three interior options. Private buyers usually chose the two cabin owner's version. Charter fleets took one of two three cabin versions: one with a dinette and a galley facing it, the other with a conventional L-shaped galley and saloon. All three had two heads, a real luxury on a late-1980s 39 footer, and light ash veneers that keep the open-plan interior bright.

The weak spot was navigation: YM called the chart table rudimentary in every version. Most owners now navigate from a cockpit plotter, so it matters less than it once did. Up top, the large cockpit has a semi-permanent table that is handy at anchor and a useful brace when heeled.

If you are buying privately for two, the owner's version is the one to look for. A three cabin boat is more likely to have done charter time, so inspect its interior and plumbing with that in mind.

• Owner's version: two cabins, two heads
• Charter version A: three cabins, dinette with facing galley, two heads
• Charter version B: three cabins, L-shaped galley and saloon, two heads

What the 1997 Biscay capsize taught

Any honest page on the Oceanis 390 has to mention October 1997. PBO reports that a 1989 Oceanis 390 crossing the Bay of Biscay was knocked down and inverted in a Force 8 to 9, with the loss of a crew member who was on deck; two others were lifted off by a French rescue helicopter.

The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch concluded, as PBO quotes it, that the Oceanis 390 is a safe, comfortable yacht suitable for pleasure sailing and charter work, but that her lightweight design and stability characteristics introduce a high risk factor in extreme sea states, and that she is not designed for crossing oceans in bad weather. PBO adds that early Oceanis models in general were lightly ballasted, relatively shallow and lacked low center of gravity bulb keels, which Beneteau addressed in later generations.

For a buyer that is a clear operating limit, not a reason to reject the boat. The 390 is a coastal and island-hopping cruiser. Choose your weather windows, reef early, and leave the Bay of Biscay in autumn or a winter Gulf Stream crossing to boats designed for it.

Wing keel or fin, and the engine question

The fin keel draws about 5 ft 5 in and gives better windward ability; the wing keel at about 4 ft 6 in opens up the Chesapeake, the Keys and the Bahamas. On a boat with the stability history described above, we would favor the fin for anyone sailing in exposed waters.

Sailboatdata lists the original engine as a Perkins 4-108, a robust and widely known diesel. After more than 35 years, though, many boats will have been repowered or rebuilt, and European boats may differ. Identify the engine on the boat, confirm its hours and rebuild history, and value the boat accordingly.

Survey priorities on a boat nearing 40

Start with the keel: bolts, the keel-to-hull joint and the structure that spreads its load, especially on wing keel boats that may have grounded. Then the rig, because original standing rigging and chainplates on a late-1980s boat are long past their service life. Then the deck, with a moisture meter around stanchions, the mast step and hardware.

Below, look for water stains and delamination in the ash veneers around ports and hatches, check both heads' plumbing and the holding tanks, and trace the wiring for old, undersized cable. Rudder bearings and the steering system complete the list.

Where the Oceanis 390 still makes sense

For a family or two couples who want two heads and real volume for the least money, the 390 is hard to beat. Big water tanks, a large cockpit and an airy interior make it a fine platform for summer cruising, weekend trips and island hopping in settled weather.

It makes less sense for anyone planning offshore passages, for racing, or for a buyer who does not want to manage an older boat. In those cases a later generation Oceanis, with a deeper bulb keel, is the better spend.

Prices for a 1987 to 1991 Oceanis 390

European listings we reviewed asked roughly 40,000 to 69,000 euros for 1988 to 1991 boats in 2026, and Yachting Monthly's 2009 guide put them at 50,000 to 68,000 pounds at the time. We estimate a Beneteau 390 for sale in the US at about $38,000 to $65,000, with refit history doing most of the work.

Plan on $7,500 to $14,000 a year to keep one in the US, and set aside a refit fund if the rig, engine or electrics have not been renewed.