BENETEAU OCEANIS 373 DESIGN REVIEW

BENETEAU OCEANIS 373 DESIGN REVIEW

The Beneteau Oceanis 373 (also widely marketed as the Beneteau 373 and Clipper 373 in Europe) represents a masterclass in modern, mid-sized coastal cruising yacht design. Conceived by the renowned naval architects at Berret-Racoupeau Yacht Design and manufactured at Beneteau’s high-tech facility in Marion, South Carolina, and European facilities. The US plant supplied the North American, South American, and Caribbean markets. The European Hulls were molded and assembled at Beneteau’s primary facilities in Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie, France, supplying Europe, Asia, and global charter fleets. The 373 balances volume, structural integrity, and performance. Recognized by Cruising World judges as the “Boat of the Year” in her class upon introduction, the Oceanis 373 continues to be an exceptionally sought-after cruiser for families seeking comfort, safety, and ease of handling.

PRINCIPAL SPECIFICATIONS

Parameter	Imperial Measurement	Metric Measurement
Length Overall (LOA)	36′ 11″ / 37′ 3″	11.25 m / 11.35 m
Hull Length	36′ 1″	11.00 m
Waterline Length (LWL)	32′ 10″	10.00 m
Hull Beam	12′ 4″	3.75 m
Light Displacement	15,013 lbs	6,630 kg / 6,810 kg
Standard Shoal Draft	4′ 11″	1.45 m
Optional Deep Draft	6′ 3″	1.85 m
Standard Ballast	4,844 lbs	1,754 kg (Deep Keel Configuration)
Standard Sail Area	710 – 740 sq ft	66.52 m²
Fuel Capacity	33 US gal	125 L
Fresh Water Capacity	99 – 104.6 US gal	374 L – 396 L
Auxiliary Engine	Multiple engines were offered, including Yanmar 40 HP Diesel

KEY FEATURES & INNOVATIONS

The Patented Pivoting Wheel Pedestal

A true breakthrough for cockpit ergonomics, Beneteau implemented a patented pivoting steering wheel system. With a quick mechanical adjustment, the leather-trimmed wheel rotates 90 degrees to align perfectly with the boat’s centerline when at rest. This eliminates the traditional bottleneck found at the helm of mid-sized cruisers, opening an uninhibited walkway from the companionway down to the pivoting helmsman’s seat, swim platform, and boarding ladder.

Unrivaled Cabin Luminosity

True to Beneteau’s heritage of creating bright interiors, the salon features massive, fixed panoramic overhead windows at deck level. This fills the interior living quarters with natural sunlight. To maintain exceptional ventilation, every distinct space below deck is engineered with at least two separate sources of light, featuring opening Lewmar hatches and ports complete with built-in blinds and insect screens.

Stall Shower Luxury in a 37-Foot Hull

On the two-cabin layout, the aft head arrangement defies standard engineering constraints for this size range. It incorporates a fully molded, separate stall shower compartment featuring a dedicated teak seat and a standalone electric sump pump. This level of privacy and comfort is rarely seen on yachts under 40 feet.

 

HULL DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION

Note on Structural Heritage: Beneteau’s build techniques comply fully with the European Recreational Craft Directive (RCD) and CE Category A (Ocean) safety criteria. The manufacturer proudly notes a legacy of over five million logged nautical miles.

• • Hull Shell: The hull is built utilizing a hand-laid, single-skinned solid GRP structure. High load areas feature zone-specific solid fiberglass stitchmat laminates optimized for maximum torsional resistance.
  • Structural Grid: A specialized structural inner matrix/hull liner is bonded and laminated 360° directly to the hull. This grid effectively diffuses localized loads from the stainless steel keel bolts, under-hung rudder stock, and shroud chain-plate tie rods.
  • Osmosis Prevention: Beneteau applies a protective Vinylester hull barrier coat immediately beneath the gel coat to guard against moisture penetration and osmotic blistering.
  • Deck Design: The deck uses a balsa-cored GRP sandwich construction, providing an optimal strength-to-weight ratio while delivering thermal and acoustic insulation. Safety is enhanced via a molded “diamond point” non-slip pattern across all working deck areas.

RIGGING & ON-DECK EFFICIENCY

The Oceanis 373 is equipped with a fractional rig featuring an anodized aluminum deck-stepped mast and boom supported by a heavy-duty stainless steel compression pillar inside the salon.

Sail handling is explicitly optimized for short-handed cruising crews. All principal running rigging lines—including the automatic reefing lines, halyards, and mainsheet—are routed through deck organizers and double jammers directly back to the cockpit. Premium deck hardware includes chrome Harken or Lewmar self-tailing winches, with two primary genoa winches mounted on the cockpit coamings near the helm station and a maneuvering winch positioned on the port coachroof. A standard furling drum handles the 140% crosscut overlapping genoa, paired smoothly with either a classic slab-reefing mainsail or an optional in-mast furling configuration.

PERFORMANCE PROFILES (VPP DATA)

• • Optimal Upwind Performance: The boat hits its peak upwind efficiency (VMG) in 16 knots of breeze, maintaining a steady boat speed of 6.15 knots at a true wind angle of 40.6°.
  • Downwind Capacity: Off the wind, the hull responds quickly to increased sail area. In a 25-knot blow at a broad-reaching angle of 150°, the VPP indicates hull speeds climbing to 9.46 knots.

INTERIOR ACCOMMODATIONS & LAYOUTS

The joinery below deck features rich fruit-tree colored wood finishes over varnished “Hydropont” marine plywood soles accented with black strip grooves. The yacht was produced in two distinct configurations to accommodate different cruising styles:

Two-Cabin Layout (Owner’s Choice)

• • Forward Cabin: Features a spacious triangular double berth measuring 7’7″ x 5’7″, complete with an independent hanging locker and long shelving runs along both sides of the hull.
  • Salon & Galley: Offers a comfortable U-shaped settee to port surrounding an inlaid wood dining table with bottle storage behind the backrests. The port galley is well-appointed for long voyages, featuring a 12V top-and-front opening separate refrigerator and freezer, a gimballed two-burner LPG stove with oven, and a built-in microwave shelf.
  • Aft Quarters: Features a massive athwartships double berth (2.02 m x 1.48 m) with an attached hanging locker. It sits directly adjacent to the signature oversized head compartment and dedicated stall shower.

Three-Cabin Layout (Family & Charter Choice)

• • Symmetrical Cabins: Replaces the athwartships owner’s layout with twin identical aft double cabins. Each cabin provides a generous 2.02 m x 1.48 m double berth, separate hanging lockers, and opening ports leading out to the cockpit sides for independent ventilation.
  • Head Configuration: Modifies the separate shower stall into a combined marine head and shower unit to reclaim the necessary structural space for the third cabin. This increases standard overnight accommodations up to 8 total berths when utilizing the convertible double-berth salon table option.

FINAL VERDICT

The Beneteau Oceanis 373 stands out as a highly reliable, low-maintenance vessel that punches well above its weight class in storage capacity, headroom, and livability. Its clever deck ergonomics make it easy to manage single-handed or with a minimal crew. For sailors looking for a comfortable family cruiser capable of weekend getaways or extended island hopping, this design remains a gold standard in value and innovation.

 

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Also available upon Request

• • Brochure
  • Spec Sheet
  • Owner’s Manual
  • Polars
  • RPM, Fuel, Speed, Noise Chart
  • Tuning Guide
  • Additional Review