393 vs 423

[Offshorr Account]

We currently own a 343 and are looking to move up to either 393 or
423. Ultimate goal is to use boat as cruising home for extended
periods. Thoughts, advice from current 393 and 423 owners.

[PaulM]

2 yrs ago we were deciding between these 2 boats. I chose the 393.
They are both good boats, with very many similarities. Assuming each
is equipped the same (furling main, electronics, A/C, generator or
whatever) the difference is the 423 is larger, and most of that shows
up in the forward cabin which has a centerline berth instead of a
pullman, and a larger head. The 393 (2 cabin model) has a nice storage
"credenza" in the main salon that looks good and holds a lot of stuff,
where the 423 has a setee instead. That is about it, below decks. I
believe the 423 is the faster boat, given the water line. So for us it
was really whether the differences were worth the extra 40-50 grand
(at the time). Either way, both are very comfortable and fun to sail.

[Eta & Gordon Johnson]

We have sailed our boat(423) to the Caribbean and back and lived aboard her
for the winter while island hopping. Because Beneteaus have some of the
most commodious cockpits, we often found our boat to be the center of the
entertaining. I have owned a beneteau 390 before the current 423. The
greatest advantage would be water line length and a bit more speed to reduce
cruising times. In my mind, bigger is always better.

[Rick Itenson]

When my buddy bought a 423 in 04 I went to Charleston to help him take
the boat south. I crawled around all the Beneteaus on the dock
getting commissioned and ended up buying a 393 myself. The 423 is
better looking (not as much freeboard to the length) but my wife did
not like the galley, especially the microwave over the stove. She
much preferred the 393 galley as it's like our CS36Merlin's galley.
You can get tucked in well. The only thing she didn't like on the 393
was the two burner stove so St. Barts put a three burner in it for
us. We did not like the ventilation in the 423 main berth. The hatch
is not over the bunk. The pullman berth in the 393 ended up being a
bit cramped for two so we sleep in the aft cabin. Lots of room and
good ventilation. I have sailed both extensively and the 423 is the
better sailor. It also has a more comfortable swim platform, the
393's is a bit narrow and difficult to clean fish on (we cruise 6
months a year in the Bahamas). I also did not like the Volvo in the
423. They had to drill some holes in my buddy's engine as the water
was not getting hot. He also had a transmission problem but the fact
of the matter is that I do not like Volvos! Both boats have
websites. I would read the early messages on these sites as you'll
get to know the quirks and little problems of both. I started the 393
site and it has nearly 500 members now. If you have any specific
questions ask away.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/beneteau393/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Beneteau423/

Rick
B393 "Breathless"