Beneteau 39.3 Cyclades

[picardy]

I am considering purchasing the above boat which is 5 / 6 years old. It is in reasonable condition with heating, plotter, etc

Does anyone have any experience of these since I have ben unable to get much information on the internet about them. It seems they have a basic fit out but is it a different hull or rig to any other Beneteau's?

Any thoughts on them would be much appreciated together with any ideas on likely values.

Many thanks

 

[nigel1]

Not heard anything bad about them, I have the 473.
I think there is Beneteau 393 group on yahoo. Worth a google and sign up.
Could also try on the cruisers and sailing forum

Good luck

 

[mcanderson]

Try the official Beneteau website. If you register you can gain access to older models and this may be of help.

Also try the bigger international brokerage sites for a general idea of pricing.

Your closest Beneteau dealer may also be able to offer assistance. Again the official Beneteau website will be able to tell you who is your closest dealer.

Lastly try the Beneteau Owners Association. Very helpful people and their own forums. Should you buy I would recommend joining. I did and it is very good value for money.

Good luck!

 

[Victoria Sponge]

I was told that the Cyclades were a range Beneteau manufactured especially for Sunsail. If that's true I would hesitate to buy one personally, after you see the hammer boats get when used by a flotilla/charter company.

 

[Tranona]

The Cyclades brand was created to be a budget boat selling below the standard Beneteau range, mostly to charter companies - in the halcyon days of the mid 2000's when demand for such boats was high. Did not last very long, nor sell many boats, but no reason to think they are not well built, although down below was very plain and basic.

 

[rotrax]

I am considering purchasing the above boat which is 5 / 6 years old. It is in reasonable condition with heating, plotter, etc

Does anyone have any experience of these since I have ben unable to get much information on the internet about them. It seems they have a basic fit out but is it a different hull or rig to any other Beneteau's?

Any thoughts on them would be much appreciated together with any ideas on likely values.

Many thanks

Hi, I was on a boat test on a Cyclades 38-a member of our syndicate was keen to upgrade-and it sailed OK, was increadibly roomy after our little hunter but as another poster has said very basic and spartan. It was good value but we did not buy. At the moment there are many boats for sale and not many buyers. If you are in a position to offer give it a go-providing you havent been put off!

 

[snooks]

Basically the Cyclades series were designed to reduce manufacturing costs to compete with the mass produced builders who could sell lots of boats for a low profit rather than few boats for a greater profit. The were primarily built for the charter market.

The ways they saved manufacturing cost was to have standard saloon seating, heads, galley and chart tables sizes over the whole range. The bigger the boat the bigger the spacer furniture was, spacer furniture would be an extra side cupboard in the saloon next to the galley etc.

 

[Nautorius]

I am considering purchasing the above boat which is 5 / 6 years old. It is in reasonable condition with heating, plotter, etc

Does anyone have any experience of these since I have ben unable to get much information on the internet about them. It seems they have a basic fit out but is it a different hull or rig to any other Beneteau's?

Any thoughts on them would be much appreciated together with any ideas on likely values.

Many thanks

Hi,

I have the Cyclades 43.3, a 2006 vintage. The Cyclades was built originally to replace the charter Oceanis fleet as the new Oceanis range came out. In real terms they were not that much cheaper (about £10k) but were built with charter in mind. By this I do not mean less build quality of the hull and kit which is just the same. She is a Standard Beneteau Fractional rig with Z Spars and 110% Genoa. Sailing kit is top notch, no savings there!

I mean very easy handling and forgiving to sail. All sail kit (winches etc) easily accessable and easy to single hand. Big lockers for Dinghys etc and big sugarscoop stern for swimming of on Med Spec so lots of Flyscreen covered portholes. Down below she has no nooks and cranies and has wipe clean surfaces everywhere. This tends to look sparse but is incredibly practical and i can clean the interior totaly within 1.5 hrs. Wipe clean roof, wipe clean heads, easy access to bilge lockers etc.

Mine is very beamy at 4.43m which gives great stability. She sails well and has come Second place twice in the Gib Regatta so she does move fast. Mine was not charter spec so has the 3 cabin 3 head arrangement with inmast furling, full Raymarine E120 kit + Radar etc. There are pros and cons, like any boat but you get a lot of good qiuality boat for the money. She is also well built to put up with charter and needs minimum DIY to keep her tip top. Do not think that she is built any less quality, she isn't. yes the Interior does not feel as good quality but that is thw charter ease of looking after her.

The main downside is that you get 3 large cabins and no obvious master (although on a lot of boats all 3 would be considered a Master cabin). All of the storage is where you want it, full size chart table, grab hold eberywhere down below, lots of windows and twin fridges (Med Spec). I sail with Wife and 3 children between one and 14 out of Gibraltar so she shes some bad weather frequently. Always felt safe enough.

Happy to ask specifics,

Paul (Owner for 2 years and five days!)

 

[Nautorius]

Basically the Cyclades series were designed to reduce manufacturing costs to compete with the mass produced builders who could sell lots of boats for a low profit rather than few boats for a greater profit. The were primarily built for the charter market.

The ways they saved manufacturing cost was to have standard saloon seating, heads, galley and chart tables sizes over the whole range. The bigger the boat the bigger the spacer furniture was, spacer furniture would be an extra side cupboard in the saloon next to the galley etc.

Correct, the range is modular. I have a 3 cabin version not 4 so have an extra modular heads compartment and a modular sideboard with a fridge in it. All looks great and is very usable.

Funny as I think Hanse are now doing the same on their entire range so is a good idea and the new Oceanis range seems to have modular fixings as well.

 

[Nautorius]

The Cyclades brand was created to be a budget boat selling below the standard Beneteau range, mostly to charter companies - in the halcyon days of the mid 2000's when demand for such boats was high. Did not last very long, nor sell many boats, but no reason to think they are not well built, although down below was very plain and basic.

Last time I checked they sold a load of them to Charter in the Med and BVI's. I also believe they are still available (or were last year). Look at Sunsail ex-charter sales..lots available. Only about 3 of the entire range (43.3) were fitted out to Owner spec so most will seem basic. Mine was not so is great.

 

[Nautorius]

I was told that the Cyclades were a range Beneteau manufactured especially for Sunsail. If that's true I would hesitate to buy one personally, after you see the hammer boats get when used by a flotilla/charter company.

They were made for all charter companies for 2 years from 2005. In 2007 all Sunsail ones were rebranded Sunsail 43.3, sunsail 39.3 etc. I would tend to avoid these as the spec was lower than the normal Cyclades range and i believe they de-speced them even further (by about €10k) They lowered electronic packages, lowered spec on Biminis and did not include Spray Hood. However given how cheap they are I would not be put off, as these things would be ready for upgrade now anyway. Most of the nicities went missing as well like Teak on the cockpit seats and I am not sure about the rigging and gear. Do not confuse a Sunsail Spec with a noirmal Cyclades. From what I have seen they are miles apart.

 

[snooks]

Correct

I know it was, which was why I posted it

I went to St Gilles La Croix de Vie with Yachting Monthly and Yachting World for the press launch of the Cyclades range. We had the full press briefing about why they were doing what they were doing

We tested the the 39.3 and the 43.3

 

[Nautorius]

I know it was, which was why I posted it

I went to St Gilles La Croix de Vie with Yachting Monthly and Yachting World for the press launch of the Cyclades range. We had the full press briefing about why they were doing what they were doing

We tested the the 39.3 and the 43.3

What did they sail like?

 

[snooks]

What did they sail like?

You have one But I've just gone back to the article by JJ and had a quick read.

The first time out we had less than 10 knots of wind and the 39.9 was a bit sluggish and the twin wheels didn't give too much feedback, the cable steering tended to sap out the feeling from the helm, but that's common on most boats with twin wheels and cable, not specific to the Cyclades. There was also a bit of swell which didn't do her any favours.

The next session we had, the wind had increased a bit to between 10-15 knots and were able to put the asymmetric up. She liked the gain in wind strength as Performance was better, she was easily handled, the genoa was smaller then most boats of her size so she could be sailed short handed.

The range wasn't designed for speed or sailing, they were designed for holidaying. So relaxing sailing in comfort, rather than speed. They only come with one keel choice and one rig size to cut costs.

 

[BelleSerene]

We had one which I bought in Cherbourg in late '05 for better service (and price) than Ancasta provide. Maiden voyage back over here after early '06 commissioning.

She's been great as a family boat and sees extensive use around the south coast and over to France and Holland. For us, a model aimed at the charter market provides a lot you want with a family: vast cockpit for the length (we have the 39.3), roomy interior (if not luxurious); three decent-sized double cabins; good galley. Of course she's not luxurious, but for our family use the trade-off on the side of useable space for kids and guest families has been perfect.

Spec'd her out well with decent electronics, third-party cruising chute etc.

When I changed the sails for membranes from Sanders and fitted a folding prop she performed as a different boat in high winds and low breezes alike. The hull's perfectly slippery (yes it is the same as other Beneteau models, albeit without hull ports) but is let down by the entry-spec sails she's delivered with. Wished I'd know this sooner: I'd never now buy a new boat without upgrading the sails.

I also sail her a lot single-handed and she's easy to handle (only issue is the usual one with a large cockpit, that the mainsheet is three steps away from the helm so the autopilot gets used a lot in a breeze) and in close-quarters manoeuvring.

I would be wary of a post-charter model as it'll likely have been hammered. Especially if (I hadn't known what Nautorius points out) it's built to a lower spec for Sunsail.

 

[picardy]

Thank you all very much for your very helpful comments. Much appreciated.

 

[tatu]

What folding prop did you install ?

 

[Simondjuk]

Basically the Cyclades series were designed to reduce manufacturing costs to compete with the mass produced builders

There are builders who mass produce to a greater extent than Beneteau Group? Crikey!

 

[PeterR]

I've chartered both 39 and 43 ft Sunsail versions of the Cyclades. The 39 was a bit of a tub to sail. The 43 was much better. They were both very much designed for the charter market with lots of berths but not a huge amount of storage for boats of that size. Equipment was pretty sparse but they seemd to be standing up to the abuse charter boats get quite well. Having said that I really would not want to buy one that had spent 5 years chartering.

 

[BelleSerene]

What folding prop did you install ?

Kiwiprop. But it wore badly and eventually dropped a blade into the sea. Although the dealer sent me a complimentary blade, the dome was loose and vibrated, which the dealer then told me couldn't happen! IMHO they're not fit for purpose.

So replaced with a Featherstream (http://www.darglow.co.uk/html/products/feather.htm).

Good luck.