Beneteau Suitabilty

T

Tex

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Thinking of moving up and like the look of Beneteau Oceanis range.
I note many of these are used for charter in the Med, is this their natural habitat or would they also be suitable for my intended cruising areas of Irish Sea & West of Scotland ?
 
You might be interested to know that Beneteau introduced a new line to their range a few years ago - the Cyclades line. As I understood it, this was intended to be for the charter market, whereas the Oceanis line was intended to be a bit higher-spec, and aimed more at owners.

I don't know if their marketing worked out the way they expected, but a brand new Oceanis might be slightly higher spec than some of the older models that are in charter.
 
Had an Oceanis 351 for 6 years, out of Pwllheli in all sorts of weather, got caught out several times in plus 35 knts, once off Arklow at gusting 46 knts, no probs. In my opinion the mid to late 90s boats were built stronger than the current ones.
Am just in the process of buying a '99 381. If you have a family the twin aft cabins are superb.
Stu
 
I may be biased as I own a 361 but the standard of the design and workmanship of the latest Beneteaus seems to have gone down. The latest boats have less storage and the quality of finsh is not what is was.

Just two further examples, the number of opening ports in the main cabin is less and the join between the internal lining and the port frames is now open with a void down to the lockers under the seats.

They now seem to be building to a price to compete with the cheaper makes.

That said Beneteaus are good boats for weekends and holidays.
 
Thanks for this. I was thinking along lines of a 331 or 361.
Are these easily handled by a relatively novice skip & crew ?
 
I sail a 361 in the Irish Sea and have no cause for complaint. I've owned her for 3 seasons and she still makes me smile each time I step aboard.

While I much prefer having someone to blame when I've screwed up, I normally sail single handed so, yes, they are easily handled by a relatively inexperienced crew. (cautiously capable crew is perhaps a better assumption).

If you have already rationalised your choice to either of the 331 or 361, I don't think you'll regret buying.

Good luck.

David
 
Re: Beneteau Suitabilty - Go for it

I've just delivered a 373 in not very nice conditions mainly beating and being hammered by teh hull shape - booom boom boom. But nothing broke. OK it was the basic boat with no frills, but it still worked and worked well.

I disagree with a post above saying that the build quality has gone down. IMO, it's better. It seems like that Beneteau is using CNC cutters and routers + better hinges and fastenings - Everything fits even after beating around the edge of a whole gale we made a 340 mile delivery in winds which weren't ever much less than 24 knots and had periods/gusts where the Raymarine masthead whirligig recorded 68 knots and the BendyToy took it as any boat should.

The only downsides, IMO, are that flat bottomed boats will slam in any breeze/wind to windward and that all the Oceanis range boats are as wet as a Laser.

BendyToys are real value for money: They are fast; they sail like a self righting dinghy ... and although you initially get a 'just about enough to day sail' boat you can add and improve to get a 'good enough' boat to go beyond the horizon. I've made several transats on BendyToys and reckon that are as tough as need be for everyday UK coastal sailing [which IMO is far more demanding on both boat and crew than ocean sailing.]

N

PS: Don't buy new. Bendytoy values plummet till 3 years old and then stabilize.
 
I've got a 331 Tex. I sail her single-handed frequently. You will soon learn that motoring astern, especially to port, is a lottery.

Useful to be able to dry on firm bottom - I've yet to see what happens in soft mud.
 
Tex

I am very pleased with my 361. She sails well. is very comfortable and is not difficult to handle. Going astern is not a problem once you have sorted out which way the prop walk goes.

I did look at a 331 but decided the extra space and comfort of the 361 was worth paying for, especially as I don't change boats very often.

With regards to accommodation and quality I suggest you look at the new Beneteaus at the next boat show and compare them with the older Benys at the second hand shows nearby.
 
I bought a Oceanis 423 this year and have I am delighted with it. Been out in F7 without any problems whatsoever. Nothing has broken off, plenty of space and light down below. She will slam very ocassionally under certain conditions, however it's not very often and to be honest not really worth getting to worked up about. I have Beneteau and their agents (Sunbird UK) to be excellent for customer service even although my boat's second hand.
 
I had a 1987 Oceanis 390 for 8 years. Never had a problem with it. Blew a top hose on the engine but nothing else went wrong. It never let me down, generally sailed with a girlfriend or some mates. I tended to be the only one who had a (vague) idea how to sail and never encountered any real probs. Could be a bit of a handfull astern in a strong cross wind. Just needed more B***s and more speed!!
I tried to buy another Bendytoy but the owners of the 45 to 53 footers I wanted, just stuck to their price and wouldn't haggle!! So they do hold their price!!
They must be ok as one of the larger, charter company's in Corfu are in the process of replacing everything they've got with brand spanking new Bendytoys.
 
Thanks to all for the info so far, great stuff and very encouraging.
I have read a few ads for the 343 this might be the size compromise I need, any owners got comments on this one?
Especially on easy of handling for effectively a starter.
 
Both myself and my friend have a 343 and we both previously had a 311. We have the single aft cabin version, so a big locker in the cockpit with access also from the aft cabin. Boat is easy to handle on your own with all controls being brought back to the cockpit.

Only complaint I had at the beginning is that it was a bitch to handle in astern with a vicious kick to port!!! This has been improved by fitting an Autoprop.

Generally well finished boat. No big issues on ours after delivery.
Needs about 12 knots of wind before it begins to get going and is comfortable in 16/18 knots. I would say that it could do with larger sails, particularly the main .... but I am not going to spend any money untill I need to.

I understand your comments about the med but I am based in Italy and we often get 30knot mistrals during the winter and neither of my Bens has fallen apart yet.
I was also out in 50+ knots down in the Aeloian islands on my 311 and again nothing fell apart!!
If you want something a bit livelier in lighter airs then go for the 311 or 323, but if you want something a bit heavier then the 343 is a good boat for the money (IMO) and comes with just about everything as standard .......... if you order at a boat show or during August you can usually get the electronics package for nothing or next to nothing. If you get a choice get the manufacturer supplied sprayhood ... very well made and worth the money...... better than the local makers can do where I live and not that much more expensive.

Alan.
 
I have a 343, new in early 2007, very pleased with it, i had a short list from the 2006 boat show that was the usual Ben, Jan, Elan and Hanse, plumped for the Ben for several reasons, I quickly discounted the Jan and Elan on cost, and short listed the Beny and Hanse.

Really decided on the Beny due to two things, looked a little more comfortable and traditional down below, and the fact that I sailed with Stugeron Steve on the first scuttlebut on his 331, and was genuinely impressed with the way it handled the conditions.

Very pleased with it, have been out in a good 34knots with a good sea running mid channel, and it was ok, bit lively, but nothing too dramatic, fully reefed of course (it could have done with a 3rd reef in the main), down below all the doors opened, or stayed shut, nothing broke, build quality is good, joinery fit and finish is fine, not too much obvious sealant.

In my two years of ownership I have not had to replace anything other than consumables, or had anything under warranty.

In terms of handling, a little kick to port in reverse, but you soon learn to compensate for that, its easily handled by the two of us, as a starter boat it would not pose any issues I think.
 
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