When I was shopping 3 years ago, I was sure I wanted a heavy, go-anywhere boat with lots of "real wood." The more I looked, the more I realized what I really wanted was a coastal cruiser that would be fun to sail, but comfortable for friends and family in a harbor. I ended up with a 2009 Jeanneau 39i and am very happy with it. I agree with you about the "Ikea interior," but she's fast, comfortable, and more than capable of doing the kind of sailing I like to do safely. Oh, and the twin helm is life-changing.
Some pointes for the ideal cruiser: Must be sailable singel handed. Make Sire you are nog dependable on crew. Site: Max 40-42 fit. Weight of sails, height of mast; wear of gear like.sheets, winches ,sails. Sailing Costs over 40 ft is high. Air draft Max 20meters. Twin ridders, fold out bow thruster, sails well in light wind as that is the case in 85% Centerboard, I love the idea but have no experience. Aluminium hull. There is so Munch debris in the water! Cutter rig, code 0, gennaker.spi boom and sailable dinghy on board Dry out easely Twin helm Sterling = wider sturn=more
This July we moved aboard a beneteau 45 with my family (wife and two kids 6 and 11). We got her in Lake Champlain in Canada and are currently in the Bahamas. Yes the transom is great but the sailing is where she shines. We do about the same speed as a similar size Cat.
Good one this was. As a student I kept hearing this from every direction that almost all design decisions - especially about vehicles - are compromises and tradeoffs. I like that you picked something that you clearly see the faults of too. And let's get real: everyone could pick a super boat should price not matter - but it absolutely does. In many ways (time to gather, compromises on personal values for the work you gotta do to get the money, unbearable insurances once the boat is yours etc). I like your approach here.
We absolutely love our Beneteau First 36.7, it’s been the perfect boat for us through 10,000 miles of hardcore racing and cruising. Not a new leak or crack since the day we bought her.
You are putting out the most informative and useful sailing channel. So much better than following someone’s “family vacations” which gets very old and is played out imo.
An interesting choice . As I live in NZ and the average sea state is what most bloggers call extreme . From NZ to Fiji is a large undertaking & many boats have sold it short . But also not forgetting the NZ coast line is not very forgiving , you don't dive for a sheltered inlet in bad weather , you head off shore & into deeper water . Off the continental shelf & a good sea anchor is a wise choice . From the blogs , an Island packet 42 or a 38 would be my choice . Your thoughts .
Based on where you live and sail your choice makes perfect sense. But for the Great Lakes, US east coast and the Caribbean the Beneteau is a much better choice. It really depends on where you are sailing and what you want to do. Then you choose the boat that fits that. There is a reason there are so many Beneteau's, Catalina's, Jeanneau's and Hunters in the Caribbean and not so many "Blue Water" boats.
My 2 cents. If it makes you happy, fulfills your needs, and will not kill you, then no matter what build, it is the right boat for you. Screw the haters! Enjoy cruising YOUR WAY! That is why we Cruise!
⬆️⬆️⬆️ This is the correct and mature take. It's not the boat for me, but I won't begrudge anyone his happiness just because he made a different choice.
I'm with you. When that transom is open, the living space is hard to beat for the price. A friend has one, pretty comfortable. Sailing wise...Good enough!
Never thought poorly of the Beneteau boats.. or cared much about what other people think. They are very popular for a reason. They tick a lot of boxes for most people, and look great still.
I did is the answer to your episode title! I have raced small catamarans (Hobie16) competitively for the past 35 years and still do. Now at the age that we wanted something to bay hope and coastal cruise in Queensland Australia. There is no perfect boat, just one that works for you most of the time. We settled on the Oceanis 45 (plastic production boat as they call it) for a lot of the reasons you mention. Fold down transom, massive cockpit, duel helm so you can steer from the leeward side, it’s not slow, super wide and plenty of comfort. In mast furling main, Genoa and furling code zero. 800AH of lithium with solar so plenty of power. Problem yet to be solved is davits, working on a non arch solution to lift the dinghy with outboard still on.
The Beneteau 45 blew me away when I saw it. I 100% agree with you that "this is the one to get", except... I'm older and I want my wife to be comfortable on the boat so I've been looking at boats with a greater "comfort factor". Even a pilot house. I'm thinking that 10% or even 20% slower in speed is worth the comfort. There's a boat for everyone though. Merry Christmas!
We discovered your channel last winter after we bought our first sailboat in January, while we waited for Ontario to unfreeze we followed your adventures and have loved learning about all the different boats. I'd already landed on the Oceanis 45 as a potential cruiser upgrade, and thought... oh but what would Tim say? I'm so happy to see that it's Tim approved!!!!
First, I want to join others i want to join others in saying that I really appreciate the "information" approach you have taken for this phase of the channel. Not only the history and details of the boats that you have carefully researched but also the founders of the companies that conceived and built them. Great work. But second, I must say I really like the OC 45's as well. I wish I had the budget for a 45 Catamaran but the Oceanis offers a similar open concept feel to the interior and cockpit. By the way when you were describing the cookie cutter IKEA like interior I just loved how you stated "I just don't care" at 8:09. Very funny - and I agree. Thanks for putting together episodes that are direct and honest!
Love what you’re doing on the channel. The lifestyle RUclips channels work and are entertaining but what you have been doing over the last year or so has me hooked. We just bought our first boat (Catalina 350) and the family is loving it. We keep her on Lake Pepin and hope to start cursing when we retire. Best of luck with your future plans. Love the channel
I am glad they make a lot of different boat with various styles and designs everyone has a different opinion on what make a perfect boat for each person. I enjoyed the reasons why this a perfect boat for you.
I only wish the biggest manufacturers weren't all crowding around the same basic design parameters. With a handful of exceptions, it seems like everyone's moving in the direction of sloops with plumb bows and beams carried all the way back to the transom with wide, super-exposed cockpits, twin spade rudders, and bolted-on high aspect fin keels.
THANK YOU! We bought our Jeaneau 349 for the same exact reasons that tick your boxes for the Oceanus. A 2 year old 349 became available. It ticked the boxes for what type of sailing and where we sail. She is modern, new, comfortable and fast. And yes when conditions are right she also takes off like a bat out of hell.
Good call on the Benni 45. Myself and partner (Elspeth) have been sailing our 45 up and down the west coast of Turkey. We lived aboard for 7months from May to November and only returned to uk for work and domestic reasons. Selkie (our 45) is a delight. I concur with all your comments. Having just had an arch and solar fitted along with full winter protection Bimini, Selkie is more or less complete. We can’t wait to continue our adventure next year. İyi şanslar!
Hi Steven, Can I ask where you keep your boat off-season? Have you found a marina in Turkey that you like and is priced reasonably for the winter? Thanks!
I have a Beneteau Oceanis 350 WK 1989 owners version. Only has a 4’1 draft, she is fast. Put 7200nm on it. I was looking at Hylas 54 2003 swing bronze keel as my retire boat, but saw a RUclips on this 2009 Hunter 50cc, wife saw the Jacuzzi and the kitchen and price just flipped. By the way you might want to make this mod to your boat or any boat. Fresh water Rinse layup and Emergency Bilge Pump. On Starlight 1989 Beneteau Oceanis 350 has a Volvo Penta engine M2003 28hp anyway I was the second owner, so after I purchased the boat I was doing the shakedown cruise and ran the engine for about an hour and the overheated alarm went off , could not find a problem, cutting too the chase lots of growth and calcification of the tubes in the heat exchanger. Had too take the entire unit clean it and put it back, never wanted to do that again figured was not the use rather the extended, layup with saltwater, also the corrosion factor of the elbow, had to replace that. So as a solution I cam up with this manifold I constructed with brass and bronze fittings and ball valves for each connection, from the thru hull , to the manifold, ball on the thru hull and on the manifold did the same at the on end valve to the sea strainer to the engine, next thru hull, pressure fresh water, and at the other end again valve to a run to the bilge. This allows me to turn on the fresh water, backwash the thru hull, then shutoff and run the engine for 2 minutes on fresh water before shutting down the engine for the night or an extended time. It also in the final configuration allows me to bring to bear as an emergency pump, on my main bilge the engine, if there is a major leak in the boat that bilge pumps cannot handle for whatever reason, (lightning strikes) etc. I often use the fresh water system when she is on the hard, and I need to run the engine, like changing oil, etc. I have 100 gallons of water on Starlight, you should see the looks I get in the yard with no hose, on the hard, yet engine running and water from the exhaust and prop shaft running out. In 20 years have not had any overheating issues or had to deal with the heat exchanger or the elbow, which is notorious on Volvos.. Bravo Zulu too your channel, if you’re out on Long Island look me up, will have dinner on me..
We've owned a Beneteau First Series and are now on our second Jeanneau. The French really know how to design boats for functionality and comfort, yet also as very good performers, using some of the best naval architects out there. Ferenc Mate featured the mid-1980's Beneteau line in his first volume of World's Best Sailboats. Build quality is strictly a function of price, so judgment of a particular manufacturer should always be done in that context. That being said, our current Jeanneau has done a total of thirteen Caribbean 1500 rallies with two side trips to Bermuda, so I don't worry too much about our boat not being considered "bluewater capable." Hope you are able to land one of these someday, Tim, Merry Christmas.
I very much enjoy your videos. My grandfather told me as a young buck and it stuck with me all my life, he said, 'We all love the sea but always remember the sea loves no man" ps don't buy a boxy boat buy a swan if you really want a sea worthy boat which will look after you when the weather gets tough.
When zi bought my boat some years ago, I lived by myself on the boat for a few years. Then my wife and I got together again, and now within a couple of years from retirement, Now and I wish I bought more than a 35 LOA boat. However, with all due respect, I did not buy my boat to entertain. Though I won't cross an ocean on it, I do plan on island hoping in the Bahamas and Caribbean as a reward for my 50 years plus of hard work. If I wanted to entertain, I'd be a Cat owner. One thing I dislike of Beneteau boats is how their rudders hang so unprotected. More power to you, captain. Fair winds
I chartered an Oceanus 45 in Raiatea in Jan 2021. Here are my thoughts. No backrest at the helm. Very uncomfotable after about an hour. I like sitting behind the wheel. Fold down transom jammed constantly. No protection from being pooped. We had a spirited sail from Huahini to Raiatea and had water in the cockpit. The worst problem was the exposed rudder. I never once felt the rudder hit coral, but apparently we did, and it tore a 3" hole in the rudder. I would never sail in any boat with an exposed rudder in the tropics again.
We plan to go back, after quite a few years to our cruising life and this is exactly what we think! thanks for saying it so well!! See you out there, we will be another Oceanis cruiser that really is not as snobby as those folks in the adds look. ;-)
Brilliant job. One of my ten boats was a Beneteau (Sense 50) and it checked the boxes for me at the time. You did an honest assessment of what you wanted.
You are doing a great job, sailing iinformation is very much needed, being the go-to place to answer cruisers' questions like water tankage and draft on the Oceanis 45.
I think the Beneteau 45 is a great choice...I may be a touch biased because I own a Beneteau but I am no fan boy by any means. Luckily of your two stated problems, on will solve the other. The size of the davits will be more than enough room to put your wattage requirements! Good luck in your search! Also, I have been enjoying the "info" centered episodes a lot! Very good information, very interesting stuff! Perhaps you could begin a series on some of the major sailing races and where they got their starts and whatnot. You could go forever and a day about the history of some of them.
Your channel certainly helped me choose my boat. Bought a Tanzer 26 last year and couldn't be happier. (After an expensive retrofit that is., but still! Sails like a dream!)
I’m looking at them as well. I’m catamaran guy but don’t have catamaran money. Mooring has a few of them for sale at about $200k and most of them are 3 cabins 3 head. The main head has a separate shower. There is a nice size sail looker in front so you won’t fill up your deck with crap. You will need to dress it up for live aboard but all your add on will be new and installed the way you like. I’m with you on this one.
I owned two Oceanis a 321 and 393. Both were very good boats. They were fast, fun and safe. The only problem that kept me from buying a third was the hull design. All Oceanis are very shallow. Any steep waves (big or small) will lift the bow out of the water and reenter with a very hard slap. Slap is an understatement. The third boat I bought was a 54 Irwin. I did invite you to follow me from Port Clinton, OH out the St Lawerance to the Atlantic and down the coast. I am now in Hampton VA. Maybe I will see you in the islands one day. Happy sailing.
I have never been a Beneteau fan after chartering one years ago. In a real blow the boat is just not stiff enough to safely manage heavy weather sailing, which is to say, you probably would be fine in it, but maybe not. The fact is, most people are never out in those conditions and many production boats have been around the world, so it this is what you like I wish you the best of luck!
We absolutely love our 2014 Jeanneau 439 and basically live aboard on Lake Michigan during the summers. We've added a solar arch and stow the dinghy on deck, hauling it up with a spare halyard. Easy peasy. Plan is to retire on her eventually, unless we win the lottery. Then it's a Hylas for us 😁. Happy boat hunting and Merry Christmas!
The stern arch on the Oceanis & Sense is awesome. It goes full width, gets your tender high & out of the way, let’s you have a longer tender and gives room for a massive solar array. You will find lots of spider cracks around the FWD arch but you won’t miss the traveller. I’ve been on both w that aft arch…it’s great. It’s a "Mono-maran"
I'll start by saying that I like your channel... I have been an independent yacht broker for years as well as a yacht delivery skipper, and suggest that you should probably consider why an Oceanis 45 might be "affordable". My informed opinion is that these yachts are built to a price and are therefore not terribly robust. Also most of what you describe in this video as desirable features sounds like the description of a condominium. Yes they are comfy and are large volume for their length but unlike an apartment they exist in a corrosive and taxing environment. The huge volume below is indeed great at anchor but when conditions get rough it can quickly transform this palace into a spacious jumping castle, with far too few places to hold onto and a long way to fly. Sure they can cross an ocean or two and many do so without incident. What I have seen though as a yacht broker are the after effects when people sell their "dream boats" after a bit of cruising. These often have stressed hulls, broken fittings and fixtures and occasionally some really concerning other structural stuff. In the trade we refer to this style of yacht, not just Beneteau's, as "picnic yachts". Just sayin'...
LOL, a blue water sailboat purest coming to grips with sometimes a "production" boat is the way to go.. Sadly, the vee birth is not the most comfortable place for the master cabin in anything but the most calmest of seas.. Also be sure to thoroughly check out the keel (reference Expedition Evans).. Other than that, the 45 Oceanis' is a nice boat.. Thanks for "seeing" past the blue water bias and considering the Beneteau.. flk k
Your logic is sound. Ive commented to you before and said that I have cruised and owned a number of Cruising boats. And as we all know, every boat is a set of compromises. And yes, we do, especially in the tropics spend a LOT of time in the cocpit. The two negatives for me on this boat is that A. I am very partial to center cockpits, and B. The fully exposed twin rudders and a hazard for picking up debris, or even being damaged from: pots, weed, flotsam/jetsam etc. but you know, again its that trade off thing. And of course personal needs and preference. As I said, your logic is sound. Good luck. ( wow, 300K sounds like a lot of money.). There is incredible inventory out there is that price range. I like multi’s but the cost of purchase and a big one….maintenance. I am seeing more and more people stuck with very expensive maintenance issues on their multi’s.
I have been watching Expedition Evans along with Lady K Sailing. They bought a wrecked Oceanis 49 at auction and did all the repairs and got her re-certified. Im really starting to like this boat. It seems soo wide inside and looks very roomy. They have lots of good views of the interior lay out and construction in their videos that may help you make up your mind on one. Like you said yourself find the boat that checks those boxes and you should be happy (at least until you find more boxes to check). All of the other sailing channels on my list are sailing Cats The most interesting of which is the aluminum Cyber 48 Jupiter II featured on Sailing Jupiter designed by Mumby which has already been 1/2 way around the world and just recently motored past your own harbor doing the Great circle. Another channel I am going to be paying attention to will be Sailing La Vagabond when they pick up their Rapido 60 Trimaran. Im enjoying your channel because its interesting and you are local. Take care and see you again soon.
I liked Evans when they were rebuilding the boat but after that I feel the channel went downhill, it became too much of "look at me and see how pretty I am" and not enough about sailing or the boat.
I've always had my eye on the Beneteau 39 or 40 with the two cabin layout and the aft galley. Roomy up and down. Great boat for two and a lot cheaper that the 45.
I'm looking to buy a Beneteau 393. I don't care for the dual helms and it's a 2-cabin version - this boat is nearly perfect for my needs. For now, I'll be sailing the PNW & Puget Sound.
Interest choice which surprised me based on earlier posts. We moved from a First 38 to the Beneteau 473 4 years ago to gain the space and walk though transom for ease of boarding. They are easy to find in Canada as fresh water boats and priced a bit better and the interior finish is more traditional and better quality. I did notice some more Benny bashing in the threads and surprised by it. I have race around the cans and offshore in many boats and as long as you maintain these boats and use good seamanship’s they will take you anywhere. Most boats fail due to poor maintenance and bad decisions. Hopefully you find one and enjoy the large cockpit for entertaining!
Agree with you 100%... my dreamboat is Neel 47...but will stay a dream, considering price-build quality...but the layout is genius...just ticks all the boxes for me... Keep doing a good job!!!🤟
I live in a land locked state so real cruising is at this point for me, a pipe dream. But I still dream and like you, I’ve researched the boat that I’d want as a cruiser and live aboard, and the more I research, the more I’m finding Hanse very appealing. The current 348 has enough space for me as a bachelor to live on, the head has a separate shower stall, an easily handled rig for singlehanding, and decent freshwater tankage (at least for one person or a hydro-frugal couple). And as far as modern designs go, she’s not ugly. Also a new one goes for what I as a middle income American could possibly swing as a “mortgage” (basically I could afford one if it became my permanent home). Might be worth a look 😎
I own a mid nineties Oceanis and the interriors were much better cherry instead of ikea looking, they tick all the boxes except for the fold down transom ,however the walk thru is much lower to the water than the fold down. As far as blue water take any Beneteau cut the pans out and glass in the matrix as mine is and it will take anything it stiffens the boat right up and even noise below is gone no creaking whatsoever like almost all other boats.
I'm not a Beneteau fan either but still have the Oceanis 44CC on my list. We want the aft cabin with centerline berth. That puts us in the market for that boat plus Hylas 44/45.5, Freedom 45, Morgan 45, Bristol and Moody. The advantage of the Beneteau is being able to get a newer boat for the same price as others.
Excellent video and Merry Christmas. We have a 41 and LOVE it. Great combo of speed and “water condo.” I can race her and spend a couple weeks in comfort. She’s our second home on the weekends. Add a max prop, a code zero, and have a diver scrub the hull every six weeks and she flys in any wind condition. Now a 45 or even a 48 would be even better… but there’s still time to upgrade ;-)
Glad to see this conclusion we are aiming at the same boat also due to space and modern design. We are enjoying your videos good info pro/cons stuff thanks.
Funny I'm getting to the same conclusion on this model and then I come across your video about it. I guess we think alike. I'm just considering the Oceanis 48 as well .
Like to see your input on 2 boats , first 1 Islander , 2nd West Sail, Why those two, well Islander builds a nice boat The interior works well for cruising and their early boats, the Wayfairs , 32, 34, and the 40 are very capable to cross a ocean. And the West Sail 32's are affordable blue water boats, they have the tankage you need to be out for weeks at a time. Thanks Tim for your time, and information that you provide, we all appreciate it. Happy holidays to you and your family..
I’ve read a lot of opinions of “blue water” boats. It seems that nothing but the “best” is good enough for some people. Beneteau’s get snubbed by so many but I’d like to know what boat they own! It’s one thing to wish for a Rolls Royce but a minivan is what works best.
it all depend on where you wanna sail I guess! that would be a great boat in the Carribeans or in the med where you can do islands hopping without big passages, enjoy the water and the living space! (cant wait to put my feet in the sand) But I guess if you're in the pacific Northwest (BC) you might wanna get something more enclosed and warm? (that's my honest opinion has I never really sailed alot, most of the times daily sails on a little sandpiper) On the other hand, Ryan and Sophie sailing went pretty much everywhere on their Oceanis... I do wanna seeyou sail again, maybe on the great lakes, seems like a really nice place to explore, and much closer to me!
Merry Christmas, Tim & crew. I've been sucked into the black hole called the perfect cruising boat for 2+ people. And, it sure looks like a Beneteau, yet it needs some fundamentals. I'd really like a short draft keel, so a split keel with twin bulbs, or a retractable keel? I'd like twin rudders (independently mounted for safety), I'd prefer no more than 5 through hulls- all easily visible & accessible via a single hide point. Don't care if they are individually located, I just don't want to disassemble the whole boat to see & repair them at sea! (2) heads w/ showers- NO MORE. I'd need to swap out at least the boom on a Beneteau, cuz- I need a footed main with at least (2) traditionally rigged reef points- I must have a battened main of size for power and a sail that can be shaped up to 25 knots of air. Like you 1500w of solar or more- I'll buy the rear hoop & do a dingy davit system as well (group buy discount, Tim? Hahaha). I think I can buy a shortened forestay, mount a sliver/storm jib & run it through a self tacker in front of the mast, cuz it has to have some power control in front of the mast in weather for control. That's a start. Ideally, my draft would be 5' but no more than 6' even if that only allowed say 45 or 50 degrees upwind without excessive sliding sideways. I like the Southerly 48 (Discovery 480?), but don't like the raised deck saloon inside. If cost was no object (NOT my reality) it'd would be a starting point. Didn't want to go here, but my head started swimming... Jump in, or- run away- it's OK. Any ideas would be great. Finally- shaft drive is a must. Sail drives are more maintenance & can cause sinking. Ughhh- do you see where this is going?
Jenneau Sun Odyssey 410 lifting keel must be close to the answer. Thank God it popped up on my YT recommendations list! Whew- it was gonna ruin my Christmas! Hahaha Yachting World review by Toby Hodges. But, darn is it ugly & cheaply put together?
I still think you should write a book about the histories of these boat companies. You already have done more than enough to fill a book, put them all in and call it a historical encyclopedia. Make it pictorial as in coffee table book style, and it will sell outside of the west marine book racks, and into general bookstores as well, maybe even attracting new people to the hobby / lifestyle, and making it a more long term income stream than just having it at west marine or whatnot.
I cannot fault you, there is an easy argument for them and if I wanted a Bene it would be an Oceanus. They do not fit my plan as I prefer to be more blue water and less coastal. The Bahamas are not my goal but I respect those that have it as a goal. The Bene was built as a coastal cruiser and it does that task beautifully.
After several 100000 Miles of sailing and mostly single or short handed I think an Allures 40 is the ideal blue cruiser. Small draft, alumium( i am scared of lightning) steers itself, wide sturn
There is one boat in my marina which get my attention. Not an Oceanis! But is is a Frenchy, 9m standard variety. The Beneteau has everything I do not like. Fat arse, windage, and, yes, as you put it, it does tick numerous boxes. I find myself staring at it all the time. I understand.
A tayana 55 or a oyster or swan 57. From the 80s. I’ll throw in the hylas and discovery and now the kraken for fun . I would say ocean cruisers started from the first three when comfort and change in cruisers was defined . Up in Annapolis in Berts yard they sell the Oceanis . There’s three new ones up there now. There was one with a custom paint job . It was blue and fade up to white like the old custom vans had in the early eighties. They have a nice line, one made of carbonfiber would be badass. Sv Bohemian
Stick to your wants. It's your lifestyle, your boat. Everyone is different and has different plans. You are going in with a lot more experience and information than most.
Excellent choice. The Oceanis 45 is a bit rich for me. I would love to get a Beneteau 473 2 cabin but I am thinking I will have to step down to a Beneteau 423 instead. Would love twin helm but Not sure I can swing it.
I think it will be a good boat for you. Even though the bluewater boats are awesome. Not everyone does cross ocean sailing on a regular basis. From what I have seen you do, and your plans. It seems something like an Amel is just overkill.
I like the style of the older boats but it is hard to beat a Bene for bang for the buck. I have been looking at the mid 30's range Oceanus trying to stay under 40 feet. The prices right now are still crazy though. Ryan and Sophie Sailing have crossed the Atlantic a couple of times in their 42.
Yeah, Nah! But my boxes were not the same as yours. The hardest part of choosing a boat is ticking those boxes. Good on ya if you have made your choice and are happy with it. Cheers!
After just surviving Typhoon Odette(Philippines) aboard my boat on my own mooring I would say be very careful in your choice of boat. Because you never know when the SHTF. My personal choice for my ideal long range cruiser is a boat designed by Brent Swain from Vancover, Canada. Twin bilge keels, outboard rudder, built in aluminum, cutter rigged. Pretty near bullet proof but doesn't check many of your boxes. But unless I win a lottery I will never have one, too old to build it myself, too poor to pay someone else to build it. May your troubles melt like lemon drops.
I found in my search that the used Beneteau's were more used and not as good as condition as the used Hunters. & keep in mind the now closed Beneteau Factory in South Carolina made both Beneteau's and Jeanneau's. Same production line, same workers, side by side.
All the best to you my friend, may we see each other at an anchorage on the helm side of our dream cruising yacht. For me it's a 44 Gozzard. Love so much about it.
I didn't see that coming!
Glad to see you are a realist.
When I was shopping 3 years ago, I was sure I wanted a heavy, go-anywhere boat with lots of "real wood." The more I looked, the more I realized what I really wanted was a coastal cruiser that would be fun to sail, but comfortable for friends and family in a harbor. I ended up with a 2009 Jeanneau 39i and am very happy with it. I agree with you about the "Ikea interior," but she's fast, comfortable, and more than capable of doing the kind of sailing I like to do safely. Oh, and the twin helm is life-changing.
Some pointes for the ideal cruiser:
Must be sailable singel handed. Make Sire you are nog dependable on crew.
Site: Max 40-42 fit. Weight of sails, height of mast; wear of gear like.sheets, winches ,sails.
Sailing Costs over 40 ft is high.
Air draft Max 20meters.
Twin ridders, fold out bow thruster, sails well in light wind as that is the case in 85%
Centerboard, I love the idea but have no experience.
Aluminium hull. There is so Munch debris in the water!
Cutter rig, code 0, gennaker.spi boom and sailable dinghy on board
Dry out easely
Twin helm Sterling = wider sturn=more
This July we moved aboard a beneteau 45 with my family (wife and two kids 6 and 11). We got her in Lake Champlain in Canada and are currently in the Bahamas. Yes the transom is great but the sailing is where she shines. We do about the same speed as a similar size Cat.
Good one this was. As a student I kept hearing this from every direction that almost all design decisions - especially about vehicles - are compromises and tradeoffs. I like that you picked something that you clearly see the faults of too. And let's get real: everyone could pick a super boat should price not matter - but it absolutely does. In many ways (time to gather, compromises on personal values for the work you gotta do to get the money, unbearable insurances once the boat is yours etc). I like your approach here.
We absolutely love our Beneteau First 36.7, it’s been the perfect boat for us through 10,000 miles of hardcore racing and cruising. Not a new leak or crack since the day we bought her.
You are putting out the most informative and useful sailing channel. So much better than following someone’s “family vacations” which gets very old and is played out imo.
Great presentation of your reasons and your check the box thoughts. That's why we will keep watching and listening every week.
An interesting choice . As I live in NZ and the average sea state is what most bloggers call extreme . From NZ to Fiji is a large undertaking & many boats have sold it short . But also not forgetting the NZ coast line is not very forgiving , you don't dive for a sheltered inlet in bad weather , you head off shore & into deeper water . Off the continental shelf & a good sea anchor is a wise choice .
From the blogs , an Island packet 42 or a 38 would be my choice .
Your thoughts .
Based on where you live and sail your choice makes perfect sense. But for the Great Lakes, US east coast and the Caribbean the Beneteau is a much better choice. It really depends on where you are sailing and what you want to do. Then you choose the boat that fits that. There is a reason there are so many Beneteau's, Catalina's, Jeanneau's and Hunters in the Caribbean and not so many "Blue Water" boats.
Thanks Tim. Now you made me want to sail the world.
Wow, wasn’t expecting that! Wasn’t expecting you to say that $300k is affordable either! 😂
My 2 cents.
If it makes you happy, fulfills your needs, and will not kill you, then no matter what build, it is the right boat for you.
Screw the haters!
Enjoy cruising YOUR WAY!
That is why we Cruise!
⬆️⬆️⬆️ This is the correct and mature take. It's not the boat for me, but I won't begrudge anyone his happiness just because he made a different choice.
I'm with you. When that transom is open, the living space is hard to beat for the price. A friend has one, pretty comfortable. Sailing wise...Good enough!
Never thought poorly of the Beneteau boats.. or cared much about what other people think. They are very popular for a reason. They tick a lot of boxes for most people, and look great still.
I did is the answer to your episode title! I have raced small catamarans (Hobie16) competitively for the past 35 years and still do. Now at the age that we wanted something to bay hope and coastal cruise in Queensland Australia. There is no perfect boat, just one that works for you most of the time.
We settled on the Oceanis 45 (plastic production boat as they call it) for a lot of the reasons you mention. Fold down transom, massive cockpit, duel helm so you can steer from the leeward side, it’s not slow, super wide and plenty of comfort. In mast furling main, Genoa and furling code zero. 800AH of lithium with solar so plenty of power.
Problem yet to be solved is davits, working on a non arch solution to lift the dinghy with outboard still on.
The Beneteau 45 blew me away when I saw it. I 100% agree with you that "this is the one to get", except... I'm older and I want my wife to be comfortable on the boat so I've been looking at boats with a greater "comfort factor". Even a pilot house. I'm thinking that 10% or even 20% slower in speed is worth the comfort. There's a boat for everyone though. Merry Christmas!
Not getting any negative comments from me. I’ll just be happy you’re on the water living the dream.
We discovered your channel last winter after we bought our first sailboat in January, while we waited for Ontario to unfreeze we followed your adventures and have loved learning about all the different boats. I'd already landed on the Oceanis 45 as a potential cruiser upgrade, and thought... oh but what would Tim say? I'm so happy to see that it's Tim approved!!!!
First, I want to join others i want to join others in saying that I really appreciate the "information" approach you have taken for this phase of the channel. Not only the history and details of the boats that you have carefully researched but also the founders of the companies that conceived and built them. Great work. But second, I must say I really like the OC 45's as well. I wish I had the budget for a 45 Catamaran but the Oceanis offers a similar open concept feel to the interior and cockpit. By the way when you were describing the cookie cutter IKEA like interior I just loved how you stated "I just don't care" at 8:09. Very funny - and I agree. Thanks for putting together episodes that are direct and honest!
Love what you’re doing on the channel.
The lifestyle RUclips channels work and are entertaining but what you have been doing over the last year or so has me hooked.
We just bought our first boat (Catalina 350) and the family is loving it. We keep her on Lake Pepin and hope to start cursing when we retire. Best of luck with your future plans.
Love the channel
I am glad they make a lot of different boat with various styles and designs everyone has a different opinion on what make a perfect boat for each person. I enjoyed the reasons why this a perfect boat for you.
I only wish the biggest manufacturers weren't all crowding around the same basic design parameters. With a handful of exceptions, it seems like everyone's moving in the direction of sloops with plumb bows and beams carried all the way back to the transom with wide, super-exposed cockpits, twin spade rudders, and bolted-on high aspect fin keels.
THANK YOU! We bought our Jeaneau 349 for the same exact reasons that tick your boxes for the Oceanus. A 2 year old 349 became available. It ticked the boxes for what type of sailing and where we sail. She is modern, new, comfortable and fast. And yes when conditions are right she also takes off like a bat out of hell.
Good call on the Benni 45. Myself and partner (Elspeth) have been sailing our 45 up and down the west coast of Turkey. We lived aboard for 7months from May to November and only returned to uk for work and domestic reasons. Selkie (our 45) is a delight. I concur with all your comments. Having just had an arch and solar fitted along with full winter protection Bimini, Selkie is more or less complete. We can’t wait to continue our adventure next year. İyi şanslar!
Hi Steven, Can I ask where you keep your boat off-season? Have you found a marina in Turkey that you like and is priced reasonably for the winter? Thanks!
I have a Beneteau Oceanis 350 WK 1989 owners version. Only has a 4’1 draft, she is fast. Put 7200nm on it. I was looking at Hylas 54 2003 swing bronze keel as my retire boat, but saw a RUclips on this 2009 Hunter 50cc, wife saw the Jacuzzi and the kitchen and price just flipped. By the way you might want to make this mod to your boat or any boat. Fresh water Rinse layup and Emergency Bilge Pump.
On Starlight 1989 Beneteau Oceanis 350 has a Volvo Penta engine M2003 28hp anyway I was the second owner, so after I purchased the boat I was doing the shakedown cruise and ran the engine for about an hour and the overheated alarm went off , could not find a problem, cutting too the chase lots of growth and calcification of the tubes in the heat exchanger. Had too take the entire unit clean it and put it back, never wanted to do that again figured was not the use rather the extended, layup with saltwater, also the corrosion factor of the elbow, had to replace that. So as a solution I cam up with this manifold I constructed with brass and bronze fittings and ball valves for each connection, from the thru hull , to the manifold, ball on the thru hull and on the manifold did the same at the on end valve to the sea strainer to the engine, next thru hull, pressure fresh water, and at the other end again valve to a run to the bilge.
This allows me to turn on the fresh water, backwash the thru hull, then shutoff and run the engine for 2 minutes on fresh water before shutting down the engine for the night or an extended time. It also in the final configuration allows me to bring to bear as an emergency pump, on my main bilge the engine, if there is a major leak in the boat that bilge pumps cannot handle for whatever reason, (lightning strikes) etc. I often use the fresh water system when she is on the hard, and I need to run the engine, like changing oil, etc. I have 100 gallons of water on Starlight, you should see the looks I get in the yard with no hose, on the hard, yet engine running and water from the exhaust and prop shaft running out. In 20 years have not had any overheating issues or had to deal with the heat exchanger or the elbow, which is notorious on Volvos..
Bravo Zulu too your channel, if you’re out on Long Island look me up, will have dinner on me..
We've owned a Beneteau First Series and are now on our second Jeanneau. The French really know how to design boats for functionality and comfort, yet also as very good performers, using some of the best naval architects out there. Ferenc Mate featured the mid-1980's Beneteau line in his first volume of World's Best Sailboats. Build quality is strictly a function of price, so judgment of a particular manufacturer should always be done in that context. That being said, our current Jeanneau has done a total of thirteen Caribbean 1500 rallies with two side trips to Bermuda, so I don't worry too much about our boat not being considered "bluewater capable." Hope you are able to land one of these someday, Tim, Merry Christmas.
Honestly, I knew you were going to say Beneteau before you said it. Now, pour me another Margarita...
I very much enjoy your videos. My grandfather told me as a young buck and it stuck with me all my life, he said,
'We all love the sea but always remember the sea loves no man" ps don't buy a boxy boat buy a swan if you really want a sea worthy boat which will look after you when the weather gets tough.
Beneteau Oceanis 45 with a Comfort Ratio
20.8 its a OO7 james bond boat = "shaken not stirred" .
THE most natural presenter in YT world.
When zi bought my boat some years ago, I lived by myself on the boat for a few years. Then my wife and I got together again, and now within a couple of years from retirement, Now and I wish I bought more than a 35 LOA boat. However, with all due respect, I did not buy my boat to entertain. Though I won't cross an ocean on it, I do plan on island hoping in the Bahamas and Caribbean as a reward for my 50 years plus of hard work. If I wanted to entertain, I'd be a Cat owner. One thing I dislike of Beneteau boats is how their rudders hang so unprotected. More power to you, captain. Fair winds
All I want for Christmas is a Hans Christian 48T :)
Love the oceanis. I think its an excellent choice
I chartered an Oceanus 45 in Raiatea in Jan 2021. Here are my thoughts. No backrest at the helm. Very uncomfotable after about an hour. I like sitting behind the wheel. Fold down transom jammed constantly. No protection from being pooped. We had a spirited sail from Huahini to Raiatea and had water in the cockpit. The worst problem was the exposed rudder. I never once felt the rudder hit coral, but apparently we did, and it tore a 3" hole in the rudder. I would never sail in any boat with an exposed rudder in the tropics again.
We plan to go back, after quite a few years to our cruising life and this is exactly what we think! thanks for saying it so well!! See you out there, we will be another Oceanis cruiser that really is not as snobby as those folks in the adds look. ;-)
Brilliant job. One of my ten boats was a Beneteau (Sense 50) and it checked the boxes for me at the time. You did an honest assessment of what you wanted.
It's really a very interesting boat to live aboard, make charter or invite friends.
Nice video.
You are doing a great job, sailing iinformation is very much needed, being the go-to place to answer cruisers' questions like water tankage and draft on the Oceanis 45.
I think the Beneteau 45 is a great choice...I may be a touch biased because I own a Beneteau but I am no fan boy by any means. Luckily of your two stated problems, on will solve the other. The size of the davits will be more than enough room to put your wattage requirements! Good luck in your search!
Also, I have been enjoying the "info" centered episodes a lot! Very good information, very interesting stuff! Perhaps you could begin a series on some of the major sailing races and where they got their starts and whatnot. You could go forever and a day about the history of some of them.
Your channel certainly helped me choose my boat. Bought a Tanzer 26 last year and couldn't be happier. (After an expensive retrofit that is., but still! Sails like a dream!)
I’m looking at them as well. I’m catamaran guy but don’t have catamaran money. Mooring has a few of them for sale at about $200k and most of them are 3 cabins 3 head. The main head has a separate shower. There is a nice size sail looker in front so you won’t fill up your deck with crap. You will need to dress it up for live aboard but all your add on will be new and installed the way you like. I’m with you on this one.
I owned two Oceanis a 321 and 393. Both were very good boats. They were fast, fun and safe. The only problem that kept me from buying a third was the hull design. All Oceanis are very shallow. Any steep waves (big or small) will lift the bow out of the water and reenter with a very hard slap. Slap is an understatement. The third boat I bought was a 54 Irwin. I did invite you to follow me from Port Clinton, OH out the St Lawerance to the Atlantic and down the coast. I am now in Hampton VA. Maybe I will see you in the islands one day. Happy sailing.
I think it is a great boat. I went from a Fountaine Pajot Lipari to a Jeanneau 440 which is a similar boat.
I fell in love with the Beneteau 41 when I looked at it, they really are a great package.
I have never been a Beneteau fan after chartering one years ago. In a real blow the boat is just not stiff enough to safely manage heavy weather sailing, which is to say, you probably would be fine in it, but maybe not. The fact is, most people are never out in those conditions and many production boats have been around the world, so it this is what you like I wish you the best of luck!
You can call it Special K. 😀
"as long as it's fun" Merry Christmas to you and yours !
Great choice. Can’t wait to see you sail her.
We absolutely love our 2014 Jeanneau 439 and basically live aboard on Lake Michigan during the summers. We've added a solar arch and stow the dinghy on deck, hauling it up with a spare halyard. Easy peasy. Plan is to retire on her eventually, unless we win the lottery. Then it's a Hylas for us 😁. Happy boat hunting and Merry Christmas!
The stern arch on the Oceanis & Sense is awesome. It goes full width, gets your tender high & out of the way, let’s you have a longer tender and gives room for a massive solar array. You will find lots of spider cracks around the FWD arch but you won’t miss the traveller. I’ve been on both w that aft arch…it’s great. It’s a "Mono-maran"
I'll start by saying that I like your channel...
I have been an independent yacht broker for years as well as a yacht delivery skipper, and suggest that you should probably consider why an Oceanis 45 might be "affordable". My informed opinion is that these yachts are built to a price and are therefore not terribly robust. Also most of what you describe in this video as desirable features sounds like the description of a condominium. Yes they are comfy and are large volume for their length but unlike an apartment they exist in a corrosive and taxing environment. The huge volume below is indeed great at anchor but when conditions get rough it can quickly transform this palace into a spacious jumping castle, with far too few places to hold onto and a long way to fly.
Sure they can cross an ocean or two and many do so without incident. What I have seen though as a yacht broker are the after effects when people sell their "dream boats" after a bit of cruising. These often have stressed hulls, broken fittings and fixtures and occasionally some really concerning other structural stuff.
In the trade we refer to this style of yacht, not just Beneteau's, as "picnic yachts".
Just sayin'...
LOL, a blue water sailboat purest coming to grips with sometimes a "production" boat is the way to go.. Sadly, the vee birth is not the most comfortable place for the master cabin in anything but the most calmest of seas.. Also be sure to thoroughly check out the keel (reference Expedition Evans).. Other than that, the 45 Oceanis' is a nice boat.. Thanks for "seeing" past the blue water bias and considering the Beneteau.. flk k
Your logic is sound. Ive commented to you before and said that I have cruised and owned a number of Cruising boats. And as we all know, every boat is a set of compromises. And yes, we do, especially in the tropics spend a LOT of time in the cocpit. The two negatives for me on this boat is that A. I am very partial to center cockpits, and B. The fully exposed twin rudders and a hazard for picking up debris, or even being damaged from: pots, weed, flotsam/jetsam etc. but you know, again its that trade off thing. And of course personal needs and preference. As I said, your logic is sound. Good luck. ( wow, 300K sounds like a lot of money.). There is incredible inventory out there is that price range. I like multi’s but the cost of purchase and a big one….maintenance. I am seeing more and more people stuck with very expensive maintenance issues on their multi’s.
I have been watching Expedition Evans along with Lady K Sailing. They bought a wrecked Oceanis 49 at auction and did all the repairs and got her re-certified. Im really starting to like this boat. It seems soo wide inside and looks very roomy. They have lots of good views of the interior lay out and construction in their videos that may help you make up your mind on one. Like you said yourself find the boat that checks those boxes and you should be happy (at least until you find more boxes to check). All of the other sailing channels on my list are sailing Cats The most interesting of which is the aluminum Cyber 48 Jupiter II featured on Sailing Jupiter designed by Mumby which has already been 1/2 way around the world and just recently motored past your own harbor doing the Great circle. Another channel I am going to be paying attention to will be Sailing La Vagabond when they pick up their Rapido 60 Trimaran. Im enjoying your channel because its interesting and you are local. Take care and see you again soon.
They are into the boat for what it’s worth, you can just buy one. That’s a huge boat btw
I liked Evans when they were rebuilding the boat but after that I feel the channel went downhill, it became too much of "look at me and see how pretty I am" and not enough about sailing or the boat.
I've always had my eye on the Beneteau 39 or 40 with the two cabin layout and the aft galley. Roomy up and down. Great boat for two and a lot cheaper that the 45.
Merry Christmas Tim, Cali (the cutest little co-host), and the rest of the clan!
I'm looking to buy a Beneteau 393. I don't care for the dual helms and it's a 2-cabin version - this boat is nearly perfect for my needs. For now, I'll be sailing the PNW & Puget Sound.
Interest choice which surprised me based on earlier posts. We moved from a First 38 to the Beneteau 473 4 years ago to gain the space and walk though transom for ease of boarding. They are easy to find in Canada as fresh water boats and priced a bit better and the interior finish is more traditional and better quality. I did notice some more Benny bashing in the threads and surprised by it. I have race around the cans and offshore in many boats and as long as you maintain these boats and use good seamanship’s they will take you anywhere. Most boats fail due to poor maintenance and bad decisions. Hopefully you find one and enjoy the large cockpit for entertaining!
Agree with you 100%... my dreamboat is Neel 47...but will stay a dream, considering price-build quality...but the layout is genius...just ticks all the boxes for me...
Keep doing a good job!!!🤟
I live in a land locked state so real cruising is at this point for me, a pipe dream. But I still dream and like you, I’ve researched the boat that I’d want as a cruiser and live aboard, and the more I research, the more I’m finding Hanse very appealing. The current 348 has enough space for me as a bachelor to live on, the head has a separate shower stall, an easily handled rig for singlehanding, and decent freshwater tankage (at least for one person or a hydro-frugal couple). And as far as modern designs go, she’s not ugly. Also a new one goes for what I as a middle income American could possibly swing as a “mortgage” (basically I could afford one if it became my permanent home). Might be worth a look 😎
Hope your dream comes true, she’s a beauty.
i like it, out of my price range but i'd join one as crew
I own a mid nineties Oceanis and the interriors were much better cherry instead of ikea looking, they tick all the boxes except for the fold down transom ,however the walk thru is much lower to the water than the fold down. As far as blue water take any Beneteau cut the pans out and glass in the matrix as mine is and it will take anything it stiffens the boat right up and even noise below is gone no creaking whatsoever like almost all other boats.
I'm not a Beneteau fan either but still have the Oceanis 44CC on my list. We want the aft cabin with centerline berth. That puts us in the market for that boat plus Hylas 44/45.5, Freedom 45, Morgan 45, Bristol and Moody. The advantage of the Beneteau is being able to get a newer boat for the same price as others.
I got a beneteau 400 tick! Thanks to you
I am right there with you Tim. It's the boat I hate to love and I am embarassed to admit it.
Merry Christmas Tim 🎄
A very happy Christmas to you too, from South Africa. We enjoy your channel very much
Excellent video and Merry Christmas. We have a 41 and LOVE it. Great combo of speed and “water condo.” I can race her and spend a couple weeks in comfort. She’s our second home on the weekends. Add a max prop, a code zero, and have a diver scrub the hull every six weeks and she flys in any wind condition. Now a 45 or even a 48 would be even better… but there’s still time to upgrade ;-)
Glad to see this conclusion we are aiming at the same boat also due to space and modern design. We are enjoying your videos good info pro/cons stuff thanks.
Funny I'm getting to the same conclusion on this model and then I come across your video about it. I guess we think alike. I'm just considering the Oceanis 48 as well .
Like to see your input on 2 boats , first 1 Islander , 2nd West Sail, Why those two, well Islander builds a nice boat The interior works well for cruising and their early boats, the Wayfairs , 32, 34, and the 40 are very capable to cross a ocean. And the West Sail 32's are affordable blue water boats, they have the tankage you need to be out for weeks at a time. Thanks Tim for your time, and information that you provide, we all appreciate it. Happy holidays to you and your family..
I’ve read a lot of opinions of “blue water” boats. It seems that nothing but the “best” is good enough for some people. Beneteau’s get snubbed by so many but I’d like to know what boat they own! It’s one thing to wish for a Rolls Royce but a minivan is what works best.
Recently found your channel and like it a lot! Keep up the great work!!
"And yes... it's a Beneteau." Love it. But in truth, there's a reason why they sell a gazillion of them.
Happy Sailing and Holidays. ... Cheers ...
I love these been-a-floats… I’d probably settle for something under 40 foot for docking costs…
That's kind of where I've settled as well... Looking at similar boats and in the next 6-8 years
it all depend on where you wanna sail I guess! that would be a great boat in the Carribeans or in the med where you can do islands hopping without big passages, enjoy the water and the living space! (cant wait to put my feet in the sand) But I guess if you're in the pacific Northwest (BC) you might wanna get something more enclosed and warm? (that's my honest opinion has I never really sailed alot, most of the times daily sails on a little sandpiper) On the other hand, Ryan and Sophie sailing went pretty much everywhere on their Oceanis... I do wanna seeyou sail again, maybe on the great lakes, seems like a really nice place to explore, and much closer to me!
Merry Christmas, Tim & crew. I've been sucked into the black hole called the perfect cruising boat for 2+ people. And, it sure looks like a Beneteau, yet it needs some fundamentals. I'd really like a short draft keel, so a split keel with twin bulbs, or a retractable keel? I'd like twin rudders (independently mounted for safety), I'd prefer no more than 5 through hulls- all easily visible & accessible via a single hide point. Don't care if they are individually located, I just don't want to disassemble the whole boat to see & repair them at sea! (2) heads w/ showers- NO MORE. I'd need to swap out at least the boom on a Beneteau, cuz- I need a footed main with at least (2) traditionally rigged reef points- I must have a battened main of size for power and a sail that can be shaped up to 25 knots of air. Like you 1500w of solar or more- I'll buy the rear hoop & do a dingy davit system as well (group buy discount, Tim? Hahaha). I think I can buy a shortened forestay, mount a sliver/storm jib & run it through a self tacker in front of the mast, cuz it has to have some power control in front of the mast in weather for control. That's a start. Ideally, my draft would be 5' but no more than 6' even if that only allowed say 45 or 50 degrees upwind without excessive sliding sideways. I like the Southerly 48 (Discovery 480?), but don't like the raised deck saloon inside. If cost was no object (NOT my reality) it'd would be a starting point. Didn't want to go here, but my head started swimming... Jump in, or- run away- it's OK. Any ideas would be great. Finally- shaft drive is a must. Sail drives are more maintenance & can cause sinking. Ughhh- do you see where this is going?
Jenneau Sun Odyssey 410 lifting keel must be close to the answer. Thank God it popped up on my YT recommendations list! Whew- it was gonna ruin my Christmas! Hahaha Yachting World review by Toby Hodges. But, darn is it ugly & cheaply put together?
I still think you should write a book about the histories of these boat companies. You already have done more than enough to fill a book, put them all in and call it a historical encyclopedia. Make it pictorial as in coffee table book style, and it will sell outside of the west marine book racks, and into general bookstores as well, maybe even attracting new people to the hobby / lifestyle, and making it a more long term income stream than just having it at west marine or whatnot.
I cannot fault you, there is an easy argument for them and if I wanted a Bene it would be an Oceanus. They do not fit my plan as I prefer to be more blue water and less coastal. The Bahamas are not my goal but I respect those that have it as a goal. The Bene was built as a coastal cruiser and it does that task beautifully.
After several 100000 Miles of sailing and mostly single or short handed I think an Allures 40 is the ideal blue cruiser.
Small draft, alumium( i am scared of lightning) steers itself, wide sturn
they are definitely fun boats.
There is one boat in my marina which get my attention. Not an Oceanis! But is is a Frenchy, 9m standard variety. The Beneteau has everything I do not like. Fat arse, windage, and, yes, as you put it, it does tick numerous boxes. I find myself staring at it all the time. I understand.
Nice reasoning , second that!
A tayana 55 or a oyster or swan 57. From the 80s. I’ll throw in the hylas and discovery and now the kraken for fun . I would say ocean cruisers started from the first three when comfort and change in cruisers was defined . Up in Annapolis in Berts yard they sell the Oceanis . There’s three new ones up there now. There was one with a custom paint job . It was blue and fade up to white like the old custom vans had in the early eighties. They have a nice line, one made of carbonfiber would be badass. Sv Bohemian
When you have look into the Allied SEAWIND 2 Ketch!
Stick to your wants. It's your lifestyle, your boat. Everyone is different and has different plans. You are going in with a lot more experience and information than most.
Excellent choice. The Oceanis 45 is a bit rich for me. I would love to get a Beneteau 473 2 cabin but I am thinking I will have to step down to a Beneteau 423 instead. Would love twin helm but Not sure I can swing it.
I think it will be a good boat for you. Even though the bluewater boats are awesome. Not everyone does cross ocean sailing on a regular basis. From what I have seen you do, and your plans. It seems something like an Amel is just overkill.
I like the style of the older boats but it is hard to beat a Bene for bang for the buck. I have been looking at the mid 30's range Oceanus trying to stay under 40 feet. The prices right now are still crazy though. Ryan and Sophie Sailing have crossed the Atlantic a couple of times in their 42.
Ryan and Sophie’s boat is under 40 ft
Yeah, Nah! But my boxes were not the same as yours. The hardest part of choosing a boat is ticking those boxes. Good on ya if you have made your choice and are happy with it. Cheers!
After just surviving Typhoon Odette(Philippines) aboard my boat on my own mooring I would say be very careful in your choice of boat. Because you never know when the SHTF. My personal choice for my ideal long range cruiser is a boat designed by Brent Swain from Vancover, Canada. Twin bilge keels, outboard rudder, built in aluminum, cutter rigged. Pretty near bullet proof but doesn't check many of your boxes. But unless I win a lottery I will never have one, too old to build it myself, too poor to pay someone else to build it.
May your troubles melt like lemon drops.
Not a totally unforeseen opinion regarding the Beneteau.
However, I appreciate the logic and candor.
Best regards and merry Christmas
I found in my search that the used Beneteau's were more used and not as good as condition as the used Hunters. & keep in mind the now closed Beneteau Factory in South Carolina made both Beneteau's and Jeanneau's. Same production line, same workers, side by side.
I found my oceanis 45 video :)
G'DAY...
On one of your shows you said " a few old Choy Lee's. I am thinking of, have fallen with...!!!
Choy Lee offshore 41.
Merry Christmas waving a hand for Maryland
Great video, just one thing. It didn't sound like you were talking about your dream boat but the best fit you can afford at the moment...
What is the big concern w/ crossing an ocean with the Oceanis? So many people have done and still do it all the time.
All the best to you my friend, may we see each other at an anchorage on the helm side of our dream cruising yacht. For me it's a 44 Gozzard. Love so much about it.