Honestly, enjoying this content WAY more than most of the "sailing" channels. Lady K and Captain Q...

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.

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.

Wow, wasn’t expecting that! Wasn’t expecting you to say that $300k is affordable either! 😂

I didn't see that coming! Glad to see you are a realist.

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.

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.

Not getting any negative comments from me. I’ll just be happy you’re on the water living the dream.

Thanks Tim. Now you made me want to sail the world.

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 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!!!!

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!

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 .

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!

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.

Great presentation of your reasons and your check the box thoughts. That's why we will keep watching and listening every week.

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!

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'...

Beneteau Oceanis 45 with a Comfort Ratio 20.8 its a OO7 james bond boat = "shaken not stirred" .

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!

Love what you’re doing on the channel. The lifestyle KZfaq 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

All I want for Christmas is a Hans Christian 48T :)

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!

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.

Hope your dream comes true, she’s a beauty.

I think it is a great boat. I went from a Fountaine Pajot Lipari to a Jeanneau 440 which is a similar boat.

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.

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. ;-)

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

Love the oceanis. I think its an excellent choice

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.

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.

Merry Christmas Tim, Cali (the cutest little co-host), and the rest of the clan!

"as long as it's fun" Merry Christmas to you and yours !

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 KZfaq 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..

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.

Honestly, I knew you were going to say Beneteau before you said it. Now, pour me another Margarita...

"And yes... it's a Beneteau." Love it. But in truth, there's a reason why they sell a gazillion of them.

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.

What is the big concern w/ crossing an ocean with the Oceanis? So many people have done and still do it all the time.

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 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'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.

Merry Christmas Tim 🎄

If you like the 45 oceanis you would love my new 2022 40.1 beneteau

I got a beneteau 400 tick! Thanks to you

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.

You can call it Special K. 😀

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!)

Nice reasoning , second that!

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 .

THE most natural presenter in YT world.

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!

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 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.

That's kind of where I've settled as well... Looking at similar boats and in the next 6-8 years

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.

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!

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.

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.

Merry Christmas!!

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...

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"

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

Merry Christmas waving a hand for Maryland

I am right there with you Tim. It's the boat I hate to love and I am embarassed to admit it.

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.

Recently found your channel and like it a lot! Keep up the great work!!

I fell in love with the Beneteau 41 when I looked at it, they really are a great package.

Great choice. Can’t wait to see you sail her.

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.

A very happy Christmas to you too, from South Africa. We enjoy your channel very much

I'm looking a getting a 2014 to 2017 Oceanis 55 , something with the "dock n go" system

I love what you've done with the channel, the only problem is, you don't have enough time to review all the boats that I am interested in. My only problem with Beneteau is that I don't think the interior is even up to Ikea standards. It is very similar to other European production boats (Jeanneau, Bavaria), but not as nice as the Catalina's and Hunters, which aren't spectacular. I like the space and the island master and don't have other problems with them being Beneteau's, but I want to circumnavigate and think I would be spending too much time in the cabin to not like it.

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.

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!

Enjoy your content. If ever I win the lottery in a big way….yeah, your Beneteau will probably be on my list, too. Similar reasons to your own. Currently I’m on a pension in Canada, not likely to afford much more than a good dinghy or a tired, older boat. Oh, well

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!

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.

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 😎

Love the vin wiki shirt.

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.

I love these been-a-floats… I’d probably settle for something under 40 foot for docking costs…

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 ;-)

i like it, out of my price range but i'd join one as crew

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..

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.

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.

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.

Have a Merry Christmas

WHAT!!! What'z nexts greypoupon? Must be all that maple syrup money! Truth be told I want one really bad!!!!! Lol hope you get one!

I'm so confused. My history is racing dinghys, light cats, and racing monohull keelboats. Light, fast and hard work. We had 11 headsails on the last keelboat I raced. I want to go cruising in BVI, USVI and Puerto Rico. I may do an ocean crossing. Island Packets look amazing. I'm not sure I can tolerate sailing that slow. Beneteau First is somewhat appealing. I'm not sure I want to do an ocean crossing on a First. I'm so confused.

Love your channel. I got to bareboat an Oceanis 41.1. Hull seemed substantial, cockpit layout was great, sailed well, nice amenities for cruising, Yanmar diesel. All great. But....the boat wasn't that old and the interior quality was not good. Hardware already corroding, all press board interior with some cheap veneer, etc. etc. So if the interior was so poor in quality (visible items) what will the hidden things be like. So, for long term ownership, I think it would not be for me. And of course I'm assuming the 41.1 and 45 are cut from the same cloth.

If money was no object I could check off all the boxes but I still think I've arrived at a great vessel that checks off most of them that doesn't break the bank... Just small lake sailing for me... Catalina 400 gets er done..

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.

I am sure that Bene knows better what you need than you do. They sell conviviality and they sell a lot of it for very good reason. It’s not by chance that it ticks your boxes.

I’ve come to a similar conclusion something about that arch and 41 to 46 seems to be the perfect set up.

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.