BENETEAU OCEANIS 60: A NEW FLAGSHIP FOR THE FLEET
Join us for a sail and a close examination of the 2015 Beneteau Oceanis 60.
By Zuzana Prochazka
No moss grows under a Beneteau keel, and just two years after launching the Oceanis 55—then the flagship of the Oceanis line—the company has introduced the newer, bigger Oceanis 60. This prolific French boat builder keeps introducing new models to make sure their line is constantly refreshed, and although the 60 is based on a previous model, I found there’s much to discover about this rejuvenated version.
The Oceanis 60 is actually a stretched version of an older Beneteau 58 hull, with some interesting improvements.
The new boat is largely defined by two features in the added aft section: a dinghy garage that’s accessible when the transom drops down to form a swim platform, and the additional lounge space on deck behind each of the twin wheels. The garage is handy for stowing fenders, buckets, a shore power cord, and even a small dinghy (Beneteau recommends the Highfield 2.4 meter), though it will have to be partially deflated to fit. Up on deck, optional cushions fit behind the helm seats to form sunpads, which hold two people each. It’s a nice use of the deck extension and makes a comfortable place to sit when under sail or at anchor with the transom down. The outboard lockers that form the backrests of the sunpads are put to use as well, with a propane locker to port and liferaft stowage to starboard. You can get a good look at the cockpit, garage, and helm area in our Beneteau Oceanis 60 First Look Sailboat Video.
Each helm seat is also built for two, and has good handholds inboard which come in handy because the wheels are far apart. There’s not much else to hold onto, especially when heeling on a boat with nearly 17 feet of beam. Harken primary winches are within easy reach of the helmsman on either side and the two halyard winches are nearby, but a singlehander could not attend to the lines that lead to these additional winches without the use of the autopilot. Sheetboxes port and starboard ahead of the binnacles are a nice addition, but they seem a bit small to hold the lengthy halyards and reefing lines. READ REVIEW
http://features.boats.com/boat-content/2015/06/beneteau-oceanis-60-a-new-flagship-for-the-fleet/
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