Beneteau Oceanis 47 Review
French boatbuilding giant Beneteau is introducing the eighth generation of its iconic Oceanis line of monohull cruisers. The new Beneteau Oceanis 47 replaces the popular 46.1, which hit the sweet spot for cruising couples for years. Now with a redesigned cockpit and a better interior fit and finish, the new model is on a path to become a worthy successor.
At a Glance: Beneteau Oceanis 47
BENETEAU Oceanis 47
- Versatility provided by twin tables that open the cockpit nicely
- Simpler mainsail management thanks to the arch
- Better grip when going to weather with an available deep keel
- Aft summer galley mostly for show
- Light fuel tankage
- Five cabins feel shoehorned on this model
- Cruisers seeking comprehensive liveaboard amenities
- Sailors looking for a speedy, easy-to-use platform
- Loyal Beneteau customers looking to step up through the line
Specifications:
- LOA 47 feet, 11 inches
- Beam: 14 feet, 9 inches
- Draft: 6 feet, 2 inches or 8 feet, 1 inch
- Air draft: 69 feet, 1 inch
- Displacement: 24,202 pounds
- Sail area: 914 square feet
- Engine: 80 hp Yanmar diesel (57 hp standard)
- Fuel capacity: 52 gallons
- Water capacity: 98 gallons
- Designer: Finot-Conq
- Base price: $514,400
- Price as tested: ~$800,000
Power & Performance
- Engine: 80 hp Yanmar (with Saildrive)
- Top speed under sail: 9.7 knots in 20 knots of wind at 60 degrees apparent wind angle
- Cruising speed under power: 7.8 knots at 2,200 rpm
- Top speed under power: 8.2 knots at 3,190 rpm
Features We Love
- Mirrors that make the salon feel larger
- Steadying poles at the companionway leading down from the arch
- A dedicated forward-facing nav desk
- 12-inch Raymarine multifunction display
- Bow thruster
- Electric drop transom
- Induction charging pad
- Carbonautica composite wheels
- Scheiber digital switching
Design and Notable Features
Designed by Finot-Conq, the Beneteau Oceanis 47 slots in just below the Oceanis 52, which is the flagship of the Oceanis series. Beneteau made some tweaks between the preceding 46.1 and this new model to improve handling and comfort, but the boat specs are basically identical.
A pronounced hull chine starts at the plumb bow and runs aft to the transom, creating sufficient room for a large primary stateroom forward and a good-sized cockpit aft. The underbody still features twin rudders for control when heeling and a choice of two keel depths—6 feet, 2 inches or 8 feet 1 inch—that were modified in the redesign. For racing, the deeper version will provide serious upwind performance.
Transom and Davits
I boarded the boat via the electric drop transom. Two steps lead up to the cockpit, but in the middle was an optional outdoor galley tucked under a section of the transom seat. There’s also a small drawer here but no sink, so I’m not sure how much use this summer kitchen will see. The split backstay provides unimpeded access to the water.
Our model featured the optional retractable davits that seem like a great idea but may limit tender choices due to its weight limit. Unlike on the bigger 52, the helm seats here are fixed and don’t swing outward. Instead, Beneteau chose to use this space for storage and a propane tank.
Beneteau Oceanis 47 Helm
The stylish binnacles add to the aesthetics of this model. To starboard is a 12-inch Raymarine multifunction display, windlass and bow thruster controls, and the Yanmar throttle. I love to see engine controls up high rather than on the bulkhead at knee level where the driver must look down during docking. Oddly, the autopilot is mounted off the dash and down low.
The port console holds a magnetic compass and an induction charging pad for a phone. Buyers can opt for another MFD here.
Sightlines forward are good and Beneteau offers lifeline/railing cushions so the driver can lean and steer in comfort. The boat’s upgraded Carbonautica composite wheels felt so good in the hand.
Beneteau Oceanis 47 Cockpit
Beneteau made a major change in the cockpit by replacing the fixed drop-leaf table with twin folding high/low tables that open the middle of the cockpit to create easy passage to the companionway. Since these tables lift and lower, you can configure one side for dining and the other for lounging, which adds versatility. Beneteau brought the two short lounges under the dodger over from the 46.1. With the headrest raised, this is a terrific place to tuck in and stay out of the fray.
Convenient handholds run from the companionway level up to the newly added arch. These are great for steadying yourself as you move from exterior to interior, especially in a seaway.
Featured Holdovers
Three optional solar panels are embedded into the deck: two aft of the mast and one forward for a total of 500 watts. The anchor is recessed into and integrated into the composite bowsprit that also holds the asymmetrical spinnaker pad eye. Pretty much everything here was brought over from the 46.1. If it works, what’s there to fix?
Available Cabins
The Beneteau Oceanis 47 interior arrangements are similar to the 46.1, including a choice of three, four, or five cabins and three or four heads.
The primary stateroom in the bow has a split head with a dedicated shower compartment on starboard. Twin overhead hatches provide light and ventilation, and hull windows at pillow-level deliver great views from the moment you wake up. Buyers can divide this area into two cabins for charter.
Far aft are two cabins. The one on starboard has direct access to the well-proportioned head. It has a separate shower stall and also serves as the day head with access via a second door.
Beneteau Oceanis 47 Galley and Salon
The salon and galley have changed very little on the Beneteau Oceanis 47. The galley is aft and to port. Its shape is difficult to describe, but I’d say an L-shape with a small separate island that adds a bit of storage and provides a bracing point if you’re doing dishes at the twin sink while on a port tack.
Beneteau added a common area that includes a cabinet at the foot of the companionway. It discretely hides the power panel and the Scheiber digital switching screen. Its placement is convenient for turning on lights and systems first thing as you come down.
Beneteau made another change from the 46.1. Designers added mirrors on the forward salon bulkheads and above the companionway cabinet. The mirrors capture light and make the space seem larger.
A forward-facing navigation desk sits to port ahead of a loveseat, and the dinette is to starboard. A tall, narrow, mirrored bookcase sits between them and adds a stylish, homey touch.
Beneteau upgraded the finishes from the .1 series. The cushions seem thicker, the upholstery richer. Direct and indirect lighting proliferates throughout. The wood finishes, especially on the table corners, are well crafted without a hint of peeling veneers as has been Beneteau’s curse. Our boat was finished in a sand oak color, which is nicely neutral and worked well with the blue upholstery.
Performance Under Sail and Power
We conducted our sea trial on Chesapeake Bay with a true wind of 15 to 20 knots. At 60 degrees apparent wind angle (AWA), we sailed at 9.7 knots in 20 knots. The Beneteau Oceanis 47 carries 941 square feet of upwind sail area. A self-tacking jib track lies athwartship ahead of the mast, but you can opt to sail with a 109 percent overlapping genoa or a gennaker.
The bow cleaved the waves as she bolted through the chop and stayed light on the helm and tacked swiftly under her 70-foot Z Spars mast and suit of Elvstrom sails.
Our boat was equipped with four winches because Beneteau added a secondary set. All were electric with push-button control on both sides by the wheels. All lines are led aft under the deck, and the German mainsheet is doubled and attached to the newly integrated arch over the companionway. Beneteau, perhaps wisely, included no traveler Cruisers use it rarely and charter sailors nearly never.
Under power, the 80 hp turbo Yanmar (with a Saildrive) delivered a cruising speed of 7.8 knots at 2,200 rpm and reached 8.2 knots at 3,190 rpm at wide-open throttle. The standard engine is 57 hp, but the upgrade is worth it when pushing into head seas.
Fuel tankage remains light with only 52 gallons, and that will be a challenge for distance cruising.
A Fairly Priced Upgrade
World events, economic woes, and nervous buyers have put pressure on boat builders, but Beneteau responded. They’ve leveled up their product with better finishes and more amenities but basically at the same or slightly lower price as the boats their models replace. Reportedly, the Beneteau Oceanis 47 is available at roughly the same price as the preceding 46.1, which is nothing short of mind-blowing.
As tested with the Elegance package, air conditioning, a generator, and the cockpit galley, our owner’s version boat was priced at $800,000.
Beneteau Boats For Sale
Zuzana Prochazka
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