2001 Beneteau 46

[AJL]

I am considering a Beneteau 46, does anyone know how well suited the boat is for off shore sailing, as also Atlantic crossing West to East. Specifically rough weather attributes etc

[barnakiel]

No attributes whatsoever.

It is a big boat and if she is sound she will take the crossing in her stride.

b.

[AJL]

Thanks. I'm just starting to research, what would be some of the extras needed for the Bene 46 for a crossing. She has a furl main with a second track, radar, chart plotter, ssb, standard electronics

[barnakiel]

Originally Posted by AJL

Thanks. I'm just starting to research, what would be some of the extras needed for the Bene 46 for a crossing. She has a furl main with a second track, radar, chart plotter, ssb, standard electronics

What you need is a sound hull, watertight, sound rigging and sails, working engine and clean fuel system, sound steering system.

Other stufff are nice to haves or required by laws, but sound hull, rigg& sails and steering will get you across.

I would take a spare GPS and paper charts too.

Make sure you have the experience for the crossing which is not the easiest one. Otherwise hire an experienced delivery skipper.

b.

[S/V Illusion]

With all due respect to B owners, these boats are not suitable for the stated use unless extensively modified and even then the hull form is not suited to rough water. Certainly somebody has probably doe it but that is irrelevant as you'll never know what weather they encountered and what mods they both did make and retrospectively should have/wanted to make. A common metaphor is - the wrong tool for the job - it might work but if you have the choice...

[Vasco]

Originally Posted by S/V Illusion

With all due respect to B owners, these boats are not suitable for the stated use unless extensively modified and even then the hull form is not suited to rough water. Certainly somebody has probably doe it but that is irrelevant as you'll never know what weather they encountered and what mods they both did make and retrospectively should have/wanted to make. A common metaphor is - the wrong tool for the job - it might work but if you have the choice...

Here we go again. Check the boats crossing the Atlantic in the latest ARC. More Beneteaus than you can shake a stick at and I'm willing to bet they have not been extensively modified. Most folks can't afford an Oyster.

[AJL]

I hear quite a bit about Beneteaus Flat bottoms in general re Heavy weather, I'm not sure if going beyond lets say a 37' displacement wise makes up for this?

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by AJL

I hear quite a bit about Beneteaus Flat bottoms in general re Heavy weather, I'm not sure if going beyond lets say a 37' displacement wise makes up for this?

They dont have flat bottoms.

They have flatter bottoms than old full keel boats, but not as flat as any racing boat built in the last 30 years.

Go have a look at one and compare it against a flat bottom racing boat. Then sail the 2 and you'll feel the difference.

The photos below show a line drawing, a Farr 36 racing hull, a full keeler and a Beneteau 461 footer.

Watchout for comments like S/V Illusion's. They are incorrect.

Watchout for bulltwaddle like Beneteaus have flat bottoms. They don't, do they?

Mark

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by Vasco

Here we go again. Check the boats crossing the Atlantic in the latest ARC. More Beneteaus than you can shake a stick at and I'm willing to bet they have not been extensively modified. Most folks can't afford an Oyster.

Hurray, a voice of common sense

Of course I would love an Oyster, Swan, or even a Rassy, but unless I rob a bank or mortgage myself until I am 70 it ain't happening and I guess that is true for alot of folk out there doing it now in standard production yachts.


Pete

[barnakiel]

I do not think calling ARC as an example is this good.

Sailing from Canary Islands to West Indies is nothing like sailing from West Indies to Europe.

But saying that a well prepared 46 ft Bene, Bava or mostly anything is not up to the job is a proof the poster has not sailed a 46 Bene.

b.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

I do not think calling ARC as an example is this good.

Sailing from Canary Islands to West Indies is nothing like sailing from West Indies to Europe.

But saying that a well prepared 46 ft Bene, Bava or mostly anything is not up to the job is a proof the poster has not sailed a 46 Bene.

b.

What he said. The ARC is a milk run compared to the other way around and is not at all relevant.

A Bene would not be most people's first choice for that kind of crossing, but I can't agree that it's "unsuitable". It will be less comfortable and perhaps more dangerous in really heavy weather, and you will need to figure out how to store water (if you don't have a watermaker) and fuel enough for such a journey, but I don't think it needs "intensive preparation", more than any other boat. A Bene 46 is certainly "capable" of such a journey; I wouldn't hesistate to do it on that boat with a decent crew (and reasonable long range weather prognosis), although of course I would much prefer to do it on my own boat.

The Bene 46 only has tankage for 200 liters of fuel, and that would probably be my biggest concern about it for such a journey. Wouldn't give you much margin for powering out of a dead latitude or avoiding a storm. Maybe there's space somewhere to fit a temporary fuel bladder.

You also have very poor accomodation for sleeping at sea which could be only partially fixed by installing a bunch of lee cloths.

On the plus side that's a very good performing boat, and speed is life on a crossing like that. You would be able to make better time, especially in light conditions, than most boats.

We've been discussing this recently in another thread. "Search" is your friend.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by Pete7

Of course I would love an Oyster, Swan, or even a Rassy . .

C'mon, Pete, you've a Moody, after all. What do you need a rotten Oyster for?

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

They dont have flat bottoms.

They have flatter bottoms than old full keel boats, but not as flat as any racing boat built in the last 30 years.

Go have a look at one and compare it against a flat bottom racing boat. Then sail the 2 and you'll feel the difference.

The photos below show a line drawing, a Farr 36 racing hull, a full keeler and a Beneteau 461 footer.

Watchout for comments like S/V Illusion's. They are incorrect.

Watchout for bulltwaddle like Beneteaus have flat bottoms. They don't, do they?

Mark

Mark, that's an eye-opener for me. Other than the fact that I have a skeg on my rudder and a bulb on my keel, that looks just like my boat's bottom. That's not like the Beneteau hulls I remember. I am somewhat confused.

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

. That's not like the Beneteau hulls I remember. I am somewhat confused.

Thats why they say BS baffels brains. Because it does. If someone hears enough lies they start to believe it.
Thats why the commos used brainwashing. Because it works. Even on the most intelligent, aware folks.

Below is a photo of my boat. (and me!!) Is that a flat bottom?

[S/V Illusion]

It's the area forward of the keel which many here have seen personally to which we refer as flat.

*I'm left with the impression from a few folks who PM'ed me that someone who wants to appear objective has his benny on the market which makes any claims, opinions, etc questionable.

One need only look at the hull form of many of their models if in doubt.