Bene OCEANIS 46.1

[Medved]

Hi folks, I am getting ready to pull the trigger on a boat this winter/next spring and narrowed down to 2 choices: Bene 46.1 and Seawind 1190 Sport both new. I realize it is an odd choice and if someone is interested I can explain how I got here. I am looking for owner feedback on the OCEANIS 46.1 Any feedback will be greatly appreciated

[George_SD]

Not an owner, but a good friend owns Bene 50 with 4+1 (captain/crew) cabins - he loves it for the most part. Some feedback i remember from him discussing it:
- getting ice maker was a mistake. Totally not usable and takes up a lot of space. should have gotten another fridge.
- aft starboard head gets smelly for some reason. Not sure if it is an issue with hoses or the fact that it is the closes to the companion way, so probably sees the most use
- Dinghy davits are kind of fidly. Don't get the dinghy high enough.
- electric winches are awesome
- minor issues with small hardware (latches, locks, etc). Some don't work well if at all after a year.
- Bow thruster is a must for something like 46+, especially at small docks and slips.
- could have gotten bigger battery bank for cruising, but diesel genny works well for recharging.
- because it is dual wheel steering and they are at the very back and on the sides - staying at the helm in rough seas and foul weather can be unpleasant
- self-tacking jib is pretty cool. helps with single handed operations.
- wave slap on the stern when at an anchor makes sleeping without earplugs in the aft cabins next to impossible due to hull slap. It's very flat and the sound penetrates deep.
- B&G electronics works pretty well
- overall - great boat, no major problems.

[Lost Horizons]

I would avoid boats with sail drives.
Tankage is limited.
Docking with twin rudders can be interesting.
Between the B46.1 and Jeanneau 440, I would chose the latter.

[double u]

"I would avoid boats with sail drives"
everybody would...narrows the choices down somewhat though; 98%?

[George_SD]

+1 on saildrive. My family member had Bene 35 with sail drive that exploded from the inside. Fully cracked the casing from inside somehow and had to be replaced (not serviceable) - $10K bill.

Not sure if docking any harder than single rudder, they seem to do just as well as I do with a single. However, when heeling - so much better control and less weather helm since one of the rudders remains deep and more vertical than a single would be at the same angle.