Boats like Beneteau Sense? Monomaran

[zachscs]

I love the layout of the Beneteau Sense. I like how you can see the water from the saloon, and it's only 3 steps down so you're very connected to the cockpit. I also like the 2 aft cabins. are there any other boats with this layout?

[Tillsbury]

Look for deck saloon or pilot saloon boats, if you like the saloon light and high up. Lots of options.

[Pete7]

Moody 45 or the older the Moody 33/38/43 Eclipse range. Westerly Consort Duo at 29ft.

Pete

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by Pete7

Moody 45 or the older the Moody 33/38/43 Eclipse range. Westerly Consort Duo at 29ft.

Pete

The Moody45DS and Moody54DS are not actually Moodys -- the brand was bought by Hanse Group in Germany when the 150 year-old Moody yard went under in the 2000's, and now use it as their premium brand.


That being said -- these boats are more expensive but quite a bit nicer than the Beneteau Sense.


Not my cup of tea, but if you like it -- go for it.

[sailon46]

Beneteau 51.4 cyclades 2006-2007
Same set up I have one.
Ernie on the Mary Jane

[Zzmeyer]

The view of the ocean looking straight back from the salon was one of the big wow factors I had not anticipated. The Sense is much different than some mentioned. The salon is very close to the same level as the cockpit and the cockpit is low making quarter berths impossible. They put all the systems in the stern and have lots of storage. I have always felt a bit claustrophobic in quarter berth cabins and really enjoy the full headroom throughout sleeping cabin two and three. The biggest gripe I hear about my boat is the huge open transom "would sure hate to take a wave over that stern". In 10,000 miles I haven't seen it yet, but their point isn't wrong.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by Zzmeyer

. . . The biggest gripe I hear about my boat is the huge open transom "would sure hate to take a wave over that stern". In 10,000 miles I haven't seen it yet, but their point isn't wrong.

As I said, these boats are not my cup of tea, but I don't think open transoms are an issue at all. I think people who worry about this don't really understand how waves work. The stern will always ride up with waves no matter how large or how steep. You will only get pooped if a wave happens to break right on you, and then you have bigger problems, and an open transom is actually an advantage, because the water drains way immediately.


I got hit by a huge breaking wave, not exactly pooped -- it came over one quarter. It filled the center cockpit and knocked us down. The supposedly "safe" center cockpit on my boat was definitely a minus in this case. So I really wouldn't worry about this particular thing.

[cj88]

All smaller deck saloons than the Sense but back in the 80's the French had the Beneteau Evasion, Jeanneau Espace and Jouet 1040 MS and don't forget that the Germans have the Sirius.

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

... but I don't think open transoms are an issue at all. I think people who worry about this don't really understand how waves work. The stern will always ride up with waves no matter how large or how steep. You will only get pooped if a wave happens to break right on you, and then you have bigger problems, and an open transom is actually an advantage, because the water drains way immediately.

I got hit by a huge breaking wave, not exactly pooped -- it came over one quarter. It filled the center cockpit and knocked us down. The supposedly "safe" center cockpit on my boat was definitely a minus in this case. So I really wouldn't worry about this particular thing.

Indeed.
I might be slightly concerned with "stuff" (especially crew), in the cockpit, getting washed out.

[Zzmeyer]

I always bring spare crew just in case. If I don’t have spare crew there is a transom lift that comes up about a foot.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by GordMay

Indeed.
I might be slightly concerned with "stuff" (especially crew), in the cockpit, getting washed out.

In big sea conditions, whatever kind of cockpit you have, people in the cockpit need to be clipped in. The type of cockpit won't keep you out of the drink in case of a knockdown.

[Zzmeyer]

Dockhead - spot on.

[Franck Bavaria]

Moody 41 DS, Albatross 42.1, Jeanneau Sun Loft 47, Sirius 40 DS, Dufour atoll 43 or 50

[shimari]

There are also Southerlies, but the step down into the saloon is steeper than the Sense.

[Rohan]

Originally Posted by zachscs

I love the layout of the Beneteau Sense. I like how you can see the water from the saloon, and it's only 3 steps down so you're very connected to the cockpit. I also like the 2 aft cabins.

But Beneteau Sense boats didn't have aft cabins. Well the 50 and the 55 had a small crew cabin in the cockpit locker...

But I love the Sense line, it was something actually new and original in the boat market, and I was sorry they ended the line.

People mentioned the Moody 45 and 54, but there is a Moody 41 as well, which are somewhat similar to the Sense line. But probably the most similar alternative is the Marlow Hunter 47, which is kind of a crazy design, but compelling in its own way. But even though it's still on their web site, I don't believe they are still being produced.