Beneteau 473 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

The 473's hull form is unconventional in plan and section. The ends have been truncated, and the stern is about as wide as one would dare go on a conventional hull, with a full bow in plan view pushing the forward accommodations as far into the bow as possible anchor. Ample beam runs right back to the transom, and a beam carried well aft yields a large cockpit while the twin steering wheels rather than a single wheel amplify that impression. The canoe body carries unusually flattened fore-and-aft rocker. Proportionally the boat is moderate, with a length-to-beam ratio of 3.31 and a displacement-to-length ratio of 144; standard draft is 5 feet 6 inches, with an option for 6 feet 11 inches of draft carrying 882 pounds less ballast. The foredeck carries seven forward-facing low-profile hatches between mast and forestay, a recessed windlass well, and bulwarks low but large enough to brace a foot.

Rig and Handling

The 473 is a masthead sloop with a modest sail area-to-displacement ratio of 16.22 in the base specification. Primary sheet winches sit aft where the helmsman can reach them, and the rig uses a wide chainplate base with two sets of aft-swept spreaders and no under-deck control-line leads. Test sailors found the rig ideal for breezy areas yet possibly underpowered in light summer air. Under power, writing in Yachting World, testers judged her one of the easiest mid-40-footers handled, with a 78hp Volvo D2-55 turning a three-bladed fixed prop on traditional shaft drive and an optional bow thruster on the test boat. Under sail in 8–10 knots she clocked over 7.6 knots on a tight reach and about 5.5 hard on the wind; in 10–15 knots she accelerated to 10-plus in puffs, while a separate trial recorded 8 knots at 3,000 rpm, 9 at 3,500, and 10.5 at full throttle.

Deck and Cockpit

The deck is functional and attractive, reflecting the boat's performance. The deck plan is distinguished by an immense cockpit with two wheels and room to walk between them, plus a removable drop-leaf table forward in the cockpit and a stainless bracing bar that mounts the table stowed in a locker. Several amply proportioned on-deck lockers provide stowage, and chunky teak grab rails and deck lights round out the equipment. Cockpit coamings are deep and angled slightly outboard for security.

Accommodations

Two interior layouts were offered, with a later note citing two- or four-cabin versions and berths for 6, 8, or 10. The three-cabin arrangement has mirror-image double quarter berths that look huge, though the starboard quarter cabin intrudes into the galley, forcing the range against the bulkhead and leaving virtually no stowage space aft with only modest prep surfaces; the cold-box capacity appears tight in either galley plan. There are two heads, the forward with a shower stall and private access from a spacious forward stateroom. A generous nav station, a saloon with a center island seat squeezing six into the dinette, 10 opening hatches including the companionway, and eight opening hull ports provide ventilation. Testers called the three-stateroom layout close to ideal for family cruising with two kids, while the aft double cabins are hugely spacious.

Known Issues

The mainsheet cannot be trimmed from the helm, and the dual-wheel steering geometry introduces friction that produces a heavy helm lacking feel anchor. These are handling traits a buyer should evaluate on the wheel, not defects of structure.

The Verdict

The Beneteau 473 is a Finot cruiser that trades a little helm feel for enormous cockpit and cabin space, easy power handling, and lively performance in a breeze. She suits a family or charter-style program where volume and social cockpit matter more than fingertip steering.

Pros