She’s a substantial monohull intended primarily for comfortable cruising, but her sail plan promises a lively turn of speed for a boat of this size. Reviewers described her handling as predictable and sure-footed, while her cockpit and accommodations were clearly arranged with shorthanded sailing and life aboard in mind.
Design and Construction
The Beneteau 49 measures 49 feet 6 inches overall, with a 43-foot-8-inch waterline and a beam of 14 feet 9 inches. She displaces 26,500 pounds and carries 9,480 pounds of ballast, giving her a ballast-to-displacement ratio of 0.36 and a displacement-length ratio of 104. Those figures place her firmly in the comfortable cruising camp rather than the lithe racer bracket.
Beneteau built the 49 predominantly of fiberglass with wood trim. The hull has a slightly raked stem and a walk-through reverse transom with a teak-decked swim platform. A fixed fin keel carries a weighted bulb, and an optional deep-draft version was available. Steering is by twin wheels connected to an internally mounted spade rudder.
One of the cockpit’s more thoughtful features is the athwartships seat across the back. It folds up, down, and out of the way, opening a passage between the twin wheels. A large centerline cockpit table with fold-up wings forms the center of the social space. At its aft end, a swiveling chart-plotter pod gives the helmsman a clear view on either tack.
The transom conceals a latching insert sized for a life raft. Remove it, and a generator slides into the cavity. Louvered companionway doors ventilate the cabin well, though they would need modification for offshore use.
Rig, Deck, and Handling
The 9/10 fractional rig combines a large mainsail with a 140-percent genoa. With a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 17.8, the Beneteau 49 has the power to deliver lively performance for her size.
Her deck-stepped, anodized-aluminum mast rises 63 feet 6 inches above the waterline. It carries double swept-back spreaders and stainless steel wire rigging, while a rigid vang controls the mainsail. Both the main and genoa furl.
The cockpit is laid out for shorthanded sailing. Lewmar 65 primary winches sit just forward of the wheels, allowing the helmsman to trim without calling crew across the boat. Halyards and control lines run aft through stoppers to winches beside the companionway. The mainsheet, however, leads to the coachroof at the forward end of the cockpit, so adjusting it requires leaving the wheel.
A 1,600-watt windlass feeds a large anchor locker. The anchor sits on a stainless sprit, where it remains clear of the jib-furling gear.
Writing in Cruising World, Andrew Burton called the Beneteau 49 a sprightly performer. Boat of the Year judge Ed Sherman found her stable and sure with no quirks to surprise the skipper.
Accommodations
Nauta Design’s interior favors practical, straight saloon settees over curved seating. They flank a table that swivels and folds away for sailing, then expands to seat eight at dinner.
The L-shaped galley is to port. It includes a gimbaled three-burner stove and oven, sinks close to the centerline so they remain useful on either tack, and a refrigerator door hinged from aft to keep its contents from spilling when the boat heels. The sinks could be deeper for comfort. Opposite the galley, the starboard navigation station has an unobstructed view forward.
Beneteau offered two- and three-cabin layouts, accommodating four to six people. In the two-cabin version, the forward cabin has a teardrop-shaped double berth and a head with a separate shower behind a curved sliding door. The aft starboard cabin contains a double berth set at a 45-degree angle. In the three-cabin layout, that aft volume is divided into two smaller cabins.
A second head with a shower sits aft of the navigation station, beside the companionway steps. Both heads have Corian counters without fiddles, a minor but genuine nuisance when the boat heels.
Other details show careful thought. Blinds tuck into a deck-liner valance that holds them in place when the boat is at an angle. Beneath the floorboards, a small amidships sump provides an uncommon drainage benefit in a shallow-bilged hull.
Known Issues
The review boat’s forward-head shower door was difficult to close. A buyer should operate the head doors and note the unfiddled counters in both heads. The galley sinks could also be deeper.
These are practical shortcomings rather than structural concerns, but they detract from an otherwise polished interior.
Machinery, Tankage, and Ownership
The Beneteau 49 is powered by a 76-horsepower Yanmar diesel. Tankage comprises 63 gallons of fuel and 150 gallons of water, supporting extended cruising.
The swiveling plotter pod, fold-away cockpit seat, furling main and genoa, and transom cavity that can accommodate either a life raft or a generator all reflect a platform designed for straightforward owner operation.
Her PHRF range is 51–102 with the standard keel and 69–90 with the deep-draft keel. Those ratings fit a boat that can race casually but puts cruising first.
The Verdict
The Beneteau 49 is a well-considered cruiser from the 2007 era, combining a predictable, sure-footed hull with an interior arranged for living aboard. Her cockpit and rig reduce crew workload, while the Nauta interior puts comfort ahead of styling flourishes.
The poorly closing shower door on the review boat and the lack of fiddles on both head counters are the only marks against an otherwise polished production boat.
Pros
- Twin-wheel cockpit with a fold-away access seat and swiveling plotter pod
- Shorthanded-friendly winch and line layout with a rigid vang
- Straight saloon settees and an expandable table seating eight
- Transom insert convertible from life-raft stowage to generator space
- Amidships sump improves drainage in the shallow bilge
Cons
- Forward-head shower door closed poorly on the review boat
- Corian counters in both heads lack fiddles
- Adjusting the mainsheet requires leaving the helm
