Farr’s influence shows in a hull tuned for passage-making rather than the racecourse, while retaining the sail-carrying power and stability associated with his performance designs.
Design and Construction
The Beneteau 62 is a glassfibre yacht with wood trim, a raked stem, and a reverse transom. A fold-up tailgate swimming platform widens the usable aft cockpit and improves access to the water.
Below the waterline, the boat has a fixed fin keel with a weighted bulb and an internally mounted spade rudder controlled by a wheel. This arrangement combines directional stability with the quick response of a separate trailing foil.
The boat displaces 55,115 pounds and carries 17,313 pounds of ballast, giving it a ballast-to-displacement ratio of about 31 percent—enough to right itself smartly without producing a punishing motion in a seaway. Its 51-foot waterline gives a calculated hull speed of 9.59 knots, which frames its natural cruising pace under sail.
Rig, Handling, and Power
The Beneteau 62 is a Bermuda-rigged masthead sloop carrying 2,250 square feet of sail. Its rig has three sets of swept spreaders, which keep the mast stable without running backstays and allow a short-handed crew to manage a large foretriangle.
The spade rudder and fin bulb keel provide predictable turn-in and allow the boat to carry sail through a gust without the wallowing motion of a full-keeled predecessor. For maneuvering under power, a 160-horsepower Perkins or Yanmar diesel provides ample thrust for a yacht of this tonnage, particularly in close quarters.
Accommodations
Because the interiors were custom-built, no two Beneteau 62s have identical arrangements. A typical layout sleeps eight across four cabins.
Two cabins in the forepeak each have a double berth and dedicated head. An amidships crew cabin to starboard provides two bunk beds for watch teams or children. Aft, the owner’s cabin is arranged around a double island berth, creating a private space away from the flow of guests through the boat.
In the main saloon, an elliptical settee and five individual seats accommodate a full table. The navigation station is to starboard. Just aft of the companionway ladder, the U-shaped galley lies to port and includes a three-burner stove, refrigerator, freezer, and double sink. Heads are provided for each cabin, allowing the boat to accommodate two couples and crew without requiring them to share bathrooms.
Verdict
The Beneteau 62 is a custom-commissioned Farr cruiser that trades series-production uniformity for individually tailored interior plans within a proven glassfibre hull. Its dimensions and ballast put it firmly in the large-ocean-cruiser class, while the usual four-cabin arrangement makes it a plausible choice for private voyaging or light charter work. The reverse-transom platform and swept-spreader rig reflect practical cruising priorities rather than a stripped-out racing heritage.
Pros
- Bruce Farr design with a 51-foot waterline and 9.59-knot hull speed for a steady passage pace
- Fixed fin bulb keel and spade rudder for predictable, responsive handling
- Custom interiors, typically with eight berths, four cabins, and en-suite heads
- Fold-up transom platform and a U-shaped galley positioned for use underway
Cons
- The custom build means each boat’s systems and layout must be assessed individually
- The model is out of production, so spares and hull-specific knowledge are less standardized
