Design and Construction
The French yard Bénéteau built the Oceanis 300 with a solid fibreglass hull. That hull is shared with the Figaro I and First 31.7, while the cockpit comes from the First 310.
Two versions left the factory: a fin-keel model and a lift-keel version with twin rudders. The Clipper trim has proved the more popular of the two. The keel is iron, and the wing-keel configuration keeps draft to roughly 4.4 to 4.7 feet, depending on load. That modest draft allows the boat to enter shallow marinas.
The Oceanis 300 measures 9.47 meters overall, with a 3.23-meter beam and a displacement of about 3,200 kilograms. Its ballast ratio is 33 percent, and its length-to-beam ratio is 2.83. Those figures place it among the lighter racer-cruisers rather than heavy-displacement passagemakers.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
The masthead rig has roller furling on both the mainsail and headsail. This makes rigging quick and easy and represents a measurable handling improvement over earlier Beneteau models.
Test sailors found the Oceanis 300 fast and fun to sail, with easy handling and superb performance both upwind and downwind. The boat also retains its manners in tough weather. Both the fin-keel and lift-keel versions are stable and easy to sail, and the review record notes that the design should meet the requirements of more exacting blue-water sailors.
With a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of about 21 and a displacement-length ratio of 132, the hull behaves like a light racer. The theoretical displacement hull speed is 7.2 knots, with a calculated maximum near 6.4. Reviewers writing in yachtdatabase.com gave the boat a capsize screening value of 2.21, indicating that it wouldn’t be accepted for participation in ocean races.
A Motion Comfort Ratio of 16.0 and an immersion rate of about 1,063 pounds per inch complete the picture of a stiff, responsive coastal and mid-range cruiser.
Accommodations
Below decks, the Oceanis 300 is spacious and airy. Numerous opening ports bring plenty of natural light and ventilation into the cabin. Bénéteau promoted quality of life aboard as a reason to cruise farther and longer, and the accommodation reflects that aim.
An L-shaped galley sits at the foot of the companionway, giving it direct access to the cockpit. In the main cabin, the saloon table is large enough for the whole crew to dine together. The aft head includes a shower and uses a one-piece fibreglass moulding for easy cleaning. Two cabins, finished in high-quality cherry wood, provide generous storage.
The Clipper version has the same sense of luxury as other Beneteau Clippers, helping make the boat pleasant to live aboard both at sea and in port.
The Verdict
The Oceanis 300 has earned a reputation as a well-mannered, capable ocean yacht that remains approachable for family cruising. Its shared Finot hull provides a turn of speed and poise that pure cruisers lack, while the roller-furling rig and thoughtful interior make life aboard easier.
Its modest draft and light-racer measurements suit coastal and moderate offshore sailing better than heavy-weather ocean racing. Even so, the boat’s stability and comfort have made it an enduring favorite.
Pros
- Race-derived hull shared with the Figaro I and First 31.7 provides lively, capable handling
- Roller-furling mainsail and headsail make rigging quick and easy
- Airy, spacious interior with cherry-wood cabins and a well-placed galley
- Modest-draft wing keel suits shallow marinas
Cons
- Capsize screening value excludes it from ocean-racing participation
- Light-racer displacement profile favors coastal and mid-range cruising over heavy blue-water sailing
