Design and Construction
The 311's hull is a solid fiberglass monohull with iron ballast of about 3,085 pounds, a 35-percent ballast-displacement ratio that speaks to a stiff platform. What distinguishes her below the waterline is the centerboard keel arrangement: the standard draft runs to roughly 7.1 feet, while the lifting-keel version draws just 2.6 feet up, and a shoal-draft lifting-keel twin-rudder option was offered housed in a skeg with a lower-aspect rudder. The propeller and shaft sit inside a skeg, and the rudder itself carries a lower aspect ratio than a fin-and-spade setup would. Above the waterline, the builder cited exceptional fairing that conveniently distributes all stress across the entire hull, and the same source described the boat's comfort as rivaling larger models while delivering comprehensive equipment. The hull's racing origin shows in its eagerness: testers found the shape slid along easily when given enough push, an attribute carried over from the Figaro one-design parentage.
Rig and Handling
Up top, the 311 is a fractional sloop with forestay, backstay, single spreaders, and single lowers. The standard sail plan is deliberately modest for cruising—the furler headsail is only about 110 percent, and the main is less roachy than the First series' race-oriented rig, which leaves her with less standard sail area than a performance cousin. Handling that modest canvas is straightforward: lazyjacks guide the lowered main into a zippered boom bag, a single-sheave block rides well up the leech for the reefing line, and a rigid vang supports the boom. The mainsheet system straddles the main hatch, and wheel steering makes sense for a boat destined for cruising or charter. In light going, test sailors recorded her reaching three knots in a 7-knot apparent gust while sailing as close to the wind as they could point her, though they also noted she came up short on sail area for those conditions.
Accommodations
Below, the 311 uses her beam and 28.7-foot waterline to good effect. The layout places a double-berth cabin on the port side aft and a double vee berth in the forepeak, with the galley to port and a bathroom plus small navigation area to starboard. A centreline table anchors the saloon, and headroom is a fraction under six feet. The main hatch is of the same clear material as the cabin roof immediately below it, carrying light aft. The builder's claim of space and comfort rivaling larger models is borne out by a layout that fits two private doubles and a functioning nav station into just over 32 feet overall.
The Verdict
The Oceanis 311 Lktr is a cruiser with a quiet racing soul. Her Figaro-derived hull gives real speed and easy motion when powered, while the lifting-keel and twin-rudder options broaden her cruising range into thin water. The trade-off is a conservative standard sail plan that leaves her undercanvased in light air without an owner-added spinnaker or larger genoa.
Pros
- Fast, volume-rich hull with Figaro one-design parentage
- Centerboard and shoal-draft twin-rudder options for versatile draft
- Practical cruising rig with lazyjacks, boom bag, and rigid vang
- Two double berths and a nav station within 32 feet
Cons
- Standard 110% headsail and small main leave her short on sail area in light wind
- Lower-aspect rudder and skeg-housed shaft suit cruising more than agility
