Roughly 751 boats were produced, about 144 of them assembled in the United States. Briand, a French naval architect with America’s Cup experience, drew a fairly light-displacement hull with the volume and easy manners suited to family cruising and charter use.
Design and Construction
The Oceanis 350 has an 11-foot-3-inch beam and a long, 29-foot-10-inch waterline. Its displacement-to-length ratio is near 178, contributing to the boat’s full-bodied, harbour-minded character.
The hull is solid fiberglass, while the deck is cored with end-grain balsa. Much of the boat’s stiffness comes from a complex interior liner with molded floor frames bonded to the hull. Rather than being glassed in, the bulkheads sit in channels in the hull and cabin liners and are then epoxied. This method keeps the structure tidy but conceals the bond lines. Practical Sailor judged the construction average to above average for a production boat of this type.
External iron ballast is secured by keel bolts screwed into steel inserts cast into the keel. The standard keel is a cruising fin with a raked leading edge and flat run. A 4-foot-2-inch shoal wing keel was standard in some markets, while a 5-foot-2-inch fin without wings was optional. On the shoal-draft model, the winglets were bolted on separately.
The propeller shaft exits through a short supporting skeg. A small, skeg-like support sits ahead of the balanced spade rudder.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
The Oceanis 350 is a masthead sloop with double spreaders swept slightly aft. A baby stay runs forward to keep the mast in column and prevent pumping.
With a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of around 16, the boat doesn’t carry enough sail to perform well in winds below six knots. Even so, it is quick and responsive in light to medium winds. One owner reefs the mainsail above 20 knots, or on a beam reach, to keep the boat balanced.
The Oceanis 350 points reasonably well, particularly with the deeper fin rather than the shoal wing keel. Most owners agree that it balances well and is reasonably seakindly. The balanced spade rudder also contributes to its responsive handling.
There are compromises offshore. The very shallow forefoot helps with docking maneuvers but makes the boat’s handling not good in a seaway. One owner reported that the bow pounds when it meets high waves head-on, although another said his boat never pounded. The broad stern tends to wander in a large following sea, and the high freeboard can make docking in a crosswind tricky.
Cockpit and Accommodation
Most Oceanis 350s have a three-cabin arrangement that gives private space to at least two couples. One owner, however, observed that fitting three cabins makes the boat better suited to small people. A charter version with two aft cabins was built only in France; that arrangement reduced the size of both the starboard cockpit locker and the head.
The aft cabin lies beneath a slightly raised cockpit, whose bridgedeck is level with the seats. The head is aft to starboard and has pressure hot and cold water as standard.
Light ash veneers give the interior an airy feel, although one owner found that the surface dents and darkens with moisture. A dedicated navigation seat faces aft. At the bow, the forward hatch is too small for sail bags to pass through.
Opposite the head, the galley includes a two-burner stove with oven, a double sink, 12-volt refrigeration, and an icebox. The icebox reportedly keeps ice for four days in the tropics. Galley stowage is tight, however: one owner resorted to keeping pots in the wet locker.
Ventilation below was judged inadequate by nearly all owners, except in the head.
Machinery and Tankage
A 28-horsepower Volvo 2003 diesel drives the boat at a cruising speed of 7 knots at 2,000–2,200 rpm. Fuel capacity is 21 gallons, and water capacity is 82 gallons.
Known Issues
Owner reports identify several recurring problems. On one 1988 boat, the Goiot roller furler developed excessive friction.
Several owners criticized the electrical installation. Its panel uses electronic circuit breakers mounted on a printed circuit board. Another owner found that the wiring was undersized and untinned, resulting in excessive voltage drops.
The wraparound skylight also attracted complaints about leaks and adhesive outgassing. On shoal-keel boats, the wings can sometimes foul a second anchor rode. One owner described the anchor-locker cover as flimsy and noted that it had a large hole; the same owner found the bow roller too short for an articulated plow anchor.
Beneteau’s after-sales support in resolving these problems earned commendation from owners.
Ownership Notes
Beneteau presented the Oceanis 350 as a new concept of happiness at sea, aimed at families and sailing couples. Although the design was sharply focused on the charter market, it also attracted family owners.
The Verdict
The Oceanis 350 is a comfortable liveaboard cruiser that trades some seakeeping for volume and harbour ease. It best suits buyers who value a bright, sociable interior and who survey the known electrical and skylight weaknesses carefully.
Pros
- Bright, three-cabin layout with an aft cabin and aft-facing navigation seat
- Quick and responsive in light to medium winds
- Balanced spade rudder and generally well-balanced handling
- Well-insulated icebox and a generous galley for a 34-foot hull
Cons
- Inadequate ventilation below, except in the head
- Electrical system with printed-circuit breakers and undersized wire
- Shallow forefoot contributes to poor handling in a seaway and possible bow pounding
- Broad stern can wander in a large following sea
- High freeboard makes crosswind docking more difficult
