Beneteau Oceanis 350 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

The Oceanis 350 is built of solid fiberglass with a deck cored in end-grain balsa, and much of its stiffness comes from a complex interior liner with molded floor frames that is bonded to the hull. Bulkheads are not glassed in but seated in channels in the hull and cabin liners, then epoxied, a method that keeps the structure tidy but hides the bond lines. External iron ballast carries keel bolts screwed into steel inserts cast into the keel, and on the shoal-draft model the winglets were bolted on separately. 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, with a 5-foot-2-inch fin without wings optional. The prop shaft exits through a short supporting skeg, and the rudder is a balanced spade mounted behind a small skeg-like support. Practical Sailor judged the construction average to above average for a production boat of this type.

Rig and Handling

The rig is a masthead sloop with double spreaders slightly swept back, and a baby stay runs to the bow to keep the mast in column and prevent pumping. With a sail-area-to-displacement ratio around 16, the boat does not carry enough canvas to perform well under six knots, and one owner reefs the main above 20 knots or on a beam reach to keep her balanced. She points reasonably well, better with the deeper fin than the shoal wing keel. The very shallow forefoot that aids docking maneuverability also makes her handling not good in a seaway, and one owner noted the bow will pound if it meets high waves dead on, though another said his never pounded. The wide stern tends to wander in a large following sea, and the high freeboard makes crosswind dockwork tricky. Most owners still agree she balances well and is reasonably seakindly.

Accommodations

Below, light ash veneers lend the cabins an airy feel, though one owner found the surface dents and darkens with moisture. Most boats carry a three-cabin layout that gives private space to at least two couples, but one owner observed that cramming three cabins makes the boat suited to small people. A charter version with double aft cabins was built only in France and shrank the starboard cockpit locker and head. The aft cabin sits beneath a slightly elevated cockpit, with the bridgedeck level with the seats; the head is aft to starboard with standard pressure hot and cold water. The galley opposite holds a two-burner stove with oven, double sink, 12-volt refrigeration, and an icebox that keeps ice four days in the tropics, though stowage is tight enough that one owner kept pots in the wet locker. A dedicated nav seat faces aft, and the forward hatch is too small to pass sail bags through.

Known Issues

Owner reports cluster around a few repeatable defects. A 1988 boat's Goiot roller furler developed excessive friction. Several owners complained about the electrical system: the panel used electronic circuit breakers on a printed circuit board, and another owner found wire diameters too small and not tinned, with excessive voltage drops. The wraparound skylight drew comments for leaking and adhesive outgassing. Ventilation below was declared inadequate by nearly all owners except at the head. On the shoal keel, the wings sometimes foul a second anchor rode. One owner called the anchor locker cover flimsy with a large hole, and the bow roller too short for an articulated plow.

Ownership Notes

The builder offered a new concept of happiness at sea aimed at families and sailor couples, and the concept was sharply focused on the charter market while also attracting family owners. Beneteau's after-sales support in resolving the above problems drew owner commendation. A 28-horsepower Volvo 2003 diesel cruises at 7 knots at 2,000–2,200 rpm, with 21 gallons of fuel and 82 of water.

The Verdict

The Oceanis 350 is a liveaboard-comfort cruiser that traded some seakeeping for volume and harbour ease. She rewards the buyer who surveys the known electrical and skylight weaknesses and values her bright, social interior.

Pros