Designed by Groupe Finot, the 400 CC measures 41 feet overall, with a 36-foot-9-inch waterline. It displaces 18,740 pounds and carries 5,300 pounds of cast-iron ballast. The designer shaped the hull to be slippery and well engineered.
Design and Construction
The hull is hand-laid solid fiberglass with an isophthalic gel coat intended to impede osmosis. Inside, a bonded molded-fiberglass grid provides structural integrity.
Above the waterline, the deck is a balsa-cored sandwich. It joins the hull with mechanical fastenings spaced every six inches, along with 3M 5200 sealant. A stainless-steel rub rail protects the topsides, while the standard keel is a cast-iron winged bulb bolted to the hull. Beneteau backed the structure with a five-year warranty covering both structural and osmotic concerns.
The companionway steps curve upward at each side, helping the crew keep its footing when the boat heels. It’s a practical detail that reflects the same engineering intent as the hull form.
Rig and Deck Layout
The aluminum mast is stepped directly on the keel top. The masthead sloop rig carries 687 square feet of sail area, and the mast rises 52 feet 8 inches above the water.
The side decks are narrow for a boat of this size, which affects how the crew moves forward. On the foredeck, there’s a large opening anchor locker and a stainless dual anchor roller. A dual-tank propane locker is recessed into the side deck, with its fume drain led overboard. Sturdy attachment points on the coachroof are intended to secure a life raft.
The sugar-scoop stern opens a space for swimming and boarding a dinghy. The wheel is pedestal-mounted, with an option to place it aft of the cabin behind a spray shield. Hydraulic steering provides reasonable service access.
Cockpit
The cockpit backrests may be low for some helmsmen. Combined with the narrow side decks, they ask the crew to move deliberately around the boat.
Accommodations
Below, the saloon feels light and cheerful. A U-shaped settee and expandable table sit to starboard, while the navigation station and a hanging locker are to port. The hanging lockers are lined to the waterline to resist mildew and condensation. Cabin headroom is 6 feet 3 inches.
The galley is aft, in the passageway to port of the engine. Its three-burner stove and oven are positioned forward so cooking heat and odors can vent up the companionway.
The forward stateroom has a double berth to starboard and its own head with shower. Aft, the stateroom has a very low, wide berth that runs along the hull bottom and is easily reached from both sides. Its head is forward of the berth, on the starboard side of the engine space, with a shower in the toilet compartment.
Engine and Systems Access
The 60-horsepower Yanmar diesel sits in an engine space with terrific access. A hatch built into a galley cabinet provides side entry, while the companionway stair swings open on hydraulic lifts to expose the engine’s forward end. The builder indicates that the space aft of the engine is intended to house a generator.
The electrical panel is hinged for good access. Halogen lamps provide bright light with low current draw.
Known Issues
On one inspected boat, the emergency-steering access was well conceived, but the supplied fitting was only a section of pipe that fitted loosely and wobbled.
The opening through which the anchor chain passes was rectangular with 90-degree corners on the test boat. That shape can concentrate wear at the corners.
Verdict
The Oceanis 400 CC is a thoughtfully laid-out center-cockpit cruiser. Its Finot hull and balsa-cored deck provide a sound, accessible platform for coastal and offshore passage-making, with especially good engine access and a galley arranged to ventilate well.
The narrow side decks and low cockpit backrests require deliberate movement from the crew. On at least one boat, the emergency-steering fitting also deserved better execution.
Pros
- Hand-laid solid-fiberglass hull with osmosis-resistant gel coat and a bonded grid
- Excellent engine access through a cabinet hatch and hydraulic-lift stairs
- Galley positioned to vent heat and odors up the companionway
- Forward and aft heads with showers
- Wide aft berth accessible from both sides
Cons
- Narrow side decks for a boat of this length
- Cockpit backrests may be low for some helmsmen
- Loosely fitted emergency-steering hardware on the inspected boat
- Rectangular anchor-chain deck opening with sharp corners
