Beneath that styling, the canoe body has unusually flat fore-and-aft rocker. The reviewer wasn’t sure whether this was deliberate or simply the result of a less-than-sensitive profile drawing.
Design and Construction
The Oceanis 473’s proportions are moderate rather than extreme. Its overall beam isn’t as wide as that of the smaller French models, and it has a measured length-to-beam ratio of 3.31 and a displacement-to-length ratio of 144.
In plan view, the bow is quite full. This was an intentional choice that allowed the forward accommodations to extend as far into the bow as possible.
Standard draft is 5 feet 6 inches. An optional 6-foot-11-inch draft carries 882 pounds less ballast.
Beneteau launched the model in 2000. By the end of 2002, the company will have built and launched 400 Oceanis 473s in the two years since her launch.
Rig, Sailing, and Handling
The 473 is a masthead sloop with two sets of aft-swept spreaders. A wide chainplate base provides good support for the mast. The primary winches sit just forward of the twin wheels, within easy reach of the helmsman, but there are no elaborate under-deck leads for the control lines. Yachting World’s sea trial also noted that the mainsheet was beyond the helmsman’s reach.
Under power, the 473 proved to be one of the easiest mid-40-footers the reviewer had handled. The boat had a large, three-bladed fixed propeller and traditional shaft drive; the test boat was also fitted with the optional bow thruster.
Sailing performance was more mixed. In 8–10 knots, the boat made more than 7.6 knots on a tight reach and slipped along hard on the wind at around 5.5 knots. In 10–15 knots, she accelerated more quickly and regularly bowled along at more than 10 knots in the stronger puffs.
A period American reviewer thought the rig would be ideal for breezy areas and easy to handle, though he suspected it would gasp for breath in light summer air. Yachting World found that the twin-wheel arrangement added friction to the steering system, producing a heavy helm that sometimes lacked the feel expected from a boat of this size.
Accommodations and Cockpit
The Oceanis 473 was offered in two layouts. In the three-cabin version, the mirror-image double quarter berths look huge. Each is large enough for two children to share easily, making this layout close to ideal for family cruising with two children and workable for a three-couple charter.
That volume comes at a cost. The starboard quarter cabin intrudes into the galley, forcing the range against the bulkhead and leaving limited counter space and virtually no lazarette. Both galley arrangements also have minimal reefer space.
The forward stateroom is quite spacious and has direct access to the forward head, which includes a separate shower stall. There are two heads in total. In the saloon, a center-island seat drew mild disapproval from a reviewer on a boat of this size, but it does allow six people to squeeze in for cozy dining. The navigation station looks generous.
Ventilation is generous as well, with 10 opening hatches, including the companionway, and eight opening hull ports.
On deck, the immense cockpit has twin wheels with enough room to walk between them. A removable drop-leaf table sits forward in the cockpit, while the foredeck has a recessed windlass well.
Known Issues and Trade-Offs
Beyond the steering friction and out-of-reach mainsheet, the main documented shortfall is the galley compromise in the three-cabin layout. Counter space is restricted, there’s no real lazarette, and the stove sits hard against a bulkhead. Reviewers also found the reefer space minimal in either galley arrangement.
These are layout trade-offs rather than defects, but buyers should understand that the galley pays for the generous aft-cabin volume.
The Verdict
The Oceanis 473 is a thoughtfully packaged mid-40-foot cruiser that trades some galley practicality for genuinely huge aft cabins and an exceptionally sociable cockpit. Her Finot hull is beamy without being extreme, sails competently in a breeze, and is notably easy to handle under power. The heavy, slightly numb twin-wheel steering is the price paid for the walk-through transom and vast aft deck.
Pros
- Hugely spacious double quarter berths; a strong family or charter layout
- Immense, secure cockpit with twin wheels and a walk-through to the transom
- Easy handling under power, with traditional shaft drive and an optional bow thruster
- Strong ventilation from 10 opening hatches and eight opening hull ports
Cons
- Three-cabin layout compromises galley space and eliminates the lazarette
- Twin-wheel steering adds friction; the heavy helm lacks feel
- Mainsheet is beyond the helmsman’s reach
- Minimal reefer space in both galley arrangements
