Beneteau Oceanis 48 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

Jean Berret and Olivier Racoupeau drew the hull and deck. The result is a well-balanced, stable form that performs well both on and off the wind.

A chine rakes aft well above the waterline, a feature carried over from the Oceanis 41 and 45. It helps keep the boat flatter under sail while adding interior volume. The beam is 15 feet 7 inches, giving an almost 3-to-1 beam-to-length ratio, and that beam carries all the way aft to maximize its effect.

A consultant to Beneteau described the 48 as a “mono-maran,” referring to the volume and cockpit scale more commonly associated with a multihull. The streamlined shape is credited with great stability and comfort at all speeds. Another defining feature of the latest large Oceanis generation is the 45-degree companionway, which links the sizable cockpit with the spacious interior below.

Rig, Handling, and Performance

The Oceanis 48’s centered mast gives her impeccable balance. The mainsheet leads to a sleek arch that also supports the dodger and bimini. Instead of a traveler, the arch uses two fixed blocks; test sailors found these fixed points less effective at controlling the boom than a true traveler would be.

All sail controls run aft along the cabintrunk to a bank of clutches with one winch on each side. The genoa-sheet winches sit just forward and outboard of the twin helms, where they’re easy to reach. A Performance Pack optimized by the German System allows all sails to be trimmed from the helm, and Incidences made a set of D4 sails for the boat.

In 10 knots apparent, the Oceanis 48 inched above 6 knots upwind. After bearing away, she toyed with 7 knots until the wind moved aft of the beam. She came through tacks and jibes efficiently, and the steering was tight and responsive, with no tendency to wander. In a 5- to 6-knot breeze, she still made 4 to 4.5 knots hard on the wind.

Under the standard 75-horsepower Yanmar, she reached 8.3 knots at 2,500 rpm.

Accommodations

The Oceanis 48 was available with two, three, four, or even five cabins. Shared spaces could be finished in light oak or mahogany, and large hull portholes bring plenty of light below.

The forward owner’s suite has a centerline double berth, hanging locker, dressing seat, sink, vanity, and a large shower with a transparent door. The manufacturer describes it as a genuine suite with an Italian-style shower. Each aft cabin has a double berth and either storage or a hanging locker, along with hull portlights and opening ports for airflow.

The saloon is bright and open. To starboard, a U-shaped settee wraps around the table, with a free-floating bench opposite. The port settee has a sliding modular table that can serve as a work nook or breakfast spot.

The L-shaped galley sits to port, with double sinks near the centerline, a front-opening fridge in flat teak, cabinets above, and drawers below. A sliding chart table can be positioned against the forward bulkhead, between the seats, or beside the galley, with mobile seats to match.

One tester noted that there isn’t much of a dedicated sea berth, though this was considered a minor point given the private cabins.

Cockpit and Deck Gear

The cockpit is huge. Twin wheels help keep it open, while a centerline table houses a multifunction display visible from both helms, as well as an icebox and grabrails.

The signature electric fold-down transom won a National Marine Manufacturers Association Innovation Award. It opens into a natural-wood swim platform and, with a properly mounted ladder, ranks among the best swimming and tender-boarding platforms afloat. At anchor, it also adds about 3 feet of floor space to the cockpit.

Wide side decks make movement around the boat easy. The molded nonskid is excellent, and teak was offered as a handsome option. The handrails along the cabintrunk are somewhat low, however.

At the bow, a deep chain locker, covered windlass, and double stainless-steel bow rollers suit serious cruising. There’s also a dedicated sail locker.

Known Issues

The principal compromise is the arch-mounted mainsheet. Its fixed blocks aren’t as effective at controlling the boom as a traveler would be.

The cabintrunk handrails also sit a little low, although the molded nonskid itself drew praise. Below, the lack of much of a dedicated sea berth may matter to some crews, though testers considered it a minor quibble in a three-cabin layout.

The Verdict

The Oceanis 48 is a refined expression of the modern Oceanis cruising philosophy. Its beamy, chined hull stays flat and provides generous volume, while the bright Nauta interior and unusually large cockpit emphasize comfortable family cruising. She sails efficiently in light air, performs well under power, and the fold-down transom represents a genuine advance in stern access.

The fixed-point arch mainsheet and low cabintrunk handrails are the main ergonomic compromises.

Pros