At just under 50 feet on the waterline, the Oceanis 50 combines contemporary, elegant lines with the extended roof characteristic of its generation. Very long side windows and squared-off elliptical glazing bring plenty of light below.
Design and Construction
Berret-Racoupeau drew a canoe-style hull with a performance-oriented profile and a long waterline. Beam is 14.76 feet, and displacement is 27,454 pounds. A dead-vertical spade rudder is paired with a choice of bulb keels: a deep 6-foot-10-inch version or a shallow 5-foot-9-inch option.
The hull is solid molded fiberglass with an inner liner. The deck and coachroof use glass-and-balsa sandwich construction for stiffness without excessive weight. At press time, the Oceanis 50 was the largest Beneteau built at the Marion, South Carolina, plant. New manufacturing processes used in its construction helped reduce the selling price, according to Canadian Boating’s review.
Below, the woodwork is Alpi, a reconstituted mahogany-stained veneer without the natural flaws found in conventional timber. Laminate non-skid flooring and distinctive bulkhead fabrics complete the interior finish.
Rig and Handling
The tall 9/10 rig has swept-back spreaders and a powerful mainsail on a fully integrated arch. Its traveler sits forward of the companionway, keeping running lines out of the cockpit. A 140% overlapping genoa is standard.
The standard furling mast has a 53-foot I measurement, while the optional classic mast is nearly 60 feet tall. Sail-control lines run aft beneath the deck through Spinlock turning blocks. The test boat carried a Selden furling mast and a rod-kicker vang.
The long waterline and easily driven, well-balanced hull made the boat responsive even in faint puffs, with light helm pressure.
Cockpit and Deck
The broad cockpit reflects the trend toward roomier outdoor living. It has twin leather-wrapped Goiot wheels, supportive seating, and a center table with storage and a handrail. The mainsail arch helps keep the cockpit free of running lines and also simplifies the canvas arrangement.
A large walk-through gate and wide side decks make it easier to move around. The hinged drawbridge transom folds away to provide swim access but also forms crew seating behind the wheels. Life-raft storage is tucked low and out of sight, while robust double lifelines run around the perimeter.
The transom platform is teak-planked. Teak for the cockpit sole and deck is optional.
Accommodations
The interior layout focuses on making efficient use of the available space. Headroom is 6 feet 7 inches throughout.
In the saloon, long, deep settees surround a huge offset table to port. The table drops to create a double berth, and movable stools provide additional seating amidships.
The U-shaped galley is also to port. It includes Corian counters, twin centerline sinks, a three-burner stove, a 3.7-cubic-foot front-opening refrigerator, and a 2.8-cubic-foot top-loading freezer.
The forward owner’s cabin has a pedestal-mounted, lozenge-shaped berth that is almost queen-size, along with a desk and a large en-suite head with a folding-door shower. The aft cabin is similarly spacious, with an angled berth that is also nearly queen-size. Access to its private head is through the shower.
Two U.S. layouts offer either two or three cabins. Outside the U.S., four- and five-cabin charter versions can sleep as many as ten people.
Power and Systems
A 110-horsepower Yanmar diesel drives a three-bladed Max prop. Fuel is carried in a 62-gallon rotomolded tank. At 2,200 rpm and 7 knots, the boat burns about two gallons per hour.
At the bow, the fitting incorporates twin anchor rollers and a chainplate for an asymmetric spinnaker. The bow fitting is served by a vertical Lewmar windlass with both a gypsy and a warping head.
The winch arrangement includes an optional electric Harken 46 to port and a manual winch to starboard. Self-tailing sheet winches sit aft on the cockpit coamings.
Verdict
The Oceanis 50 is a high-performance cruising design that balances interior volume, natural light, and easy handling with a slippery hull and an arch-driven sail plan. It should suit owners looking for a modern, elegant 50-footer with substantial accommodation flexibility and a forgiving helm.
Pros
- Easily driven, well-balanced hull with light steering and a responsive feel in faint breezes
- Integrated mainsail arch keeps lines out of the cockpit and simplifies the canvas arrangement
- Flexible accommodation plans ranging from two to five cabins
- Solid fiberglass hull, balsa-sandwich deck, and reconstituted veneer without natural flaws
Cons
- Access to the aft cabin’s head requires passing through the shower
- The deep and shallow keel options still set draft at 6 feet 10 inches or 5 feet 9 inches, limiting shoal-water exploration
