Beneteau Oceanis 52 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

Biscontini's hull for the Oceanis 52 is a solid-fiberglass monohull with a bulb keel and spade rudder, displacing just under 32,000 pounds on a 15'11" beam. The builder describes a pronounced chine lending the hull bold dynamic elegance, though period observation of the boat at launch noted the smoothed-out hull form moves away from the hard chines seen on recent Oceanis flagships. The full-beam design extends right to the transom, which makes possible a generously sized cockpit and a large BBQ station set amidships. Beneteau used Iroko rather than teak on deck for sustainability, and the interior reflects a clear step up in finish: Nauta Design closed down some of the dancehall-like empty areas of earlier models, the oak veneer lacks the plastic feel of past efforts, furniture carries 2-millimeter bandings, and there is laminated solid-wood trim and even massive wooden scantling at high-wear tabletops. Thick Venetian blinds and mirrors, plus upgraded Corian worktops in the galley and heads, round out a more yacht-like interior atmosphere.

Rig and Handling

The standard Oceanis 52 is rigged as a fractional sloop with a furling mast and self-tacking jib, and a First Line Pack swaps in a longer mast with increased sail area for stronger performance. All sail-control lines are led aft, and there is no winch or jammer forward of the helm area — the working and genoa sheet winches sit a bit farther apart than on the 51.1, with the genoa winches moved closer to the helm and the working winches placed at the walkaround step so a crew member or the helmsman can handle hoists and drops. The mainsheet arch remains an option rather than standard. A 110-horsepower Yanmar diesel powers the boat, and the helm console carries a 12-inch screen with electric engine control; a 12-inch display at the helm lets the skipper chart a course with precision.

Accommodations

Beneteau claims 30 percent more interior space than the Oceanis 51.1, and the layout comes in two forms: a three-cabin, two-head owner's version and a five-cabin, three-head charter version. The owner's suite holds a 160 cm island bed flanked by two small seats, with two hanging lockers, large coaming compartments, and a drawer under the bed; the wet rooms are split, toilet to port and shower to starboard. A forward bulkhead hides a large sails locker or an optional skipper's cabin, and large bow hull windows give an open seascape at anchor. The saloon uses sanded oak woodwork and a 3-in-1 table that becomes a dining table, coffee table, sofa, or extra berth. The C-shaped galley integrates a full-height refrigerator, optional second fridge, and Corian worktops. The charter layout substitutes a central galley island with a 434-liter fridge and a carry-on storage space in each of its five cabins.

Cockpit and Deck Living

The cockpit is the social heart of the boat. Twin C-shaped benches form a diamond-shaped space, and two height-adjustable tables can be dropped with cushions to make a reclining lounge — writing in no-frills-sailing.com, the reviewer cited 30 percent more lounge area than the 51.1 through this new layout. A divided cockpit table leaves a wide center walkthrough, and a step fits between the rear seat and helm stations so the side decks can be reached without disturbing the helmsman. Amidships, a central seating area with fridge and plancha grill anchors the transom; its lid closes to form a seat, and additional folding seats extend from the helm stations to make one continuous seating run. A gently sloping companionway, a signature of the Oceanis cruising line, leads below.

Equipment and Options

Beyond the standard 12-inch helm display and Seanapps mobile app, the boat takes optional enclosed aft cockpit with gas plancha and exterior fridge, a bimini arch with integrated solar panels, and a rigid T-top Bimini. Solar capacity runs to 430 Wpeak in the coachroof via Solara panels, with another 680 Wpeak possible on the rigid T-top. High-end anti-glare dimmable lighting is standard. The owner's three-cabin layout adds a desk, bookcase, and bar in the owner's corner.

The Verdict

The Oceanis 52 is a clean-break eighth-generation cruiser that refines the Oceanis formula around a wider, more finished interior and a rethought social cockpit. She trades some of the previous generation's hard-chine character for a smoothed hull and gains real living space and deck furniture quality, while keeping simple short-handed sail handling through all-aft lines and a self-tacking jib. The divided cockpit table and walkaround step show a genuine rethink of circulation, though the loss of the integrated life-raft table of the 51.1 is a small concession.

Pros