Design and Construction
The hull has bold, taut lines, with hard chines running aft from well forward of the mast. These dig in to help keep the boat upright and tracking straight. Buyers could personalize the hull color, including a gun-metal finish.
Eight large windows and a coachroof surrounded by flush hatches and skylights bring plenty of light below. Flush deck hatches and an open deck plan keep the exterior lines clean.
Cruising World noted that the 55 was the first Oceanis to have twin rudders, which provide plenty of feedback at both helms. Beneteau moved the arch and companionway forward, leaving room for L-shaped cockpit benches and a comfortable companionway that slopes gently at 45 degrees. The cockpit was designed to be larger and provide more exterior space than that of the Oceanis 54 it replaced.
Rig, Handling, and Performance
As on other recent Oceanis models, the mast was moved aft. On the 55, that change leaves a full third of the boat’s length open to the cockpit. It also allows for a larger headsail and a slightly smaller mainsail, producing two sails of nearly equal size and a balanced, manageable sail plan.
All sail controls lead to the dual helm stations, with winches centered there so one person can handle maneuvers. The primary winches are mounted inboard, just ahead of each wheel, while reefing and running rigging are divided between two winches. The mainsheet, however, leads only to the port winch, with no option to sheet from both sides. A mainsheet arch anchors the mainsheet, and a bail on the anchor roller can take a Code 0 or cruising chute. A D4 Performance Pack by Incidence Sails and an optional inner forestay with a self-tending staysail further broaden the sail plan.
Cruising World reported that the 75-horsepower Yanmar pushed the boat into the high 8-knot range at cruising rpm. With her twin rudders, she also backed well under her own power to both port and starboard.
Yachting World’s testers found her sluggish in lighter airs, attributing this to the wetted surface and fixed three-bladed propeller. Once persuaded onto her hard chine, however, the boat gained power. In 12–14 knots of true wind, they recorded 7.5 knots upwind and more than 9 knots while close-reaching. With a Code 0, she made 8 knots in 10 knots of wind.
Cockpit and Deck Equipment
The large cockpit is central to the Oceanis 55’s appeal. Twin steering stations have integrated multifunction helm consoles, and the boat could be specified with either a B&G or Simrad electronics package. Dock & Go joystick pod drive was also available.
The electrically lowered swim platform serves two purposes. Folded in, it forms a cockpit-wide helm seat. Lowered, it becomes a 9-foot-4 by 2-foot-6 wood-decked terrace, complete with a removable stainless-steel ladder.
Accommodations
Interior arrangements range from three cabins and two heads to five cabins and four heads. A fourteen-berth version features a double forecabin for the skipper and even a crew cabin in the bows.
In the owner layouts, the master suite has an island bed, shelves, storage, two large hanging lockers, and an ensuite head with a separate toilet. A chest of drawers has a sliding top that converts it into an office. Two large aft cabins and a second head, with a separate shower at the stern, complete these arrangements.
The wide U-shaped galley has a Kerrock worktop and double sink and sits close to the saloon. An alternative layout places the galley at the foot of the companionway. Available equipment included a dishwasher and a top- and front-loading refrigerator.
The saloon contains a sizeable dinette, a large 6-foot-7 sofa, a rotating chart-table seat with a retractable back, and a pop-up flat-screen television. Testers noted that the galley isn’t especially large for a 55-foot boat and that the empty area between the saloon, navigation station, and galley is vast. The furniture is well fiddled, however. The veneer is alpi mahogany only, with seven upholstery choices.
The Verdict
The Oceanis 55 is a volume-forward cruiser that trades light-air sparkle for enormous cockpit and cabin space, easy short-handed control from the helms, and a customizable layout unmatched in its class. She rewards wind above ten knots and the use of a flying sail, when the chined hull delivers real pace.
Pros
- First Oceanis with twin rudders, plus a beam of more than 16 feet carried aft for exceptional volume
- Sail trim and maneuvers centered at the dual helms for single-handed control
- Three- to five-cabin layouts, with a clever office in the owner’s suite and a dedicated chart table
- Large drop-down swim platform that also serves as helm seating
Cons
- Sluggish in light airs with the fixed propeller and substantial wetted surface, according to Yachting World’s testers
- Noisy interior, especially under engine, according to Yachting World’s testers
- Galley is modest for a boat of this size
- Mainsheet leads to the port winch only
