Beneteau Oceanis 58 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

The Oceanis 58’s hull is a solid handlaid laminate of mat and woven rovings, with blister-resistant vinylester resin in the outer layers solid handlaid laminate. A structural grid hull liner is bonded into place, strengthening the hull, providing a base for furniture installation, and helping distribute loads from the keel-stepped rig and bolted-on cast iron keel. The deck molding is a balsa sandwich strengthened with GRP beams, with an interior liner bonded to it before the deck is glued and screwed to the hull; bulkheads are likewise bonded in place.

On deck, the side decks are wide and the teak laid decks provide excellent footing, though the cabintop is too low to brace against. The open transom is separated from the cockpit by a gate and a pair of steps, and an aft “skirt” offers a unique solution to the after end of a cruising boat, providing practical tender stowage and an easy boarding method while creating a superb sun terrace aft. Two lockers under the deck are large enough to take a deflated 2.8m inflatable, with a huge dedicated liferaft locker on one side and a double or large single gas locker on the other, plus stowage under the helm seats and the forward sail locker.

Rig and Handling

The keel-stepped rig carries a mainsheet fixed atop a molded arch, which keeps the sheet well clear of the cockpit and permits efficient end-boom sheeting mainsheet fixed atop a molded arch. The arch also serves as a support point for the dodger and optional bimini, and on this model it was the first time Beneteau used such an arch, raising the boom 2.5m off the cockpit sole and enabling a tall rig. Lines are led aft from the mast via under-deck galleries to halyard and primary winches just ahead of the wheels, with well-thought-out line stowage that avoids the usual snakepit. As standard there is one dual-speed electric winch for halyards and mainsheet, though the sailed boat carried electric Harken winches and easily adjustable genoa sheet cars. Buyers could specify an overlapping genoa or self-tacking jib, with a furling Code 0 available for light-air offwind work; the standard sail plan includes a three-reef mainsail in lazy jacks and a 120 per cent genoa.

Test sailors found the performance ratios impressively sporty for a cruiser, and she moved along sweetly in light airs, making 5 to 6 knots to windward in the conditions experienced. In stronger wind, 16–23 knots saw a solid 8 knots upwind at 30° apparent, and on a broad reach she hit 10–11 knots, with her full body dealing dismissively with a sharp swell. The helm, however, drew criticism in period tests: there was not a lot of feel in light conditions, and reviewers noted too much load on the helm with a hydraulic autopilot ram attached, plus a complete lack of bracing for the helmsman and flat cockpit seats that offered no support when heeled.

Accommodations

Nauta Design’s interior is bright, open, and functional, with light streaming through flush-fitting hatches, portlights, and plexiglass around the main hatch. The saloon makes full use of the generous hull volume, with seating areas throughout and a layout designed around relaxation and space. A shallow staircase leads into this comfortable home, and the galley is vast, with two-tiered work surfaces and a G-shape lip for support at the stove, separate fridge and freezer, and a chart table large enough for serious passage planning. Each ensuite heads compartment has a separate shower stall.

Both layout options feature a pair of cabins aft, one with twin bunks instead of a single berth, and a choice forward between a single large owner’s stateroom or twin cabins. The forward island double raises on gas struts for stowage below. The reviewed three-cabin version had two double ensuite aft cabins, with the starboard side a large VIP version whose berth splits into two doubles, and the portside with day-heads access. Alpi mahogany joinery is offset by trim and accents, and the near-water-level windows aft transform the aft cabins by removing claustrophobic associations.

Known Issues

Practical shortcomings noted in period reviews include tight aft cabin access and a floating headlining that creaks when underway. The cockpit seats are flat all around, providing neither comfort nor bracing support when heeled, and the coamings are a little angular. The boat is also a little wet on deck in sailing conditions. The tested second prototype still showed some sloppy finishing, though this is not necessarily representative of production boats.

Refits and Ownership

The Oceanis 58 is equipped with a 140hp 5-cylinder Volkswagen diesel, a smooth and sophisticated powerplant with insignificant noise and no discernible vibration, giving an easy 8 knots cruising speed smooth and sophisticated powerplant. The engine bay is spacious with easily accessible service points, and the engine carries both 12-volt and 24-volt alternators. The boat uses a 12-volt system for LED lighting and electronics, a 24-volt system for windlass and refrigeration, and a 120-volt shorepower system. Tankage is ample for ambitious voyaging, with options pushing over 1,000 litres of both fuel and water. The companionway washboard raises and lowers electronically on a wireless fob, and the supporting companionway is tinted plexiglass for added light.

The Verdict

The Oceanis 58 is a thoughtfully engineered flagship that succeeds as a voluminous, well-equipped cruiser with a genuinely sporty turn of speed for its size. Its construction is conventional yet robust, and the deck and cockpit layout—open transom, arch-mounted mainsheet, and led-aft lines—supports shorthanded management. The interior is a standout for light and livability, though helm feedback and cockpit bracing are real weaknesses.

Pros

Solid handlaid hull with bonded structural grid and blister-resistant outer layers
Bright, open Nauta interior with flexible cabin layouts and separate showers
Sporty performance under sail with easy 8-knot motoring and quiet VW diesel
Innovative open transom with practical tender and liferaft stowage

Cons