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. A structural grid hull liner is bonded into place. It strengthens the hull, provides a base for furniture installation, and helps distribute loads from the keel-stepped rig and bolted-on cast iron keel.
The deck molding is a balsa sandwich reinforced with GRP beams. An interior liner is bonded to it before the deck is glued and screwed to the hull, while the bulkheads are also bonded in place.
Deck and Cockpit
Wide side decks and laid teak provide excellent footing, although the cabintop is too low to brace against. At the stern, a gate and two steps separate the open transom from the cockpit. An aft “skirt” offers a unique solution to the after end of a cruising boat, providing practical tender stowage and easy boarding while also creating a superb sun terrace.
Two lockers beneath the deck can hold a deflated 2.8m inflatable. There’s also a huge dedicated liferaft locker on one side and a double or large single gas locker on the other. Further stowage is provided beneath the helm seats and in the forward sail locker.
Rig and Sail Handling
The keel-stepped rig carries a mainsheet fixed atop a molded arch. This keeps the sheet well clear of the cockpit and allows efficient end-boom sheeting. The arch also supports the dodger and optional bimini. The Oceanis 58 marked the first time Beneteau had used such an arch; it raises the boom 2.5m above the cockpit sole and allows for a tall rig.
Lines run aft from the mast through under-deck galleries to the halyard and primary winches just ahead of the wheels. Thoughtful line stowage avoids the usual snakepit. One dual-speed electric winch for the halyards and mainsheet came as standard, although the boat sailed for the review had electric Harken winches and easily adjustable genoa sheet cars.
Buyers could choose an overlapping genoa or a self-tacking jib, while a furling Code 0 was available for light-air offwind sailing. The standard sail plan includes a three-reef mainsail in lazy jacks and a 120 per cent genoa.
Sailing Performance
Test sailors found the performance ratios impressively sporty for a cruiser. In light airs, the Oceanis 58 moved along sweetly and made 5 to 6 knots to windward in the conditions experienced.
In 16–23 knots of wind, she maintained a solid 8 knots upwind at 30° apparent. On a broad reach, she reached 10–11 knots, with her full body dealing dismissively with a sharp swell.
The helm drew criticism in period tests, however. 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. They also found a complete lack of bracing for the helmsman, while the flat cockpit seats provided no support when the boat was heeled.
Interior and Accommodations
Nauta Design’s interior is bright, open, and functional. Light enters through flush-fitting hatches, portlights, and the plexiglass around the main hatch. A shallow staircase leads below, where the saloon makes full use of the hull’s generous volume. Seating areas throughout reinforce a layout built around relaxation and space.
The galley is vast, with two-tiered work surfaces and a G-shaped lip that provides support at the stove. It also has separate fridge and freezer units. The chart table is large enough for serious passage planning, and every ensuite heads compartment includes a separate shower stall.
Both layout options have two aft cabins, one fitted with twin bunks rather than a single berth. Forward, buyers could choose either one large owner’s stateroom or two cabins. The forward island double lifts on gas struts to reveal stowage underneath.
The three-cabin version reviewed had two double ensuite cabins aft. To starboard was a large VIP cabin whose berth splits into two doubles; the port cabin had access to the day heads. Alpi mahogany joinery is offset by trim and accents. Near-water-level windows aft transform the cabins by removing their claustrophobic associations.
Systems, Machinery, and Tankage
The Oceanis 58 has a 140hp 5-cylinder Volkswagen diesel, a smooth and sophisticated powerplant with insignificant noise and no discernible vibration. It delivered an easy cruising speed of 8 knots.
The engine bay is spacious, with service points that are easy to reach. The engine has both 12-volt and 24-volt alternators. A 12-volt system supplies the LED lighting and electronics, while a 24-volt system powers the windlass and refrigeration. There is also a 120-volt shorepower system.
Tankage is ample for ambitious voyaging, with options increasing capacity to more than 1,000 litres each for fuel and water. The companionway washboard raises and lowers electrically by wireless fob, and the supporting companionway is made from tinted plexiglass to admit more light.
Known Issues
Period reviews identified several practical shortcomings. Access to the aft cabins is tight, and the floating headlining creaks underway. The cockpit seats are flat throughout, offering neither much comfort nor effective bracing when heeled, while the coamings are somewhat angular. The boat is also a little wet on deck in sailing conditions.
The second prototype tested still showed some sloppy finishing, although that may not represent the standard of production boats.
Verdict
The Oceanis 58 is a thoughtfully engineered flagship: a voluminous, well-equipped cruiser with a genuinely sporty turn of speed for its size. Its construction is conventional but robust. The open transom, arch-mounted mainsheet, and lines led aft support shorthanded handling.
Below, light and livability are the standout qualities. Against those strengths, limited helm feedback and poor cockpit bracing remain genuine weaknesses.
Pros
- Solid handlaid hull with a bonded structural grid and blister-resistant outer layers
- Bright, open Nauta interior with flexible cabin layouts and separate showers
- Sporty sailing performance, easy 8-knot motoring, and a quiet Volkswagen diesel
- Innovative open transom with practical tender and liferaft stowage
Cons
- Helm lacks feel and bracing; flat cockpit seats provide little support when heeled
- Floating headlining creaks, and aft-cabin access is tight
- A little wet on deck, with somewhat angular coamings
