Hull and Construction
The Oceanis 60's hull is a solid polyester laminate with an internal sub-frame hull liner bonded in place to provide stiffness and structural support throughout the floor and interior. The deck is balsa cored, bonded and screwed to the hull, and then capped with a teak toerail running the full length of the sheer. The keel is cast-iron with a molded bulb, available in both shoal and deep draft configurations, giving buyers meaningful flexibility depending on their intended cruising grounds.
The spars come from Seldén — an aluminum three-spreader mast supported by discontinuous rod shrouds and stays. Up forward, the bow carries a slight overhang paired with a combination anchor roller and bowsprit to keep the anchor clear of the stem when weighing. The transom takes the opposite approach: an attractive reverse design that provides a welcome contrast to the plumb sterns common on European production cruisers.
Deck Layout and Handling
The cockpit is one of the Oceanis 60's defining features. The single-level extended cockpit creates a feeling of grandeur while placing real distance between the working helm station forward and the lounging area aft. Two stainless-steel wheels link to a large single rudder via a Goiot steering system, and above the substantial molded wheel pedestals sit equally substantial instrument pods with room for B&G Zeus chartplotters, wind, speed, and depth instruments as standard. Engine controls live on the starboard pod; primary electric Harken 70ST winches are immediately outboard on either side, within easy reach of the helm seats.
Each helm seat is configured in an L-shape for comfort across a range of heel angles, and each incorporates a step for getting onto the side decks, with a rope bin beneath for halyards, mainsheet, and reefing lines. Lines run through the cockpit coaming to clutch banks on both sides, then to a pair of Harken 46ST secondary winches. The trademark Beneteau cockpit arch anchors the mainsheet, supports the dodger's aft end, and provides handholds for crew moving forward. Notably, genoa tracks and chainplates are positioned inboard alongside the cabintrunk, leaving the side decks clean and unobstructed.
Under Sail
In a 13- to 15-knot breeze off Mallorca, the test boat's 9/10ths fractional rig — equipped with Incidences laminate sails on an in-mast furler and a Facnor drum furler on the bow — clicked off 6 knots with an apparent wind of 12 to 14 knots at 35 degrees off the bow. Bearing away to between 50 and 60 degrees apparent, boatspeed quickly jumped to 8.6 knots. The boat's large high-aspect rudder steered confidently through the eye of the wind on each tack. The stainless-steel dolphin-nose bowsprit includes a tack eye for a Code 0 or asymmetric spinnaker, broadening the sail inventory options for bluewater passages.
Under power, the diesel engine with shaft drive and a three-bladed feathering Max Prop pushed the boat to 6.4 knots at 1,500 rpm and 7.8 knots at 2,000 rpm in flat water. Close-quarters maneuvering was unremarkable — no surprises in the marina, with bow thruster controls conveniently located on the starboard helm console.
Accommodations
Below, the Oceanis 60 delivers the light, airy interior the hull promises. Large steps with leather-bound handrails on both sides make entering the saloon straightforward even underway, and hull ports, cabintrunk windows, and three flush hatches aft of the mast keep the space genuinely bright. An electric aluminum shutter replaces traditional washboards at the companionway — a practical touch that eliminates one of cruising's common irritations.
The J-shaped galley to port offers a pair of stainless-steel sinks and plenty of counter space, with a standard gas stove or an all-electric option with a Force 10 stove, microwave, and dishwasher. Aft of the galley sits a large quarter cabin with an ensuite shower and head; the starboard quarter cabin features a scissor berth convertible between a double and two singles. The master stateroom forward centers on a 5ft 9in island berth surrounded by padded panels, with separate head, shower, wardrobe, and shoe cabinet. All three head compartments incorporate separate shower stalls, and electric-flush toilets are available as an option. A substantial 4ft 6in-wide chart table sits to starboard of the companionway, and the saloon's dinette table can be rotated via a short chain underneath.
Practical Considerations
The in-mast furling main — standard on the test boat — delivers ease of handling with a short-handed crew but exacts the familiar penalty in sail shape and power, particularly on the wind. Buyers prioritizing performance will want to evaluate the sail plan carefully against their typical passages. The high-gloss Alpi interior finish attracts fingerprints readily — an honest trade-off between aesthetics and daily practicality on a liveaboard passage maker.
The optional crew cabin in the forepeak is accessed through a foredeck hatch; without that option specified, the forward space serves as a sail locker rather than sleeping quarters — a choice that should be made at the time of order rather than retrofitted.
The Verdict
The Beneteau Oceanis 60 is a thoroughly developed, well-integrated large cruising yacht that rewards owners who want capable passage-making capability wrapped in genuine liveaboard comfort. Its systems integration, cockpit ergonomics, and interior volume are serious, and the performance figures from a real-world test are encouraging for a boat of this displacement and mission. She is not a performance racer and does not pretend to be — the in-mast furler and the comfort-focused accommodations make the priorities clear from the outset.
Pros
- Dedicated tender garage with electric fold-down transom keeps the aft deck seamless
- Ergonomic twin-helm layout with L-shaped seats and winch controls within reach
- Bright, genuinely spacious saloon with three ensuite head compartments
- Clean side decks — chainplates and genoa tracks kept inboard
- Shoal and deep draft options accommodate diverse cruising grounds
- Bowsprit tack eye supports a Code 0 or asymmetric spinnaker out of the box
Cons
- In-mast furling main compromises upwind sail shape
- High-gloss interior finish shows fingerprints and wear quickly in daily liveaboard use
- Secondary winches cannot be reached from the helm without engaging the autopilot first
- Crew cabin in the forepeak must be specified at build — the space defaults to sail storage
