CNB 60 Buyer's Guide
The CNB Bordeaux 60 is a rare proposition on the used market: a semi-custom blue-water performance cruiser from a builder with genuine superyacht credentials, conceived by one of France's most accomplished naval architects and built to a standard that sets it well apart from the volume production sector. Philippe Briand's hull — with its plumb bow, moderate displacement, and clean underbody — gives the boat a sailing character that owners describe as genuinely quick offshore rather than merely capable, while the Bordeaux yard's relationship with the Beneteau Group means construction quality has been consistently rigorous. Buying a used example is fundamentally different from buying a volume cruiser: the pool of boats is small, each hull was built to a degree of personalisation during the original sale, and condition varies considerably depending on how seriously that first owner took the blue-water ambitions the boat was designed for. Approach the market patiently, inspect thoroughly, and expect to deal with brokers who specialise in this segment.
Layouts on the Used Market
CNB offered the Bordeaux 60 in three, four, and five-cabin configurations, with the key variable being placement of the owner's suite — forward or aft — and what occupies the remaining volume. Owner three-cabin layouts are the more common configuration encountered on the used market, though four-cabin examples surface regularly and the occasional five-cabin boat does appear. The standard arrangement places a full-beam owner's cabin aft or forward, with guest doubles occupying the remaining aft or midship space, and crew or workshop accommodation forward. The spacious forepeak, which CNB allowed to be configured as a sail locker, workshop, children's cabin with bunks and separate head, or even a double berth, means two boats with nominally the same cabin count can offer meaningfully different utility forward. Inspect what the forepeak was specified as and whether that space suits your intended use. The salon is centred at the beam's widest point specifically to dampen pitching motion, and the panoramic coachroof windows make it genuinely light below — an intentional design decision rather than an afterthought.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Boats from this segment of the market tend to arrive comprehensively equipped, and CNB 60s are no exception. Teak decks, electric winches, bow thruster, air conditioning, and a watermaker are commonly fitted across the used fleet — these are not optional extras so much as near-standard components on a boat of this specification and intended use. Autopilot, chartplotter, AIS, radar, and an inverter are likewise widely carried, reflecting the offshore passage-making brief. Practical liveaboard additions — a washing machine, freezer, cockpit shower, swim platform, and bimini — appear with equal regularity.
Beyond the core fit, a meaningful portion of used examples carry dinghy davits, an EPIRB, solar panels, and a furling mainsail — the latter a frequent owner upgrade on boats that have transitioned from racing-oriented use toward relaxed family or shorthanded cruising. Gennakers or full spinnakers are frequently found aboard, fitting the boat's performance emphasis. Dodgers and short-handed sailing setups — additional rope clutches, self-tailing upgrades, and tidied running rigging — appear on boats that have seen serious passage use.
Heating systems, hardtops, and self-tacking jibs are less universal but do appear. A hardtop conversion over the cockpit is an occasional premium addition and worth noting positively if present, as the standard bimini does not offer the same structural protection offshore.
What to Inspect
The Bordeaux 60 was built using vacuum-infused GRP, which generally produces a sound, void-resistant laminate, but as with any used bluewater yacht with meaningful sea miles behind it, a professional osmosis survey is non-negotiable. Pay particular attention to the keel attachment and the area around the keel sump — this is a heavy, performance-oriented fin and junction integrity matters. CNB offered a standard draft option, a shoal draft, and a telescopic keel variant; confirm which is fitted early in any negotiation, as the telescopic option introduces mechanical complexity that deserves its own dedicated inspection.
The opening transom and tender garage — a signature feature of the Bordeaux 60 — should be inspected carefully for seal integrity, hinge wear, and any signs of delamination around the hull cutout. This is a significant structural aperture and one that sees constant salt-water exposure. Similarly, the panoramic coachroof windows are a defining interior feature but represent a meaningful sealant and potential leak point; check the frames, bedding, and overhead lining for any moisture ingress.
The 180-horsepower Volvo Penta D4 is a well-supported engine in the cruising world, but service history is critical — ask for complete records and pay attention to impeller, heat exchanger, and transmission service intervals. Bow thruster seals and through-hull fittings on a boat with extended Mediterranean or offshore use deserve close attention. On boats fitted with teak decks, probe the deck-to-hull joint area and assess fastener condition; teak recaulking and re-bedding is the most common substantial maintenance item on boats of this type.
Standing rigging lifespan should be verified against hours at sea rather than calendar years; a boat that has completed Atlantic circuits may have higher rig wear than one that has spent its life in sheltered Mediterranean water. Check the high-ratio fractional rig for fatigue at the chainplates, and inspect the asymmetric spinnaker gear — furlers, tack line, and halyard — given how actively many of these boats carry downwind canvas.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
The CNB 60 used fleet is concentrated most heavily in Mediterranean Europe — France, Italy, Spain, Malta, and Monaco account for the majority of boats on the market at any given time, which is fitting given the yard's Bordeaux origins and the blue-water cruising circuits that dominate this region. Occasional examples appear further afield, and the boat's offshore credentials mean well-maintained examples do turn up in South American and Caribbean brokerage from time to time after completing Atlantic passages.
Because the fleet is small and each hull carries some degree of individual specification, patience is more valuable here than in volume markets. The right boat may take time to appear, and a professional survey from someone familiar with semi-custom construction is worth commissioning early in any serious negotiation.
Pre-purchase checklist:
- Confirm layout configuration and forepeak specification against the original build sheet
- Identify keel type (standard, shoal, or telescopic) and inspect accordingly
- Obtain full engine service history for the Volvo Penta D4
- Survey keel attachment, transom opening seals, and coachroof window frames
- Inspect teak deck fasteners and recaulking status
- Verify standing rigging service history relative to offshore hours logged
- Check bow thruster seals and all underwater through-hulls
- Review downwind sail inventory and associated furling gear condition
- Confirm air conditioning and watermaker service history
- Request all original build and specification documentation from the yard
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the CNB 60. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 9 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 25 | 1 | $ 370,232 | — |
| Jun 25 | 1 | $ 552,500 | +49.2% |
| Jul 25 | 2 | $ 1,038,583 | +88.0% |
| Oct 25 | 3 | $ 452,253 | -56.5% |
| Jan 26 | 2 | $ 415,516 | -8.1% |
| Feb 26 | 1 | $ 672,113 | +61.8% |
| Mar 26 | 2 | $ 598,438 | -11.0% |
| Apr 26 | 12 | $ 609,792 | +1.9% |
| Jun 26 | 2 | $ 506,079 | -17.0% |
Where they're listed
CNB 60 listings appear across 6 countries. France has the most listings with 6 (26.1%), followed by Italy and Spain.
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
8 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeanneau Yachts 60 | 59.97' | $ 1,025,258 | 49 | 3 |
| Beneteau Oceanis Yacht 60 | 62.17' | $ 1,071,476 | 25 | 4 |
| CNB 60You are here | — | $ 553,241 | 23 | 6 |
| Lagoon 60 | 59.94' | $ 3,588,402 | 22 | 14 |
| Wauquiez Pilot Saloon 60 | 61.02' | $ 449,974 | 15 | 0 |
| Gulfstar 60 | 60.5' | $ 325,000 | 11 | 0 |
| Swan 60 FD | 61.89' | $ 911,340 | 10 | 4 |
| Amel 60 | 62.34' | $ 2,050,516 | 9 | 0 |