CNB 78 Buyer's Guide
The CNB 78 entered the brokerage conversation as the Solaris-era successor to the CNB 76, built in Italy after the marque left Groupe Beneteau, and designed by Philippe Briand with Jean-Marc Piaton interiors. As a 78-foot bluewater deck-saloon cruiser with a beam-wide engine room and aft crew quarters, she appeals to buyers wanting owner-guest separation with permanent crew support. The focus here is on physical layouts, equipment clusters, and inspection points drawn from documented reviews.
Layouts on the Used Market
Every 78 separates crew and guests by placing owner and guest cabins forward and giving crew the whole aft section with the galley, divided by a deck saloon that links to the cockpit. The increased beam carried forward and aft permitted a third double cabin instead of the 76’s Pullman, and both guest cabins offer doubles or twins. The owner’s suite can show the berth forward or aft and offset without reshaping the ensuite; the standard aft-headboard offset berth is usually swapped for a central forward berth. A huge sail locker for furling sails could serve as a crew cabin, and the second launched hull demonstrated space for a piano in the owner’s suite.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Power and energy centers on a beam-wide engine room below the deck saloon with improved access and insulation, reachable from saloon or aft. Sail handling favors genoa and staysail on cockpit-controlled push-button Reckmann furlers, an aluminium mast with slab-reefed main as standard, and a Hall carbon rig with V-boom furling as a known upgrade on the first boat. Comfort and tender use come from a longitudinal garage for a Williams 395 with integrated rollers and a transom swim platform with launch rollers, plus a hinged sprayhood that encloses the whole cockpit. Navigation and control sit at twin pedestals with full sail and engine controls both sides and two large powered winches per side for headsail sheets.
What to Inspect
The first reviewed boat showed very few niggles, but buyers should verify the traditionally laminated-in bulkheads that replaced the 76’s modular method and confirm the improved machinery access and insulation into the beam-wide engine room. Check the gentle ramp to side decks and full-length caulking for wear, and exercise the tender garage roller system and swim-platform rollers for smooth launch. Confirm the chosen rig—standard aluminium slab main versus carbon V-boom or in-mast furling—and that push-button furlers and powered winches respond from both pedestals.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
For a used CNB 78, confirm the layout choice (central versus offset owner berth, third double configuration), verify rig and furling upgrades versus standard, and test crew-aft separation and tender systems. Inspect bulkhead lamination and engine-room access, and review finish (walnut, oak, or teak) for condition.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the CNB 78. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 2 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 25 | 1 | $3,440,000 | — |
| Aug 26 | 1 | $4,057,933 | +18.0% |
Where they're listed
CNB 78 listings appear across 2 countries. France has the most listings with 1 (50.0%), followed by Italy.
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
9 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dufour 56 | 56' | $ 462,604 | 61 | 6 |
| Beneteau Oceanis Oceanis 58 | 59.84' | $ 357,552 | 58 | 13 |
| CNB Yachts 76 | 76.02' | $ 2,539,107 | 13 | 3 |
| Solaris 58 | 57.25' | $ 1,153,612 | 13 | 0 |
| Catana 58 | 62.34' | $ 660,000 | 13 | 1 |
| Frers Bluewater 56 | 54.08' | $ 1,690,000 | 8 | 2 |
| JPK 1180 | 38.65' | $ 463,184 | 6 | 1 |
| Grand Soleil Grand Soleil 58 | 57.41' | $ 925,000 | 5 | 1 |
| CNB 78You are here | — | $ 3,748,967 | 2 | 1 |