As featured in the 2008 edition of trade-a-boat’s ‘Big Boat Collection’
It’s customary for European boatbuilders to release their new products at the autumn shows in Paris, London, and Dusseldorf, Germany. That way, the sales guys can pick up a load of orders in time for the factories to produce new boats for delivery ahead of the northern summer. The new Oceanis 40, 43 and 46 were shown in autumn, but the first sailing opportunity was at Valencia, Spain, in February. The latest Oceanis models have hull and deck designs by Berret-Racopeau, and the interiors are the creation of Nauta Design, the Italian superyacht studio. The result is an exterior and interior completely new to the Oceanis line up, with a more luxurious feel and more space devoted to cabins and heads.
The exterior styling for all the new Oceanis boats centres on a ‘targa’ style cabin roof line, with pilot-house-style large cabin side glasses and sunroofs.
The hulls are single-skinned GRP and the deck moulding is GRP-balsa sandwich. The hull is strengthened by a bonded and laminated inner
moulding that absorbs stresses at key points: chain plates and keel and rudder attachment points.
All three new boats have twin steering stations, with engine controls and instruments at the starboard station and sailing instruments to port. There is a column-mounted compass at each steering station. All boats have a dropside cockpit table, with lift-up icebox lids, a 12V power socket and a table lamp. There’s an integrated chart reader, mounted in a swivelling housing that can be turned towards either steering station. Very clever. READ REVIEW
http://www.boatpoint.com.au/reviews/2007/beneteau-oceanis-40-43-46-9933