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Beneteau Grand Trawler 62 review: French boating giant breaks new ground

• Photos: Nicholas Claris
• The Beneteau Grand Trawler 62 is the current flagship of the range

The ability to cruise long distances in comfort is a far more relaxing proposition than hammering around at 25 knots

• The L-shaped seating in the cockpit is optional

The unit opposite the lounge can be replaced with a small sofa to create more seating space

• The amidships galley can be closed off from the saloon with a sliding door and there is access directly into it via a side door from the port side deck

Triple MFDs clearly display boat and navigation information

Side doors on both decks create excellent pathways through the boat and boost natural ventilation inside

The hard top is a desirable addition but its weight is felt out at sea

For a long distance cruiser the ergonomics at the upper helm are very good

• The amidships owner's suite is spacious, bright and packed with intelligent storage solutions throughout
• The VIP cabin’s offset bed makes the most of the available space
• The twin guest cabin’s ensuite bathroom is also the day heads
• The crew space is roomy and well designed
• This particular layout shows the optional four cabin arrangement
• Top stories

The Beneteau Grand Trawler 62 is the new flagship of Beneteau’s trawler range, but is this voluminous fast-displacement cruiser the brand’s first true passagemaker?

The scheduling at the Cannes Boat Show was so insanely tight that I was an untied deck shoe away from missing my appointment to sea trial the Beneteau Grand Trawler 62 at the show.

In fact, if a harbour master hadn’t taken pity on me and chased the big Beneteau down with me perched on the bow of his little RIB the test may never have happened.

Approaching the Beneteau Grand Trawler 62 from the stern at water level is quite a way to be introduced to it, as it is a huge boat.

It is the largest boat that Beneteau (the brand, not the group) has ever built and it certainly has a presence. It’s more than 60ft long and nearly 18ft wide, towering above me from my vantage point on the waterline.

Having clambered onto the bathing platform to join the Beneteau crew and 10 or so other journalists on board for the trial, it’s striking how different this flagship feels to the Swift Trawler range.

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The Beneteau Grand Trawler 62 shares many of the same design principles as the smaller trawler yachts that Beneteau produces but it has an eye on finesse a cut above its more utilitarian siblings. It is, after all, built at Beneteau Group’s Italian Monfalcone plant where the Monte Carlo Yachts range is made.

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The glass transom makes the cockpit feel very open and connects the aft end of the deck to the large hydraulic bathing platform, which has a lift capacity of 400kg.

There is a crane option for the flybridge (with the same lift capacity) so the tender can be kept there if preferred, but with hi-lo functionality and pop-up chocks built into the deck, the platform would be the most convenient place to stow the tender.

Detailing is impressive here, like the steps that are built into the platform which deploy as it’s lowered into the water, and the full width, teak-laid lip at the bottom of the transom which both acts as an aft-facing perch but also allows you to cross the transom without getting wet feet when the platform is down.

The majority of these boats will be owner-run and the crew space has been arranged with that in mind. It works very well if there are crew on board but the configuration makes it a genuinely useful space without crew.

It’s packed with storage and is home to the washing machine. The toilet and shower compartments are split, with the toilet as close to the entrance as possible, so those who have just emerged from the water can use facilities without getting the main interior wet.

Similarly, if guests want more than just a quick wash off from the deck shower there is a shower compartment that they can use without the need to head to the lower deck.

Practical details

There is also access to the impressive machinery space from here, as well as through a hatch that leads down from the cockpit for quick checks. The big trawler yacht certainly hasn’t forgotten its roots and is as practical as they come.

Storage, both on deck and throughout the cabins, is superb and there are lots of clever ideas that make the day-to-day running of the boat a bit easier.

All of the filler caps for the fuel, water and waste tanks are housed behind separate hatches at knee level on the starboard side deck to protect the teak from spillages, and there is an external access hatch for the galley bin so you can drag bin bags straight on to deck and not through the saloon.

The foredeck sun pads are flanked by two deep lockers, the ideal dimensions for swallowing lines and a couple of fenders.

Possibly the most useful addition of all is the internal staircase that links the saloon to the flybridge, a feature that so enhances the workings of the boat but one that very few designers incorporate any more.

The Beneteau Grand Trawler 62 has the feel of something that has been designed to be at sea for weeks on end and it’s telling that a lot of these practical design features were informed by feedback from existing Swift Trawler owners.

These owners may live on board for an entire season, so things like having easy access to the storage under the berths and a well-shaped, seagoing galley with domestic refrigeration are key considerations.

The layout of the saloon suits that passagemaking ethos, with the galley just forward of amidships and close enough to the lower helm that those on watch can safely pop into it to grab a drink or make a quick snack.

It’s directly opposite the internal dinette, which features a table on a sliding mechanism so you can push it against the sofa, which both creates more space in the companionway and reveals a useful handhold for steadying yourself at sea.

The dinette sofa only runs down one side of the table but the boat comes with four super slender director’s chairs, which can be arranged around the table to boost dining space and all stow away beneath the dinette bench when not in use.

Access in and out of the saloon is excellent thanks to side doors on both sides of the boat, the sliding doors aft and the aforementioned internal stairs to the top deck. We had a lot of people on board but I never struggled to find a clear path in and out of the saloon.

As standard, the lower deck is fitted with three cabins all with their own ensuite bathrooms – a great layout for those who will cruise alone the majority of the time but want the space to host guests in comfort.

The amidships owner’s suite is spacious, bright and packed with intelligent storage solutions throughout

Having three separate bathrooms means guests have plenty of privacy and if the twin cabin feels formulaic in its arrangement the same can’t be said for the VIP with its angled, walkaround double bed.

The owner’s suite is amidships and is just brimming with storage and, like the rest of the interior, boasts at least 6ft 6in of headroom.

Standing tall

The boat’s height, so beneficial in providing ample internal volume, is felt at sea. Granted, we had a lot of people on board, most of whom were huddled on the flybridge scribbling down notes, but the combination of the round-bilge hull shape and a few hundred kilograms of hardtop give the Beneteau Grand Trawler 62 a propensity to wallow in the lower reaches of the rev range.

For this reason, the Quick gyroscopic stabiliser is pretty much a necessity – even at €94,000 – but given this hull is optimised to run at 8-10 knots the benefit will be felt when cruising and not just when the boat is at anchor.

This MICAD displacement hull with a round bilge and vertical stem is quite a departure from the Beneteau trawler norm. The other trawler yachts with their classic semi-displacement hulls feel happiest cruising in the mid to low teens whereas the Beneteau Grand Trawler 62 was designed with sub 10-knot cruising in mind.

The pace may be slow but the benefit is impressive cruising range, thanks to a total fuel capacity just shy of 4,000 litres. The goal that Beneteau worked towards was 1,000nm at 9 knots and the data we captured on test suggests this is right on the money.

At 8.5 knots with all those bodies on board, 40% fuel and 15% water the twin MAN 730s were sipping a combined 24 litres per hour for a range of 1,084nm with 20% in reserve.

At this speed the hull slips through the water with grace, gently shoving the waves aside and plodding on resolutely.

Sound levels are well contained and with deck spaces that have so much to offer it means those on board can make the most of them without being bombarded by throttle-induced breeze.

It won’t always be convenient to travel at such a measured pace, though, and the oomph of those 730hp MANs will be welcome when trying to outrun bad weather.

Flat out the boat will hit 20 knots, but be prepared for fuel consumption to rocket at the same pace as range plummets.

At full revs the engines will devour all 3,870 litres of diesel after just 285 miles. Stick to that single-figure sweetspot, keep the stabiliser spooled up and life aboard the Beneteau Grand Trawler 62 is rewarding in its serenity.

In hard turns you can feel the boat’s weight even with the gyro doing its thing, but the boat does turn back on itself neatly without the lethargic attitude that you often find with displacement craft.

To give Beneteau credit, both helm stations have been arranged with ergonomics of hand-steering in mind. The relationship between wheel, seat and throttles is good and with triple Raymarine MFDs on both dashboards it’s easy to customise the information that is being relayed to the skipper.

The joystick, which combines both shafts and the thruster, is a €37,000 option and one that can probably be left unticked given the excellent control provided by the throttles and potent proportional Sleipner thrusters.

Lofty credentials

Despite the number of boats that had escaped the confines of the show for sea trials at the same time as us and the amount of wash thrashing about there was very little to test the mettle of the Beneteau Grand Trawler 62’s hull.

That said, anything that did come our way was dismissed with little fuss and perched atop the flybridge with a view over that purposeful foredeck and nearly 30 tonnes of boat beneath you, it feels like it would take quite a sea to knock this thing off course.

There will be trawler purists out there wringing their hands at the notion that this boat could be mentioned in the same company as “true” displacement trawlers, but that really isn’t the way to look at this boat.

It’s not trying to compete with Fleming or Nordhavn but has in its sights a customer who has come to the realisation that speed and top-end performance are of no real interest on a boat of this size.

That living space, practicality and the ability to cruise long distances in comfort without having to worry about the next fuel stop can be a far more relaxing proposition than hammering around at 25 knots.

Then there’s the price. The Beneteau Grand Trawler 62 doesn’t feel like a Fleming or a Grand Banks because it’s a hell of a lot cheaper than those boats.

Two million euros (without VAT) is a serious chunk of change, but for a well specified boat of this size that has such impressive long-range cruising ability it feels like relatively good value for money.

Price as reviewed:

£2,000,000.00 ex. VAT

This smash-and-grab sea trial provided good insight into where Beneteau wants to go with the trawler range but I couldn’t help thinking that a short trip around the bay couldn’t unearth the best from the Beneteau Grand Trawler 62. We have plans to conduct a more in-depth test early next year when hopefully, in less pressured circumstances, we will be able to experience its promising cruising credentials first hand. Watch this space...

Starting price: £1,380,000 (ex. VAT) LOA: 62ft 2in (18.95m) Beam: 17ft 9in (5.41m) Draught: 4ft 7in (1.4m) Displacement: 28.5 tonnes Fuel capacity: 3,870 litres Water capacity: 840 litres Test engines: Twin 730hp MAN i6 diesels Top speed on test: 20.5 knots Noise: 79dB(A) Cruising speed: 9.9 knots Fuel consumption: 42lph Range: 730nm RCD category: B for 16 people Design: MICAD / Nauta

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Beneteau Grand Trawler 62 Review (2020 Edition)

The Grand Trawler 62 powers into the liveaboard market with a big personality only outdone by an even bigger interior

Designed by owners for owners, the collaborative nature of the Grand Trawler 62 is all about liveaboard space, storage and sense, so is the outcome a cruising powerhouse or a confused decision by committee? One thing is for sure, this is a very big moment for Beneteau. 

Beneteau Grand Trawler 62 Key Facts

• LOA 62.172ft
• Model Year 2020
• Max Speed 20 knots
• Status In Production
• Yacht Type Flybridge
• Use Type Cruising

Test & Review Video

YachtBuyer Score

In this article:

Our Verdict

Rivals to consider.

• Specification

Our Scores Explained

Design & Build

Beneteau has built up an impressive fleet of Swift Trawler models over the last 20 years, every one a great cruising boat that mixes the practicalities of on-water life with plenty of charm. And, rather cleverly, it turned to its army of Swift Trawler owners when designing a new flagship. 

We are not talking full creative ownership here, there was no chance of this being like the time Homer Simpson was allowed to make his own car, it was more an investigation into cruising priorities and feedback. 

The Beneteau Group does have plenty of expertise in the 18m+ market, its Monte Carlo Yachts pushed well into superyacht territory. So, it seems that Beneteau really did want to hear from owners and make sure its biggest trawler to-date delivered on the water. 

Unsurprisingly, one of the main priorities was space, but more interestingly, the other big want was storage, something that Beneteau definitely listened to and other builders would do well to reflect on.

Cynics might say Beneteau also wanted to ensure that the same army of owners would be keen to trade up, but, either way, it looks like a very good decision.

A Worthy Flagship

Staying with Monte Carlo Yachts, the Grand Trawler is built at a large yacht facility in Montfalcone, Italy, whereas the Swift Trawlers come from France. This change of location delivers a certain uplift in fit and finish to make the most use of all the space, and there is a lot.

The 62 measures 18.95m (62ft 2in) with a 5.45m (17ft) beam that is a good 1ft wider than most of the competition. Add in a powerful superstructure with an air draft of 7.3m (24ft) and you certainly have the platform to create some interior majesty. 

Benteau has used the volume well, with an optional three-cabin, two-stateroom layout or a more workmanlike standard four-cabin set-up. The serious cruising aspect is bolstered by a proper crew cabin aft, where a full utility area can be specified and plenty of storage space comes as standard. 

The salon is the place to really understand the volume and storage on offer. A vast two-tier space with a central galley and a proper helm station with guest seating. It’s the kind of helm you want when embarking on a long passage. 

Performance Matters

The semi-displacement hull is powered by MAN i6 730hp engines, good for a top speed of 20 knots with a decent range of around 1,000nm at 9 knots. That’s a useful mix of performance for a modern trawler but you might expect more range from the 4,000-litre tanks and a comparatively light 30-tonnes displacement. Certainly, its rivals can reach further on less fuel and more weight.

Interior Accommodation

Moving around the interior, the feel is of a 70ft boat and a big one at that. Beneteau has deliberately gone for space over complexity and it works so well. As an example, you could have found a few more inches for the cabins, instead, the lower companionway is allowed to be wide, high and wonderful to use. The cabins are all still plenty big enough so it really is a win-win. 

The full-beam stateroom is as big, bright and welcoming as any boat in this class, The Monfalcone fit-out is Beneteau ++, the usual GRP, muted tones and simple cabinetry lifted by trawler-style louvred doors (that we would love to see on the Swift Trawlers) with leather strap handles and a writing desk beneath one of the hull windows.

The twin cabin and forward VIP continue the theme, with hull-side glass and impressively big ensuites, the VIP's slanted glass following the bow's flair is a joy. The other thing each cabin has is masses of stowage space and it is a theme that runs across the boat, culminating in that very useful crew cabin. 

In truth, the Grand Trawler doesn’t feel like a crewed yacht. Maybe it’s due to the easygoing, family style, making the crew area a very useful extra cabin or simply a great dedicated storage room. If you do plan to have crew, two people will be very happy down here.

Good Living On Board

The salon design has the lounge aft and the galley in the centre with a raised dedicated dining area that needs a few stools to make up the numbers to six or eight people. 

The galley is semi-enclosed and very practical. Deep cabinets abound, there is a dishwasher and full-height fridge-freezer. Worktop space is good and the electric hob and oven sit by the port deck door, perfect for ventilation as well as getting food out to guests.

Depending on how you plan to use the boat and taking into account the crew quarter’s storage, the aft lounge and its U-shape seating can be joined by a long stretch of cabinetry or a smaller set of cabinets and a facing sofa. Either way, the design allows the lounge to merge with the aft deck seating, creating that flow of inside-outside living we want.

Helm Station

Set forward of the galley, well away from the salon, the helm station has a dedicated pilothouse feel. The central console can take three MFDs and although there is only one helm seat as standard (surely an omission by Beneteau) there is plenty of space for the second optional seat.

The two outstanding features of the helm are the guest seats and visibility. A raised and very comfortable bench runs to port, so you can get an easy five people up here and what a view they will have. The inverted trawler screens have the slimmest of mullions and run through 180 degrees with a side deck door opening up the helm and sense of the seascape even more.

Just aft of the lower helm is a direct stairwell up to yther flybridge and the upper helm, an excellent and very practical big boat feature that allows the skipper to move between both helms with ease or for guests to simply move around the yacht.

The upper helm has a day cruising style with twin seats and more guest seating to make sure the whole gang can enjoy the ride. There’s still space for triple screens and the visibility is excellent, as it should be. There isn’t much going in the way of wind or spray defection but the spray will rarely reach this high and the yacht is really about 10-12 knot pottering.

Put simply, the Beneteau Grand Trawler’s decks are excellent. From the broad hydraulic swim platform and easy steps up to the main deck, it’s all so safe, secure and relaxed. The platform is clever because there's a small lip at the end of the deck that allows you to cross the transom even if the platform is down. There is one omission. Most of the competition offer a forward lounge, here we have only a sun pad (and it's an option). The win is two massive deck lockers.

Back to the rest of the decks and it is all degrees of good. The deep side decks come with very useful bulwark gates and protective overhangs as you move forward. The main deck aft feels big, with Beneteau pushing the seating to port and creating an open terrace with smart teak-slatted supports and a glass transom screen to ensure guests enjoy a great view over the stern.

The flybridge has the same glass aft screen, so those using the open aft deck get a great vista. The flybridge can be accessed from the main deck or the salon, by the helm station, a fantastic large yacht feature that makes getting around the boat so easy and helps helming and crewing the boat, especially if running shorthanded. 

The layout pushes the seating forward with a proper bar and grill serving guests. The lounge seating comes with a washed teak table, as does the main deck, that opens up for full dining.

The hardtop and its integral sunroof is optional but will likely be one of your must-haves, especially as there is no canopy system.

Value For Money

The Grand Trawler is a next-level Beneteau, a bigger boat, built in a different yard and to a higher spec. But some things remain very familiar, including a long options list.

Because there is more boat than usual there are more options to add and Beneteau adds to the pain with items, such as those must-have helm seats, that could and should be standard.

The headline is a €1.7m ex VAT base price that moves to around €2.5m ex VAT for an admittedly high specification yacht that includes big-ticket items like a stabiliser (€200,000) air-conditioning (€64,000) and hydraulic platform (€40,000).

The interior finish package we looked at came with an additional €150,000 cost that needs breaking down but comes with a choice of oak or darker walnut cabinetry. 

The hardtop and sunroof look like good value at around €17,000 which is important as there is no canopy option up top. Teak decks come in at around £34,000.

Looking to spend some serious time on board? Do you give relaxation and cruising ability equal billing? Does space to move and breathe rank high on your must-have list? If so, the Beneteau Grand Trawler 62 is worth your time. There can be few other boats of this size or price, if any, that delivers such an impressive mix of interior volume and deck area. With a noticeable upgrade on finish and a knowing nod to cruising life, this is an impressive liveaboard trawler yacht.

Reasons to Buy

• Ideal liveaboard layout & storage
• Large crew quarters/aft cabin

Things to Consider

• Low range for yacht type and tankage
• Long options list

The trawler still rules the waves. If you want a serious liveaboard cruising yacht, no other genre delivers like a trawler and there’s never been a better selection to choose from. The more traditional trawler still exists but we will focus our attention on the Beneteau’s modern trawler style - by far the most popular, mixing functional design with long range, fast cruising and massive interiors. 

It says a lot about boutique Turkish builder Sirena that any rivals list for a flybridge or trawler yacht under 25m will probably include one of its models. Here, the Sirena 58 sounds like a smaller yacht but is only 14in shorter and 3in less in the beam. It is, however, six tonnes heavier than the Beneteau and can hit close to 30 knots with smaller 641hp engines, suggesting a very good hull design. On board, the magnificent space of the Grand Trawler can't be beaten but the Sirena does offer a very good three-cabin layout with a full-beam stateroom and VIP. There is also a two-cabin option that maximises spaces for four people. The galley aft salon and flybridge are conventional flybridge in style.

Just as bold and imposing as the Beneteau, the Absolute Navetta 58 is a smaller yacht but offers up a massive three-cabin layout with its unique ability to create two suites amidships and forward. The salon is typically smart and spacious while the flybridge feels like an upper deck with a surround of seating. A top speed of 26 knots is matched to a 900-1,000nm range but with far smaller fuel tanks. 

Azimut’s Magellanos mix classic trawler style with modern yacht cool better than anyone and this 60 is a great example of the range. A novel onboard layout has facing seating plans in the salon and across a superb aft deck. A mixture of flybridge and trawler style is found up top, with an open aft deck leading to a forward lounge. The 60 will hit 26 knots with its 730hp engines and reach 1,000nm at around 10 knots.

Outer Reef’s classic trawlers are joined by the more contemporary Trident range, the 620 is the closest rival to the Beneteau. Inside a three-cabin layout gives maximum priority to the owner and VIP, with the galley aft salon design pushing the lounge seating up by the helm. The 620 Trident has a range of 1,300nm and can hit 20 knots.  

All of these yachts have foredeck lounges and a liveaboard focus below decks, with spacious cabins served by far larger en-suites than you might find on a flybridge yacht.

Specifications

• Builder Beneteau Yachts
• Range Grand Trawler
• Model Grand Trawler 62
• Length Overall 62.172ft
• Beam 17.881ft
• Draft 4.593ft
• Yacht Type (Primary) Flybridge
• Use Type (Primary) Cruising
• Cruising Speed Max Speed
• Fuel Capacity 1,057 Gallons
• Fresh Water Capacity 222 Gallons
• Engine Model 2x MAN i6-730
• Engine economic speed 10 knots
• Engine max range (speed type) 1000 nm

Beneteau Grand Trawler 62 Layout

The upper deck gives plenty of space to seating, leaving a clear open aft deck. There is both interior and deck access

Optional extra helm seating

Huge, relaxed and hardworking the salon is loaded with seats stowage and a very good helm station - when you've added the optional seat

The three-cabin layout makes sense, creating two suites and large ensuites. The aft crew quarters will double as a useful fourth guest cabin

Carl Richardson

Carl is a writer, editor, presenter and content creator specialising in yachting as well as men’s luxury. A former magazine editor, Carl has amassed some 20 years of hands-on experience with motorboats, testing over 350 models.

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Beneteau Swift Trawler 52

• By Chris Caswell
• Updated: January 27, 2009

ytgjan09obbenet525.jpg

For Beneteau , the world’s largest sailboat manufacturer, the transition to trawler yachts was a logical progression. The 150-year-old French company had dabbled in powerboats for decades, but the Swift Trawler 52 is clearly aimed at two markets: sailors looking for a “sailorish” powerboat, and skippers looking for a comfortable coastal cruiser.

Sailors, especially those with experience either owning or chartering Beneteaus, will find many familiar design cues, such as the handrails located everywhere you might need to hang on. American sailors will also find a “Euro-ness” about the Swift 52 that may seem foreign at first, but soon feels natural.

Beneteau has already proven its abilities with the Swift Trawler 42, a smaller-and immensely popular-sister boat of which more than 200 have been sold and this Joubert-Nivelt-designed hull is an enlarged version. The exterior has the purposeful look of a patrol craft, in part because of the hard chines and strakes running along the topsides, in part because of the small ports forward, and in part due to the rakish eyebrow above the pilothouse.

The cockpit, like most of the deck, is surrounded by high bulwarks capped by teak rails, although the deck space is reduced by a raised area to port. Two wing doors close off the side decks and are clearly designed to work with an optional cockpit enclosure for some climates.

The salon has a U-shaped settee around a cleverly designed table that spins and unfolds for dining, although anyone sitting aft doesn’t get a backrest. Opposite are two loose chairs that slip into notches between a cabinet holding the pop-up television.

The interior is finished in Alpilignum, a reconstituted wood with multiple veneers of dyed woods. It is absolutely flawless, which is both the good news and the bad news. Real wood has flaws, and some people might mistake this as some version of Formica.

The salon is pleasant, with large windows and a hidden bar in the TV cabinet. The galley opens to the salon, with an interesting shelf that provides extra counter space without requiring larger cabinets. I liked the frosted-glass spatter protection on the after counter, but felt the china cabinet needed a positive latch for a seaway.

Having a port that slides open in the galley is not only great for the chef’s view, but a good way to air out cooking smells. Another obvious heritage from Beneteau sailboats are the adjustable pot holders on the three-burner Force 10 cooktop and the deep stainless steel sinks. There is a Vitrifrigo fridge with freezer bins underneath.

Up four steps is the pilothouse, and I was immediately smitten by the large chart table on the port side, complete with an old-fashioned gooseneck lamp and a big chart drawer beneath. The skipper gets a rather industriallooking pedestal chair behind a large leather-wrapped destroyer wheel. The curved black dashboard easily handles a pair of Raymarine E120 screens, with round analog engine gauges for easy scanning within the helmsman’s line of sight, although I can’t imagine why they offset the location of the compass, over on the centerline.

The port corner of the pilothouse gets a raised settee with a two-layered table-cumhandrail that is too wobbly for serious use. Nevertheless, the pilothouse is bright and airy, with good visibility through 180 degrees and sliding aluminum doors to the Portuguese bridge.

A central stairwell leads to the lower deck, with the master stateroom spanning the beam aft. It features a queen-sized berth under a sloping overhead and large double windows on each side that provide a great view for one sprawled on the bed. These are marred by small opening ports for which I can imagine no use: They couldn’t admit enough air to make it worthwhile to sacrifice the window.

Forward, the guest cabin’s V-berth can be converted to a larger berth with a filler cushion that pretty much fills the cabin. Just outside the cabin door is access to the guest head, which is also shared by the third cabin to port.

Our test boat had stacked bunks with a metal ladder to reach the upper berth, although it can be fitted as a single-berth “dressing room” for the master or as an office with desk.

The flying bridge, accessed via stairs from the pilothouse or a steepish ladder from the after deck, is enclosed by bulwarks topped by a venturi windscreen. The fiberglass helm console holds a single Raymarine monitor and abbreviated gauges, and a settee wraps around a fiberglass table to port. I have to credit Beneteau for extremely comfortable seating here: Most builders get the backrest angles all wrong but these were absolutely perfect for long trips.

To starboard is a fiberglass console with wet bar and fridge, although I was surprised by the absence of any provision for a barbecue or grill. A boat deck is aft with an 880-pound-capacity Besenzoni davit that can handle a RIB tender.

I liked the deep and protected side decks and admired the Lofrans windlass with both a wildcat for chain and a warping head which, in combination with warping winches on each corner of the afterdeck, should make boathandling easy for couples. I wasn’t as fond of the low rail around the foredeck, but that’s easily corrected.

A large hatch opens to the lazarette, although access is awkward since there are no handrails for the ladder and I’d hate to try this in a rolling sea.

Construction is typical of production boats, with a polyester resin sandwich of balsa-core above the waterline, and I have to give Beneteau credit for flawless moldwork.

Standard power is a pair of 575-horsepower Volvo Penta D9 diesels in a surprisingly spacious engineroom, with the optional 13.5 kW Onan genset in the lazarette. There is room to move around on the metal flooring to reach the service points. Drip trays are under the oil filters. There were some unfinished plywood shelves that seemed half-hearted and some of the wiring was jumbly, but this was the first boat in North America and Wayne Burdick, Beneteau USA’s president, assures me these and some of my other irks would be corrected. In fact, Burdick has quite successfully transitioned the Beneteau sailing line to production at his South Carolina facility and, with the likelihood of the Swift Trawlers following, I would expect him to fully Americanize these boats.

Underway the 52 slipped along to match her name, topping out at 24.6 knots without fuss, although most owners won’t want to face the two gallons per mile cost unless they’re really late getting home. At more reasonable speeds, such as 10 knots, she has a range of about 800 miles.

She was a bit noisy at the lower helm, but that was clearly due to the carpetless faux teak-and-holly sole, and she needs larger trim tabs to counter the bow rise for visibility from the lower helm. Again, those issues are being addressed.

This French import is likely to find a comfortable niche on this side of the Atlantic and I wouldn’t be surprised to see her outsell her smaller sister. Très bien, Beneteau!

Beneteau USA, (843) 629-5300; www.beneteauusa.com

****_ Read more about Beneteau yachts._

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Cruising the Moskva River: A short guide to boat trips in Russia’s capital

There’s hardly a better way to absorb Moscow’s atmosphere than on a ship sailing up and down the Moskva River. While complicated ticketing, loud music and chilling winds might dampen the anticipated fun, this checklist will help you to enjoy the scenic views and not fall into common tourist traps.

How to find the right boat?

There are plenty of boats and selecting the right one might be challenging. The size of the boat should be your main criteria.

Plenty of small boats cruise the Moskva River, and the most vivid one is this yellow Lay’s-branded boat. Everyone who has ever visited Moscow probably has seen it.

This option might leave a passenger disembarking partially deaf as the merciless Russian pop music blasts onboard. A free spirit, however, will find partying on such a vessel to be an unforgettable and authentic experience that’s almost a metaphor for life in modern Russia: too loud, and sometimes too welcoming. Tickets start at $13 (800 rubles) per person.

Bigger boats offer smoother sailing and tend to attract foreign visitors because of their distinct Soviet aura. Indeed, many of the older vessels must have seen better days. They are still afloat, however, and getting aboard is a unique ‘cultural’ experience. Sometimes the crew might offer lunch or dinner to passengers, but this option must be purchased with the ticket. Here is one such  option  offering dinner for $24 (1,490 rubles).

If you want to travel in style, consider Flotilla Radisson. These large, modern vessels are quite posh, with a cozy restaurant and an attentive crew at your service. Even though the selection of wines and food is modest, these vessels are still much better than other boats.

Surprisingly, the luxurious boats are priced rather modestly, and a single ticket goes for $17-$32 (1,100-2,000 rubles); also expect a reasonable restaurant bill on top.

How to buy tickets?

Women holding photos of ships promise huge discounts to “the young and beautiful,” and give personal invitations for river tours. They sound and look nice, but there’s a small catch: their ticket prices are usually more than those purchased online.

“We bought tickets from street hawkers for 900 rubles each, only to later discover that the other passengers bought their tickets twice as cheap!”  wrote  (in Russian) a disappointed Rostislav on a travel company website.

Nevertheless, buying from street hawkers has one considerable advantage: they personally escort you to the vessel so that you don’t waste time looking for the boat on your own.

Prices start at $13 (800 rubles) for one ride, and for an additional $6.5 (400 rubles) you can purchase an unlimited number of tours on the same boat on any given day.

Flotilla Radisson has official ticket offices at Gorky Park and Hotel Ukraine, but they’re often sold out.

Buying online is an option that might save some cash. Websites such as  this   offer considerable discounts for tickets sold online. On a busy Friday night an online purchase might be the only chance to get a ticket on a Flotilla Radisson boat.

This  website  (in Russian) offers multiple options for short river cruises in and around the city center, including offbeat options such as ‘disco cruises’ and ‘children cruises.’ This other  website  sells tickets online, but doesn’t have an English version. The interface is intuitive, however.

Buying tickets online has its bad points, however. The most common is confusing which pier you should go to and missing your river tour.

“I once bought tickets online to save with the discount that the website offered,” said Igor Shvarkin from Moscow. “The pier was initially marked as ‘Park Kultury,’ but when I arrived it wasn’t easy to find my boat because there were too many there. My guests had to walk a considerable distance before I finally found the vessel that accepted my tickets purchased online,” said the man.

There are two main boarding piers in the city center:  Hotel Ukraine  and  Park Kultury . Always take note of your particular berth when buying tickets online.

Where to sit onboard?

Even on a warm day, the headwind might be chilly for passengers on deck. Make sure you have warm clothes, or that the crew has blankets ready upon request.

The glass-encased hold makes the tour much more comfortable, but not at the expense of having an enjoyable experience.

Getting off the boat requires preparation as well. Ideally, you should be able to disembark on any pier along the way. In reality, passengers never know where the boat’s captain will make the next stop. Street hawkers often tell passengers in advance where they’ll be able to disembark. If you buy tickets online then you’ll have to research it yourself.

There’s a chance that the captain won’t make any stops at all and will take you back to where the tour began, which is the case with Flotilla Radisson. The safest option is to automatically expect that you’ll return to the pier where you started.

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THE 10 BEST Moscow Boat Rides & Cruises

Boat rides & cruises in moscow.

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• Things to do ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, photos, and popularity.

1. Flotilla Radisson Royal

2. Moscow River Boat Tours

3. Sup-Club

4. Akvanavt Diving Centre

5. Diving Center Crocus City Oceanarium

6. CheapRussia Tours

7. Kite School Kiteclass

8. SUP Center

9. Erwin. Reka

11. Easy Russia Tour Guide

12. Lovely Russia Tours

13. Capital River Boat Tours - Moscow Centre

14. Alfa Centr

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16. Sup Outdoor

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24. Kosinskiy Children Marine Club

25. Kayak Moscow

26. DIVECLUB CHE

27. FLOW Moscow

28. Moswake

29. Morskiye Volki

30. S-cruises

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Every October,  sailors hailing from various corners of the globe convene in the picturesque downtown Annapolis for the renowned  Annapolis Sailboat Show .  Featuring new boats, gear exhibitors, financing options, and opportunities to connect, it's a must-visit for all boating enthusiasts. From sleek sailboats to cutting-edge gear, the show offers a comprehensive experience. Join BENETEAU for an exciting lineup of sailing yachts amidst this global celebration of sailing excellence.

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