Beneteau Oceanis 30.1 boat test

SEE IT AT DÜSSELDORF

IN ASSOCIATION WITH COPPER COAT

Thirty years ago a small boat might have been anything less than around 24ft. However, that number has since leapt upwards, with many large manufacturers paying scant attention in the last ten years to building anything under 35ft.

Part of the argument for this is that smaller boats are less economic to build at a price the market will bear. Almost as much labour goes into building a 28-footer as a 35-footer and both have the same number of engines, instruments, masts and deck fittings that must be installed.

So it’s welcome news that Beneteau has clearly put a lot of thought, effort and knowledge into its latest model. As a result the Oceanis 30.1 sets new standards for a boat that’s just short of 30ft.

Although the overall dimensions are modest, high freeboard is combined with maximum beam carried well aft to create impressive internal volume. At the same time advances in yacht design, allied with a powerful deep draught bulb keel, make this a fast and well mannered 30-footer by any standards.

The new boat is a twin rudder design with somewhat smaller overall dimensions than the Oceanis 31, which