A Couple's Cruising Boat with Offshore Capabilities

With more than 400 boats sold worldwide since it was introduced in 1997, the Beneteau 411 has already joined the ranks of modern cruising classics as one of the more popular and successful 40-footers of all time.  The Oceanis 400 was designed by Groupe Finot which has an impressive racing heritage as a high-volume cruiser that would nevertheless have good handling characteristics. It's one of the second generation of the Oceanis range, which had already become firmly established as a favourite among private boat owners and charter operators who wanted a supremely spacious boat that didn't cost a fortune.

Below decks

At the time the accommodation set new standards for boats of this size, including a giant galley with huge fridge and massive amounts of worktop area that occupied the entire aft starboard side of the cabin. Opposite this was a large dining table surrounded by settees with seating for up to eight crew. There is a very generously sized quarter cabin aft port side, with good stowage, ample clearance above the double berths and plenty of natural light. There?s also a heads/shower compartment near the companionway, plus a proper chart table on the opposite side of the boat.

However, it's the en suite master cabin forward that really sets this boat apart from its contemporaries. This takes up the entire forward section of the boat, with an almost rectangular (rather than triangular) bed, lots of room to move around, class leading stowage, a generously proportioned en suite right forward and even a small sofa. In some ways this is a more attractive arrangement than the typical owner's aft cabin of centre cockpit yachts, as effective ventilation in hot weather tends to be much easier to arrange in the forward part of the boat.