Beneteau Oceanis Yacht 62
The firstborn of the new model line of the French yachting giant. Like Sense, the Oceanis Yacht 62 concept was born from a survey of owners and buyers. Beneteau was asked for the simplicity and comfort of the Oceanis, but at an increased size, plus the appropriate luxury and customization. I study the realization of these desires at the end of October in the port of Ginesta (near Barcelona).
Next to the slender Sense 57, the debutant looks like a whole “caliber” larger and more solid. The status of a luxury yacht requires capacity. At the same time, the body does not look bulky – the Italian stylist Pierangelo Andreani took care of this.
The maestro chose the noble gray color of the side, visually “lowering” it with a wide strip (with a row of windows) and complementing it with a low-profile wheelhouse with developed cockpit coamings. Instead of the arch, already traditional on Beneteau, a rigid bimini with a large awning “window” and solar panels is optionally offered.
On an almost vertical stem there is a long bowsprit that effectively carries forward the twisted “code 0” relative to the headstock (the sails do not interfere with each other). The genoa spin is electrically operated, operated by a simple push of a button, which is very convenient on ocean-class yachts.
If it is important to be driven by a minimum crew, an automatic jib is provided instead of the genoa. For sails there is a deep storage room in the bow, the same room can be equipped as a crew cabin with a couple of beds and a toilet.
On the wheelhouse in front of the mast there is a comfortable double bed with a sunbathing headrest. However, the deck is spacious enough (and pragmatically flat) to arrange a continuous solarium from the bow to the cockpit – pillows would be enough.
As for the regular places of “deck rest”, I will especially note a couple of mattresses on the sides of the entrance to the wheelhouse: they are partially covered with a bimini visor and can be thoroughly protected by the attached sidewalls of the awning – those who like to sleep in the open do not even care about rain here, and you can relax on the go …
The cockpit is a whole “mess-room” of variable configuration. Its C-sofas will comfortably seat 12 people, and there will be a free passage in the center. Large dining tables can be lowered (at the push of a button) to the level of the sofas and “paved” with pillows – we get a pair of solariums (at night – beds) 240×90 cm in size. And on the go, the tables fold down, exposing the railing for safety. An interesting option is triangular pads under the mattresses, for the convenience of sitting on the banks.
At the rear of the cockpit (behind the steering consoles) there is a solid (side to side) seat with a back, wide enough to serve as another single solarium. And in the parking lot, we fold back its central section and press a button: a water bar with a grill, sink and even an integrated lamp rises from the niche (surprise!). Under the hatch at the left steering console there is a refrigerator (40 liters). In a word, in the cockpit you can also cook without interrupting the team, periodically dipping and not smothering the underdecks.
We press the next button – a hefty platform leans back from the transom. This is a private beach (5 sq. M!), And also a slip for launching a side boat. The platform opens its (boats) garage (for an inflatable up to 3.49 m or RIB with a Williams Jet 285 water jet drive) with a standard electric winch and an electric pump (for boats and fenders). In the center of the deck, a fragment leans back, exposing the guide rollers, the platform is lowered under the water and the heavy Williams is easily rolled / rolled by one person.
Beneteau managers confirm that a powerful onboard dinghy, capable of towing a skier and being operated without effort, is a very significant plus for today’s clientele, who prefers to have an active and versatile vacation.
Access to the platform is via ladders at both sides. The dinghy in the garage can also be accessed from the cockpit by opening a large hatch. For fenders and skipper’s equipment – a pair of capacious lockers under the sofa seats.
We go down to the salon, in terms of volume and saturation similar to the living room-studio of a country house. Its dining group (for 10 people) is also versatile: a large dining table can be turned into a low coffee table (it can be lifted / lowered by an electric drive). The galley is spread over the entire right side of the cabin; in addition to the stove / oven, sinks and refrigerator (300 liters!), It includes a dishwasher, an icemaker, a capacious cooler for wine bottles and an electric extractor.
Corian top – 4 m long! In the “inoperative” state, it is solid; before cooking, the large lid above the stove is lowered into the niche in one motion. There is a wine cellar and boxes for fruits and vegetables under the floorboards. A separate section is a washer-dryer and a wardrobe. Opposite is a 3-section bookcase.
Chart table – elegantly semicircular, with a swivel chair. There are three compartments for the tool and the assistant. The only note: the section for the cards is not too large, only sheets folded up to A3 size will fit there.
In my opinion, the most outstanding aspect of the layout of this ocean-class yacht is the privacy of the owner’s cabin (in the bow). The entrance to it is with a “labyrinth”, and even when the door is wide open (for ventilation) the bed is not visible from the salon. The hostess can put on a negligee without fear of casual glances.
The cabin is high, spacious and very light (two large deck hatches, plus windows in the sides, plus windows in the cockpit …). Opposite the “queen size” (205×170 cm, 115 cm up to the ceiling) there is a TV panel and a comfortable sofa. This is on a test yacht, but instead of the latter, there may be a capacious chest of drawers or a work table with a stool. Large wardrobes and shelves allow you to “decompose” at home. The spacious bathroom with designer fixtures has an isolated shower cubicle.
In the stern there are a pair of symmetrical cabins claiming to be VIP-status: large (205×140 cm, up to the ceiling 100 cm) beds, capacious wardrobes and shelves, sofas, “private” bathrooms with showers. An interesting option is a transom porthole, which adds daylight and ventilation (although it is not so easy to get to it).
Instead of a bathroom on the starboard side, a bunk sleeping cabin can be equipped.
The Oceanis Yaht 62 is an ocean-class yacht with a 17.5 KVA generator, the aforementioned 5 kg washing machine, 48,000 BTU air conditioner, B&G appliances with 12-inch displays. In the engine room (with good access) – Yanmar, 160 hp, in the bow – thruster.
Despite the frankly cruise purpose, the yacht is “dressed” with dignity: its power-to-weight ratio (4.71) is half way from fast cruisers to performances. Designer Olivier Racoupo (head of Berret Racoupeau Yacht Design) commented:
– The task was quite ambitious – to make this comfortable vessel not only highly stable and maneuverable, but also high-speed in the middle wind range. Hence – a wide body with developed cheekbones, two rudder feathers, the lowest possible center of gravity and developed weapons.
Alas, the weak wind on the roadstead of Ginesta did not allow the yacht’s potential to be revealed. The maximum that we managed to “squeeze” was 5 knots of travel with a 6-knot gulfwind with the set “code 0”. The boat is docile, responsive, albeit a little heavier on the move than the Sense 57 (I tried them one after the other).
Behind the steering wheels – excellent all-round visibility, on a large display – all the driving parameters I need, small repeaters embedded in the coamings are convenient when taxiing in a racing way (sitting on board). Winches (with electric drives) are installed near the helm posts, the skipper can cope with all the operations alone, without disturbing those sitting in the cockpit. Large mesh bags for the running ends. Optional redundant motor control allows you to comfortably moor with any side.
Summary
The ocean-class yacht Oceanis Yacht 62 is a yacht for six (maximum), but with levels of comfort, volume and convenience unattainable on ordinary Oceanis. The vessel is salable, easily operated by literally a couple of yachtsmen, and all energy-intensive operations are performed by electric drives. The layout is very practical, folding furniture allows you to change the environment as needed. Saturation with household electrical appliances is like in a country villa. At the same time, the level of performance and selected materials make it possible to classify the yacht as “status”. They are rightfully proud of such a vessel.
Author: Bogdan Parfenyuk
Chief Editor
oceanisreviewyacht
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