Smart thinking! Sailing the Beneteau Oceanis Yacht 54

Spot all the modern design features which make this the premium production 55-footer? Onboard the Beneteau Oceanis Yacht 54, from £454,906 (test boat £560,000). Full report in Yachting World August 2021
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[@christopherkohel8555]

Toby’s reviews are always common sense and straightforward. Easy to understand from a wannabe(that would be me!) sailor’s perspective. LOVE this vessel! (sigh) COME ON LOTTERY!!

[@yachtingworld]

Thank you Christopher. Keep playing the numbers...

[@davidrogers2890]

One of the best descriptions of a boat, excellent photography,

[@yachtingworld]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@BishwaOakes]

Anyone else feeling on edge watching that mainsail leach flutter?

[@kirkdenebeim9919]

Agree. Likely the leech cord terminates at the clew instead of the tack? If the former, it's pretty much inaccessible under sail...unless you're 7 feet tall. Lord how I hate mast-furled mainsails....still....an awesome yacht.

[@peterpooper2082]

Nice to see you back; always like to see your reviews. This boat would be perfect for SOCAL coastal cruising. Not everyone needs a blue water go anywhere boat. Nice job YW!!

[@puertola7186]

Thank you for the great review Toby. Thank you Yachting World.

[@rodgerhuse7665]

I really like Toby's reviews and have watched so many. More than 50 of them. Anytime I see that it's Toby doing the review, I watch the whole vid and learn. I think he is the best yacht reviewer on KZbin. Thanks for all the great content Toby!

[@yachtingworld]

Thank you Rodger - that's really kind and motivating to hear, believe me! I've filmed around 20 tours during sail trials this autumn so will keep trying to release one a week. Thanks for your support

[@captainblack1021]

Nice review Toby. I've been watching lots of reviews from this channel and others since I suddenly got the itch to know about sailing. If I had the money I'd be looking for a sun soaker house boat for the med, that sails quick from mooring to mooring.

[@grahamholland7323]

Your reviews just get better and better. Well done Toby!

[@yachtingworld]

Thanks Graham

[@Cinarli1979]

Absolutely!

[@sokalsophia4687]

Master piece of yacht modern sleek and comfortable blue water yacht. Video was masterfully done as well. I was considering the Sense 55 but since discontinued this is a clear winner. Love love love all of it, the lines, the sense of warmth and comfort without sacrificing appeal, has loads of sex appeal and style.

[@stefanvanrensburg6096]

Excellent presentation as always Mr Hodges. I'm spending many favorite hours of my pastime watching your channel

[@yachtingworld]

Good to hear, thank you for the kind words Stefan

[@paulkelly2882]

Good man Toby, another solid review, great detail review of every area

[@yachtingworld]

Thank you Paul

[@VEMBU1000]

Very smart and kind review and Beneteau Oceanis Yacht 54 is simply the best!!!

[@andreteixeira5635]

Beautiful! And looks very fast!

[@wardmacintyre1797]

I found this entertaining and accurate and would’ve kept watching if you kept going. Keep it up. Would like to hear which ones you do like. Shout out to one I like that I think should be more popular is how to sail oceans.

[@sasquatchhadarock968]

That wheel wrap looks like it feels *glorious*

[@sadretroy2352]

Thanks for the video. Very good charter boat.😎⚓️

[@robertkreamer7522]

In love for sure been missing my 43 deck salon I had to sell re health but that’s all in the past ! Time to get back in

[@jimheaven]

Fantastic relaxing cockpit

[@tomwilliams8675]

Toby you could make the 130 inches of snow we usually get here in Central New York sound like a wonderful spring day. 😁😆 Always enjoy your reviews. Thanks Toby. 🤝🤝👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@yachtingworld]

Thanks Tom, always happy to be sailing!

[@commonground5214]

To me as an Architectural Woodworking Contractor, plywood flooring with the veneer core exposed at the edges of the lift up panels is horrendous.

[@wilfdarr]

Finally moved the lines where the helm can reach them for owners who love to sail! And the rest looks so good. I won't have the money until they start popping up in the used market, but those who do are definitely going to be picking up this boat. Also, great video, covered everything with a wide angle lens, one of your best videos yet!

[@yachtingworld]

Thanks Wilfred

[@eholloway]

Beautiful boat, would love to be lucky enough to own one of these

[@pierrehenrytrouslard7486]

Always the best description for a fantastic well thought boat.

[@keithfaulkner1288]

First off. It's nice to see you out working again. I don't recall seeing a Tobey review in some time. As far as the boat. Meh, I guess it would be ok sailing around M. V. Nantucket or Block Island. But that's about it. It's really a production boat in every aspect. Very nice, fair price but I just wouldn't be comfortable having my life depend on it. But hey, I like all of your reviews. Keep them coming.

[@yachtingworld]

Thanks Keith - and I haven't stopped working (honest!) - just not been able to travel or get on as many boats as I'd wish to in the last year. Hope that'll change soon

[@Smart_Robot_01]

I’ve seen KZbin videos of ppl sailing around the world and across oceans in less than this and they were also made in the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s (years not feet) so who knows what the heck you’re talking about!

[@keithfaulkner1288]

@@Smart_Robot_01 I'm sure it's fine. Just not for me.

[@Smart_Robot_01]

@@keithfaulkner1288 I’m sure it would be fine for you too, unless you have the coin for an Oyster 565. 😊

[@MrJudgementday99]

@@keithfaulkner1288 you come across as a snob and not anyone that knows about cruising the world. What you aren’t paying for here is wood effect not wood, if that makes it less of a boat to sail then you are just a snob not a sailor

[@twotfreigh4946]

Wow that is a nice boat

[@josemiguelsarmiento9359]

excellent video!!! as always clear ideas and easy to understand! Now! That sailboat could only be driven by one person?

[@Nomeado]

Yeah, sure!!!

[@treywest268]

I would think that for the price an FPB used would be far better! Nice boat but.... Great video though!! I will also add that is a great design and below decks is gorgeous!!!

[@pjmcneil5265]

Great review Toby, you really hit the nail on the thumb , I mean head, with this one. That had to hurt! : (

[@yachtingworld]

Eagle eyes! Yes, trapped it in a dinghy rudder stock

[@princepietrom]

Great review

[@yachtingworld]

Thank you!

[@BigRedNZ1]

Where would you mount a chartplotter or VHF? Great boat for sunning around on a charter mooring… as a sailer it’s workflow would frustrate the hell out of me

[@jbeck7660]

Looks like there is an MFD at each helm station.

[@PeakTorque]

Ah ye olde panting leech of the in mast furler. But great vid! Dreamy conditions.

[@yachtingworld]

Yes always takes a few sails to let lines on a new boat stretch and settle a little!

[@billhanna8838]

@@yachtingworld Is there any reason why they dont use Boom furlers ?

[@swissyodelbear]

thanks Toby.......11:15 LOL ...".put the kids you dont like" .........😀😀😀😀

[@j121212100]

i just thought of that as an adaptation to my 30 ft iroquois mk2 a week ago. Put the main sheet block and traveller on the arch out of the way.

[@yachtingworld]

love the Iroquois!

[@benediktedrewsen9884]

Perfect ❤

[@ftsetradersteve2742]

Its all made of MDF like your MFI Kitchen....Many will be impressed but it does not look like a boat on the inside as you say it looks like the interior of an apartment....if that is what you want that's fine....Boats were designed the way they were for a reason....Just saying....I think the chart table is the give away that it is all cosmetic!!!!

[@colpanasenaayanoglu182]

Thank you for the detailed video. My opinion is that OC 55 interior was better: - had a long settee, - had a separate Nav table seat with Backrest. (also facing the saloon, not facing the wall like this one) - had a vanity desk at master bedroom. - had a dishwasher at galley. - had a washing machine at aft port cabin. So.. your video is good. But OC Yacht 54 is not.

[@PastorwithoutaPulpit]

Is there an option for shaft drive? If not what yachts would you recommend in this range of capabilities that do? Thank for a great tour and until I noticed it had sale drives was a very interesting vessel. Sale drives are okay but I really don't like the huge hole in the hull they need nor the upkeep they require, sorry...

[@akathesquid5794]

21:46 looks like a shaft to me...

[@fever436]

Con tutto quel ferrame sembra una carreta sul mare

[@antonysmyth2464]

I get it, design by marketing, with manufacture controlled by accounting. But I heard nothing about VMG, AVS, kit options, etc. Nice walk around tx Toby, I do like to potter up the coast with the grandchildren for a weekend pick-nick. Bit how well does it sail?

[@MrJhchrist]

Maybe you missed the beginning of the video where he talked about how well it sailed in the time and conditions tested?

[@zepafra]

"if you want to tan, you can" - Toby Hodges (British Philosopher 1980-2095)

[@yachtingworld]

Thanks for making me younger and for the lengthy projected lifespan!

[@MrJhchrist]

@@yachtingworld Just wait till you get to review the 2087 Balance 45 quad copter catamaran time machine. -Your fan from the future

[@bumblebee240.]

@@MrJhchrist heyaa. So how's the future?

[@MrJhchrist]

@@bumblebee240. It's pretty cool. We finally hacked the simulation code and now instead of creating content or posting memes everybody just changes all of existence to show how clever they are. You can like and subscribe to whatever multiverse makes you happy, or obliterate whichever ones are annoying. Sometimes it cascades into all out existential destruction but the simulation reboots to 2020 so we can all get a laugh and start over fresh.

[@MBrln-no8vd]

Time to review a premium quality 54 footer? Like Euphoria 54?

[@tobiashyer-trollnes7991]

Whats the price of this beauty?

[@yachtingworld]

Price in the description above

[@tomhermens7698]

This is a weekend and chartering boat. Not for serious cruising.

[@mikeatfreo2112]

A few comments on the type of construction would be good for these videos.

[@dagdernit572]

Nice!

[@paulpaul9914]

Is it ugly & would the use of perforated section toe rails make it uglier?

[@DavidBradsherBBG]

When will you look at the island packet 439?

[@moejaime2654]

great boats the island packets !

[@stormtrooper9404]

@@moejaime2654 I've heard that they were called "Island piglets" by Bob Perry!? 😆

[@svshootingstar]

Given the recently documented horrific quality control and construction methods employed by Lagoon in their 450's, I can't imagine why ANYONE would buy ANYTHING produced by a Groupe-Beneteau builder today.

[@billhanna8838]

Mariner sailors ?

[@megamilyon6111]

You mean ONE lagoon 450 youtuber ?

[@billhanna8838]

@@megamilyon6111 51 45 Logoon owners ?

[@Cowdog1]

OK... I have a hypothetical question for all of you nautical folks out there. If a person owned a boat like this, outright, (I'm asking for a friend), how much cash flow would someone need to live if the only expense was insurance, frugal food, and some maintenance, plus a cell phone bill, would be on a rig like this? Not living in a marina, just coastal cruising and anchoring off shore a bit to take the skiff to pick up some supplies. The reason I'm asking (for a friend) is I wonder if the boat was paid for, could a person live on this with a modest ($2,500.00 per month) income?

[@angela1984a]

Not that I'm inte the market, but I'll have to say that the hottest thing out there has to be the all electric version of the Rapido 60...

[@angela1984a]

OK... I think I've found something even hotter (!): The Banuls 53 trimaran! It just needs an all electric drivetrain and to be tastefully littered with solar panels - kind of like the new Gunboat 68 is tastefully littered with solar panels - but even more solar panels relative to it's size!

[@2thelight]

Wow, maybe I shouldn't get a cat? wonder what the draft is?

[@davidmclean6953]

If the hull comes from a racing sailboat, then it is not in the same class a true cruiser like Amel or Hallberg-Rassy

[@frankstocker5475]

I agree it's the same as a modern city apartment, nothing to do with the sea. For 560,000 pounds I can buy a Penthouse apartment in the South of France, Airbnb the apartment & charter a nice boat with the money. After one year my apartment does not lose 20% value like the boat.

[@canismajoris6733]

Can an apartment cross an ocean?

[@FrencisWhite]

when i went to see oceanis yachts 2 years ago at Southamton i was so disappointed with the interior...woodwork looks cheap and the boards are so thin. Where sun odyssey yachts woodwork was much better quality and thicker boards ,but i did not like the deck on sun odyssey as much as on oceanis

[@skyworldita]

I have no comment on the review itself, have you ever seen a “bad” boat review from this guy? What is going on here, are all boats perfect? I just can’t believe him. On the other hand he could be a very good seller.

[@yachtingworld]

I don't believe I said it was perfect, and I am certainly not trying to sell this or any other boat. The review is in the magazine. This video is a (free) tour to show people the boat who may not have the chance to have seen or sailed it

[@remogirlato2296]

how do you put up with the skyworldlita people of this channel Toby? here’s how: read marcus aurelius deeply - they are the problem, not you

[@videotosse]

The music is too loud compared to the speaker.

[@rallimb486]

the exposed plywood drives me nuts

[@oslogutt80]

Well the boat will never be yours...so why bother. I think it Looks great.

[@rallimb486]

Rabagast__ i know that 🤣 i’m an interior designer though, so i can’t unsee the unfinished edges

[@Tomm9y]

It's a med/coastal boat. No staysail, very exposed helm positions. I don't see the point of the short dinghy garage requiring deflation of the dinghy, others fit the dinghy in sideways. It's designed as a charter boat.

[@sasquatchhadarock968]

I've never liked crew cabins on anything less than 75'. They just look like a cot stuffed in a toilet room. 😕

[@erickamekonapeper4007]

That fore peak Cabin is for the grabbie guy’s who won’t quit cruising my Daughter underway! 😹🖖🏼🇺🇸

[@deningman]

I've not heard fetching used in this way. Can someone please explain this usage please. 😀

[@billhanna8838]

Nice bottomed woman .

[@philwinner1806]

It is difficult to reach the controls just forward of the wheels

[@aphrodite3216]

Imagine an over built 0ceanis! That'd be the ultimate live aboard

[@cagno1]

Its great having the wide, sporting hull until it flips over in a squall and you find it difficult to right again.

[@globalroamer1900]

I want one

[@fabriziot1467]

The shape of main sail is absolutly crappy and small surface

[@TheAegisClaw]

And yet he was saying it was doing over 10 knots in light wind...

[@fabriziot1467]

@@TheAegisClaw it could be. I can't imagine with good couple of sail. I like this boat but as usual beneteau give a crappy charter boat for test. Why?

[@TheAegisClaw]

@@fabriziot1467 I guess that's their biggest market.

[@fabriziot1467]

@@TheAegisClaw you are in right i think the same also.

[@puertola7186]

This is a nice boat but paying US$630.000 for a Beneteau feels strange. When you upgrade from a Renault, you don't buy a more expensive Renault, you buy a Bentley. Rather than paying US$630.000 for this boat, I'd rather pay a bit more and buy an Euphoria 54. German Frers design, solid engineering and beautiful design in an out. And has a proper chart table with back support!

[@Cinarli1979]

Absolutely agree!

[@MrJhchrist]

Isn't Bentley owned by Volkswagen who also owns a bunch of other stuff? So a working class lad might start with a Skoda, upgrade to a VW to an Audi to a Porsche to a Lambo to a Bentley.

[@puertola7186]

@@MrJhchrist Good life dream as marketed by capitalism to the masses :-)

[@MrJhchrist]

@@puertola7186 I haven't finished the story yet, so don't spoil the ending for me if it doesn't actually work like that!

[@puertola7186]

@@MrJhchrist :-)

[@l8knight845]

Amazing boat. Is there a 600 year payment plan? LOL

[@rtbinc2273]

Nick from Aquaholic got to this boat first - I wonder if it is the same boat.Being American I'm left with a feeling of ambivalence - the interior looks "Ikea"ish. So that does not make it feel upscale at all. Instead it looks cheap. I'm aware that Ikea makes of cheaper versions of expensive modern European design - but the damage is done.

[@puertola7186]

All due respect, Aquaholic walk throughs, as they really are, are no match for Yachting World reviews. Aquaholic walkthroughs are plain advertisements and often any criticism in comments are promptly deleted by Nick. Unfortunately.

[@rtbinc2273]

@@puertola7186 Sort of ignores my point - that the interior looks like it came out of an Ikea flatpack. All of these "review" videos are advertisements - the boats are provided by the manufacturers. Nick does better photography and a smoother presentation. Toby gives a lot more sailing detail. You would have to be like Consumer Reports and buy each boat to not be an advertisement. If any of these reviews said - "Oh that boat sucks" they would never see another boat again. Nick cooed over this boat too, as you note Nick coos over everything.

[@MBrln-no8vd]

Nick suppresses free speech in his youtube channel aquaholic. He deleted comments of people who did not like certain aspects of his Beneteau video.

[@puertola7186]

@@MBrln-no8vd He is sort of running his own North Korea at Aquaholic eh? :-)

[@MBrln-no8vd]

@@puertola7186 sort of I guess :-)

[@robertlee8042]

Looks like a condo.

[@MrRickkramer]

You can easily brush your teeth in the shower, you were a bit picky on that one...

[@keeledover4218]

any real sailor knows a beneteau can’t stand a bashing either can a hunter or a jeanneau , old glass still kicks ass

[@nbrosens]

To be honest, all these yachts you're mentioning have been thought out around leisure cruising in the Mediterranean, aka flat as a pancake water. They're not made for circumnavigation.

[@canismajoris6733]

Are you so dumb you don't understand the difference between a coastal yacht and a blue water yacht? Anyway they can cross oceans just fine it's just not what they are designed for

[@malcolmbullock4297]

On a windless day in the Solent maybe. But what about the Med in more than 15kts or the Irish Sea when the sea shape is steep. Or downwind in Atlantic conditions. You have to deflate the tender each evening? Engine access? Shallow cockpit lockers. Lack of stern rail to hang outboard, bbq, anchor etc. - is this a liveaboard board or a charter boat ? Between the arch and the foredeck nowhere to grab hold of going fwd in a blow? Modern styling perhaps but when it all goes wrong which it does it doesn’t look like a great place to be. Saloon looks small for a 50+ Boat. Where do you lie and watch tv - together? Can you hang off the overhead rails. You. Would need to. The galley isn’t brilliant underway. If you want a boat for anchor then buy a cat. Hull ports which are glued and eventually leak. Electrics are neat but don’t forget the need for extra cabling, breakers etc No room for instruments down below, where do almanacs, cruising guides, golly gosh paper charts go? Not many drawers in the main cabin. Wood in the shower isn’t clever. Not enough wardrobe storage for a couple in that cabin. Plus where does wet weather hear, life jackets etc go? What’s the access to the gearbox. What’s the process and access to replace the stern drive gaitor Definitely not a liveaboard - good correction! I do wish boat testers had been liveaboards and maintained a cruising boat 🤦‍♂️ or is the deal just to ‘sell’ the boat? It’s been a few years since I’ve seen a new Beneteau and I expected to be impressed. But no- not impressed.

[@Mo-zv5yc]

I didn’t think beneteau was in the live aboard market these days…. I didn’t think so for a long time

[@BertMerlin57]

Modern boats seems cold and soul less inside, compared to old boats

[@beozzie690]

It’s about 10ft or 4 meters to small.. Needs a proper garage

[@charliemcgrain]

I didn't know Ikea made boats.

[@gregarioussolitudinist5695]

No place to sit like an adult anywhere on the entire deck. don't see many people wanting to sit with their feet in the air on the deck of a moving boat.

[@moejaime2654]

Amel is a better boat this thing is made cheaply

[@bumblebee240.]

Another Amel simp located.

[@darren5472]

Love Amel yachts amazing ocean going blue water cruisers. Oyster is another fantastic example. Both have a price tag to match. That not what this yacht is pretending to be and does not have the same price tag. I have been on board this actual boat... and the Amels and the Oysters...

[@moejaime2654]

@@darren5472 Beneteau is still cheap and over priced for its value and quality !

[@moejaime2654]

@@bumblebee240. FARTED !

[@gil7335]

Amel probably cost twice this boat

[@alterego157]

Real men sail caravels or carracks

[@angela1984a]

Wrong! Real men sail Rapido and Banuls trimarans!

[@hdfailure]

A lot of boats have a lot of places to sleep, but no one to sleep on them. Why does a young couple sailing the world, need 3 cabins for, making babies to place them in the unused beds? Surely they would appreciate space to place all the shit that normal people gather over the years. These boats are not made for the average couple, young or old, they are made for charter yacht companies.

[@MarcStjames-rq1dm]

A 54 footer without a proper chart table.....this is an ad...nothing more...... gee i miss Chris Beeson's reviews.....

[@puertola7186]

I only agree with the chart table part. As much as I love Chris Beeson's reviews (still watching old ones from time to time), Toby has developed his own style and it is the best in the industry.

[@Cinarli1979]

@@puertola7186 Absolutely!

[@JamesFrance2]

Why have they made these modern yachts so ugly? Like cars they all seem to copy the worst looking new designs.

[@canismajoris6733]

Have you seen how ugly 2000s and earlier yachts are?

[@sellsidedream8766]

Dreadful in mast furling. Gives you that awful main leach shape