Beneteau Oceanis 52 Boats For Sale

The Beneteau Oceanis 52 is the first model of the eighth-generation Oceanis range, introduced to replace the 51.2 and drawn by Italian America's Cup designer Roberto Biscontini, with deck styling and interior by Nauta. This 52 Beneteau sailboat measures 53 feet on deck, carries close to 16 feet of beam and displaces about 32,000 pounds. The hull is powerful and beamy aft, with a soft chine and twin rudders set wide on the quarters, which keeps the helm light and steady when the boat heels. It suits owners who sail short-handed and anchor more than they race, rather than buyers chasing a heavy traditional bluewater design.

The deck and cockpit are where the boat makes its case. Beam carried all the way aft creates a cockpit roughly 40% larger than the 51.2, arranged in a diamond shape with 45° angled bench ends and a clean two-step transition forward of each helm out to the side decks. Twin composite wheels sit far outboard, with German mainsheet sheeting and the genoa sheet and adjustable lead all led to powered winches at the helm. Two electric high-low tables drop to form a sun pad and join with an insert into one large dining table. A transom seat option houses a grill and a drinks refrigerator, and the swim platform lowers electrically over a 700-liter storage locker.

Sail handling is intentionally simplified for a couple or guests. A bowsprit with stainless bobstay flies a code zero or asymmetric spinnaker, an electric windlass sits at a recessed anchor locker, and the mast uses halyard locks for the headsail. Buyers can specify a self-tacking jib on its own track or traditional jib cars for a larger overlapping headsail. The arch carries the mainsheet clear of the cockpit, supports the dodger and allows a longer companionway with stairs instead of a ladder. Up to four solar panels integrate into the coachroof for longer-range cruising.

Power comes from a Yanmar diesel covered by a Beneteau Group five-year Yanmar warranty, with electronic throttle controls at both helms, a bow thruster, and a 12-inch Raymarine multifunction display. Steering is a Jefa system with direct Dyneema linkage between the two wheels and the autopilot, so one rudder remains usable if the other is lost. Tankage runs to two fuel tanks aft and up to three water tanks, two of them optional under the saloon sole, plus a dedicated space for a generator. A Scheiber electrical panel sits by the companionway for DC circuits, shore power, air conditioning, battery monitoring and tank levels.

Below, the standard 3+2 layout reflects 70% private ownership, while a five-cabin, three-head version serves charter. The galley offers Corian counters, a full domestic fridge and freezer, gimbaled stove and oven, and options for a dishwasher or washer-dryer. Forward of it is a proper desk-style nav station used as a home office. The forward owner's cabin has a centerline berth with the head split into a separate shower one side and sink and toilet the other; aft cabins gain real usable space from the carried-aft beam. A skipper's cabin with berth, sink, shower tap and toilet can be fitted in the large forepeak sail locker.

The Oceanis 52 was nominated for Sail's Top 10 Best Boats. Anyone looking at a 52-foot Beneteau sailboat should weigh its comfort-first, charter-influenced interior against heavier offshore designs. Listings of the Beneteau Oceanis 52 for sale appear at North Point Yacht Sales and Cape Yachts.