WE are in the process of purchasing a 2001 411. My partner is ill and we want to make sure we purchse a trouble free boat to maximize the time we have together. The boat will be surveyed by a well known surveyor. Please let us know if you have had unfavorable or favorable experiences with Beneteau and this model.
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larry w.
Beneteau problems
Steven; I bought a '94 OC400 in 1997 through a very prominent So. Cal. broker, Southwest Yachts of San Diego. A reputable surveyor went over it. The sea trial was a one-hour motor in flat calm. As soon as I took possession, problems started to crop up, most of which were connected to shoddy electrical work by the commissioning dealer, Southwest Yachts. The inverter and radar/plotter worked, but not exactly the way they should. There were many shortcuts taken. BeneteauUSA was almost no help and neither was the broker. There were many problems that shouldn't have been there with a boat so new and the builders installation of the Italian-made freezer/refrigeration left a lot to be desired, electrical-wise. There was no attempt to control corrosion, resulting in repeated failurs. I spent a small fortune on electricians searching out problems with the alternator, inverter, radar, plotter, not to mention the freshwater system and the macerator system. The Perkins diesel seems OK, but many of its bolt-on parts, such as starters and solenoids and water-injection fittings on the Vetus muffler failed early and had to be ordered from England. I had to have the water-injection fitting custom made in order to go on a planned cruise. It took nearly six years to get everything working and there are still electrical and reefer problems. The boat sails very well but the roller-furling main is very tempermental and has to rolled up just right to work smoothly. Try to avoid the under-deck furler for the headsail. It looks great, but it doesn't work all that well, too many turns in the furling line means too much friction. If I had it to do over, I'd buy a locally-built boat with all American gear and hardware like a Catalina. This is all JMHO.
Steven; I bought a '94 OC400 in 1997 through a very prominent So. Cal. broker, Southwest Yachts of San Diego. A reputable surveyor went over it. The sea trial was a one-hour motor in flat calm. As soon as I took possession, problems started to crop up, most of which were connected to shoddy electrical work by the commissioning dealer, Southwest Yachts. The inverter and radar/plotter worked, but not exactly the way they should. There were many shortcuts taken. BeneteauUSA was almost no help and neither was the broker. There were many problems that shouldn't have been there with a boat so new and the builders installation of the Italian-made freezer/refrigeration left a lot to be desired, electrical-wise. There was no attempt to control corrosion, resulting in repeated failurs. I spent a small fortune on electricians searching out problems with the alternator, inverter, radar, plotter, not to mention the freshwater system and the macerator system. The Perkins diesel seems OK, but many of its bolt-on parts, such as starters and solenoids and water-injection fittings on the Vetus muffler failed early and had to be ordered from England. I had to have the water-injection fitting custom made in order to go on a planned cruise. It took nearly six years to get everything working and there are still electrical and reefer problems. The boat sails very well but the roller-furling main is very tempermental and has to rolled up just right to work smoothly. Try to avoid the under-deck furler for the headsail. It looks great, but it doesn't work all that well, too many turns in the furling line means too much friction. If I had it to do over, I'd buy a locally-built boat with all American gear and hardware like a Catalina. This is all JMHO.
C
Charlie Gruetzner
On the other hand
I bought a new Beneteau 361 in 2000 in Huntington. Beneteau has been absoultely terrific to deal with as was the dealer I bought it from. I wouldn't hesitate to purchasse the boat and enjoy it Good luck
I bought a new Beneteau 361 in 2000 in Huntington. Beneteau has been absoultely terrific to deal with as was the dealer I bought it from. I wouldn't hesitate to purchasse the boat and enjoy it Good luck
H
henryv
good boat
Beneteau builds very good boats and the 411 has been around for a while with an enthusiastic owners group at http://intersessions.com/411/
Beneteau builds very good boats and the 411 has been around for a while with an enthusiastic owners group at http://intersessions.com/411/
S
Stan
Beneteau 361
I took delivery of a new 361 in September 2002 and have a wonderful experience with the boat, the dealer (St Barts in Charleston, SC) and Beneteau USA. The boat sails beautifully and we have had very littel trouble.
I took delivery of a new 361 in September 2002 and have a wonderful experience with the boat, the dealer (St Barts in Charleston, SC) and Beneteau USA. The boat sails beautifully and we have had very littel trouble.
J
Jose Venegas
There is a big difference
There is a great difference between buying a new boat from Beneteau and buying a second hand one even from a dealer. I had both experiences and they were exactly opposite. The first boat was 9 y/o and out of warranty. Beneteau did not want to hear about major structural problems even though I had purchased it from one of its Canadian dealers. After loosing a hefty sum I was able to give it back to the dealer who took it, in part, because of Beneteau requested him to do so. At that point I went to France and bought a new 361 that I received and was able to enjoy in the Med before shipping it to Florida. I had a little worry about buying the French version because of availability of parts in the USA but after 3 great years of enjoyment, I found that most parts are made by companies that have representatives in the USA. As for the warranty, Beneteau USA has been very helpful and always has come through with a solution to my problems. For example, I lost the B&G autopilot display unit due to a leak of water into it, and Beneteau USA reimbursed me for the cost of a new unit without the need to go through B&G or Beneteau France. I think that, with some reason, the company is more interested in making happy new boat owners than pleasing purchasers in the second hand market who don't contribute directly to their bottom line. Yes I think that a strong resale value may be as important as keeping happy new boat owners but I don’t blame them too much for the selective treatment given to them. A second hand boat can be a great deal or a great headache. In my case, a “well known Marine Surveyor” did not alert me of major problems that he described to the dealer when I bought the first boat. That is the big risk one takes when buying a second hand boat.
There is a great difference between buying a new boat from Beneteau and buying a second hand one even from a dealer. I had both experiences and they were exactly opposite. The first boat was 9 y/o and out of warranty. Beneteau did not want to hear about major structural problems even though I had purchased it from one of its Canadian dealers. After loosing a hefty sum I was able to give it back to the dealer who took it, in part, because of Beneteau requested him to do so. At that point I went to France and bought a new 361 that I received and was able to enjoy in the Med before shipping it to Florida. I had a little worry about buying the French version because of availability of parts in the USA but after 3 great years of enjoyment, I found that most parts are made by companies that have representatives in the USA. As for the warranty, Beneteau USA has been very helpful and always has come through with a solution to my problems. For example, I lost the B&G autopilot display unit due to a leak of water into it, and Beneteau USA reimbursed me for the cost of a new unit without the need to go through B&G or Beneteau France. I think that, with some reason, the company is more interested in making happy new boat owners than pleasing purchasers in the second hand market who don't contribute directly to their bottom line. Yes I think that a strong resale value may be as important as keeping happy new boat owners but I don’t blame them too much for the selective treatment given to them. A second hand boat can be a great deal or a great headache. In my case, a “well known Marine Surveyor” did not alert me of major problems that he described to the dealer when I bought the first boat. That is the big risk one takes when buying a second hand boat.
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