Beneteau 34 vs Oceanis 34

[Ellis14376]

I'm taking a 2011 Beneteau 34 on a test sail/charter to decide if she will be my next boat (moving up from a 1981 S2 8.5). My question is "What is the difference between the 2011 Beneteau 34 and the Beneteau Oceanis 34? Are there simply some trim differences, or meaningful differences in the specifications and performance? It seems that both models were produced in 2011.
Thanks,
Ellis

 

[Caboteur]

To the best of my knowledge, the French boats carry the Oceanis name... The US made ones simply have the number. There are slight differences between the French and US boats. These are cosmetic along with supplyers from either side of the Atlantic.
Pierre
Beneteau 31

 

[Paul Mermelstein]

I agree with Pierre.

 

[Davidasailor26]

Our 37 built in Marion SC has the Oceanis branding on the hull, but is referred to as a Beneteau 37 in other references by Beneteau (their spare parts site for example).

 

[Ellis14376]

Thanks for clearing that up.
If all goes well, I will be shifting from the S2 forum to the Beneteau forum next week.

 

[Gunni]

There was a Beneteau 343 and Beneteau Oceanis 34, different boats designed by different architects. Both boats are built in Marion, SC.

 

[Jackdaw]

Globally, Beneteau goes back and forth on the Beneteau vs Oceanus naming thing. Unlike the FIRST series which is well understood in the market (in many countries people just call them Firsts) the company vacillates on whether is it worth spending the money to market the brand 'oceanus' our just go with Beneteau. After going 'Beneteau' here for a while in the USA, they are back to Oceanus. Go figure!

 

[arf145]

There was a Beneteau 343 and Beneteau Oceanis 34, different boats designed by different architects. Both boats are built in Marion, SC.

In that case, the 34 was the newer model 34 footer after the 343. Preceding the 343 was the 331!

 

[Ron20324]

It's been a couple decades, but i once saw an Oceanis next to a (32?) of the same length designation. The Oceanis must have been 2 feet wider, as it was the "cruising" model, as opposed to a First, the pretty much racing series.

 

[Gunni]

This boat? No kidding she's beamy, 3:1. 2009 Boat of the Year, pretty, nice low cabin top, goldilocks teak, no plumb bow, and that signature sugar scoop! Yar!

 

[Jackdaw]

In that case, the 34 was the newer model 34 footer after the 343. Preceding the 343 was the 331!

;^) NEVER try and make sense or order out of Beneteau naming/numbers. In the FIRST series we had:

First 35
First 35.7
First 35s5
First 36s7
First 36.7
First 35 (again)

ALL different boats, all 35 feet long!

Or my little boat, started out as the
First 260 Spirit
First 25.7 (name change)
First 25s (now called)

Its 24.5 feet long!

 

[Gunni]

Yeah, the B34 is actually 33 ft.