Does anyone have experience with the new Beneteau 49? We're considering buying one and doing some homework. Interested in the usual stuff one wants to know when considering a new boat. We'd be switching from a Freedom 45 that's treated us very well, and many of our thoughts pertain to going from a boat like that to a more mass produced boat. Here's a non-exhaustive list of questions:
1. How does she stand up to her sail? We find with the Freedom, in large part because the freestanding rig depowers on her own by bending, that we carry full sail into the 20's. I'm sure life will be different with any traditionally rigged boat, but curious about how this one does.
2. How do you find her build quality? I'm not expecting the same level of finish, but curious if it's great/good/average/aweful. I did note that the through hulls have inline ball valves and not true seacocks (something I'd change before taking her offshore), and not sure if that type of cost cutting measure indicates poorer build quality elsewhere.
3. The interior looks quite nice, but the plywood furniture seems a little thin. That's not necessarily bad, but how does it hold up? This may be a fair question for all Beneteaus, not just the 49, and happy to hear from all on this topic.
4. How are people finding that stuffing box? It's a dripless, but I don't recognize the brand. Likewise, access isn't the best, and it's not clear to me whether there's room to swap out what's there for another brand (like PYI). Not that such a move is necessary right away, but curious if anyone has an experience working with the box.
5. The engine access seems a little odd. The engine seems stuffed in there, but there does appear to be access to everything to which you need access. What have experiences been with that?
6. How are the floors holding up? You need to use a suction cup to get them up, and they are installed in sort of a jigsaw puzzle manner. I was having a hard time getting them up without bumping them into stuff, and it makes me think that they might get scratched up. More of an issue I suspect with the wood floor option than with the composite, but curious if anyone has first hand experience.
7. How is the roller furling main working with the vertical battens? There's a part of me that wants to get the traditional rig, but my wife thinks I'm nuts, and it actually costs more for a non-roller furling main. any problems or experiences with jamming? That's really my main concern. The performance loss I can deal with (we don't plan to race her, or at least not seriously).
8. How do you find maneuvering her under power around docks. The throttle on the starboard side seems a bit low, which means you need to bend down when going for the throttle and tranny, or alternatively sit down while maneuvering.
9. How are the shower doors holding up? They seem clever, but not overly built. I suspect they will break or come off the tracks fairly easily.
I'm not being critical of the boat, and indeed am very likely to buy one. I recognize that all boats are a compromise, and this one will have hers too. Just trying to get a handle on the things that have come to mind when going over the boat. Feel free to clue me in to any other attributes or shortcomings that she may have, and thanks for your time.
DG
1. How does she stand up to her sail? We find with the Freedom, in large part because the freestanding rig depowers on her own by bending, that we carry full sail into the 20's. I'm sure life will be different with any traditionally rigged boat, but curious about how this one does.
2. How do you find her build quality? I'm not expecting the same level of finish, but curious if it's great/good/average/aweful. I did note that the through hulls have inline ball valves and not true seacocks (something I'd change before taking her offshore), and not sure if that type of cost cutting measure indicates poorer build quality elsewhere.
3. The interior looks quite nice, but the plywood furniture seems a little thin. That's not necessarily bad, but how does it hold up? This may be a fair question for all Beneteaus, not just the 49, and happy to hear from all on this topic.
4. How are people finding that stuffing box? It's a dripless, but I don't recognize the brand. Likewise, access isn't the best, and it's not clear to me whether there's room to swap out what's there for another brand (like PYI). Not that such a move is necessary right away, but curious if anyone has an experience working with the box.
5. The engine access seems a little odd. The engine seems stuffed in there, but there does appear to be access to everything to which you need access. What have experiences been with that?
6. How are the floors holding up? You need to use a suction cup to get them up, and they are installed in sort of a jigsaw puzzle manner. I was having a hard time getting them up without bumping them into stuff, and it makes me think that they might get scratched up. More of an issue I suspect with the wood floor option than with the composite, but curious if anyone has first hand experience.
7. How is the roller furling main working with the vertical battens? There's a part of me that wants to get the traditional rig, but my wife thinks I'm nuts, and it actually costs more for a non-roller furling main. any problems or experiences with jamming? That's really my main concern. The performance loss I can deal with (we don't plan to race her, or at least not seriously).
8. How do you find maneuvering her under power around docks. The throttle on the starboard side seems a bit low, which means you need to bend down when going for the throttle and tranny, or alternatively sit down while maneuvering.
9. How are the shower doors holding up? They seem clever, but not overly built. I suspect they will break or come off the tracks fairly easily.
I'm not being critical of the boat, and indeed am very likely to buy one. I recognize that all boats are a compromise, and this one will have hers too. Just trying to get a handle on the things that have come to mind when going over the boat. Feel free to clue me in to any other attributes or shortcomings that she may have, and thanks for your time.
DG
