Beneteau Oceanis 31 "CU" purchase help

SycloneDriver

SycloneDriver

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Jul 23, 2009
857
Beneteau 31 Oceanis Grand Lake, Oklahoma
I recently sold my Beneteau First 285 and I'm trying to purchase a Beneteau Oceanis 31. My lender is freaking out because they cannot find the "Oceanis 31" listed in any pricing guide. Only a Beneteau 31/CU can be found. We have both tried to figure out what "CU" stands for and failed. Any ideas why this boat is listed as CU and not Oceanis?

The owner of the 31 knows nothing about his boat but he is positive that it is worth a pile of gold, the bank disagrees. All this confusion over "CU" or "Oceanis." Wish I had a pile of gold.

I thought selling my old boat was a pain!
 
Davidasailor26

Davidasailor26

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May 17, 2004
5,079
Beneteau Oceanis 37 Havre de Grace
The 31 is the little sister of our 37. I’ve never seen CU in any of our materials. I do remember there was a lot of contradiction between “Beneteau 37”, and “Oceanis 37”. I think one is the Beneteau USA branding and the other is the Beneteau French corporate branding, for the same boat. You might be dealing with a similar issue.
 
Ron20324

Ron20324

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Jan 22, 2008
8,050
Beneteau 323 Annapolis MD
The Beneteaus are (these days) just the Beneteau, as opposed to the "First" series, which is the performance version of boats. Oceanis is really just the "normal" crusing boat line. Why not call Beneteau and ask. Or a dealer? The 31 came out when they stopped making my boat, the 323. Yours probably has the single AC outlets? I don't think I have heard "CU" refer to a series.
 
SycloneDriver

SycloneDriver

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Jul 23, 2009
857
Beneteau 31 Oceanis Grand Lake, Oklahoma
At this point I'm just going the tell the lender that it is a Beneteau 31 sailboat. Just restart the process if I have too.

I have been keeping an eye on this particular boat for 5 years now. It came up for sale weeks after I bought a new diesel truck, I knew that would happen. Now that I have sold my boat and freed up some cash it time to make a move on it.

Originally when I spoke with the lender the internist rate was better and no servery was required. But 7 weeks later all that has changed. I'm really getting frustrated with this. She did say that they are financing a record number of boats lately.
 
jssailem

jssailem

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Oct 22, 2014
21,104
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
This found on Cruising Forum looks like a number of them had a CU reference.


12-2010, 10:22
#135​
Capt.Don
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Join Date: Aug 2010
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My research continues. Below is a summary of the various Beneteau models from 1984 to 2009 summarized from Nada boat pricing guides, http://IWASNOTSSL-www.nada.com/Boat. Standard disclaimers apply - I have not verified the integrity of the data; however, I have checked the mid/late 80's Firsts and I am using as a guide when browsing yachtworld. Beneteau sure made a lot of different models (e.g., 155)!

BENETEAU 25/RA - 25' 1997 1998
BENETEAU 31/CU - 31' 2008 2009
BENETEAU 311/CU - 31' 2003 2003
BENETEAU 311/CU - 32' 1999 2004
BENETEAU 323/CU - 31' 2004 2008
BENETEAU 331/CU - 33' 2003 2003
BENETEAU 331/CU - 34' 2000 2004
BENETEAU 34/CU - 33' 2009 2009
BENETEAU 343/CU - 34' 2005 2008
BENETEAU 343/CU - 35' 2006 2006
BENETEAU 361 2 CABIN/CU - 35' 2003 2003
BENETEAU 361 3 CABIN/CU - 35' 2003 2003
BENETEAU 361/CU - 36' 2000 2004
BENETEAU 37/CU - 36' 2008 2008
BENETEAU 37/CU - 37' 2009 2009
BENETEAU 373/CU - 36' 2004 2008
BENETEAU 393 2 CABIN/CU - 38' 2003 2007
BENETEAU 393 3 CABIN/CU - 38' 2003 2007
BENETEAU 393/CU - 38' 2008 2008
BENETEAU 40 2 CABIN/CU - 39' 2008 2008
BENETEAU 40 3 CABIN/CU - 39' 2009 2009
BENETEAU 40 3 CABIN/CU - 40' 2008 2008
BENETEAU 40/CU - 39' 2009 2009
BENETEAU 411 2 CABIN/CU - 41' 2003 2003
BENETEAU 411 3 CABIN/CU - 41' 2003 2003
BENETEAU 411/CU - 42' 1997 2000
BENETEAU 423 2 CABIN/CU - 42' 2003 2007
BENETEAU 423 3 CABIN/CU - 42' 2003 2007
BENETEAU 423/CU - 42' 2008 2008
BENETEAU 42CC/CU - 42' 2003 2006
BENETEAU 43 2 CABIN/CU - 42' 2008 2008
BENETEAU 43 3 CABIN/CU - 42' 2008 2009
BENETEAU 43/CU - 42' 2009 2009
BENETEAU 46 2 CABIN/CU - 45' 2008 2008
BENETEAU 46 3 CABIN/CU - 45' 2008 2009
BENETEAU 46/CU - 45' 2009 2009
BENETEAU 473 2 CABIN/CU - 46' 2003 2006
BENETEAU 473 3 CABIN/CU - 46' 2003 2006
BENETEAU 49 2 CABIN/CU - 48' 2007 2008
BENETEAU 49 3 CABIN/CU - 48' 2007 2009
BENETEAU 49/CU - 48' 2009 2009
BENETEAU 50 2 CABIN/CU - 49' 2003 2003
BENETEAU 50 2 CABIN/CU - 51' 2004 2004
BENETEAU 50 3 CABIN/CU - 49' 2003 2003
BENETEAU 50 3 CABIN/CU - 51' 2004 2004
BENETEAU 50/CU - 51' 1996 2000
BENETEAU 523/CU - 52' 2005 2008
BENETEAU 523/CU - 53' 2006 2007
BENETEAU 53F5/CU - 53' 1996 1996
BENETEAU 54 BOW CABIN/CU - 53' 2009 2009
BENETEAU 54/CU - 53' 2009 2009
BENETEAU 57/CU - 56' 2004 2009
BENETEAU 62/CU - 62' 1996 1996
BENETEAU SWIFT TRAWLER 42 - 44' 2009 2009
BENETEAU SWIFT TRAWLER 52 - 50' 2009 2009
EVASION 36/MS - 35' 1992 1992
FIRST 10R RA/CU - 33' 2007 2008
FIRST 10R/RA - 33' 2009 2009
FIRST 21 CLASSIC RA/CU - 21' 1995 1995
FIRST 21.0 CLASSIC/RA - 21' 1996 1996
FIRST 21.0 RA/CU - 21' 1995 1995
FIRST 21.0/RA - 21' 1996 1996
FIRST 210 RA/CU - 21' 1994 1994
FIRST 210/RA - 21' 1993 1993
FIRST 235/RA - 23' 1987 1992
FIRST 24 - 24' 1984 1984
FIRST 24/RA - 24' 1985 1986
FIRST 26/RA - 26' 1985 1986
FIRST 26/SL - 26' 1984 1984
FIRST 265 RA/CU - 26' 1992 1995
FIRST 285 RA/CU - 28' 1987 1992
FIRST 29 RA/CU - 29' 1984 1986
FIRST 305 RA/CU - 30' 1984 1988
FIRST 310 RA/CU - 31' 1991 1995
FIRST 310/RA - 31' 1994 1995
FIRST 32.5 RA/CU - 32' 1989 1991
FIRST 325 RA/CU - 32' 1984 1986
FIRST 33.7 RA/CU - 33' 1997 2000
FIRST 345 RA/CU - 34' 1984 1988
FIRST 35.5 RA/CU - 35' 1988 1993
FIRST 35.7 RA/CU - 35' 1994 1995
FIRST 36.7 RA/CU - 35' 2003 2008
FIRST 36.7/RA - 35' 2009 2009
FIRST 36S7 RA/CU - 36' 1996 1998
FIRST 375 RA/CU - 37' 1985 1987
FIRST 38 RA/CU - 40' 1984 1984
FIRST 38.5 RA/CU - 38' 1990 1994
FIRST 40 DEEP KEEL/RA - 40' 2009 2009
FIRST 40.7 RA/CU - 39' 1999 2008
FIRST 40/RA - 40' 2009 2009
FIRST 405 RA/CU - 40' 1985 1990
FIRST 41.5 RA/CU - 41' 1990 1994
FIRST 42 RA/CU - 42' 1984 1989
FIRST 42.7 RA/CU - 42' 1995 1995
FIRST 42S7 RA/CU - 43' 1996 1998
FIRST 435 RA/CU - 43' 1984 1987
FIRST 44.7 RA/CU - 44' 2004 2007
FIRST 45 DEEP KEEL/RA - 45' 2009 2009
FIRST 45 RA/CU - 45' 2008 2008
FIRST 45.5 RA/CU - 45' 1990 1995
FIRST 45/RA - 45' 2009 2009
FIRST 456 RA/CU - 45' 1986 1986
FIRST 456 RA/CU - 46' 1985 1985
FIRST 45F5 RA/CU - 46' 1996 1996
FIRST 47.7 RA/CU - 48' 2000 2005
FIRST 50 DEEP KEEL/RA - 49' 2009 2009
FIRST 50 RA/CU - 49' 2007 2008
FIRST 50/RA - 49' 2009 2009
FIRST 51 RA/CU - 51' 1989 1990
FIRST 53.5 RA/CU - 53' 1992 1995
FIRST CLASS 10/SL - 34' 1984 1987
FIRST CLASS 12/SL - 40' 1989 1989
FIRST CLASS 8/SL - 26' 1987 1987
FIRST CLASS/SL - 26' 1985 1986
IDYLLE 1050/SL - 34' 1985 1987
IDYLLE 11.50/SL - 37' 1987 1987
IDYLLE 1150/SL - 38' 1984 1984
IDYLLE 13.50/SL - 43' 1987 1987
OCEANIS 281/CU - 28' 1995 1996
OCEANIS 281/CU - 29' 1997 1998
OCEANIS 300/CU - 31' 1994 1995
OCEANIS 321/CU - 32' 1995 1995
OCEANIS 321/CU - 33' 1996 2000
OCEANIS 350/CU - 34' 1986 1992
OCEANIS 350/CU - 35' 1993 1993
OCEANIS 351/CU - 35' 1994 1996
OCEANIS 352/CU - 35' 1997 1998
OCEANIS 36CC/CU - 35' 2003 2003
OCEANIS 36CC/CU - 36' 1997 2000
OCEANIS 370/CU - 35' 1992 1992
OCEANIS 370/CU - 36' 1991 1991
OCEANIS 370/CU - 37' 1993 1994
OCEANIS 381/CU - 39' 1997 2000
OCEANIS 390 1 AFT CAB/CU - 38' 1991 1991
OCEANIS 390 1AFT CAB/CU - 39' 1990 1990
OCEANIS 390 2 AFT CAB/CU - 38' 1991 1991
OCEANIS 390 2AFT CAB/CU - 39' 1990 1990
OCEANIS 390/CU - 38' 1992 1992
OCEANIS 390/CU - 39' 1987 1993
OCEANIS 400/CU - 40' 1993 1996
OCEANIS 40CC/CU - 40' 1995 1995
OCEANIS 40CC/CU - 41' 1997 2000
OCEANIS 430/CU - 43' 1986 1991
OCEANIS 440 1 AFT CAB/CU - 44' 1994 1994
OCEANIS 440 2 AFT CAB/CU - 44' 1994 1994
OCEANIS 440/CU - 44' 1992 1995
OCEANIS 440/CU - 45' 1996 1996
OCEANIS 44CC/CU - 44' 1995 1995
OCEANIS 44CC/CU - 45' 1996 2000
OCEANIS 461/CU - 47' 1997 2000
OCEANIS 500 PRESTIGE/CL - 50' 1991 1991
OCEANIS 500/CU - 50' 1988 1990
OCEANIS 510/CU - 50' 1992 1992
OCEANIS 510/CU - 51' 1993 1995
__________________

 
SycloneDriver

SycloneDriver

.
Jul 23, 2009
857
Beneteau 31 Oceanis Grand Lake, Oklahoma
The lady (loan agent) and I can find CU all day but the boat is an Oceanis, it doesn't have CU anywhere on it. I know what the boat is, the problem is the actual lender, not the lady I'm working with, doesn't. From now on I'm just going to refer to it as a Beneteau 31 sailboat, seems like a simple solution.
 
jssailem

jssailem

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Oct 22, 2014
21,104
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
Have you tried asking an insurer? The company that currently insures the boat?

They may be able to provide the banker the assurance needed.
 
SycloneDriver

SycloneDriver

.
Jul 23, 2009
857
Beneteau 31 Oceanis Grand Lake, Oklahoma
Months ago I called my insurance agent to make sure that they would insure the boat and to see if they would require a survey. They quoted me a price and said no survey required. The lender just needs to find the boat on a pricing guide. This shouldn't be that hard, the boat is now a Beneteau 31 sailboat. Hell, if it needs to be a Beneteau 31/CU I'm fine with that too. I don't care what they call it. Call it Sue for all I care. I'm putting almost half down, just loan me the other half at a reasonable interest rate!
 
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SycloneDriver

SycloneDriver

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Jul 23, 2009
857
Beneteau 31 Oceanis Grand Lake, Oklahoma
I think this is resolved, I changed lenders today. Called one of my local CUs and got mechanized transfer to a call center. I have terrible luck with their call center so I hung up. Called my other local CU and a woman that I know answered. WOW a human! I found better rates and much better customer service. We went through the NADA site together, this helped tremendously. I also conveniently forgot to tell her that the boat is an Oceanis.
 
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Ron20324

Ron20324

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Jan 22, 2008
8,050
Beneteau 323 Annapolis MD
I was in Italy about 10 years ago and I asked the tour guide why the CE was on everything. He said that mean it was something about Europe being United/built after the continent came under one "group" or whatever it actually was organized as. Maybe has something to do with tarriffs is sold somewhere in that European Union? Alot of the Beneteau parts are still from France.
 
SycloneDriver

SycloneDriver

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Jul 23, 2009
857
Beneteau 31 Oceanis Grand Lake, Oklahoma
I think CE is a European marine safety standard, but I'm not certain of that.
 
DougM

DougM

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Jul 24, 2005
2,242
Beneteau 323 Manistee, MI
I always, perhaps erroneously, thought that the Beneteau Oceanus line was the name they used when the boats were initially built for the charter fleets. The main difference mainly would have been different cabin layouts. Hence the“CU” designation could mean Charter Use. The insurers who were aware of that perhaps would base premiums on a different use category or a fleet rate.
 
DArcy

DArcy

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Feb 11, 2017
1,704
Islander Freeport 36 Ottawa
SycloneDriver said:
I think CE is a European marine safety standard, but I'm not certain of that.
Click to expand
CE is the conformity mark required to sell anything commercially in the European Union. This includes, but isn't limited to, the marine industry.
Kinda funny the biggest brand of boats isn't better understood by the lending companies. And there doesn't seem to be any reference to CU on the Beneteau web site.
 
Caboteur

Caboteur

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Feb 21, 2010
330
Beneteau 31 016 St-Lawrence river
When I purchased my 2009 Bénéteau 31 in 2008, the Océanis nomenclature was used on the European boats only. At some point the Marion boats began using the Océanis name also. A bit weird since this boat is a coastal cruiser (CE « B ») and not a true « Ocean crossing » boat. I have no idea what the CU could stand for... neither in French or American-English.
Since the First series use the letters RA (racing) I would like to think CU might mean cruising something or other. Cruising Utility maybe?
 
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