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DSK DSK is offline
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First recorded activity by BoatBanter: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,419
Default Beneteau 285 First

John W. Bienko wrote:
I seek your evaluation re this boat..
especially for singlehanded operation.


In the absence of other meaningful comments, and spurred on
by the need to sit down with a 2nd cup of coffee, I thought
I'd try an answer here. I haven't sailed one of these boats
but seen them around.

Working over the numbers, they should be faster than most
production boats in their size range. Actually only slightly
faster in theory, and slower by PHRF rating, than the C&C 27
m3, but right in company with boats like the J-30, Soverel
27, S2 9.1, Olson 911... generally considered pretty fast
boats. But the PHRF rating is up around 170 ~ 180 which is
not really fast. Is it a sleeper?

It's heavier than your C&C but has a lower ballast ratio...
bad sign for singlehanding unless that ballast is
concentrated in a bulb... also ~100 Sq Ft more sail area...

The real question about singlehanding it is the deck layout.
Is the specific one you're looking at laid out so that you
can reach the sheets? Halyards & reefing lines run back to
the c'way? Easy to get around on deck quickly without
tripping over something? Engine controls?

To my eye they're also among the nicer looking of the
cruisable modern racer/cruisers (matter of personal taste).

Fresh Breezes- Doug King