I seek your evaluation re this boat..
especially for singlehanded operation.

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

French buildt thin skinned crap.

Your welcome

Joe

On 6 Sep 2006, (John W. Bienko) wrote:

I seek your evaluation re this boat..
especially for singlehanded operation.

This kind of open ended question is always problematic because, other
than for the singlehanded use reference, you don't doesn't include any
information re. intended use (basically, as a day-sailor? for
primarily just informal around-the-cans racing? as an occasional or
frequent over-nighter or week-end short-distance cruiser? on a river?
a lake? etc., etc.) or about the apparent condition of the particular
boat and its sails/equipment one has in mind as distinguished from the
model and manufacturer in general.

The B 285 frequently is sailed singlehandedly, probably more often
than not.

User/owner reviews/comments probably can be found in the Sailnet
Beneteau "List" archives.

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