Béniguet is either a pocket cruiser or a day boat. As a cruiser, she offers a cabin with two quarter berths plus a child size one forward. It is even possible to sleep three adults with a fore berth extension. As a day boat, she welcomes her crew in a two meter long cockpit. This offers exceptional comfort as you wander along the coast. A lowered space on both sides of the motor well lets you stow a bucket or your fishing equipment.

You can cook a meal or brew a cup of tea in the roomy cabin. It also offers a dry refuge in a rain storm or a shady spot on a sunny day. Madam will find a chemical or marine toilet.

The steel centerboard rotates under the cockpit, and does not obstruct the cabin. This gives Béniguet much better performance than most of the small, traditionally inspired cruisers. As usual, I gave a lot of importance to the pleasure of steering a good sail-boat.

The small keel, discontinued aft, makes the boat very easy to launch. It also protects the outboard motor installed in a well which is perfectly within reach of the helmsman. Since it's in line with the rudder maneuvering is easy. Purists will be able to dismount the motor under sail, by placing it either in a cockpit locker, or transversally at the rear. Nothing is omitted for a demanding sailor: an anchor locker on foredeck - ample stowage - an opening portlight on the coach-roof face etc...

Béniguet is clinker built in plywood-epoxy. A very modern method which is also in the spirit of a pure classic boat. By limiting the number of varnished pieces or by replacing them with oiled teak, maintenance will be equivalent to that of a polyester hull. The cockpit is water-tight and self draining. The ballast is approximately 170 kg, half of which is placed within the centerboard, and therefore quite low. All this makes Béniguet a very dependable boat.

Click HERE for a two page PDF document with a few Béniguet drawings (in French)

Click the thumbnails below for Béniguet photo albums:

Morbihan week 2007

First sailing in Rance river

2 Beniguets in St Jacut

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