The Beneteau Oceanis 500 Sailboat
Specs & Key Performance Indicators

These ratios indicate that the Beneteau Oceanis 500 is a moderately heavy boat with good stability and a moderate sail area. The boat is likely to perform well in light to moderate winds, but may struggle in strong winds or rough seas.

The Beneteau Oceanis 500 is no longer in production. Production ended in 1991, after four years of manufacturing. The exact number of boats built is not known.

There were two alternative versions of the Beneteau Oceanis 500: the Prestige and the Clipper. The Prestige version was the standard model, with a three-cabin layout and a large owner's cabin aft. The Clipper version was a charter model, with a four-cabin layout and two heads. The Clipper version also had a shorter mast and boom, and a smaller sail area.

The Beneteau Oceanis 500 can sleep up to 12 people on board, depending on the version and the configuration. The Prestige version has three cabins: one large owner's cabin aft with a double bed and an en-suite head, and two guest cabins forward with two single beds each. The saloon can also be converted into a double berth. The Clipper version has four cabins: two aft cabins with double beds each, and two forward cabins with two single beds each. The saloon can also be converted into a double berth.

The sailing press generally gave positive reviews to the Beneteau Oceanis 500, praising its spaciousness, comfort, and ease of handling.

For example, Sail Magazine wrote in 1989: "The new Oceanis 500 from Beneteau is an impressive yacht that combines luxury accommodations with good sailing performance."

Cruising World also wrote in 1989: "The Oceanis 500 is an attractive boat that offers comfortable cruising for a large family or group of friends."

Owners of the Beneteau Oceanis 500 generally have positive things to say about their boats, especially regarding their roominess, livability, and reliability. For example, one owner wrote on SailNet: "We have owned our Oceanis 500 for six years now and we love it. It is very spacious and comfortable for living aboard and cruising long distances. It sails well in light winds and handles heavy weather with ease."

Another owner wrote on Cruisers Forum: "We have been sailing our Oceanis 500 for three years now and we are very happy with it. It is well built and well equipped for cruising. It has plenty of storage space and amenities for a comfortable life on board."

The builders of the Beneteau Oceanis 500 are Beneteau, a French boat manufacturer that was founded in 1884 by Benjamin Beneteau. The company started as a small workshop that built fishing boats, and gradually expanded to produce sailboats and motorboats for the leisure market. The company is still in business today, and is one of the largest and most successful boat manufacturers in the world. The company has several brands, such as Beneteau, Jeanneau, Lagoon, Prestige, Monte Carlo, and Excess.

The average asking price of a secondhand Beneteau Oceanis 500 varies depending on the year, condition, location, and equipment of the boat. According to YachtWorld, the current range of prices for a used Beneteau Oceanis 500 is from £64,101 to £117,984 (as of April 2023).

The Beneteau Oceanis 500 is comparable to other similar sailboats in its class, such as:

• Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 51: This is another French-built sailboat that was designed by Philippe Briand and produced from 1988 to 1995. It has a similar length (15.4 m), displacement (14,000 kg), sail area (110 m2), and layout (three or four cabins) to the Oceanis 500. However, it has a slightly higher D/L ratio (200), a slightly lower B/D ratio (30%), and a slightly lower SA/D ratio (18) than the Oceanis 500.

• Bavaria Vision 50: This is a German-built sailboat that was designed by Farr Yacht Design and produced from 2007 to 2013. It has a similar length (15.3 m), displacement (13,600 kg), sail area (111 m2), and layout (three or four cabins) to the Oceanis 500. However, it has a slightly lower D/L ratio (186), a slightly higher B/D ratio (33%), and a slightly higher SA/D ratio (19) than the Oceanis 500.

• Catalina Morgan 50: This is an American-built sailboat that was designed by Gerry Douglas and produced from 1999 to 2006. It has a similar length (15.2 m), displacement (14,061 kg), sail area (110 m2), and layout (three or four cabins) to the Oceanis 500. However, it has a higher D/L ratio (214), a lower B/D ratio (29%), and a lower SA/D ratio (17) than the Oceanis 500.

The designer of the Beneteau Oceanis 500 is Philippe Briand, a French naval architect and yacht designer who has created many sailboats for various brands and clients. Some of his other sailboats are:

• Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 54 DS: This is a 16.7-meter (55-foot) monohull sailboat that was designed by Philippe Briand and built by Jeanneau from 2003 to 2011. It is a luxurious and elegant cruiser that can accommodate up to eight people in four cabins and a saloon.

• CNB 76: This is a 23.2-meter (76-foot) monohull sailboat that was designed by Philippe Briand and built by CNB, a subsidiary of Beneteau, from 2013 to present. It is a high-performance and stylish cruiser that can accommodate up to ten people in five cabins and a saloon.

• Perini Navi Sybaris: This is a 70-meter (230-foot) ketch sailboat that was designed by Philippe Briand and built by Perini Navi, an Italian shipyard, in 2016. It is a majestic and sophisticated superyacht that can accommodate up to 12 guests in six cabins and a saloon.