Beneteau Motor Yachts

Beneteau Antares 10.80: Used Flybridge Buyer's Guide

A 35 ft twin-diesel flybridge drawn by people who fished for a living, and the boat the later Antares 11 had to replace.

1998 to 2008 Discontinued Updated

Beneteau Oceanis 311 at anchor in the UK
For reference, Beneteau Oceanis 311 at anchor in the UK, not the Beneteau Antares 10.80. Photo: Timbow001, CC0, source
Length
35.4 ft10.8 m
Beam
11.4 ft3.44 m
Cruise
2.9 ft0.9 m
Cabins
2 (forward double, port twin convertible to a double)
Used price
$65K to $125K
On this page
  1. Overview
  2. The Antares 10.80 in brief
  3. A hull drawn by people who fished
  4. Walkaround decks and a working cockpit
  5. Wheelhouse saloon, two cabins, one head
  6. Volvo diesels, shafts and realistic speeds
  7. Owning a European Antares in American waters
  8. What an Antares 10.80 for sale is worth
  9. Specifications
  10. Price and value
  11. Strengths and weaknesses
  12. Used buyer checklist
  13. Rivals
  14. Our verdict
  15. FAQ

The Beneteau Antares 10.80 is a 35 ft 5 in twin-diesel flybridge cruiser built by Beneteau from about 1998 to 2008, with two cabins, one head, shaft drives in a double propeller tunnel and a lower helm in a bright wheelhouse.

Best for
  • Fishing families who also cruise
  • Buyers wanting a twin-diesel flybridge under $125,000
  • Shallow-water harbors and estuaries
  • Owners who value a dry lower helm

Beneteau Antares 10.80 by the numbers

LOA 35' 5" / 10.80 mBeam 11' 5" / 3.48 mBow
Plan view drawn to scale from the published length and beam.
Horsepower per ton
80 hpStrong power to weight for a planing hull.
Displacement hull speed
7.4 knThe efficient cruising speed for a displacement hull of this waterline.
Length to beam ratio
3.10 : 1Moderate proportions.

Length compared with the 128 motor yachts we cover

32 ft89 ft

The Antares 10.80 in brief

The Antares 10.80 was the big boat of Beneteau's Antares line around the turn of the century: a 10.80 m (35 ft 5 in) flybridge cruiser with twin diesels on shafts, two cabins and a wheelhouse saloon. Beneteau files it with the third generation of Antares on its heritage site, YachtBuyer gives production as 1998 to 2008, and Motor Boat and Yachting traced the design back to 1998 when it featured a used 2002 boat. Beneteau's own brochure called it the ultimate Antares.

It is not to be confused with the outboard boats that carry the Antares name today. When MBY tested the inboard Antares 11 in August 2009, it described that boat as the successor to the very popular Antares 10.80, and stressed that the 11 was a completely new design from the keel up. If you want the classic, shaft-driven, fisherman-styled Antares at around 35 ft, the 10.80 is the one.

A hull drawn by people who fished

Beneteau's motorboats grew out of André Beneteau's passion for line fishing, and the 10.80's brochure leans on that heritage: high, spray-deflecting bow, a deep V entry that flares out to a wide stern for stability, and a keel that protects the hull along two thirds of its length. The propellers sit in a moderate double tunnel, which Beneteau said improved directional stability, reduced draft and cut fuel consumption. The twin rudders are hung and built in stainless steel.

Structurally the hull is laminated GRP with an inner molding bonded in to spread loads, and the engines sit on beds molded into that structure. The deck is a GRP and balsa sandwich with a molded diamond non-slip pattern. The result is a heavy, grippy, dry boat by the standards of its era. Draft is only about 2 ft 11 in, so it suits shallow harbors and estuaries.

Walkaround decks and a working cockpit

Look at how the deck is detailed and the professional influence is obvious. A solid stainless guardrail runs from the bow all the way to the cockpit, the side decks are true walkarounds, the anchor windlass is raised on a plinth with a self-draining chain well, and the cockpit coamings are capped in solid teak. Aft, Beneteau fitted fairleads and cleats copied from commercial fishing boats, plus two big cockpit lockers on gas struts and a lazarette sized for a life raft or a fish box.

The flybridge is reached by a stainless ladder with teak treads through a proper hatch. Up top there are seats for skipper and navigator with engine controls and instruments, a sunbathing area to starboard and a mast for the radar dome and GPS antenna. Rod holders, a transom gate and a teak-laid swim platform complete a boat that will happily go fishing on Saturday and cruise on Sunday.

Wheelhouse saloon, two cabins, one head

The main deck is a wheelhouse saloon with a U-shaped dinette that can drop to form a double, a galley with a sea view on the starboard side and an aluminum-framed three-part sliding door to the cockpit. The lower helm has an adjustable mahogany-veneered seat, a footrest, all controls to hand and a windscreen with wipers, washers and a demister, which is exactly what you want on a wet day. A forward-facing double seat to port lets a companion watch the water ahead.

Below, the owner's cabin forward has a centerline double of about 6 ft 3 in by 4 ft 7 in, and the port guest cabin has two singles that convert to a double. Joinery is cherry-stained mahogany and headroom is about 6 ft 5 in in the saloon and 6 ft 1 in to 6 ft 3 in below. The single heads compartment has a separate shower. Six can sleep aboard, but four is the comfortable number.

Volvo diesels, shafts and realistic speeds

The documented boats run twin Volvo Penta diesels on conventional shafts, but the exact engines changed over the years. Beneteau's 2002 brochure allowed up to two 300 hp engines, while the 2005 US specification lists a maximum of 2 x 260 hp. MBY's featured 2002 boat had twin Volvo Penta KAMD44 EDC units, and YachtBuyer lists the Volvo D4-260 for later boats. Confirm the model, rating and hours of the engines on the boat in front of you, because they define its value.

MBY described the KAMD44 boat as good for about 30 knots flat out with a cruise in the low to mid 20s. Fuel capacity is 640 liters (169 gallons) as standard, with a larger 208 gallon option listed in the 2005 US sheet, so a boat with the bigger tanks is worth seeking out if you plan longer passages. Shaft drive with the engines placed well forward keeps weight central and is the simplest drive system to maintain on a used boat.

Owning a European Antares in American waters

Most surviving Antares 10.80s are European spec, with 220 volt shore power and sockets, CE category B certification for eight people and metric fittings. A US buyer needs to plan for an isolation transformer or a full conversion to 110 volt, new shore power inlets and possibly replacement appliances. None of this is difficult, but it is real money and it should be part of the offer.

Annual running costs are modest by flybridge standards: twin small-block diesels, shafts, a single head and simple systems. Expect costs in the low to mid teens of thousands of dollars a year in a typical US marina, more if you keep the boat in a premium slip or put a lot of hours on the engines.

What an Antares 10.80 for sale is worth

Prices for an Antares 10.80 for sale in Europe translate to roughly $65,000 for an early, tired boat and up to about $125,000 for a late, well-kept example with low-hour D4 engines. The 2002 boat MBY featured was listed at 89,995 pounds and described as turn-key, which is a useful benchmark. Expect to pay at the top of the range only for boats with fresh survey, documented engine servicing and updated electronics.

Because the design ran for about a decade, compare boats on engines and condition rather than year. A 1999 boat with repowered or very well maintained diesels can be the smarter buy than a neglected 2006 boat.

Beneteau Antares 10.80 specifications

Length overall35.4 ft10.8 m
Beam11.4 ft3.44 m
Draft2.9 ft0.9 m
Air draft14 ft4.27 m
Displacement13,007 lbs5,9 kg
Fuel capacity169 gal64 L
Fresh water85 gal32 L
Cabins2 (forward double, port twin convertible to a double)
Berths4 in cabins plus a convertible saloon, 6 in total
Heads1, with separate shower compartment
Standard engines2 x Volvo Penta diesels on shafts (KAMD44 on early 2000s boats, D4-260 on later boats)
Maximum power520 hp
Hull typeDeep-V forward flaring to a wider stern, propellers in a moderate double tunnel, keel along two thirds of the hull
Hull constructionGRP hull with bonded structural inner molding; GRP and balsa sandwich deck
CE design categoryB (8 people) / C (10 people)
BuilderChantiers Beneteau, France
Naval architectBeneteau design office (Beneteau Moteur)
Production1998 to 2008
StatusDiscontinued

Figures come from builder documentation and independent tests where available. Displacement is usually quoted light, so a loaded cruising boat will weigh more. Compare these specs with another model.

How much does a Beneteau Antares 10.80 cost?

New, typical sail-awayNo longer built
Used, typical asking$65K to $125K
Yearly running costs$12K to $24K

The Antares 10.80 was sold mainly in Europe, so most boats on the market are in France, the UK and the Mediterranean, and a US buyer should add shipping, import duty and the cost of converting 220 volt systems. MBY featured a 2002 boat at 89,995 pounds in 2023, which is a fair guide to the middle of the market. Engine hours and the age of the Volvo diesels move the price more than anything cosmetic.

Estimated used asking prices by model year, US market, 2026
$60K$80K$100K$120K19981998, $65,000 to $85,00020002000, $68,000 to $92,00020022002, $75,000 to $100,00020042004, $82,000 to $108,00020062006, $90,000 to $118,00020082008, $95,000 to $125,000

Estimate your yearly cost

A planning estimate using common rules of thumb: insurance near 1.5 percent of value, maintenance near 3 percent, haul out and bottom paint by length. Your marina, region and use will move these numbers. Open the full cost calculator.

Beneteau Antares 10.80 timeline

  1. 1998Antares 10.80 introduced as the largest boat in the Antares line
  2. 2002Beneteau brochure markets the 10.80 as the Antares par excellence, with up to 2 x 300 hp
  3. 2005US specification lists 169 gallons of fuel, a 208 gallon option and 2 x 260 hp maximum
  4. 2009MBY tests the new Antares 11, described as the 10.80's successor

Strengths and weaknesses

What owners like

  • Seakindly deep-V hull with fishing-boat pedigree
  • Genuine walkaround side decks and full guardrails
  • Simple twin shaft drives
  • Good lower helm with demister and wipers
  • Shallow draft for its size
  • Modest purchase price for a twin-diesel flybridge

What to weigh up

  • Only one head
  • Interior styling feels dated
  • Most boats are 220 volt European spec
  • Engine specifications vary by year and need checking
  • Few examples in the US

Used Beneteau Antares 10.80 buyer checklist

Take this list to a viewing. Your ticks are saved in this browser so you can come back to it.

Always commission an independent marine survey and an engine survey before you buy. How a marine survey works.

Rivals to consider

Jeanneau Prestige 36

Sister group flybridge of similar size with a more leisure-oriented layout and less fishing focus.

Botnia Targa 37

Finnish pilothouse with even more rough-water credibility, usually at a higher price.

Compare side by side

Beneteau Antares 36

The later inboard flybridge from the same line, launched in 2009 as the Antares 11, roomier and more modern.

Compare side by side

Fairline Phantom 40

British flybridge with more interior luxury and two heads, but less deck practicality and higher running costs.

Compare side by side

Our verdict on the Beneteau Antares 10.80

The Antares 10.80 is a boat for people who care how a hull behaves in a short, steep sea and how easy it is to move around the deck with a rope in hand. It is dated inside and limited to one head, and many boats need an electrical rethink before they suit American shore power, but the fundamentals are excellent: twin diesels on shafts, walkaround decks, a dry lower helm and a fishing-boat hull. Buy on engines and condition, budget for the 220 volt question, and it is one of the most capable twin-diesel flybridges you can find for around $100,000.

Beneteau Antares 10.80 questions answered

When was the Antares 10.80 built?

YachtBuyer lists production from 1998 to 2008, and MBY also dates the design to 1998. It was replaced by the inboard Antares 11 in 2009.

What engines are in the Beneteau Antares 10.80?

Twin Volvo Penta diesels on shafts. Early 2000s boats used KAMD44 units, and later boats are listed with Volvo D4-260 engines. The 2005 US specification lists a maximum of 2 x 260 hp.

How fast is the Antares 10.80?

MBY described a KAMD44-powered boat as capable of about 30 knots with a cruise in the low to mid 20s.

How many cabins does the Antares 10.80 have?

Two cabins, a forward double and a port twin that converts to a double, plus a dinette that converts to a berth. There is one head with a separate shower.

Is the Beneteau 10.80 the same as the Antares 11?

No. The inboard Antares 11 of 2009 replaced the 10.80 with an all-new hull, and today's Antares 11 is a different outboard-powered boat again.

How much fuel does the Antares 10.80 carry?

Beneteau lists 640 liters (169 US gallons) as standard, and the 2005 US specification offered an optional 208 gallon capacity.

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