Beneteau Motor Yachts

Antares 42 Buyer's Guide: Beneteau's No-Nonsense Flybridge

Beneteau's inboard flagship from 2010, a twin-diesel 44 footer that trades gloss for a strong hull, big tanks and the best lazarette in its class.

2010 to 2017 Discontinued Updated

Beneteau Oceanis 311 at anchor in the UK
For reference, Beneteau Oceanis 311 at anchor in the UK, not the Beneteau Antares 42. Photo: Timbow001, CC0, source
Length
44.3 ft13.5 m
Beam
13.3 ft4.07 m
Cruise
22.3 kn
Cabins
2 (owner forward, guest twin convertible to a double)
Used price
$190K to $340K
On this page
  1. Overview
  2. The Antares 42 as a French flybridge bruiser
  3. What MBY's sea trial found
  4. A lazarette big enough to sleep in
  5. The flybridge: helm, dinette and sunbed
  6. Saloon, galley and the two-cabin layout
  7. Range, fuel and running costs
  8. Antares 42 for sale: values and choosing a boat
  9. Specifications
  10. Price and value
  11. Strengths and weaknesses
  12. Used buyer checklist
  13. Rivals
  14. Our verdict
  15. FAQ

The Beneteau Antares 42 is a 13.5 m (44 ft 3 in) twin-diesel flybridge built from 2010 to 2017, with two double cabins, two heads, 1,200 liters of fuel and a tested top speed of 28.6 knots on twin 380 hp Yanmars.

Best for
  • Couples who cruise with one other couple
  • Owners who value engineering over decor
  • Coastal cruising with longer legs
  • Buyers happy to personalize an interior

Beneteau Antares 42 by the numbers

LOA 44' 3" / 13.49 mBeam 13' 4" / 4.06 mBow
Plan view drawn to scale from the published length and beam.
Speed to length ratio at cruise
3.59A planing cruise. Fast passages in exchange for much higher fuel burn per mile.
Horsepower per ton
70 hpStrong power to weight for a planing hull.
Length to beam ratio
3.32 : 1Moderate proportions.

Length compared with the 128 motor yachts we cover

32 ft89 ft

The Antares 42 as a French flybridge bruiser

Motor Boat and Yachting summed up the Antares 42 in four words: no nonsense, solid, French and flybridge. The boat was shown at the London Boat Show in January 2010 as the new flagship of Beneteau's inboard Antares range, and YachtBuyer lists production from 2010 to 2017. Beneteau's own copy promised family cruising space, two double cabins, two bathrooms, an enormous flybridge and one of the best hulls on the market, and in its preview MBY reported Beneteau's claim of the most fuel-efficient hull in its class.

It arrived just as the older Antares 12 and Antares 13.80 left the top of the inboard line. Beneteau lists it at 13.5 m (44 ft 3 in) overall, with a 12.82 m hull, a 4.07 m beam and 9,830 kg light displacement, while MBY measured 13.99 m (45 ft 9 in) overall on its test boat. Sarrazin Design styled it, and Beneteau's powerboat department drew the hull.

What MBY's sea trial found

MBY's May 2010 test boat ran twin Yanmar 6LY3 diesels of 380 hp each at 3,400 rpm, six-cylinder 5.8 liter engines on shafts. It recorded 28.6 knots flat out, a cruising speed of 22.3 knots and a quoted range of 229 miles from 1,200 liters of fuel. The testers listed a solid hull, comfortable cruising and reassuring handling among the boat's strengths and described a feeling that it would keep plugging away when lesser boats had given up.

The criticisms were all about finish. MBY found loose fittings, an exposed cockpit and flybridge and a basic, slightly soulless interior, noting that an owner's touch would make a big difference. It is a fair summary of the boat today: the engineering and hull are the reasons to buy, and the interior is a blank canvas.

A lazarette big enough to sleep in

Practicality came top of the designers' list. MBY said the lazarette was large enough to serve as a no-frills cabin, and praised the deck storage generally and the number of handholds dotted around the boat. Beneteau's materials describe a spacious, deep and reassuring cockpit, a deck plan arranged for easy movement around the wheelhouse, and a large swim platform of about 1.25 by 4 m.

For a cruising couple, that storage is gold. Dinghy, paddleboards, spare parts, fenders, dock lines and a generator's worth of cruising equipment can all disappear below decks, leaving the cockpit clear. A hydraulic gangway, an Onan 9.5 kVA generator, air conditioning and slatted solid wood side decks appear on Beneteau's options list.

The flybridge: helm, dinette and sunbed

The upper helm has an adjustable seat on a sliding rail, room for electronics, engine instruments, electric engine controls and switches for the windlass, bow thruster and optional trim tabs. Aft of it, a dinette seats four around a solid wood table with a 30 liter refrigerated drawer available under the seats, and a large sunbathing area takes up the rest of the deck.

MBY counted the exposed flybridge and cockpit among the cons, which is the flip side of an open, sociable upper deck. A bimini and side curtains go a long way, and most used boats have them. If you want an enclosed upper station for cooler waters, budget for custom canvas.

Saloon, galley and the two-cabin layout

Inside, the saloon is laid out as a U-shape of about 2.50 by 1.45 m with an additional facing seat and a bar unit, and the table converts the whole area into a double berth. The L-shaped galley has a two-burner gas hob, an oven and a 140 liter refrigerator. Beneteau finished the boats in warm mahogany or high-gloss mahogany, and MBY liked the light and the view from the saloon even if it found the decor sparse.

There are no hull windows below, which MBY noted as a deliberate, traditional choice. The owner's cabin forward has a 2.10 by 1.85 m central bed, storage drawers, a hanging locker and a dressing table, with its own head, which MBY called a spacious master en suite. The guest cabin amidships has twin beds that convert into a 1.60 by 2.00 m double and its own washroom, giving each cabin a head of its own.

Range, fuel and running costs

With 1,200 liters (317 US gallons) in two 600 liter tanks, the Antares 42 carries far more fuel than outboard family cruisers of similar length, and its shaft-driven diesels are simpler to maintain than pods or sterndrives. MBY quoted a 229 mile range, which makes a full day of coastal passagemaking realistic with a margin, and slowing down well below planing speed will stretch it.

Annual running costs are what you would expect of a twin-diesel 44 footer: engine and generator servicing, shaft seals and cutless bearings, antifouling and canvas, plus insurance and a slip. Budget roughly $26,000 to $52,000 a year in the US, more if the boat has teak decks or you keep it in a premium marina.

Antares 42 for sale: values and choosing a boat

Used Antares 42s typically convert to between about $190,000 for an early Yanmar-powered boat and around $340,000 for a late Volvo D6 boat with low hours and full options. The pool is mostly European, so US buyers need to plan for transport, import duty and the 220 volt electrical system.

Prefer boats with documented engine servicing, a generator and air conditioning, a bow thruster and updated electronics. Then look at the interior: because MBY found the finish basic when new, many owners have upgraded upholstery, lighting and soft furnishings, and those boats are worth a premium over untouched examples.

Beneteau Antares 42 specifications

Length overall44.3 ft13.5 m
Beam13.3 ft4.07 m
Draft3.8 ft1.15 m
Air draft15.6 ft4.75 m
Displacement21,665 lbs9,83 kg
Fuel capacity317 gal1,2 L
Fresh water85 gal32 L
Cabins2 (owner forward, guest twin convertible to a double)
Berths4 in cabins plus convertible saloon
Heads2 (one per cabin)
Standard engines2 x Volvo Penta D6-370 diesels on shafts (later boats)
Optional engines2 x Yanmar 6LY3 380 hp diesels on early boats
Maximum power760 hp
Cruise speed22.3 knots
Top speed28.6 knots
Range229 nm
Hull typePlaning V hull with twin shaft drives and bronze underhung rudders
Hull constructionBalsa-cored GRP sandwich hull and deck with structural counter-molding
CE design categoryB (10 people) / C (12 people) / D (12 people)
BuilderBeneteau, France
Naval architectBeneteau Power Boats
Other design creditsSarrazin Design
Production2010 to 2017
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 42 cost?

New, typical sail-awayNo longer built
Used, typical asking$190K to $340K
Yearly running costs$26K to $52K

MBY's 2010 test boat was priced at 302,119 pounds, and the 2009 London show boat at 272,082 pounds, which placed the Antares 42 well below comparable British flybridges. Used, the boat still offers a lot of length and tankage for the money. Engine type and hours, the generator and air conditioning, and the condition of a basic interior that may have been upgraded by owners drive the spread.

Estimated used asking prices by model year, US market, 2026
$200K$250K$300K$350K20102010, $190,000 to $240,00020112011, $200,000 to $252,00020132013, $220,000 to $280,00020152015, $245,000 to $310,00020172017, $270,000 to $340,000

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 42 timeline

  1. 2009MBY previews the Antares 42 for the London Boat Show at 272,082 pounds
  2. 2010Shown at the London Boat Show; MBY tests a boat with twin Yanmar 6LY3 380 hp diesels
  3. 2015Beneteau's equipment list specifies twin Volvo Penta D6-370 diesels
  4. 2017Last year of production according to YachtBuyer

Strengths and weaknesses

What owners like

  • Strong, comfortable hull with reassuring handling
  • 1,200 liters of fuel and simple twin shaft drives
  • Huge lazarette and deck storage
  • Two cabins each with a head
  • Bright saloon with good views
  • Strong value for a 44 ft flybridge

What to weigh up

  • Basic, sparse interior finish
  • Loose fittings noted on test
  • Exposed cockpit and flybridge
  • No hull windows in the cabins
  • Mostly European boats with 220 volt systems

Used Beneteau Antares 42 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

Beneteau Antares 13.80

The earlier inboard flagship with three cabins and wider teak decks, cheaper but older.

Compare side by side

Beneteau Swift Trawler 44

Trawler-style sister with more interior volume and range, slower and pricier.

Compare side by side

Prestige 42

Jeanneau's flybridge of the same length with a more polished interior.

Galeon 420 Fly

Polish flybridge with more modern styling and a richer interior, at higher used prices.

Compare side by side

Our verdict on the Beneteau Antares 42

The Antares 42 is the flybridge for buyers who care more about how a boat is engineered than how it is decorated. It has a strong, efficient hull, twin diesels on shafts, more than 300 gallons of fuel, two cabins with their own heads and a lazarette that swallows everything a cruising couple owns. The interior is plain and the finish was criticized when new, but that is fixable, and the price reflects it. Choose a late Volvo D6 boat or a carefully serviced Yanmar boat, add your own soft furnishings, and you have a capable 44 ft cruiser for the price of a much smaller new boat.

Beneteau Antares 42 questions answered

How fast is the Beneteau Antares 42?

MBY recorded 28.6 knots top speed and a 22.3 knot cruise with twin Yanmar 6LY3 380 hp diesels in 2010.

What engines does the Antares 42 have?

Early boats had twin Yanmar 6LY3 diesels of 380 hp; Beneteau's 2015 specification lists twin Volvo Penta D6-370 diesels on shafts.

How many cabins and heads does the Antares 42 have?

Two cabins, an owner's double forward and a guest twin that converts to a double, each with its own head.

What is the fuel capacity of the Antares 42?

1,200 liters (317 US gallons) in two 600 liter tanks, with 320 liters of fresh water.

When was the Antares 42 built?

It was shown at the London Boat Show in January 2010, and YachtBuyer lists production from 2010 through 2017.

How long is the Antares 42?

Beneteau lists 13.5 m (44 ft 3 in) overall with a 12.82 m hull; MBY measured its test boat at 13.99 m (45 ft 9 in).

More motor yachts to explore

Other Beneteau models

Buying used? Our step by step used yacht buying guide Financing Work out monthly payments on a Beneteau Antares 42 Motor Yachts How this type compares and what to look for