Beneteau Motor Yachts

Beneteau Monte Carlo 6 (MC6) Used Buyer's Guide and Sea Trial Numbers

A 60 ft Beneteau dressed by the Monte Carlo Yachts design team, driven by Cummins Zeus pods and joystick, and now a used bargain next to its Italian cousins.

2015 to 2022 Discontinued Updated

Beneteau Oceanis 311 at anchor in the UK
For reference, Beneteau Oceanis 311 at anchor in the UK, not the Beneteau Monte Carlo 6. Photo: Timbow001, CC0, source
Length
60.2 ft18.35 m
Beam
16.2 ft4.93 m
Cruise
23 kn
Cabins
3 en suite (full-beam master amidships, VIP forward, guest cabin with convertible berths), 2-cabin option, plus crew cabin aft
Used price
$780K to $1.6M
On this page
  1. Overview
  2. The Beneteau Monte Carlo 6 and the borrowed glamour of Monte Carlo Yachts
  3. Why Beneteau chose Cummins Zeus over Volvo IPS
  4. What the MC6 did on Power and Motoryacht's sea trial
  5. A single command seat and a joystick in the armrest
  6. A terrace-sized flybridge and a foredeck with a trick
  7. Staterooms below, three cabins with their own heads
  8. MC4, MC5, MC6 and the other Beneteau Monte Carlos
  9. Buying and running an MC6 in the US
  10. Specifications
  11. Price and value
  12. Strengths and weaknesses
  13. Used buyer checklist
  14. Rivals
  15. Our verdict
  16. FAQ

The Beneteau Monte Carlo 6 (MC6) is a 60 ft flybridge yacht by Nuvolari Lenard, launched at Dusseldorf in January 2015 with twin 600 hp Cummins Zeus pods, built until the Monte Carlo line closed in 2022.

Best for
  • Owner-operators stepping up from a 45 to 50 ft express
  • Couples who entertain on the flybridge
  • Buyers who want MCY looks without MCY prices
  • Coastal cruising at 20 knots or more

The Beneteau Monte Carlo 6 and the borrowed glamour of Monte Carlo Yachts

Groupe Beneteau launched Monte Carlo Yachts in Italy as a premium brand for 65 to 105 footers, and it was a hit. The Beneteau Monte Carlo 6 was the group's attempt to bottle some of that style in a smaller, cheaper package under the Beneteau name. Beneteau announced the Monte Carlo range in 2012, with the 50 ft Monte Carlo 5 first out at the Dusseldorf show in January 2013, followed by the 45 ft Monte Carlo 4. The 60 ft MC6, the largest and last of the family, made its world debut at Dusseldorf in January 2015 and its US debut at the Fort Lauderdale show that autumn.

Beneteau used the same designers as the big Monte Carlo Yachts, Nuvolari Lenard, and the family resemblance is deliberate: round hull ports, a recessed band of side glazing behind a one-piece windshield, a flared bow and a long overhanging flybridge. Power and Motoryacht's Richard Thiel called it brand extension done right, pointing out that you would be hard pressed to tell the MC6 from the 65 ft MCY 65 at a glance. Inside, Andreani Design used washed oak where the MCY used dark walnut. The boat won its class at the 2016 Motor Boat Awards and collected Asia Boating Awards in 2015, 2016 and 2017.

Beneteau Monte Carlo 6 by the numbers

LOA 60' 2" / 18.34 mBeam 16' 2" / 4.93 mBow
Plan view drawn to scale from the published length and beam.
Speed to length ratio at cruise
3.18A planing cruise. Fast passages in exchange for much higher fuel burn per mile.
Estimated range at cruise
281 nmUsing 90 percent of tank capacity at the cruise speed and fuel burn listed on this page.
Fuel economy at cruise
0.54 nmpgNautical miles per gallon at cruise, both engines combined.
Horsepower per ton
55 hpStrong power to weight for a planing hull.
Length to beam ratio
3.72 : 1A slim, easily driven hull.

Length compared with the 128 motor yachts we cover

32 ft89 ft

Why Beneteau chose Cummins Zeus over Volvo IPS

The smaller Monte Carlos run on Volvo Penta IPS. For the MC6 Beneteau switched to Cummins Zeus pods behind twin 600 hp QSC 8.3 diesels, the only power package ever offered. Zeus props sit in tunnels and the pods steer independently, which gives the boat a remarkably tight turning circle and full joystick control. The aft engine placement also frees the middle of the hull for the accommodation and helps keep noise down; PMY recorded 68 dB(A) at 1,000 rpm and only 77 dB(A) flat out.

The pods carry an autotrim function, so in practice the skipper chooses a speed and steers. PMY found the boat came onto plane at about 2,175 rpm and 14.5 knots and that fuel economy in nautical miles per gallon barely changed from there to wide open throttle, which means you can cruise anywhere from 19 to 28 knots without a big penalty. The trade-off is ownership complexity: Zeus pods need regular gear oil changes, anode and bellows care and a dealer who knows them, and that should shape your survey.

What the MC6 did on Power and Motoryacht's sea trial

PMY tested the MC6 in 2 ft seas and 10 knots of wind with 411 gallons of fuel, 191 gallons of water and six people aboard. Top speed was 28 knots at 3,070 rpm burning 52.8 gph. At 2,750 rpm the boat ran 23 knots on 42.7 gph for a range of about 281 nm with a reserve, and at 2,500 rpm it made 19.1 knots on 33 gph. Slow down to 8 knots at 1,250 rpm and the burn drops to 5.1 gph, stretching range past 800 miles, but the hull is clearly designed to plane.

Thiel praised the handling as uncommonly nimble for a 60 footer. His complaint was ergonomic: the SmartCraft engine display was small and mounted flat on the dash, hard to read from the helm chair. Many owners have since moved engine data onto larger multifunction screens.

A single command seat and a joystick in the armrest

The lower helm is the feature that sells the boat. It sits forward on the main deck, offset slightly to port and raised two steps for clear sightlines through the seamless windshield. Instead of a bench there is one captain's chair; on PMY's test boat it was the optional winged leather seat with the trackball in one armrest and the Zeus joystick in the other. A forward-facing double bench to starboard keeps guests close. Beneteau's documentation lists both Simrad (16 or 24 inch) and Garmin helm packages, so check which electronics you are buying.

Below the helm the main deck steps down into the saloon and then again to the galley, which sits aft next to the cockpit doors, the arrangement Monte Carlo used throughout the range to keep life on one level. The saloon has facing seating, an electric teak table on later boats, and opening side glass for ventilation. The upper helm on the flybridge is the better place to drive in good weather, and most testers said so.

A terrace-sized flybridge and a foredeck with a trick

Beneteau billed the MC6 flybridge as the largest in its class, and it is genuinely big for a 60 footer. A wraparound lounge seats eight to ten around a fold-away teak table, there is a fully fitted galley, a large sunpad aft, and a T-top with an opening sunroof shades the helm and dinette. Access is by a stairway from the starboard side of the cockpit. The cockpit itself has a transom bench and folding table, and the hydraulic swim platform has tender chocks and an integrated ladder; an optional second grill and sink could be fitted at platform level.

Forward, the teak foredeck looks like a flat deck with two oversized hatches. They are actually remote-controlled loungers that rise electrically, with optional pop-up LED lights borrowed from the MCY range. It is a neat solution that keeps the profile clean underway and creates a private sunbathing area at anchor. Side decks from the cockpit are wide and protected, which matters on a boat many owners run without crew.

Staterooms below, three cabins with their own heads

The standard layout has three cabins, each with an en suite shower room. The owner's stateroom is full beam amidships with an island berth and big hull windows behind the signature round ports. The VIP is forward, and the third cabin has berths that convert between a double and twins, which makes it far more useful than a fixed bunk room. A two-cabin version traded the guest cabin for more space. There is a crew cabin aft with its own head, accessed from the transom, which is handy for a part-time captain or as storage for toys.

Owners could choose between light brushed oak and warmer matte walnut joinery, and marble counters in the galley and heads. Both woods have aged well on the boats we have seen, but check for UV fading near the big saloon windows and water marks around the opening side glass.

MC4, MC5, MC6 and the other Beneteau Monte Carlos

The name causes confusion on listing sites, so it helps to separate the families. Monte Carlo Yachts (MCY) is a separate Italian brand building 65 ft and larger yachts, and an MCY 65 is a very different purchase. Beneteau's own Monte Carlo line ran from 2012 to 2022 and included the Monte Carlo 4 and 4S, the Monte Carlo 5 and 5S, and the MC6; MBY reported that the MC6 would also be offered as a hardtop MC6 S. The Monte Carlo 52, launched at Cannes in 2019 with IPS 600 or 650 power, replaced the MC5.

Older still, Beneteau sold Monte Carlo 37 and Monte Carlo 47 sportscruisers in the 2000s. They are conventional shaft-drive express cruisers and share nothing with the MC6 except the name. When you search for a Beneteau Monte Carlo 6 for sale, confirm the listing is a 60 ft Zeus-powered flybridge from 2015 to 2022.

Buying and running an MC6 in the US

European boats are plentiful and cheaper, often under 850,000 euros for 2016 to 2018 hulls, but they may carry 230 V electrics and need import work. US-commissioned boats, typically sold through dealers such as Galati, ask more, especially late hulls with gyros. A 2022 MC6 with a Seakeeper 9, a 21.5 kW Onan and a Williams jet tender was listed in Tampa at $1.595 million in 2024.

Plan on $85,000 to $160,000 a year to keep one in the US before fuel: slip, insurance, Cummins and Zeus service, generator and air conditioning maintenance, bottom work and canvas. At 23 knots the MC6 burns about 43 gph, so a 100-hour season of fast cruising is roughly 4,000 gallons.

Beneteau Monte Carlo 6 specifications

Length overall60.2 ft18.35 m
Beam16.2 ft4.93 m
Draft3.8 ft1.17 m
Air draft24.4 ft7.44 m
Displacement43,727 lbs19,84 kg
Fuel capacity58 gal2,196 L
Fresh water21 gal8 L
Cabins3 en suite (full-beam master amidships, VIP forward, guest cabin with convertible berths), 2-cabin option, plus crew cabin aft
Berths6 guests plus 1 crew
Heads3 en suite plus crew head
Maximum persons14
Standard engines2 x Cummins QSC 8.3, 600 hp each, with Cummins Zeus pod drives and joystick
Maximum power1,200 hp
Cruise speed23 knots
Top speed28 knots
Range281 nm
Hull typePlaning monohull with flared bow and pod drives
Hull constructionFiberglass (GRP)
CE design categoryB (14 persons), C and D (16 persons)
BuilderBeneteau (Groupe Beneteau), France
Naval architectNuvolari Lenard
Other design creditsAndreani Design (interior)
Production2015 to 2022
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.

Performance data

RPMSpeed (kn)Fuel (gph)Range (nm)Sound dB(A)
10007.12.9127868
125085.181969
15009.7956371
175010.914.339871
200012.521.829973
225014.42530174
250019.13330276
27502342.728176
30702852.827777

Power and Motoryacht test, October 2015. Twin 600 hp Cummins QSC 8.3 with Zeus pods, 2 ft seas, 10 knots of wind, 411 gal fuel, 191 gal water and six people aboard. Range as published by PMY.

How much does a Beneteau Monte Carlo 6 cost?

New, typical sail-awayNo longer built
Used, typical asking$780K to $1.6M
Yearly running costs$85K to $160K

The MC6 listed at $1.41 million at its 2015 Fort Lauderdale debut, and Power and Motoryacht's well-optioned test boat was $1.7 million. European brokerage boats from 2016 to 2018 have recently asked about 749,000 to 850,000 euros, while a US-based 2022 boat with a Seakeeper 9 and low hours was listed at $1.595 million after a price cut. Stabilization, hours on the Zeus pods and whether the boat has lived in the US drive most of the spread.

Estimated used asking prices by model year, US market, 2026
$1M$1.5M20152015, $780,000 to $950,00020162016, $800,000 to $990,00020172017, $840,000 to $1,050,00020182018, $880,000 to $1,100,00020192019, $950,000 to $1,200,00020212021, $1,100,000 to $1,450,00020222022, $1,250,000 to $1,600,000

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.

Versions and options

MC6 three-cabin
Standard layout with master amidships, VIP forward and a convertible guest cabin, all en suite, plus crew cabin.
MC6 two-cabin
Optional layout giving the owner and VIP more room at the expense of the third cabin.
MC6 S
Hardtop version announced by Beneteau at launch alongside the flybridge model.

Beneteau Monte Carlo 6 timeline

  1. 2012Beneteau announces the Monte Carlo range, styled by Nuvolari Lenard
  2. 2013Monte Carlo 5 debuts at Dusseldorf
  3. 2015Monte Carlo 6 world debut at Dusseldorf in January and US debut at Fort Lauderdale in the autumn
  4. 2016Wins its class at the Motor Boat Awards
  5. 2019Monte Carlo 52 replaces the MC5
  6. 2022Beneteau's Monte Carlo line closes

Strengths and weaknesses

What owners like

  • Monte Carlo Yachts styling at a Beneteau price
  • Zeus pods with joystick make docking easy
  • Flat fuel curve lets you cruise anywhere from 19 to 28 knots
  • Big flybridge with galley and T-top
  • Three en suite cabins plus a crew cabin
  • Quiet at speed thanks to aft engine placement

What to weigh up

  • Pod drives add service cost and need specialist dealers
  • Small SmartCraft display on early boats
  • Galley aft rather than amidships can feel separated from the helm
  • Many listings are European spec and need import work
  • Model is orphaned now that the range has ended

Used Beneteau Monte Carlo 6 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

Azimut 60

The Italian benchmark 60 ft flybridge, with more brand cachet and usually a higher used price.

Compare side by side

Princess 60

British-built flybridge with excellent build quality and a strong US dealer network.

Absolute 60 Fly

Another pod-drive Italian with clever volume; the closest match in concept.

Compare side by side

Prestige 590

A Groupe Beneteau sibling from the Prestige brand, with more interior volume and less sporty styling.

Our verdict on the Beneteau Monte Carlo 6

The Beneteau Monte Carlo 6 is the rare production yacht that genuinely looks more expensive than it is. Nuvolari Lenard's styling still turns heads a decade on, the Zeus pods and single-seat helm make it easy for an owner to drive, and the PMY test showed a fuel curve flat enough to cruise at almost any planing speed you like. The catches are the specialist servicing that pods demand and the fact that Beneteau has closed the line. Buy a well-documented, US-commissioned boat with a gyro and you get most of a Monte Carlo Yachts experience for a fraction of the money.

Beneteau Monte Carlo 6 questions answered

How much is a Beneteau Monte Carlo 6 worth?

Used MC6s typically range from about $780,000 for early European boats to around $1.6 million for late, stabilized US boats. It listed new at $1.41 million in 2015.

What engines are in the Beneteau MC6?

Every MC6 has twin 600 hp Cummins QSC 8.3 diesels driving Cummins Zeus pods with joystick control. No other engine package was offered.

How fast is the Monte Carlo 6?

Power and Motoryacht recorded 28 knots at 3,070 rpm and a 23-knot cruise at 2,750 rpm burning 42.7 gph.

Is the Beneteau Monte Carlo 6 a Monte Carlo Yachts boat?

No. It was designed by the same studio, Nuvolari Lenard, but sold under the Beneteau brand. Monte Carlo Yachts is a separate Italian brand building 65 ft and larger yachts.

When was the Monte Carlo 6 built?

It debuted at Dusseldorf in January 2015, and the Beneteau Monte Carlo line ended in 2022.

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 Monte Carlo 6 Motor Yachts How this type compares and what to look for