Beneteau Cruising Sailboats

Oceanis 473 Review and Beneteau 473 Used Buying Guide

The Groupe Finot design that won a Cruising World award, sold by the hundreds in two years and still anchors many charter and liveaboard fleets.

2000 to 2005 Discontinued Updated

Beneteau Oceanis 311 at anchor in the UK
For reference, Beneteau Oceanis 311 at anchor in the UK, not the Beneteau Oceanis 473. Photo: Timbow001, CC0, source
Length
46.9 ft14.3 m
Beam
14.2 ft4.32 m
Draft
5.6 ft1.7 m
Cabins
2, 3 or 4
Used price
$115K to $210K
On this page
  1. Overview
  2. The Oceanis 473 that impressed before the sails went up
  3. Beneteau 473, Oceanis 473 or Clipper 473: one boat, two factories
  4. What the sea trial recorded under sail
  5. Beam carried aft, twin wheels and a heavy helm
  6. Four interiors from one hull
  7. Engines from 55 to 78 hp, and why it matters
  8. Life after charter, and pricing a 473 today
  9. Specifications
  10. Price and value
  11. Strengths and weaknesses
  12. Used buyer checklist
  13. Rivals
  14. Our verdict
  15. FAQ

The Oceanis 473, also called the Beneteau 473 and Oceanis Clipper 473, is a Groupe Finot designed 47 footer built from 2000 to 2005 in France and South Carolina. It offered two to four cabins, 222 gallons of water and a broad, fast hull.

Best for
  • Families who need three cabins and lots of water
  • Couples who want big aft cabins and a fast hull
  • Buyers comparing value in the $120,000 to $200,000 range
  • Liveaboards on the US East Coast and in the Caribbean

Beneteau Oceanis 473 by the numbers

LOA 46' 11" / 14.30 mBeam 14' 2" / 4.32 mBow
Plan view drawn to scale from the published length and beam.
Sail area to displacement
17.1Balanced power for coastal and offshore cruising.
Displacement to length
159Light displacement for its length, quick but sensitive to added cruising weight.
Theoretical hull speed
8.6 knThe practical top speed of a displacement monohull under normal sailing, based on waterline length.
Ballast ratio
34%A typical ballast ratio for a cruising monohull.
Capsize screening
1.96Below 2.0, the traditional threshold for offshore suitability.
Motion comfort ratio
25.8Moderate motion comfort, typical of modern cruisers.
Length to beam ratio
3.31 : 1Moderate proportions.

Length compared with the 149 cruising sailboats we cover

22 ft63 ft

The Oceanis 473 that impressed before the sails went up

When Matthew Sheahan tested the Oceanis 473 for Yachting World in 2002, the first thing he wrote about was the engine. At 3,000 rpm most cruising yachts are running out of puff, he noted, but the 473 kept accelerating and reached 9 knots at 3,500 rpm, with the throttle still not at its 4,400 rpm stop. It was, in his words, one of the easiest mid 40 footers he had handled under power, helped by a large three blade fixed propeller on a conventional shaft.

That test summed up why the Oceanis 473 became one of Beneteau's best sellers of the early 2000s. Groupe Finot drew a long, beamy hull that is easy to drive under power and sail, and Beneteau put a practical cruising interior inside it. Sheahan reported that Beneteau expected to have built and launched 400 of them by the end of 2002, two years after launch. Few 47 foot sailboats have ever sold that quickly.

Beneteau 473, Oceanis 473 or Clipper 473: one boat, two factories

In the US the boat was marketed as the Beneteau 473; in Europe it was the Oceanis 473, and the better equipped version was the Oceanis Clipper 473. Searches for beneteau 473, 473 beneteau and beneteau oceanis 473 clipper all lead to the same Groupe Finot design. Cruising World named it Best Production Cruiser over $200,000 in its 2001 Boat of the Year awards, describing it as a well engineered boat with remarkable value.

The same Cruising World report noted that the boat was then built in the Vendee region of France but would soon be produced in Marion, South Carolina, and Wikipedia's account says US production began after 2001. Both sources agree the run ended in 2005. Whether a given hull came from France or Marion can matter for wiring standards and equipment, so look at the builder's plate and original documents.

What the sea trial recorded under sail

Yachting World's light breeze test is the best published data we have. In 8 to 10 knots of wind the 473 made more than 7.6 knots on a tight reach and about 5.5 knots hard on the wind. Downwind in the same breeze it lacked fizz, which is normal for a cruiser without a spinnaker or gennaker. In 10 to 15 knots, Sheahan wrote, it accelerated quickly and regularly bowled along at 10 knots or more in the stronger puffs.

The rig is a masthead sloop with a keel-stepped mast and two sets of aft swept spreaders. Practical Sailor, comparing it with the later Beneteau 46, points out that the 473 used a big foretriangle (a J of 18 ft 3 in) and overlapping genoas of up to 150 percent, which give power off the wind but take effort to tack. PHRF ratings of 72 to 96 seconds per mile for the standard keel, and 63 to 90 for the deep keel, confirm that it is a quick cruiser.

Beam carried aft, twin wheels and a heavy helm

The 473's beam runs well aft, so the cockpit is wide and the stern carries two wheels with a walk-through passage to the swim platform. Primary winches sit just forward of the wheels where helmsman and crew can both reach them, and a stainless bar in the middle of the cockpit doubles as the table mount and a sturdy handhold. The boat even has low bulwarks along the side decks, which give a useful foot brace when heeled.

Two criticisms recur. The twin wheel steering adds friction, so the helm feels heavy and slightly dull at low speed, though Sheahan found the problem eased as the boat picked up pace. And the mainsheet is out of the helmsman's reach, which caused a harmless broach during his test. Owners who sail short-handed often re-lead the mainsheet or add a powered winch. Stowage is good for an aft cockpit boat, with several large lockers; the test boat had a generator in one of them.

Four interiors from one hull

Beneteau offered two, three and four cabin versions, all with two heads. The two cabin boat has a V-berth double forward, a U-shaped settee and a straight settee in the saloon, and a large aft cabin to port with a transverse double. The three cabin layout adds a second aft cabin, and the four cabin plan splits the bow cabin in two and moves the galley into the saloon in place of the straight settee.

The galley is an L-shape to starboard at the companionway with a four burner stove, refrigerator, freezer and double sink. The double aft cabins are the standout, because the beam runs right back to the transom. Water capacity of 222 gallons is generous, but fuel of 57 gallons is not, so serious cruisers plan for extra jugs or an added tank.

Engines from 55 to 78 hp, and why it matters

The 473 was built with diesels from about 55 to 78 hp. Wikipedia notes a 63 hp Westerbeke as typical, and Yachting World's test boat had the 78 hp version, which is what produced the remarkable motoring numbers above. When you compare listings, the engine is one of the biggest value differences: a 473 with the larger engine will hold speed into a headwind and push the beamy hull through chop far better than a base boat.

Every boat should have its shaft, cutless bearing, engine mounts and exhaust elbow checked. Boats that were in charter often have very high hours; an engine with 6,000 hours and a good service history can still be fine, but price it accordingly.

Life after charter, and pricing a 473 today

Wikipedia notes that the 473 was widely used by charter operators, and sailboatdata adds that a number were bought for the charter trade. That is both the risk and the opportunity in this market. Charter boats were maintained to a schedule, but they were also sailed hard by strangers. Look for repaired gelcoat around the transom and bow, worn cabin soles, replaced heads and a long list of deferred cosmetic work.

In 2026 a Beneteau 473 for sale in the US typically asks about $115,000 to $210,000. Most private boats sit between $140,000 and $190,000. Yachting World quoted a 2002 base price of 116,515 pounds before VAT for the 78 hp version, which gives a sense of how much value the boat has held relative to its original cost.

Beneteau Oceanis 473 specifications

Length overall46.9 ft14.3 m
Beam14.2 ft4.32 m
Draft5.6 ft1.7 m
Displacement24,277 lbs11,012 kg
Ballast8,157 lbs3,7 kg
Sail area898 sq ft83.4 m²
Fuel capacity57 gal216 L
Fresh water222 gal84 L
Cabins2, 3 or 4
Berths4 to 8
Heads2
Standard enginesDiesel of about 55 to 63 hp (a 63 hp Westerbeke was common on US boats)
Optional engines78 hp version (Yachting World test boat)
Maximum power78 hp
Hull typeBeamy moderate displacement fin keel monohull with spade rudder and twin wheels
KeelCast iron fin with bulb, 5 ft 7 in standard or 6 ft 11 in deep
RigMasthead sloop, keel-stepped mast with two sets of aft swept spreaders
Hull constructionSolid fiberglass hull, balsa-cored deck
BuilderBeneteau (France, and Beneteau USA in Marion, South Carolina), France
Naval architectGroupe Finot
Production2000 to 2005
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 Oceanis 473 cost?

New, typical sail-awayNo longer built
Used, typical asking$115K to $210K
Yearly running costs$12K to $24K

Supply is good because the 473 was built in large numbers and many went into charter, so buyers can be choosy. Private two or three cabin boats with the deep keel, the larger engine, a generator and recent rigging bring the strongest prices. Four cabin ex-charter boats with original sails, tired upholstery and high engine hours sit near the bottom of the range and often need $20,000 or more of work.

Estimated used asking prices by model year, US market, 2026
$100K$150K$200K20002000, $115,000 to $165,00020012001, $118,000 to $170,00020022002, $122,000 to $178,00020032003, $128,000 to $188,00020042004, $134,000 to $198,00020052005, $140,000 to $210,000

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

Two cabin owner's version
Large aft cabin to port, V-berth forward, U-shaped and straight settees in the saloon. The best choice for a couple.
Three cabin version
Adds a second aft double cabin; the most common private layout.
Four cabin version
Splits the bow cabin into two and moves the galley into the saloon, mostly seen on charter boats.
Standard or deep keel
5 ft 7 in standard draft with more ballast, or a 6 ft 11 in deep keel that points higher and rates faster.
Oceanis Clipper 473
The European name for the better equipped version of the same boat.

Beneteau Oceanis 473 timeline

  1. 2000Groupe Finot designed Oceanis 473 enters production in France
  2. 2001Cruising World names the Beneteau 473 Best Production Cruiser over $200,000
  3. 2002Yachting World reports Beneteau expects about 400 launched within two years
  4. 2005Production ends; the Berret-Racoupeau Beneteau 46 arrives in 2007

Strengths and weaknesses

What owners like

  • Fast under power and quick under sail in a breeze
  • Very large double aft cabins
  • 222 gallons of fresh water
  • Award-winning value when new
  • Plenty of boats to choose from
  • Deep keel option for better windward work

What to weigh up

  • Heavy, slightly numb twin wheel steering
  • Mainsheet out of the helmsman's reach
  • Only 57 gallons of fuel
  • Many tired ex-charter boats

Used Beneteau Oceanis 473 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 Sun Odyssey 45.2

Named by Yachting World as a direct rival, with a similar size and price and a strong charter following.

Bavaria 47

A German alternative with comparable volume, also named as a rival in the Yachting World test.

Grand Soleil 46.3

The more performance oriented Italian option of the period, usually higher priced.

Beneteau Oceanis 46

The Berret-Racoupeau successor from 2007, with a fractional rig, smaller headsails and a more modern interior.

Compare side by side

Our verdict on the Beneteau Oceanis 473

The Oceanis 473 earned its success honestly. Groupe Finot's beamy hull is fast under power, lively in a breeze and roomy enough to give the aft cabins real space, and Beneteau priced it so well that Cruising World called it remarkable value. The weaknesses are known: a heavy twin wheel helm, a mainsheet you cannot reach from the wheel, modest fuel and a market full of boats that worked hard in charter. Choose a private boat with the deep keel and larger engine, budget for rigging and steering work, and the 473 remains one of the best value 47 footers you can buy.

Beneteau Oceanis 473 questions answered

Who designed the Beneteau Oceanis 473?

Groupe Finot designed the hull. Beneteau built it from 2000 to 2005 in France and, from about 2001, in Marion, South Carolina.

What is the difference between the Beneteau 473 and the Oceanis Clipper 473?

They are the same hull. Clipper was the European name for the version delivered with more equipment as standard.

How fast is the Oceanis 473?

Yachting World recorded 9 knots under power at 3,500 rpm, more than 7.6 knots on a tight reach in 8 to 10 knots of wind and 10 knots or more in puffs of 10 to 15 knots.

How much is a Beneteau 473 for sale worth in 2026?

Most US boats ask between $115,000 and $210,000, with private three cabin boats in good order around $140,000 to $190,000.

How much water and fuel does the 473 carry?

About 222 gallons of fresh water and 57 gallons of diesel.

Did the Beneteau 473 win any awards?

Yes, Cruising World named it Best Production Cruiser over $200,000 in its 2001 Boat of the Year awards.

More cruising sailboats to explore

Other Beneteau models

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