Beneteau Oceanis 500 Guide for Buyers of a 1988 Classic

The big boat of Beneteau's first Oceanis range

Searches for beneteau 500 oceanis lead to one of the larger boats in Beneteau's original Oceanis line. Practical Sailor's history of the company records that Beneteau commissioned Philippe Briand in 1986 to inaugurate the Oceanis performance cruising range, and Beneteau USA's own literature dates the range to 1985. Sailboatdata lists the Oceanis 500 as a Briand design first built in 1988, with figures taken from the original builder's brochure.

The boat is a 50 ft 3 in masthead sloop with a 15 ft 7 in beam, a wing keel and a displacement of 30,700 lb. For the late 1980s that was a lot of boat for a production builder, and it was clearly aimed at owners who wanted to live aboard and cruise far: the tanks hold 148 gallons of diesel and 265 gallons of water. Today it is a rare sight in the US, and most buyers who find one are looking at a 35 year old cruiser that has had several owners and, often, a charter career.

Philippe Briand's numbers, decoded

The most striking figure is the 44 ft 6 in waterline on a 50 ft 3 in hull. In 1988 many cruisers still carried long overhangs, so a waterline this close to overall length was notable, and it gives the 500 a theoretical hull speed of about 8.9 knots. The displacement to length ratio of about 155 is moderate, and the ballast ratio of about 35 percent, with 10,800 lb of ballast, is respectable.

With 1,115 sq ft of sail on the masthead rig, the sail area to displacement ratio is about 18.3, which sailboatdata's scale places in the reasonably good performance band. In practical terms, the 500 should be a steady, powerful cruiser in 12 knots and up, but it is not a light air boat, and it will need a large genoa or a cruising spinnaker to keep moving in the lighter summer breezes of the US East Coast.

A wing keel at 6 ft

The Oceanis 500 is listed with a wing keel drawing 6 ft. On a 50 footer that is a practical draft for the Chesapeake, the Florida Keys and much of the Bahamas, and it is one of the reasons boats like this appealed to American cruisers. Wing keels trade a little upwind performance and some ability to kedge off a grounding for that shallower draft.

The charter version cataloged as the Moorings 500 is listed by sailboatdata with a fin keel and spade rudder, a lighter 28,600 lb displacement and a smaller sail plan of 1,021 sq ft. So two boats that look alike in the water may behave differently, and the keel type should be the first thing you confirm on any listing.

A Perkins 4-236 and tanks for living aboard

The original brochure figures list a Perkins 4-236 of 85 hp. The 4-236 is a heavy, slow-revving, naturally aspirated four cylinder that was fitted to thousands of yachts and work boats in that era, and parts and rebuild knowledge are still widely available. The Moorings 500 is listed with a different engine, a Perkins 6-354 of 80 hp, which is another reminder to check the actual installation rather than the brochure.

Tankage is the 500's quiet strength: 148 gallons of fuel and 265 gallons of water put it ahead of many newer 50 footers, and make longer passages and extended stays at anchor realistic. The flip side is age. Tanks from the late 1980s may be due for inspection or replacement, and replacing a large tank often means removing furniture. Ask what the tanks are made of, when they were last inspected, and whether there is any sign of leaks or corrosion.

Moorings 500 and Prestige 500

Sailboatdata notes that the charter version was sold as the Moorings 500 and the Prestige 500. Like the later Moorings Beneteaus, these boats were fitted out for fleet use, with interiors and equipment specified by the charter companies. Many came onto the brokerage market after their charter terms.

That history affects value and inspection. Charter boats were serviced on a schedule but sailed hard by many different crews, and cabins, heads and galley equipment were often modified or replaced over the years. Ask for the boat's original documents, which will show whether it was built as a private Oceanis 500 or as a charter version.

Where the 500 sits among the big Oceanis boats

The Oceanis 500 belongs to the generation that included the Briand designed Oceanis 430, built from 1986 to 1992. It was followed at the top of the range by the Oceanis 510, first built in 1992 and also credited to Briand. Sailboatdata's figures for the two are almost identical, with the same 15 ft 7 in beam, essentially the same 44 ft 6 in waterline and the same 10,800 lb of ballast, which suggests the 510 was a development of the 500 rather than a clean sheet design.

From 1995 Beneteau's large cruiser was the Farr designed Beneteau 50, a completely different and more modern boat. If you are comparing a 500 with either of those, remember that the 510 is a few years newer and the Farr 50 roughly a decade newer, and price them accordingly.

Survey priorities for a boat from 1988

Any 50 foot production boat from the late 1980s needs a thorough pre-purchase survey. The biggest risks are structural and systems related rather than design related: deck core moisture around fittings, the condition of the hull to deck joint, chainplates and their knees, and the bond between the hull and its internal structure in the keel area. A wing keel boat that has grounded hard deserves particular attention around the keel stub.

Systems age is the other issue. Original wiring, panels, through-hulls, hoses and tanks are all due for replacement after 35 years if they have not been done. A rig survey is essential, as is an engine survey with oil analysis on the Perkins.

• Hull moisture readings and any history of osmosis treatment
• Deck core around stanchions, winches, hatches and the mast step
• Keel bolts and wing keel attachment, especially after groundings
• Standing rigging age, chainplates and mast step corrosion
• Fuel and water tanks, fittings and gauges
• Perkins engine mounts, exhaust, heat exchanger and hours

What a Beneteau Oceanis 500 is worth today

With so few boats on the market, there is no tight price band for the Beneteau Oceanis 500. A realistic US range in 2026 is about $75,000 to $140,000. The bottom of the range buys a boat that needs rigging, engine work and interior refurbishment; the top requires recent big ticket work with receipts. At these prices, the 500 offers a great deal of length, waterline and tankage for the money, but the purchase price is only the start: budget for a refit fund of 10 to 20 percent of the price in the first two years.

Annual costs for slip, insurance and maintenance on a 50 footer typically run $12,000 to $24,000, more if the boat is kept in a high cost marina.