Beneteau Oceanis 51.1 Sailboat Highlight [Boat Review + Video]

Explore the 2020 Beneteau Oceanis 51.1 for sale in South Florida. Denison yacht broker Matthew Morrison gives a tour of this vessel.

Hi, my name is Mathew Morrison with Denison Yachting and today, along with my colleague Jeff Erdmann, we’re going to take you aboard this 2020 Beneteau Oceanis 51.1. This boat was first introduced in 2017 at the Cannes International Yachting Festival and the goal of this video is to show you Beneteau’s new era of design philosophy.

Perhaps one of the most distinguishing characteristics of the 51.1 is that not only does it carry its beam aft, but forward as well without sacrificing sailing characteristics. This benefits the consumer by providing enormous interior volume.

Being an avid sailor myself, one of the things I appreciate most about this boat is the flexibility in its sail plan. This boat, hull number 128, is equipped with the upwind downwind pack and it’s just one of the many examples of its flexibility. When we first noticed its accommodating diversity, on display, is all the way forward on the fiberglass bow spread. As you can see, all the way forward is tack point for the optional code zero. Next to this, you have easy access to your chain locker.

This boat is equipped with substantial ground tackle. You’ll notice a delta type anchor attached to the chain with a swiveling shackle and an electric Lewmar windlass. About a foot after the anchor locker you’ll find what Beneteau refers to as a “stem” or crew cabin. Rarely found on a boat this size, this crew cabin features a head, shower, and is air-conditioned.

Unique to this latest generation from Beneteau is the integrated tow rail in the clutter-free side deck. This eliminates virtually any tripping hazards when moving forward or aft. In addition to the wide side decks and flush-mounted hatches, Beneteau has repositioned these shrouds — one inboard and one outboard.

Reaching midship and just forward of the mash, you’ll notice the integrated hardware for a self-tacking jib which gives you the flexibility for yet another sale plan. This boat is equipped with a standard roller-furling main with all lines leading aft and hidden under a combing. Also included in the upwind downwind pack is the genoa lead car system.

As a seller myself, I can attest to the fact that the majority of your time is spent aft and the cockpit. And it is clear Beneteau, the manufacturer, has realized how essential this space is and got it right. Before I show you the guest space, let’s wrap up with a sail plan starting at the helm station on the starboard site.

Leading aft and below the coming is the majority of your running rigging. This is conveniently close to your starboard helm station as well as your primary and secondary winches. All the winches found back here by the way are electric. This brings us to the starboard helm station, which you’ll notice features a flush mount B&G multifunction display as well as a physical keypad for your bow thruster.

Also found in this area is your control for your bow thruster, windlass chain counter, Yanmar ignition panel, and throttle. In addition to having everything you need here at the starboard helm station, there’s also a flush-mounted healing block. Not only will you find this feature handy when you’re under sail but it also conceals the fuel fill. In between the twin helms, you’ll find access to your generator. This particular boat is equipped with a Fischer Panda producing 9 kilowatts.

Extremely well received on its predecessor, Beneteau did not forget to incorporate the electric swim platform. It even includes a step providing safety for getting up and down. One of the things that make sailing this boat so enjoyable is the protection you get from this huge bimini and dodger. When you see this boat in person, you’ll get a real appreciation for how expansive this cockpit is. The centerpiece of the guest experience is an abundance of cockpit seating. There’s bench seating both port and starboard with space forward for an optional sun pad.

The final feature I’d like to bring to your attention before handing over to my colleague Jeff Erdmann is this integrated line locker. This really helps keep the area tidy.

Good afternoon, everybody, I’m Jeff Erdmann and I’m with Denison Yachting and we’re aboard the 2020 Oceanis 51.1. Every single surface in this boat is luxury textures. We have the texture of the light oak finish on the ALPI wood. A unique feature of the Beneteau line is its 45 degrees staircase coming down. They’re dished so that they’re very safe to maneuver down and you’ve got excellent handholds that are wrapped in leather all the way down the staircase.

So below the staircase here is your Yanmar 80 horsepower engine coupled to a sail drive. So the service points are very easy to get to you. You’ve got your fuel filter right here, you’ve got your overflow for the coolant, down here we have the water pump – everything is right here at easy fingertip access for you.

On the port side, we have a single stateroom separated by the engine space so that there are excellent sound deadening properties between the two cabins. On the starboard side aft, we have the VIP with direct private access to the head and shower. Both of these cabins have excellent storage, hanging lockers, and plenty of drawer space. In addition to the private access from the VIP, you have direct access from the salon so it can be used for a day head or to support the port cabin.

Next feature I’d like to show you is this wonderful galley. There’s awesome storage in it. We’ve got a super pantry here. We have three different cold storage spaces on this boat. We have a dorm-style front loading refrigerator, we have a top-load refrigerator freezer and we have a drawer-style freezer over here with an icemaker. We also have a two-burner propane stove with an oven and a broiler. Directly next to it we have a sink with cutting boards built-in. Another feature I’d like to point out is these ocean air blinds, we have privacy shade and we also have diffusing bug screens. You can either open them 50-50 or you can open them all the way.

Directly forward of the galley on the port side is the nav station. One of the things that we have here is the B&G remote control for the VHF radio as well as a wired VHF. Additionally outboard you have the 12-volt panel along with the Schreiber control. The seating that faces forward on the nav station has a chaise lounge built into it that allows you to stay in place on a port tack and lounge at port.

Directly behind the nav station and by the galley we have the TV lift and you may wonder why there’s no television in there and that’s because these boats are sold both in Europe as well as in the United States and the television systems are different. That means that you can choose the correct television for the area that you’re going to use it.

So the dinette is awesome. You’ve got this wonderfully large table and this does drop down and converts into an additional large double bed here. While you’re sitting here, one of the features that I just love is you can look directly out the windows while you’re sitting.

Making your way up to the master stateroom I’d just like to point out this focal point bookcase with the under lighting. It looks and feels just like home. Because of the hard shine on this boat, you have a lot more beam being carried further forward. This allows us to have a full double berth with walkarounds as well as nightstands on either side to set your electronics with USB and 110-volt charging.

Forward there’s airline overhead type storage as well as hanging lockers with windows in the sides of the hulls that can be blocked out with privacy shades. The master stateroom is fitted with a large shower stall to starboard and a separate head and vanity to port.

So now that we’ve taken a close look at the Beneteau 51.1, you can see it checks all of the boxes. It’s good looking, it’s got wonderful spaces inside and out and it sails incredibly. This particular boat is in stock and available for immediate delivery. What does that mean? It means that you and your family could spend Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s on your own boat in the Florida Keys and or in the Bahamas.

On behalf of Matthew Morrison — my business partner — and myself, I’d like to invite you to personally come by and have an inspection of the Beneteau 51.1.