BÉNÉTEAU GT46 TEST

Dashing looks, two or three cabins and the choice of IPS or sterndrives make the latest Gran Turismo an attractive proposition

When Bénéteau, along with Dan Lenard and Carlo Nuvolari, designed the Gran Tursimo 46, they probably weren’t picturing lumpy, grey seas and leaden skies complete with a brisk wind tinged with a winter chill. This boat, like most sportscruisers, is made to be enjoyed with the sun beating down on deck, though as anyone who’s spent time on a boat knows, you can’t control the weather. So we had to make do as we edged out the port of Palma de Mallorca in conditions that were more Blackpool than Balearics.

Though we didn’t have the weather to allow the GT46 to really shine (the photos were taken on another day) it would prove a good test for the second generation of Bénéteau’s Air Step hull, which channels air down to a step in the hull and is claimed to reduce drag, increase acceleration on to the plane and deliver a softer ride. The yard says that the latest version supplies three times as much air to the step as before but it’s difficult to discern what effect this is having. In fairness, the sea state wasn’t ideal for demonstrating its effect, which is likely to be most noticeable in a short chop when the boat is skimming over the crests. Off Palma, we were met with steeper waves littered with nasty troughs to bury the hull into.

We could only really open her up downwind and even then only for short bursts, forcing us to rely on Bénéteau’s own noise, fuel and performance figures rather than our own.

The boat performed impressively in these conditions especially when you consider that we had the smallest engine option of twin Volvo Penta D6 370s on sterndrives. We still managed 32 knots on test and even at 29 knots, fuel economy hovered just over 1mpg. The 400hp D6s are also available but the most powerful choice is IPS600, which sees a pair of 435hp D6s connected to pods.

Yes, we hit 32 knots on test with four people on board and no stores, but load the boat up with cruising gear and safety kit, and factor in some mid-season fouling, and you could well be struggling to hit 30 knots. The choice of more horsepower with either sterndrives or IPS is useful, and the pod drive version especially should prove to be a willing performer. That said, whether a few knots extra performance is worth the € 40,000 between the 370s and IPS pods is another matter. For me, as a fan of sterndrives, the 400hp D6 motors seem to strike the best balance between value, performance and engaging handling.

Even if we weren’t able to see the Air Step hull at its best, the GT46 felt accomplished in the grizzly seas. It landed softly into the troughs and climbed willingly up the backs of waves, relishing the following sea thanks to the agile handling that comes with a sterndrive set-up. That wasn’t much of a surprise – any 48ft planing boat should perform well in

following sea – but it was the way the 46 gritted its teeth and attacked a head sea that was most impressive, if a little surprising. We could easily maintain a cruising speed of 20-25 knots without overwhelming the hull or those on board. The windscreen wipers were working overtime but that was more down to the stiff breeze lifting up spray and dashing it across the decks than any fault of the hull. The boat felt solid, too – creaks and rattles were impressively suppressed, even if we did take a couple of hard whacks on the outermost chine.

The helm and twin navigator position sit on a raised plinth on a separate level from the rest of the cockpit. It’s a configuration Bénéteau has been using for some time, harking back to the days of the Monte Carlo sportscruiser range. The position makes for a clear seated view and means taller skippers can poke their heads out of the sunroof when the GRP panel is open.

The companionway down to the lower deck is to port, so centrally there is space for a comfortable twin navigator seat that allows a couple of guests to sit with the skipper looking forward while the boat is on the move. Like the helm seat, it also bolsters, so guests can stand and lean in rough weather. The dash design is a vast improvement over the Gran Turismo 44 that this boat replaces, not necessarily in terms of layout but more the way it looks. The two-tone chocolate look on our test boat won’t be to everyone’s liking but the bright white GRP dash of the 44 is gone and replaced with dark, shiny, material and flashes of leather to improve the feeling of quality.

STYLE AND SUBSTANCE

There is evidence of this all over the boat, in fact, a real push by the yard to up the perceived quality by using a more interesting, higher-end mix of materials. It’s hit and miss in places and some may say over-styled, but compare this to the solid if unremarkable finish of its Bénéteau Group stablemate the Jeanneau Leader 46 and it’s no contest as to which one grabs you more.

This continues below decks where a mix of light woods, titanium-effect cabinet fascias and soft cream carpets draw you in. There are some nasty, sharp edges to avoid, particularly around the galley, but it is an attractively designed area with a good amount of space to enjoy. As stylish as it may look, the galley is also practical, with a good selection of storage voids and clever Ikea-like sliding rack units to make the most of the available space. It also has a fullheight fridge-freezer which is a big bonus.

As well as a good selection of engine and drive options, there are choices to make when it comes to the deck and accommodation layout too. One piece of feedback from existing GT44 owners was that cockpit doors would be a useful way to make more of the main deck so they’re an option on the 46. They undoubtedly make the boat a more viable year-round option but they don’t do a whole lot for its looks, and once you see how well the cockpit works left open, as on our test boat, you will have to think hard about whether the doors are needed.

The cockpit design is truly brilliant; it does away with the normal sportscruiser layout and goes its own way. The huge octagonal table occupies the centre of the cockpit but folds in half to leave a clear path forward. Quilted benches surround it either side with pivoting sections at their aft end to bring those using

A push by the yard really ups the boat’s perceived quality, with a more interesting, higher-end mix of materials used

them closer to the table when it’s time to dine. You can add even more seating to this sociable circle by opting to have the wet-bar on to the transom and replacing it with another bench backing on to the helm seat. Our boat was also fitted with a pair of gorgeous € 8,000 electric adjustable armchairs in the cockpit – not exactly a must-have but a neat party trick.

BELOW DECKS

Below the versatility continues, with the option of either two or three cabins. This choice may well depend on what deck layout you opt for. If it’s the open version, a lower dinette tucked away from the elements could be useful, but if you have the cockpit doors then the sealed top deck is unlikely to benefit from another seating area below – so why not have the sleeping space? The boat we had on test had the open cockpit with the third bunk bed cabin.

The master cabin amidships and VIP in the bows remain the same no matter what layout you choose and, though it has a lot of steps and overhead intrusions, it’s still a treat to have a spacious full-beam master ensuite on a boat of this size, the L-shaped layout making room for a large separate shower cubicle.

The VIP cabin also has a spacious ensuite that acts as the day heads and is shared with the twin if you opt to have three cabins. The berth sizes in the twin cabin are generous enough, but there isn’t any hanging space, and room for bulky suitcases is limited.

Some may say that Bénéteau Group has been shortsighted by pitting two of its own brands against each other in a market already populated by Bavaria, Galeon, Fairline and Princess, amongst others. The reality is, though, the customer for the Leader 46 and GT46 are quite different people. The Leader is safe and handsome and inoffensive and does its job very well, but doesn’t exactly set the world on fire.

The GT46 is quite the opposite in that some will find the looks too much, overly busy and a bit garish. And the interior, though full of character, will be too gauche for some palates. See through that, however, and there is a lot to like about this boat – first and foremost the cockpit. Without radically changing the sports-cruiser blueprint, the design team has

made a cockpit that stands out in class for its ingenuity and versatility. The only obvious downside is the lack of a fixed sunpad in the cockpit, which rivals like the Leader and Bavaria S45 do have. Speaking of the Bavaria, this German aternative offers a staggering amount of space both downstairs and on deck, even compared to the big Bénéteau, and it’s nearly € 25,000 cheaper to buy. Nobody ever said this part of the market wasn’t challenging.

Bénéteau had to get the mix right between upping quality and keeping pricing sensible because customers are still going to expect the yard to provide value for money like it always has done. No, it doesn’t feel as well made as a Princess or a Windy when you dig deep, but then that is reflected in the price you pay.

Thanks to the production process in place, it can offer a remarkable amount of customisation for a boat that will be built in such high numbers from the engines to the drive system, deck layout and of course, the number of cabins.

VERDICT

You have to go back to 2009 to find this boat’s roots and the Monte Carlo 42. That was a good boat but like a pebble in the stream, time and the input of renowned design firm like Nuvolari Lenard, has shaped that original boat into a much more capable, adaptable and very likeable sportscruiser. Contact See Bénéteau website for dealers. Web: www.beneteau.com

Without radically changing the sportscruiser blueprint, the design team has made a cockpit that stands out