Beneteau Oceanis clipper 343
PRICE £50,000-£75,000 YEAR 2005-2009
Beneteau’s Oceanis Clipper 343 replaced the 331 and featured a completely new hull and deck. She has a single skin hull with balsa-cored deck and coachroof, plus a bonded-in, structural inner moulding for additional strength.
The interior is bright and spacious, thanks to numerous portlights, a white deck head and 1.98m headroom. The curved saloon seating is comfortable for dining, but not ideally suited for use as a berth.
While there is some stowage under the seating and a few small cave lockers behind the seat backs, stowage would be limited for a family. The galley is well-appointed with good stowage and sensibly utilised space, while the nav station faces aft. A choice of two or three cabins were offered, the former giving an enormous 2m x 2m aft double berth, which can be used in either orientation.
Headroom is a surprising 2.05m (6ft 9in) and there is a very large clothes locker as well as a deep, full-length shelf. The forecabin is equally spacious with good stowage and a large vee-berth.
In the two-cabin model the heads is very spacious with a separate shower stall. On the twin aft cabin model, however, this is considerably smaller. In the cockpit the helm seat hinges up and the wheel can be swivelled through 90° to create a clear passage to the transom gate. The wheel is relatively small, so the genoa winches are within easy reach of the helm. There is a deep locker to starboard in the two-cabin model, which is essential for deck gear stowage when cruising offshore.
The side decks are quite wide and clear, while the foredeck boasts a deep chain locker, sturdy anchor roller and recessed windlass. The headsail furling drum is high off the deck to clear the ground tackle and the furling line tucks neatly away immediately behind the toe rail.
She sports a 9/10ths fractional rig with deckstepped mast and swept spreaders. Ease of handling has been near the top of the designer’s list, so this boat with its single line reefing, lazyjacks, zip sail bag and high boom is definitely aimed at the family cruising market. Twin rudders improve handling when heeled and allow her to take the ground safely.
Her swing keel has a screw jack lifting mechanism that, as with all such mechanisms, needs to be regularly inspected, cleaned and greased, and the anode replaced to protect against corrosion.