Beneteau 343

Last updated

Beneteau 343
Development
Designer Berret-Racoupeau
LocationFrance
Year2004
Builder(s) Beneteau
Role Cruiser-Racer
NameBeneteau 343
Boat
Displacement 13,448 lb (6,100 kg)
Draft 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Hull
Type monohull
Construction glassfibre
LOA 35.50 ft (10.82 m)
LWL 30.83 ft (9.40 m)
Beam 11.42 ft (3.48 m)
Engine type Yanmar 29 hp (22 kW) diesel engine
Hull appendages
Keel/board typeFin keel
Ballast3,402 lb (1,543 kg)
Rudder(s)Spade-type rudder
Rig
Rig type Bermuda rig
I foretriangle height43.44 ft (13.24 m)
J foretriangle base12.80 ft (3.90 m)
P mainsail luff39.14 ft (11.93 m)
E mainsail foot13.58 ft (4.14 m)
Sails
Sailplan9/10 Fractional rigged sloop
Mainsail area304 sq ft (28.2 m2)
Jib/genoa area346 sq ft (32.1 m2)
Spinnaker area941 sq ft (87.4 m2)
Upwind sail area649 sq ft (60.3 m2)
Downwind sail area1,245 sq ft (115.7 m2)
Racing
PHRF 147-162

The Beneteau 343, also called the Beneteau Oceanis 343 is a French sailboat that was designed by Berret-Racoupeau as a cruiser-racer and first built in 2004 as a 2005 model year. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10]

Contents

Production

The design was built by Beneteau in Marion, South Carolina, United States, from 2004 to 2008, but it is now out of production. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [11] [12] [13] [14]

Design

The Beneteau 343 is a recreational keelboat, built predominantly of glassfibre, with wood trim. The hull is solid fibreglass and the deck is balsa-cored. It has a 9/10 fractional sloop rig, with a deck-stepped mast, two sets of swept spreaders and aluminium spars by US Spars with discontinuous stainless steel wire standing rigging. The hull has a slightly raked stem, a walk-through reverse transom with a swimming platform, an internally mounted spade-type rudder controlled by a wheel and a fixed fin keel, a stub keel and centreboard or optional shoal-draft keel. The fin keel model displaces 13,448 lb (6,100 kg) and carries 3,402 lb (1,543 kg) of cast iron ballast, while the centerboard and shoal draft versions displace 14,374 lb (6,520 kg) and carry 4,321 lb (1,960 kg) of cast iron ballast. On the centreboard model the centreboard is steel. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [14]

The keel-equipped version of the boat has a draft of 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m), or 4 ft 10 in (1.47 m) with the optional shoal draft keel. The centerboard-equipped version has a draft of 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m) with the centerboard extended and 3 ft 10 in (1.17 m) with it retracted, allowing operation in shallow water. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]

The boat is fitted with a Japanese Yanmar diesel engine of 21 or 29 hp (16 or 22 kW) for docking and manoeuvring. The fuel tank holds 19.8 U.S. gallons (75 L; 16.5 imp gal) and the fresh water tank has a capacity of 67.4 U.S. gallons (255 L; 56.1 imp gal). [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]

The design has sleeping accommodation for four people in two cabins or six people in three cabins. The three cabin interior has a double "V"-berth in the bow cabin, a U-shaped settee and a straight settee in the main cabin and two aft cabins, each with a double berth. The galley is located on the port side just forward of the companionway ladder. The galley is L-shaped and is equipped with a two-burner stove, an icebox and a double sink. A navigation station is opposite the galley, on the starboard side. The head is located just aft of the bow cabin on the port side and includes a shower. There are two heads, one just aft of the bow cabin on the port side and one on the starboard side in the aft cabin. Cabin maximum headroom is 78 in (198 cm). [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]

For sailing downwind the design may be equipped with a symmetrical spinnaker of 941 sq ft (87.4 m2). [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]

The design has a hull speed of 7.44 kn (13.78 km/h) and a PHRF handicap of 147 to 162 for the fin keel and shoal draft models. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [15]

Operational history

In a 2005 review, Darrell Nicholson of Practical Sailor wrote, "sailing in 8 to 14 knots of breeze, this boat is as quick as any similarly sized production boat, and it maneuvered easily. She beats to weather within 35 degrees of the apparent wind, and accelerates quickly out of a tack. She’s also stiff: we did not consider tucking in a reef even when we encountered an 18 to 24-inch chop in 14 knots of wind." [14]

In a 2005 review for Sailing Magazine, John Kretschmer stated, "out on the water I conned the boat to windward as McCallum trimmed the sheets. The performance was impressive. Although the new instruments were proving unreliable, it was obvious that our boat speed was good. The helm was light despite being over canvassed at times with the big genny and we had a lot of power to punch through the chop. " [16]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kelt 7.6</span> Sailboat class

The Kelt 7.6 is a French trailerable sailboat, that was designed by Jean Berret and first built in 1980.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beneteau 361</span> Sailboat class

The Beneteau 361 is an American sailboat, that was designed by Berret-Racoupeau Yacht Design of La Rochelle, France and first built in 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beneteau 323</span> Sailboat class

The Beneteau 323 is a French sailboat that was designed by Jean Marie Finot and Pascal Conq of Group Finot/Conq and first built in 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beneteau 331</span> Sailboat class

The Beneteau 331 is a French sailboat that was designed by Group Finot/Conq for cruising and first built in 1999.

The Symphonie 32, or just Symphonie, is a French sailboat that was designed by Philippe Briand as a cruiser and first built in 1979.

The Beneteau 311, also called the Oceanis 311 and Oceanis 311 Clipper, is a French sailboat that was designed by Groupe Finot as a cruiser and first built in 1997 as a 1998 model year. The design was also sold as the Stardust 311 for the yacht charter market. The same hull design also served as the basis for the Figaro Solo, the Beneteau First 310, Beneteau First 31.7 and the Beneteau Oceanis 300.

The Beneteau 373, also called the Beneteau Oceanis 373 and Beneteau Oceanis Clipper 373 is a French sailboat that was designed by Berret-Racoupeau as a cruiser-racer and first built in 2004. The "Cipper" version includes some optional equipment as standard.

The Beneteau 393, also called the Beneteau Oceanis 393 and for the yacht charter role, the Moorings 403, is a French sailboat that was designed by Berret-Racoupeau as a cruiser and first built in 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beneteau 40</span> Sailboat class

The Beneteau 40 is a French sailboat that was designed by Berret-Racoupeau as a cruiser-racer and first built in 2007. Versions were also sold as the Oceanis 40 cruiser and the Moorings 41.3 for the yacht charter market. The interior was designed by Nauta Design.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beneteau 423</span> Sailboat class

The Beneteau 423, also called the Oceanis 423, is a French sailboat that was designed by Groupe Finot as a cruiser and first built in 2002. With a list of optional equipment as standard it is called the Oceanis Clipper 423.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beneteau 43</span> Sailboat class

The Beneteau 43, also called the Oceanis 43 and for the yacht charter market, the Moorings 43.4, is a French sailboat that was designed by Berret-Racoupeau as a cruiser and first built in 2006. The interior was designed by Nauta Design.

The Beneteau 46, also sold as the Oceanis 46, is a French sailboat that was designed by Berret-Racoupeau as a cruiser and first built in 2007. The interior was designed by Nauta Design.

The Beneteau 461, also called the Oceanis 461, is a French sailboat that was designed by Bruce Farr as a cruiser and first built in 1996. Armel Briand designed the interior. With optional equipment included as standard it was known as the Oceanis Clipper 461.

The Beneteau 49, also called the Oceanis 49, is a French sailboat that was designed by Berret-Racoupeau as a cruiser and first built in 2007. Nauta Design created the interior.

The Beneteau 523, also called the Oceanis 523, is a French sailboat that was designed by Groupe Finot as a cruiser and first built in 2001. With a list of optional equipment as standard, it was sold as the Oceanis Clipper 523.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beneteau First 305</span> Sailboat class

The Beneteau First 305 is a French sailboat that was designed by Jean Berret as a cruiser-racer and first built in 1984.

The Beneteau Cyclades 43.3, sometimes just called the Cyclades 43, is a French sailboat that was designed by Berret-Racoupeau as a cruiser primarily aimed at the yacht charter market and first built in 2007. The series is named for the Greek island chain.

The Beneteau Cyclades 50.5 and Cyclades 50.4 are a series of French sailboats that was designed by Berret-Racoupeau as cruisers, primarily aimed at the yacht charter market and first built in 2008. The series is named for the Greek island chain.

The Moorings 51.5 is a French sailboat that was designed by Berret-Racoupeau as a cruiser for the yacht charter market, with Moorings Yacht Charter as the fleet customer and first built in 2005.

The Beneteau Evasion 34 is a French sailboat that was designed by André Bénéteau as a motorsailer and first built in 1980.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 McArthur, Bruce (2023). "Beneteau 343". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 27 June 2023. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Sea Time Tech, LLC (2023). "Beneteau 343". sailboat.guide. Archived from the original on 27 June 2023. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Sea Time Tech, LLC (2023). "Beneteau Oceanis 343". sailboat.guide. Archived from the original on 27 June 2023. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Ulladulla. "Oceanis 343 beneteau". Sailboat Lab. Archived from the original on 27 June 2023. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Bénéteau 343 Deep draft Sailboat specifications". Boat-Specs.com. 2023. Archived from the original on 27 June 2023. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Océanis 343 Clipper Shoal draft Sailboat specifications". Boat-Specs.com. 2023. Archived from the original on 27 June 2023. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Océanis 343 Clipper Deep draft Sailboat specifications". Boat-Specs.com. 2023. Archived from the original on 27 June 2023. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Océanis 343 Clipper Keel and centerboard Sailboat specifications". Boat-Specs.com. 2023. Archived from the original on 27 June 2023. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  9. McArthur, Bruce (2023). "Berret-Racoupeau". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 23 June 2023. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  10. Sea Time Tech, LLC (2023). "Berret-Racoupeau". sailboat.guide. Archived from the original on 23 June 2023. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  11. McArthur, Bruce (2023). "Beneteau". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 30 September 2020. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  12. Sea Time Tech, LLC (2023). "Beneteau". sailboat.guide. Archived from the original on 1 May 2023. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  13. "Bénéteau Sailboat builder". Boat-Specs.com. 2023. Archived from the original on 22 June 2023. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  14. 1 2 3 Nicholson, Darrell (7 June 2005). "Beneteau's New 343". Archived from the original on 27 June 2023. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  15. US Sailing (2023). "PHRF Handicaps". ussailing.org. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  16. Kretschmer, John (7 May 2005). "Beneteau 343". Sailing Magazine. Archived from the original on 27 June 2023. Retrieved 27 June 2023.