Beneteau 473

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

NO!!!!!!!!!!!! I just did a 14 day upwind passage Key West to SXM and used the bed all the friggin time except for close to shore when I was sleeping on deck. Now can you lot stop telling me I'm a f'ing liar!

Thanks

Well I delivered a 393 canaries to Portugal all hard on the wind , no way you could sleep forward outside of using a 3 point harness. I was getting accelerated into the headliner ! !!! I slept under the salon table !! On the sole.

Just ' buzzing ' you mate. !!

Dave

[MBLittle]

Any other experience out there willing to weigh in?

[nigel1]

Originally Posted by MBLittle

Any other experience out there willing to weigh in?

Good check on the through hulls and ball valves. Beneteau used brass fittings.
On some boats it does not appear to have been a problem, but I read on the yahoo 473 group, that a lot of US built boats had been found with severely corroded fittings-
I will be changing all mine to bronze next year, even if they all still look and feel good at the moment.
Sole boards squeak, another beneteau standard.

Other than that, no complaints

[hlev00]

Originally Posted by MBLittle

Any other experience out there willing to weigh in?

There is a yahoo group for 473s beneteau473 and another for 423s. You might ask there, though Yahoo thoroughly hosed Groups so you might have navigation issues.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by nigel1

Good check on the through hulls and ball valves. Beneteau used brass fittings.
On some boats it does not appear to have been a problem, but I read on the yahoo 473 group, that a lot of US built boats had been found with severely corroded fittings-
I will be changing all mine to bronze next year, even if they all still look and feel good at the moment.
Sole boards squeak, another beneteau standard.

Other than that, no complaints

Beneteau generally used DNZ brass. US boats wired to ABYC standards are what generates the problems. But thats another argument

you should hear the sole squeak on some HRs , gawd..

Dave

[FLLCatsailor]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

Well I delivered a 393 canaries to Portugal all hard on the wind , no way you could sleep forward outside of using a 3 point harness. I was getting accelerated into the headliner ! !!! I slept under the salon table !! On the sole.

Just ' buzzing ' you mate. !!

Dave

There is a little bit of difference between a beneteau 393 and a beneteau 473...

[nigel1]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

Beneteau generally used DNZ brass. US boats wired to ABYC standards are what generates the problems. But thats another argument

you should hear the sole squeak on some HRs , gawd..

Dave

I have been conducting a bit of research into the materials beneteau use, one thing I found was this thread on CF
http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...ble-90886.html

I spoke to the MD of Fox's Yachts in the UK, a Bene dealer, he confirmed that the valves were chrome plated brass (not DZR).
None of my fittings are marked CR which I believe is the distinguishing mark for DZR brass used in Europe
Not sure about the through hulls though, bene parts list indicates they are bronze, but the response from Beneteau in the above thread would indicate they are brass.
I'll play it safe and replace the lot, they are 12 yrs old, which is not bad going.

BTW, the only through hulls which are bonded are the two in the engine bay, that is a Beneteau installation.
At last haul out, I gave all the through hulls a good inspection by sight, with a scraper, and a hammer test, all seemed OK

[George P]

MBLittle,
If the boat's still available buy it. Only time will tell but I believe beneteau got it right when they built this boat. My main suggestion would be to figure out a system to slow the boat down in big following seas. Buy it, figure out a way and do it now. You will not regret it. I can go into the compromises all boats present but I don't think I need to for this model......just buy it!!!