Beneteau Antares 6 for sale

The Yachting Address Review — Bénéteau Antares 6

The Antares 6 is the entry-level model of the Antares family — and it answers a question many boaters ask themselves: can you really have a proper enclosed wheelhouse, a genuinely safe boat, under 6 meters and below €50,000?

The answer is yes. And that is precisely what makes the Antares 6 interesting on the used market — not its raw performance nor its onboard volume, which remain those of a 5.5-meter boat, but the wheelhouse itself, which fundamentally changes the boating experience for crews navigating early in the morning, late in the season or simply in cool weather.

Three generations under the same name: understand before searching

As with the entire Antares range, several completely different boats are grouped under the same name in listings, often without clear distinction.

The Antares 620 (1990–2006, 6.02 meters) is the pioneer of the family. Powered by diesel inboard engines — mainly Nanni 85 hp or Volvo 115 hp depending on version — it is a solid, robust boat built during an era when reliability mattered more than styling. Its dated lines and inboard setup require maintenance from another generation of boating, but well-preserved examples still offer a structural robustness many newer boats no longer match. On today’s market, 1998–2005 Antares 620 models generally trade between €10,000 and €22,000 — a genuine entry point for owners wanting to discover enclosed-wheelhouse boating without major investment.

The Antares 6.60 (2003–2010, 6.42 meters) is an evolution of the concept — slightly longer, with a modernized wheelhouse and a more generous aft cockpit. Mainly powered by Volvo Penta diesel inboards, it feels noticeably more comfortable onboard than the older 620 thanks to its more contemporary lines and redesigned helm station. Used examples from 2005–2009 typically range between €18,000 and €30,000 depending on engine hours and overall condition.

The new Antares 6 OB (since 2017, 5.52–5.62 meters) is a complete architectural break from its predecessors. More compact than earlier models — Bénéteau deliberately shortened the hull to improve maneuverability and trailerability — it is powered by a single outboard engine up to 115 hp. This is the version still sold new by the Bénéteau dealer network today, and the one feeding the recent used market between €28,000 and €50,000 for 2019–2023 units.

What the Antares 6 OB genuinely delivers

The concept behind the Antares 6 OB is simple and remarkably well executed: a fully enclosed glazed wheelhouse on a 5.5-meter boat, powered by a single outboard for simplified maintenance, combined with a genuinely usable cockpit and a small forward cabin suitable for storage or an improvised overnight stay.

The wheelhouse is the boat’s true added value compared with an open boat of similar size. It protects the skipper and passengers from rain, spray and cold — which on Atlantic coastlines such as Brittany or Normandy, or even in the Mediterranean outside peak summer months, radically changes onboard comfort. Visibility through the large glazed surfaces is excellent, and the helm station works equally well standing or seated.

The outboard engine is unquestionably the correct propulsion choice for this size category. Yamaha F100, Mercury 115 EFI and Suzuki DF115 engines — the three most common setups on this model — are mechanically simple, widely serviceable and relatively economical to maintain (€400–€700 yearly for proper servicing). They propel this sub-1,400 kg boat to around 25–28 knots in normal conditions.

The forward cabin is small but useful — a V-shaped double berth allowing owners to change clothes under shelter or rest at anchor during hot afternoons. Buyers should not expect more: this is not a genuine cruising cabin for two adults overnight, but rather a protected storage and occasional-use space.

What you should not expect from the Antares 6

The Antares 6 OB remains a 5.5-meter boat. Its ideal environment is calm to moderately protected coastal waters — sea state force 1 to 3 at most for comfortable boating. In rougher conditions or sustained wind, the hull size quickly reveals its limits: motions become more pronounced, onboard space feels constrained and 115 hp does not provide the power reserve a larger boat can mobilize under heavy load.

This is not a boat for long offshore crossings or extended cruising nights with two adults and luggage onboard. It is the boat for protected day trips, spontaneous weekends along sheltered coastlines and comfortable picnics at anchor without getting soaked. Within that precise program, it performs exceptionally well.

The comparison that matters

Against the Jeanneau Merry Fisher 595 or the Cap Camarat 5.5 WA — its most direct enclosed-wheelhouse competitors in this size category — the Antares 6 OB offers very comparable dimensions and intended use, with slightly stronger finishing quality on recent versions and the advantage of Bénéteau’s extensive dealer network simplifying both servicing and resale.

The Merry Fisher 595 benefits from a slightly more walkaround-oriented architecture with more practical side decks, while the Antares 6 offers a more open and convivial aft cockpit. Both are genuinely good boats for the same boating program.

Antares 6 market prices in 2025–2026

Indicative ranges, May 2026 market. VAT included unless otherwise stated.

What to inspect before buying

On older Antares 620 and 6.60 inboard versions: inspect engine condition with complete service records, verify the state of the saildrive or shaft line depending on configuration and carefully check for hull osmosis on boats older than fifteen years. These boats are structurally robust but aging — a dry inspection with moisture-meter testing is strongly recommended for any pre-2008 example.

On recent Antares 6 OB models: verify outboard servicing history with invoices, inspect wheelhouse seals for possible water ingress — especially on boats poorly protected during winter storage — and check interior upholstery condition. Boats stored outdoors without proper covers sometimes develop humidity staining on forward cushions.

Our verdict

The Antares 6 is arguably the smartest entry point into both the Antares universe and enclosed-wheelhouse boating in general. It does not pretend to be a large boat — it is compact, fully aware of its size and remarkably coherent because of it. For owners wanting protected family boating on an accessible budget without the complexity of an 8-meter cruiser, it remains one of the most rational choices available on today’s market within this price range.