Beneteau Antares 9 OB for sale

The Yachting Address Review — Bénéteau Antares 9 OB

The Antares 9 OB is the boat that managed to stay honest.

In a segment where manufacturers constantly compete through marketing promises, the Bénéteau Antares 9 OB built its reputation on something far more solid: the trust of the people who bought one — and often buy another afterward. It is no coincidence that the Antares 9 OB consistently ranks among the most sought-after models on the French used-boat market. Its secret is simple: it delivers exactly what it promises, without exaggeration.

On paper, the figures are respectable without looking spectacular: 9.12 meters overall length, twin 200 hp outboards and around 35 knots top speed. But it is on the water that this boat reveals its true personality. The progressive-planing hull absorbs short Mediterranean chop remarkably well — that uncomfortable summer sea state where wind and ferry wakes turn the trip back from anchorage into an exhausting experience. The Antares 9 passes through conditions where other boats slam heavily, and the skipper arrives back far less fatigued.

The interior layout is also the result of intelligent compromises. Bénéteau wisely chose not to sacrifice usable living space in favor of pure styling. The forward cabin with its queen-size double berth is not a marketing trick: it is a real bed, inside a real cabin, where an adult can turn around without constantly hitting bulkheads. In this price category, that remains relatively rare.

What technical specifications never explain properly: the Antares 9 OB is one of the very few 9-meter boats that can genuinely be entrusted to a family crew without stress. Its large aft swim platform makes bathing with children easy, its moderate freeboard reassures non-boaters onboard, and its twin outboards remain simple and accessible — maintenance does not require hauling the boat out or finding highly specialized mechanics in remote marinas.

Our reservation: fuel consumption. In the standard twin 200 hp configuration at sustained cruising speed, the Antares 9 OB is not particularly economical. Boaters prioritizing long-distance cruising at minimum operating cost will naturally look elsewhere. But for owners navigating between 15 and 80 nautical miles, over day trips or long weekends, this remains one of the strongest volume-to-maneuverability-to-price ratios available on today’s market.

Our verdict: at equivalent budget, it is genuinely difficult to find a better balance for a family seeking a boat that is simultaneously safe, comfortable and versatile. The Antares 9 OB is not the most exciting boat in its category — but it is very likely one of the few you will never regret buying.