Beneteau Oceanis 45 for sale

The Bénéteau Océanis 45 is one of the best-selling production cruising sailboats in recent history. Produced from 2010 to 2019 — nine years of production — it convinced thousands of owners across Europe and the world with a coherent proposition: accessible performance, generous habitability, predictable maintenance, and solid resale value. Its second-hand market is today one of the deepest and most liquid in the 13-14 metre sailing yacht category.

For a buyer seeking a first large cruising yacht or a proven boat for an offshore passage, the Océanis 45 is consistently cited among the three or four references to examine as a priority. This guide gives you the keys to choose it — or set it aside — with full understanding.

Finot-Conq + Nauta Design: an unusual design team for a production boat

The Océanis 45 benefits from a design team that exceeds what most buyers would expect from a production boat.

The naval architecture is signed by Finot-Conq — the La Rochelle studio whose reference list covers high-level offshore racing yachts, Vendée Globe monohulls and bluewater cruising boats recognised for their nautical qualities. When Finot-Conq designs an Océanis 45, it is not the same design office optimising habitable volumes for a marketing department. It is a team that thinks first about how the boat behaves in rough seas and established wind — and it shows at the helm.

The interior design is signed by Nauta Design — the Milanese studio also found in the new Lagoon 47 interiors. Nauta Design brought to Bénéteau interiors of this generation a brighter, more contemporary and better-finished style than the yard offered in the 2000s. The Océanis 45's saloon dining area, woodwork finishes and upholstery quality reflect this partnership.

Interior versions: a distinction that determines use

The Océanis 45 was sold in several interior configurations — and this is probably the most important distinction to understand before any viewing, as it completely structures the boat's use.

The standard 3-cabin version is the base owner's configuration: forward owner's cabin, two aft cabins, two heads. This is the most spacious-per-cabin configuration — everyone has generous space, and the saloon remains open and bright.

The "Owner's Version" (forward saloon) is the least-known and most interesting configuration for owners who sail regularly. In this version, the forward cabin is replaced by a private saloon with ensuite bathroom — effectively creating an owner's suite at the bow. The owner has a private space with dual access (from the cabin and from the bathroom), separated from the main saloon. This configuration is rare on a 13-metre yacht and highly valued by those who know it.

The 4-cabin version is the classic charter configuration — four double cabins, two heads. More berths, less individual space. This is the version for charter operators and owners who regularly host large groups.

The 5-cabin version is the intensive charter configuration — five cabins for ten to twelve people aboard. This is a boat that has worked hard if its history is linked to charter. Heightened vigilance on overall condition.

Fixed keel or lifting keel: a structural choice

The Océanis 45 is available in two keel versions corresponding to very different uses — and which do not substitute for one another.

The fixed keel is the standard version and by far the most common on the second-hand market. It offers a draft of approximately 2.12 metres — sufficient for the vast majority of Mediterranean and Atlantic anchorages, but excluding some shallow harbours and sandy areas. Its construction is simpler, more robust, and presents no mobile mechanism to service.

The lifting keel reduces draft to 1.05 metres in the raised position — opening sailing areas inaccessible to a fixed keel (shallow Mediterranean, Atlantic, Caribbean sand areas). In return, its hydraulic lifting mechanism is a specific maintenance point requiring verification at purchase. A poorly-maintained lifting keel can seize or develop concerning play. Always request a complete raising test during the viewing.

The Volvo Penta SailDrive: the unavoidable vigilance point

Like the entire Bénéteau and Bavaria range of this generation, the Océanis 45 is powered by a Volvo Penta SailDrive — typically a D2-55 or D3-60 depending on version and year.

The SailDrive bellows joint is the sealing piece protecting the connection between the inboard engine and the underwater transmission. This joint has a limited lifespan — generally 5 to 7 years depending on use and conditions — and its replacement must be documented with date and invoice. On a 2012-2015 Océanis 45 now 10 to 13 years old, this joint must necessarily have been replaced at least once if maintenance was properly done.

The absence of documentation on this replacement is not an automatic exclusion criterion — but it is a negotiation argument or a cost to budget (€600 to €1,200 for preventive replacement). A failing or end-of-life bellows produces slow ingress that can dampen the engine bilge without immediate alarm.

What the second-hand market says about the Océanis 45's value

The Océanis 45 is one of the most liquid 13-metre sailboats on the European second-hand market — meaning it sells easily and prices are well-documented by the volume of transactions.

Observed depreciation on this model is moderate for a production sailboat: 2015-2017 examples still negotiate between €175,000 and €230,000 incl. VAT — some 50 to 65% of the period new price after 8-10 years. This is reasonable residual value reflecting market liquidity and buyer confidence in the model.

Price variation between examples of the same model year can be significant depending on cabin number (a 3-cabin owner's version is generally worth 10 to 15% more than a 4-cabin charter version of the same year), equipment level and history (single owner vs charter fleet).

Océanis 45 against direct competitors

The 13-14 metre production sailing yacht market of the same generation (2010-2019) is dominated by three architectures worth honest comparison.

Against the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 449 / 44DS, the Océanis 45 is slightly faster under sail thanks to its Finot-Conq hull, offering comparable habitability. The SO 449 offers brighter interiors in some configurations; the Océanis 45 is generally more affordable on the second-hand market for an equivalent model year.

Against the Dufour 460 Grand Large, the Océanis 45 is more popular and therefore more liquid at resale. The Dufour offers slightly more premium interiors on Grand Large versions; the Océanis is more accessible and benefits from a denser Bénéteau service network in the Mediterranean.

Against the Bavaria C45 / Cruiser 45, the Océanis 45 is faster under sail and benefits from a stronger nautical reputation. Bavaria is slightly cheaper to purchase second-hand, but its Mediterranean service network is less dense than Bénéteau's.

What to check when buying second-hand

SailDrive bellows — first point, always. Documented with date and invoice, or to be budgeted preventively.

Sails — an Océanis 45 in intensive charter can have original sails at end-of-life after 5-7 seasons. A new 54 m² mainsail with boom represents €6,000 to €12,000 depending on quality. Ask for the age and maker of current sails.

Lifting keel on equipped versions — complete raising test during viewing, hydraulic mechanism inspection and keel sump seal condition check.

Charter history — visible in the condition of winches, clutches, upholstery and galley equipment. An Océanis 45 from a charter fleet with 6 intensive seasons in the Cyclades warrants more rigorous inspection than a single-owner example from the French Mediterranean.

Hull structure — request a haul-out during the viewing or require a recent survey by an independent marine surveyor. Moisture meter inspection of the hull is standard on any 13-metre sailing yacht over 8-10 years old.

Océanis 45 market prices in 2025-2026

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

Our verdict

The Océanis 45 is the "safe buy" of the 13-metre cruising sailboat — not the most exciting, not the most exclusive, but one of the most reliable to purchase, the easiest to maintain and the simplest to resell. Its Finot-Conq hull gives it genuine nautical quality that buyers from motor boating often discover with surprise. Its popularity generates a deep second-hand market that protects its value better than rarer models. And its Bénéteau maintenance network covers virtually every Mediterranean port with technicians who know the boat. The only real purchase risk is choosing the wrong cabin configuration for one's actual use — and not having checked the SailDrive bellows.