A Beneteau Oceanis 323 ashore for a marine survey by Guy Nicholls, Solent Marine Surveys at Lymington Yacht Haven, Lymington.
The Beneteau Oceanis 323 is one of Beneteau’s best – a great pocket cruiser built in hundreds and used by private and charter companies alike for good value, good accommodation, practical cruisers. I own a similar Oceanis, which pre-dates this particular model, the Oceanis 311, so I am very familiar with both the build and the systems.
As with most modern Beneteau yachts, internally the company has used an extensive tray matrix, sometimes referred to as a grid, to tie in keel and rigging loads. This grid is epoxy bonded to the hull at build stage, and forms a vital part of the yacht’s structure and rigidity. It is essential that this tray matrix remains well bonded and careful inspection is needed to ensure that the structure remains as built, any cracking or moisture within the grid must be carefully assessed by a surveyor.