About Beneteau shipyard
Benjamin Beneteau had been dreaming of the sea since early childhood. When he was 12, he became a ship’s boy on the lugger called “Eliza” and later he did his military service. His love for boats started in his best friend’s father’s yard. In 1884 he founded an eponymous boatyard of his own on the shore of the Bay of the Biscay in Croix-de-Vie, not far from La Rochelle, and started building fishing boats. At that time, they were sailing boats, and their efficiency was assessed by their speed: those who came back to the harbour first could sell their fish at the best price. In 1909 Benjamin Beneteau constructed the first motor boat in the region, which caused local residents’ protests: they thought that the motor would scare the fish away, so they they went on strike and expected Benjamin with stones in their hands. The confrontation involving the police lasted for a few months, but ended peacefully. That’s why Beneteau called his second motor sardine fishing boat La Paix (“Peace”). After a long break caused by the First World War Beneteau yard started working again only in 1928, this time under Benjamin’s son – Andre Beneteau, who was only 21. Early in the 1960s, in the waning days of wooden shipbuilding, like many other yards Beneteau was going through hard times. However, in 1963, having succeeded in switching to fiberglass, it suddenly discovered a new market niche: boats for recreational fishing. This is how its model range came about. And in 1965, when the yard was taking part in Paris Boat Show, it got its first large order. In the 1970s, when the yard already had a large serial production, Beneteau extended the existing ranges of fishing motor boats, started building sailing yachts and began its expansion all over the world. The yard kept developing its dealer network, collaborating with charter companies and went public, i.e. it did everything to create a real yachting empire of Beneteau Group, comprising numerous shipyards.
Highlights
Working in the mid-price segment and aiming at a mass customer, Beneteau has created a really large model range. Among the motor boats there are Flyer open dayboats, Antares fishing boats, Gran Tourismo cruisers and practical Swift Trawler yachts for longer trips. Sailing models are divided into racing boats (First and First SE) and cruising ones (Oceanis and Oceanis Yacht).
Achievements
Beneteau models have won numerous awards, but the yard’s chief accomplishment is its incredible popularity: Beneteau boats can be seen in any marina all over the world, and Beneteau sailing yachts make up the core of the fleet of many charter companies.
