2018 Beneteau Antares 9 Outboard review

The answer comes in the shape of the all-new Beneteau Antares 9 cruiser.

This stylish French craft is an appealing mix of chic Euro styling and unbelievable living space. The Beneteau Antares 9 is definitely big enough to be a floating weekender.

With an enclosed wheelhouse doubling as a floating living room, the Beneteau Antares 9 is all about enjoying boating regardless of the weather. Its fuss-free fibreglass design ensures you can really enjoy the pleasure of being afloat with next to no maintenance worries.

The Beneteau Antares 9 seems a perfect choice for the sea-changers looking to spend more time by the water. Best of all, you can change the water view at will, and explore local rivers instead of splashing out on an expensive European river cruise.

I jumped onboard this new French cruiser for a swan around Sydney Harbour not long after its reveal at the 2018 Sydney International Boat Show.

Cocooned in the comfort of the Antares’ deck-saloon we were able to take in the iconic Sydney views while well protected from the outside chill. With the open sunroof drawing in fresh air and sunlight it was certainly one of the most relaxing boat tests I've enjoyed over the years.

With a bit more time we could have had a leisurely lunch aboard, since the saloon also incorporates a galley and four-seater dinette. Instead, we enjoyed a take-away coffee – one of the benefits of this size of cruiser is making dock-and-go visits to a marina cafe.

The Beneteau Antares 9 is built to run twin four-stroke outboards, with our test boat equipped with twin Mercury 200hp units. This endowed the Beneteau Antares 9 with a top speed of 38 knots, well above the capacity of most production cruisers.

Yet the most striking feature of this new Beneteau 29-footer (LOA) is its physical size. In true Euro fashion, hull volume is pumped to the max, especially in the very full bow entry. The result is a craft that can incorporate a comfortable owner's cabin, proper bathroom and separate guest cabin – something you don't normally see in a craft this size.

Aussies know Beneteau well as a big name in sailing, yet few realise the giant French brand is also one of the world's biggest powerboat builders.

The Beneteau power portfolio covers everything from the Flyer trailer boats to the Monte Carlo luxury cruisers with Swift Trawlers and Gran Turismo sports cruisers in between. The Antares is in the small family cruiser line stretching from 20- to 36-foot. There's also the Barracuda fishing boat line sharing a similar hull to the Antares and featuring a distinctive deep walk-around and centre cab configuration.

The sheer size of the Beneteau's global operation means the company is constantly improving and updating its range. This is evident in the ultra-modern and attractive finish of the Antares 9. Deep saloon windows and maxi-size hull windows are all very much the latest look in today’s cruisers.

The decor is smart and simple, and most importantly practical for boating, and in true Beneteau fashion keenly priced.

The Beneteau Antares 9 is priced from $207,000 running twin Mercury 150hp four-stroke outboards. The price jumps to $214,000 when fitted with twin Mercury 175hp outboards, and $217,000 with twin Mercury 200hp outboard motors.

The bottom line on our test boat came to $272,235 via options including the white motor livery, extended swim platform, bow thruster, electric trim tabs, gas cooker, electric deck wash and electric anchor windlass. The test boat also sported a few other features including a cockpit table, forward sunbathing mattress and Simrad GO 12 display, Simrad radar and auto-pilot.

The heart and soul of this rather chunky-looking cruiser is the saloon/wheelhouse. It’s here that you'll spend most of your time afloat with your family and friends. Having the galley and dining table on the one level makes this area the focal point of the boat, as well as the command centre.

From the saloon you can walk outdoors to the rear cockpit’s social area, which has attractive teak flooring and dining table seating up to six people. From here there's walk-through access to the swim platform and ladder.

Back in the cabin, the dinette’s front seat swings back to form a passenger seat opposite the helm. Meanwhile, the galley is nicely positioned to serve food to either the indoor or outdoor tables. The galley includes a sink, gas stove, 60-litre electric fridge and optional microwave oven.

The comfortable helm seat has a full array of instruments on the dash, and a narrow side door so the skipper can pop out on deck and attend to the dock lines if there's no crew help.

And before we make jokes about the romantic inclinations of the French, Aussie couples should love the Beneteau Antares 9’s deluxe master cabin. A the bathroom with toilet and shower/washbasin is on the same level; being able to enjoy a hot shower with pressurised water is what I call luxury afloat.

The double-berth guest cabin is to the left of the stairway and runs transversely under the saloon.

Side door access and wide side decks make the Beneteau Antares 9 a package that’s well suited to family cruising.  It is an invite to grab the caviar and champagne and head for a quiet anchorage for the weekend.

Finish is what I'd call 'smart casual' with white fibreglass and soft vinyl inserts offset with dark timber panels. There's also plenty of under-bunk stowage, and, because the motors are mounted outboard, even more in the cockpit.

I've tested a number of Antares models over the years but this new generation rates as the best yet. The Beneteau Antares 9 delivers a proper cruiser rather than camper-dayboat, and her extra-wide hull (9ft 8in beam) and deep vee bottom ensures decent sea-keeping to tackle short offshore hops up the coast.

The hull’s design creates a lot of wetted surface area, but this boat features Antares’ advanced 'stepped hull' design that reduces drag and delivers better fuel efficiency. A bow thruster is also part of the standard package to help make docking a breeze.

The Antares’ deck configuration is geared to all-around boating needs with a deep, self-draining cockpit and sunshade provided by the wide eyebrow of the saloon roof. However, I suspect Aussie owners will ask for an extra awning over the cockpit to provide more summer protection.

The hull is made from balsa core fibreglass, and features interior furniture mouldings that also contribute to overall strength.

Sydney Harbour was in a rather tranquil mood for our test, with little to challenge the Beneteau Antares 9 on the water. However, running the watery cauldron under the Harbour Bridge gave a taste of big waves, which the Antares handled with ease.

The steering is light and direct thanks to Mercury’s power steering system, and from the helm you get a good all-around view through the big saloon windows.

While the boat is rated to run either twin 150hp or 175hp four-strokes, my impression is the twin 200hp makes the best balance between good all-around performance and getting places quickly. For offshore hops such as Sydney to Pittwater, extra power and speed will help to out-run a weather change.

Performance - fuel economy
14L/h @ 2000rpm
30L/h @ 3000rpm
48L/h @ 3500rpm
67L/h @ 4500rpm
133L/h @ 5400rpm

The nice-handling Beneteau Antares 9 rides comfortably, even when punching through bigger waves from ferry wash. It comes onto the plane nicely, though not quite as fast as a slim sports cruiser. The hull’s steadiness makes the Beneteau Antares 9 even more attractive as a family cruiser.

The Simrad multifunction GPS chartplotter/fish finder fitted to the Antares will let you enjoy a spot of recreational fishing along the way. If you're really into fishing, you may instead want to look at the Antares 9’s near-sister, the Beneteau Barracuda 9, which will shortly be available in Sydney.

What's so exciting about the Beneteau Antares 9 is the way its designers have increased the accommodation and added room for a double sunbed up on the foredeck.

They've also taken full advantage of the new generation of big four-stroke outboards to build a family cruiser that runs efficiently and economically with twin outboards. The new line of Mercury 3.4-litre four-stroke outboard motors are impressive performers,and can be tilted clear of the water while laid up at a marina.

The ability to easily service these engines, or replace them at the end of their service life, makes twin outboards a logical choice for cruisers this size. Sitting in the cockpit at top speed, the motors’ engine note was quite pleasant. Overall, this outboard revolution is something of a win-win for today's cruising boat owners.

Model: Beneteau Antares 9
LOA: 9.0m
Hull: 8.25mm
Beam: 2.95m
Draft: 60-90cm
Displacement: 4.3t
Fuel capacity: 400L
Water capacity: 160L
Max power: 2 x 200hp
Power (as tested): 2 x 200hp Mercury Verado V6
Capacity: 6-10 people
Price: From $207,000 ($272,235 as tested)

Supplied by: Chapman Marine Group, 2 Waterways Court, Rozelle, NSW 2039, (02) 9818 2000.
sales@chapmanmarinegroup.com.au