Beneteau Antares 9.80

This could be the Style Edition of Trade-A-Boat. The Hanse yacht from Germany reviewed hereabouts had some great nautical style. We liked it. The for'ard cabin on the French Beneteau Antares 9.80 featured here was every bit the Parisian boudoir. We liked it, too.

In fact, there were many surprises in store on this innovative little flybridge cruiser. Once mainstream boats on waters like Sydney - think Pacer 27s and Pacific 28s - compact flybridge boats have lost a lot of ground to sportscruisers in recent years.

Thing is, if you want something beyond a dayboat, if you anticipate cruising the coast and weekending away, then the flybridge cruiser is the boat for you. From the bridge you get unfettered views of the road ahead. If the weather turns turtle there's a lower helm station behind a big glass windscreen with wipers. No shoddy clears.

On top of this, the 33ft Antares has a good balance of outdoor living space for kicking back at those not-so-crowded anchorages you've discovered. Add twin diesel shaftdrive motors for safety.

Indoors, there is everything a cruising couple or young family needs for several consecutive sunsets and sunrises of boating.

MAKING WAVES
The importers of Beneteau boats have invested heavily in their business. They own waterfront offices on Sydney Harbour and are now establishing national dealerships for the marque, which seems well adapted to cool and temperate-climate boating.

As is to be expected, some of their new customers hail from the yachting fraternity; but others are first-timers drawn by the French styling. Boats like the Antares 9.80 should appeal to young families in particular.

Ever the inventive one, boatbuilder Beneteau has included some real innovation in this nifty fly. Foremost is the boat's convertible cockpit, where you can create a full-width boarding platform by sliding the transom inboard and fixing it there with the supplied barrel bolts.

While the cockpit is reduced in size by about a metre, there's still enough room for four people on deckchairs. And, voila, a boarding platform with room to sit and do lunch by the water, peel the prawns or sip a champagne. Kids will also like the waterfront perch and nearby swim ladder.

 The walkaround 28cm-wide sidedecks - recessed in the deck moulding with big toerails and a high bowrail - are safe enough for mum to move along to tie the fenders or fetch the mooring lines. At anchor, the kids can lap the 'house' or park themselves on the flat, private foredeck.

The final feature of note was, as mentioned, the boudoir. That cabin in the bow featured a big island double bed with a lick of Art Deco and cherrywood joinery for a classic but refined style. A couple can really sleep aboard this boat in comfort.

BUILDING STANDARDS
As with Beneteau yachts, the powerboat hull is made from solid GRP and balsa-cored sections. The boat has CE certification for eight people offshore and 10 in enclosed waters. Methinks it works best with two to four for weekends aboard, and up to six or eight on the anchor during the day.

Like every Beneteau powerboat I have driven, the Antares 9.80 had a superb hull that looked the part in the optional blue colour, which highlights the boat's teak trim. The boat has a very fine entry below the chines and a deadrise that shallows considerably at the stern.

The flat aft run and prop tunnels - not to mention the maximum available twin 230hp Volvo turbo engines - give the boat excellent holeshot. Despite having optional hydraulic trim tabs, the boat didn't need them. Advance the throttles and it glides to planing speed.

But the most amazing thing is the softness of the ride. The boat's natural trim angle presents the fine forefoot to the water. Wind waves, wake and swell - of which we had plenty - were sliced as cleanly as the neck of duck destined for a French restaurant.

And, with those big chines, we're talking a dry boat. Only the 20kt wind on our quarter lashed the hull, as it would have done pretty much any boat in the conditions.

Noise levels were low given that the engines were under the saloon floor. I drove from the lower helm without needing to shout to hold a conversation with my crew sitting at the settee around the dinette, taking in the views through the big windows.

A lot of single-screw picnic boats I test with engines under the saloon floor are unacceptably loud. Their builders would do well to examine the engine installation and soundproofing on the Antares.

The Antares has a lot of glass for a light and bright ambience. It hasn't air-con, but the large windows alongside the helm and galley slide open to give cross-flow ventilation. You can drive from the enclosed helm with your arm out the window, your crew sprawled on the settee, drinks and amenities at hand. A great all-weather boat.

 Up top, the flybridge felt good and stable. The views were excellent to the transom for parking, and the two adjustable pedestal seats and L-shaped lounge were comfortable. I'd guess that four adults is the bridge's comfortable capacity.

There's no canvass for shade up top, and there's lots of white glass; but with a lower helm, you can escape the sun while cruising by heading indoors. Up top, the wind-in-your-face drive adds to the exhilaration. Full marks for the hatch over the ladder that creates more floorspace and improves safety in the bridge.

The boat turns nicely off the wheel due to big rudders and hydraulic steering. The closeness of the motors and, moreover, the props mean it doesn't pivot quite as well as wider-bodied shaft-driven cruisers.

KITTED OUT FOR CRUISING
How does it rate in terms of the basic cruising necessities? Pretty well, actually.

On the electrical front, the boat hasn't any need for a shorepower connection, though it has one and a 40amp battery charger with the supplied Leisure Pack. The 140V engine-start and house batteries power the anchor winch, 80lt fridge, lights, shower sump pump and bilge pump.

It must be said, however, that there isn't much room around the twin Volvo engines. Beneteau at least provides lift-out timber panels over vital items such as dipsticks. And you can monitor at the fuel filters without climbing under the floor.

Fuel capacity of 640lt is sufficient to cruise to neighbouring ports for weekends away, which is pretty much what I would do with my Antares 9.80. Water capacity of 220lt is light on, but the manual-pump loo, deck shower and bottled water should see a family of four self-sufficient for three days or so. The holding tank is a 80lt number, which is just okay.

Living areas are generous. Outdoors, the cockpit is big enough for fishing, kicking back and staging lunch on a small table and four chairs (two timber director's chairs come with the Leisure Pack). There is also the flat foredeck for doing drinks or unfurling a towel.

I liked the teak covers over the aft cleats that let you sit casually on the gunwales, though they make securing the mooring lines fiddly.

Indoors, the boat retains a good sense of space despite the walkaround decks. There are easy-clean timber floors in place of carpet. There is 1.94m of headroom through the saloon, a portside settee and dinette for four, and the ability to create an impromptu double bed. Royal-blue curtains provide privacy when you park for a night at the marina.

The portside galley is a compact number, but the two-burner stove, sink with hot and cold water, so-very-French fruit and veg baskets, and 80lt 12V fridge are all you need for long weekends away. The aforesaid Leisure Pack also contained a six-person cutlery and crockery set. A microwave oven, listed as an option, is a consideration.

Windscreen wipers with washers help when driving from the lower helm. As is to be expected, there's a full spread of engine gauges here and up top, as well as room for electronics (Raymarine C80 LCD GPS chartplotter and sounder supplied), and a fetching timber wheel.

The helm seat is almost double width, with a folding bolster so you have additional standing room when running at sea. The Volvo cable throttles were a tad sticky, but that's just a pre-delivery thing. Electronic controls would be nice.

The boat's control panel is located in the companionway, which leads down to the accommodation plan. A utility room off the moulded head contains plumbing, pumps and the hot-water service, which runs off a heat-exchanger and shorepower.

There's room for air-con if you really want it. The genset can go in the lazarette, which is just huge and perfect for stowing chairs, fenders and toys.

Back indoors, the portside head has a skylight, opening hatch for ventilation, moulded sink, manual marine toilet, washbasin and H/C handheld shower. The bathroom fittings were stylish French numbers.

The guest's cabin is really a kids' cabin, with twin 1.90m-long bunks that might require an extra bottle of burgundy if you have trouble sleeping at night. But at least you get a second cabin.

 I tried the bunks on for size, but I'm one of those people for whom staying awake on boats is more a problem than sleeplessness. The upper bunk can be folded up for more room below if you need it. Clothes storage and funky reading lights are provided.

Owners get the run of the boat, of course, with a beautiful big bed in the forward cabin surrounded by cherrywood panelling, shelves, hanging lockers and a drawer. Headroom is holding around 1.90m and, with an opening hatch and port lights, fresh air is assured. There's a large mirror at the bedhead. Ooh la la.

FRENCH FLYER
As touched on, the boat has amazing acceleration and, when you plant the throttles even gradually, a perfectly level, imperceptible shift to planing speed.

Sunday cruising was clocked at 2800rpm and 18.3kt. Besides being quiet, the Volvo motors didn't exhibit any smokiness. Various cruise speeds were noted: 20.8kt/3000rpm, 22.6kt/3200rpm and 24.3kt/3400rpm.

Flat out, the boat did 28kt; but it's been clocked a few knots faster, I'm told. While there were optional trim tabs, the hull runs in fine fettle in natural trim. As such, vision from the lower helm is good when cruising, as I did, with the arm out the window and a laissez-fair attitude to life.

The Antares 9.80 is a cute little weekender with all the comforts and nice French styling. It would be perfect for those waterways such as the Hawkesbury River, where you can while away the time and never be further than an hour from amenities or home. Bon voyage.

HIGHS