Practical Sailor's gear and boat reviews take the guesswork out of your buying decisions.

Volume 31
Number 13
July 1, 2005

Beneteau's New 343

A revamp of the 331, this midsize cruiser has a plain-Jane mien coupled with adequate comfort and surprising performance.

Chantiers Beneteau has been building its distinctive sailboats (along with Jeanneau, Wauquiez, and, now, a line of trawlers) for so long that it seemingly offers boats sized in 12-inch increments. As a result, the company is introducing the third makeover of existing boats, in some cases, or replacing similarly sized yachts with new models, a la the Beneteau 343. This isn't surprising. This kind of revamping is relatively common in the marine industry. (Catalina and other companies regularly distinguish newer models by dubbing them Mark II or Mark III.)…

Subscriber Login
Purchase selection, or begin your FREE 14-day trial subscription to practical-sailor.com.
Click Here to download Adobe Acrobat

Say Yes to 14 Days FREE of Practical Sailor

Subscribe NOW and get instant access and all the benefits of Practical Sailor online FREE for 14 days!

Email:

First Name:

Last Name:

Address 1:

Address 2:

City:

State Zip: