Off the back of what they declare was their best ever year for sales of Beneteau outboard boats, Irish brokers BJ Marine were recently in attendance at the French builder’s global dealer conference in Valencia to get a special look at its fully Suzuki-powered range.

General manager James Kirwan told Afloat.ie: “The growth of the range of outboard boats inspired us to invest in our first ever Irish Barracuda Tour qualifier, an event that also supported by Viking Marine, our Suzuki partner in Ireland.”

Beneteau’s outboard range covers the Antares, Barracuda and Flyer models, from six metres up to the new Antares 11 which will be unveiled this winter.

“In particular, the Antares and Barracuda ranges offer the perfect versatility for use in Irish waters where rapidly changing weather and sea states are regular events,” Kirwan said.

Beneteau Barracuda with a Suzuki DF200AP outboard

Suzuki has been the outboard supplier of choice for Beneteau since 2013 and the French builder says its partnership continues to go from strength to strength.

Five Suzuki-powered boats were on the water in Valencia ready for dealers to test — including the new Flyer 10 and 7.

“We are very proud to work with and partner Beneteau,” said Daisuke Kawatari, general manager for Suzuki Motor Corporation’s European liaison office.

“Our partnership is a strong one and we are looking forward to taking it to the next level in order to continue to deliver the ultimate boat/engine packages for our customers.”

The New Antares 9 sets the stage for an exciting future of outboard-sports-cruisers from Beneteau writes David Hoctor of Irish agents BJ Marine

Both the largest and sportiest Antares outboard to date, this is the model that bridges the gap to the heavier and more expensive inboard sports cruisers.

This is the perfect boat for the couple or family who want a life onboard. With two completely private double cabins, fully useable galley and generous shower and head, this boat is more than comfortable for weekends and holidays on the water. With engine power up to 400hp and fuel tanks up to 600L, she has the autonomy and sea keeping for extended adventures like no boat of her kind before.

The wheelhouse saloon has a large expandable table with opposing seats to either side. The forward seat-rest swings back to allow the seat to face forward, so that 2 people can sit alongside the helm while underway

The stylish galley comes as standard with twin gas cooker, large contemporary stainless steel sink, cup holders along one side and a large black glass lid folds down to act as a work surface and to protect the galley.

BASIC PRACTICAL INFO

The maximum length with all options fitted is exactly 9 meters. Her beam is just 2.95m and weighs well under 4.5t when loaded. Her massive cockpit, with almost 40 square foot of space and seats that convert to a sunbathing area, is the ideal place to relax with family and friends, sunbath and share meals. Or you can store everything away and clear the large cockpit for a fishing trip.

2 spacious double cabins and the convertible saloon seating, allows comfortable sleeping space for 6 adults to overnight. A large galley with gas stove and the generous toilet on shower make it a boat that would easily accommodate four people for a weekend or a weeks holidays.

LAYOUT

The newly developed hull on both the new 9-metre Beneteaus has allowed for a maximisation of space on board, giving her the comforts and features of much bigger boats.

–Cockpit
The Antares 9 has the familiar U shaped seating in the cockpit, but with some clever innovations. The main aft bench slides forward to allowing the seating to remain in use while the engines are up and you’re relaxing on the marina. The second benefit of this is to open up the transom and swim platform area to allow easier access across and around the transom of the boat.
The cockpit seating area easily converts to a massive sunpad that fills the space.

The fully glazed sliding door

–Interior
The fully glazed sliding door opens the saloon and galley onto the cockpit seating/sun lounging area. The wheelhouse saloon has a large expandable table with opposing seats to either side. The forward seat rest swings back to allow the seat to face forward so that 2 people can sit alongside the helm while underway.

Sun lounging area

Across from the seating area a long galley with a slick black glass top stretches along the starboard side of the boat to the helm. The stylish galley comes as standard with twin gas cooker, large contemporary stainless steel sink, cup holders along one side and a large black glass lid folds down to act as a work surface and to protect the galley while underway.

Below deck is a large owner’s cabin with double bed, large aft cabin with a double bed and a spacious head and shower room.

OPTIONS

When choosing the spec for your new Antares there are many extra options. One of the three trim level packs may give you all you need, depending on how you plan to use the boat.

The Antares 9 has an Airstep hull

PERFORMANCE

- HANDLING
The Antares 9 splits the waves with her sharply angled lower bow and sits solidly on the surface of the water thanks to patented Beneteau Airstep®2 Hull innovation.
This system of channelling air through grooves on the sides of the bow back under the boat creates a stream of air between the surface of the boat and water to stabilise the boat and improve performance and economy. With the added options of the zipwake auto-trim system and a bow thruster, this boat takes care of all difficult driving situations with ease.

- SEA TRIAL
Our sea trial boat was fitted with 2x200hp Suzuki APX. Maxed out with the engine trimmed she was smooth at 38kts. Cruising at 20knts she’s only burning 51Lp/h giving you a range of well over 300km with plenty of reserves. Her incredibly responsive Suzuki engines got her on the plane in 3.6 seconds.

RANGE

The Antares 9 OB is certified to take 10 people in category C. For more adventurous voyages she is rated to take 6 people in category B, which means offshore adventures and almost limitless coastal cruising possibilities.

PRICE AND AVAILABILITY

The Antares 9 has been sold out since her launch over a year and a half ago. At the time of writing, the next available orders are for January 2020. However, there are a few opportunities left to get on the water this season.

WHERE TO BUY

BJ Marine has one Antares 9 with a great spec available and ready to get you on the water for the 2019 season, as well as many other opportunities across the Beneteau power and sailboat range.

Contact BJ Marine today to discuss options for a Beneteau Antares 9 or any of the Beneteau range.

BJ MARINE Cardiff +44 29 2070 7331

BJ MARINE North Wales +44 1758 612686

BJ MARINE Belfast +44 2891-271434

BJ MARINE Dublin +353 1 287-8334 

An Irish BJ Marine sponsored angling team have qualified for the grand final of the Beneteau Barracuda Tour in France today. 

As Afloat previously reported here, the team comprising of former Howth Yacht Club Commodore Joe McPeake, Joe Gough and Tommy Squires were competing on the Barracuda 7 fishing boat specially commissioned for the three-day no-kill bass fishing competition.

Teams compete against each other on equal standing, on boats equipped with similar gear, provided by the event’s partners.

The winning angling team from the first Irish Barracuda Tour selections are in France this week competing in the final stages of the spectacular three-day no-kill bass fishing competition, representing the green-isle as BJ Marine Team Ireland.

After a very challenging day of fishing from Greystones in early April, the winning team of Joe McPeake, Joe Gough and Tommy Squires were selected as the team to travel to France and compete on the BJ Marine Barracuda 7 specially commissioned for the event.

Joe McPeake has only been fishing competitively for the last number of years, however as anyone who knows Joe will know, he does nothing by halves and has already won the European Federation of Sea anglers in Ireland's boat league in 2017 and has competed in the European Championships on the Ireland team in Iceland in 2018. Joes has served as Howth Yacht Club’s Commodore and is an incredibly experienced sailor. Joe is the team captain for the competition in France.

The Barracuda fleet in France, all set for the competition

Tommy Squires has represented Ireland on a number of Irish teams including the home nations team and World Championships. Tommy has a number of medals from these competitions.

Joe Gough has represented Ireland on a number of home nation teams and has various medals to his name. Both are life long fishermen and together with Joe McPeake makes a team of serious contenders with big ambitions for taking on the 60 other French and International teams competing in the final stages.

Accompanying the team in France are David Hoctor of BJ Marine, Beneteau dealer, who organised the first Irish selections for the Barracuda tour, and Martin Kennedy of Shamrock Tackle, who sponsored the qualifiers in Greystones.

“The Barracuda range has very quickly risen in popularity to become one of the best selling boats in Ireland and Wales, more and more serious sea anglers are realising all the benefits of these boats and the range is constantly evolving. It’s really fantastic to sell this product that people are so passionate about and to have an exciting event such as the Barracuda tour. We’re very lucky to have such a great team for our first competing, the guys have been preparing at home for the last several weeks and we have come down to France of the event to get a few training sessions in local waters, the team is out on the water now with a local guide!” – David Hoctor, BJ Marine.

Organised by Beneteau, the Barracuda Tour has become the European standard in no-kill fishing competitions and now has an international following. The contenders compete against each other on an equal standing, on boats equipped with similar gear, provided by the event’s partners.

Plans are currently in underway for the next Irish qualifiers which will be held later this year to select the winning team for the 2020 Barracuda tour finals in France. Contact David Hoctor at BJ Marine for more info.

Beneteau has been cultivating a community of sea angling enthusiasts around its Barracuda range — and international dealers will be sending their top bass fishermen to Brittany this coming May for the return of the Barracuda Tour.

With Le Crouesty as its home port, the boating ground for the no-kill competition will be the well-stocked waters of the Gulf of Morbihan for the third consecutive year.

“Bass is a legendary fish in the gulf,” says Roland Tabart, Mayor of Arzon and Chairman of the Gulf Tourist Office.

“It is wonderful that our boating grounds, already well-known to sailing enthusiasts, should promote other activities.”

From 10 to 18 May boats will fish out of Arzon in the Gulf of Morbihan in western France, starting with an amateur challenge whose winning crew will compete against the qualifiers from the selection tour in the grand finale from 15 May.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, qualifiers will be held in Greystones next month to select the Irish competitors, with free entry for all Beneteau owners. Entry details are on Facebook.

Those who make it to Brittany will be fishing from the new custom-hull design commissioned by Irish Beneteau dealer BJ Marine, which recently showed off the Barracuda range at the Ireland Angling show.

Follow the preparations for the tour on the official Facebook page.

Following on from the success of last year's show and the positive reaction to the Barracuda 6 BJ Marine have decided to double our presence at this weekend's Angling Show at Swords in County Dublin.

BJ Marine will have the largest boat display at the show, exhibiting the Barracuda 6 and 8.

The Barracuda range has been an incredible success which is growing from strength to strength. Orders for new Barracudas in the last 12 months are high in the double digits and more and more serious fishermen are coming on board all the time.

"BJ Marine will have the largest boat display at the show, exhibiting the Barracuda 6 and 8"

BJ Marine will be commissioning a new Barracuda with a custom hull design for the Barracuda tour fishing competition in France in May this year and will be hosting the first ever Irish qualifier for the Barracuda tour. The Irish qualifiers will be held at Greystones in County Wicklow on the first weekend in April, the competition is open to all boats, with free entry for all Beneteau owners. There will be a reception and after-party, with many great prizes for the winners and runners up. The top prize is a trip for a team to compete in the Grand finale in Arzon France from 15th-18th of May. The prize includes flights, entertainment, accommodation and the winners compete in the specially commissioned BJ Marine Barracuda.

BJ Marine's stand at the 2018 Angling Show featured the Barracuda 6

BJ Marine will have special pricing available at the show for the few models which are still available for this year. While most models are sold out for this season, we have one Barracuda 8 left in stock and opportunity for a new Barracuda 9 to be delivered in April/May. The New Barracuda 9 was debuted at Southampton last year and there are two boats arriving in for Irish clients very soon.

The Ireland Angling Show takes place in the  National Show Centre Swords, Co. Dublin. 

Opening Hours: 

Saturday 16th Feb. - 10am to 5pm
Sunday 17th Feb. - 10am to 5pm

Irish Beneteau dealer BJ Marine is back on the water early in 2018 after a strong run of boat sales brought 2017 to a buoyant close for the County Wicklow firm. 

As Afloat.ie reported earlier, last Autumn's Cannes and Southampton events were strong shows for the Irish boat sales firm in both power and sail craft divisions and it appears that the new year is looking that way too with BJ Marine preparing for both the London (10-14 January) and Dusselfdorf Boat Shows (20-28 of January). 

James Kirwan onboard the Oceanis 51.1 on show at Beneteau's stand at last September's Southampton Boat Show

Oceanis 51.1

“The launch of the Oceanis 51.1 has meant a lot of travel for the BJ Marine team with clients travelling to both Cannes and Southampton to view her last Autumn,” says James Kirwan, BJ Marine group sales manager.“The hull design is stunning and the increase of interior volume has to be seen to be believed. This, combined with the option of having the boat rigged as a performance cruiser with carbon rig and deep keel, means that this model can be whatever our clients wants it to be. There are numerous configurations.“It truly is a landmark launch for Beneteau and after 30 years representing the brand, it is as exciting a launch as we can recall.”

The Oceanis 51.1 launch continues this month at the Dusseldorf Boat Show.

New Beneteau Power Boats

The big winter power launches for BJ Marine, with its three offices across the Irish Sea at Greystones Marina, Bangor in County Down and Pwllheli in North Wales, as well as Cardiff and Malta is the Antares 9 (launched at the Paris Show in December), the Barracuda 9 to be launched this Spring and the continued launch of the Swift Trawler 35 and, of course, the Beneteau GT50.

James Kirwan with one of the new Beneteau Barracuda 6 Sport fishing boats fitted with a 115hp Suzuki outobard engine now in stock at its Greystones Harbour Marina base. (Below) the new six–metre Barracuda model, with its distinctive redesigned pilot house, underway in a coastal setting Photo: Afloat.ie

Move to Outboards

As the move away from inboard diesel engines intensifies, new small powerboat stock is now almost exclusively fitted with petrol outboard engines. This is the certainly the case at Beneteau. Each BJ Marine office now carries outboard stock given the increase in that market segment. For example, the Antares 7 and 8, launched last winter, have already sold over 200 units internationally for Beneteau. In Ireland, Beneteau powerboats supplied by BJ Marine arrive fitted with the Suzuki outboard range.

Barracuda 9

Coming next, Beneteau say its new Barracuda 9, will be the 'outboard sensation' of Spring 2018! This complements the already established Barracuda 6, 7 and 8, each of which has sold successfully in Ireland. Embodying Beneteau’s expertise in sport fishing, the new Barracuda 9 promises to be the robust true sport thoroughbred on which this legendary range is based. Extremely functional fittings and impeccable finishes make her the ideal boat for safe and pleasant smart commuting.It has an 'Airstep' hull and two engines delivering up to 500 hp, the new Barracuda 9 comes with a choice of 400 or 600 litre fuel tanks. Together with generous space on board, it can take up to 10 people on board.

Beneteau's new Swift Trawler 35 got a world launch in Southampton last September that continues this month in London and Dusseldorf

Swift Trawler 35

In bigger powercraft, the Swift Trawler 35, with its world launch in Southampton last September still has availability for 2018, but only just, according to Kirwan. As Afloat.ie previously reported, the Swift Trawler 35 is taking over from the extremely successful Swift Trawler 34, which sold over 400 boats in her tenure. Not an easy task but this completely new boat with a redesigned hull takes on this challenge and not only succeeds but brings a trawler style boat bang up to date! Designed for comfortable cruising whether for long periods or short hops, the Swift Trawler 35 will certainly tick the boxes for owners and guests alike. Its harmonious lines and light-filled wheelhouse with 360 degree view will make this one for show visitors’ wish lists at London and Dusseldorf.

You'll find the BJ Marine team on the Beneteau stands throughout the two shows. Other product launches like Swift Trawler 35 and the huge Beneteau outboard line-up make it well worth the trip for Irish customers.

Call James Kirwan for appointments and viewings at either show on +353 87 7712223

Confirmed display for London below: 

Beneteau Oceanis 35.1

Beneteau Oceanis 38.1

Beneteau Oceanis 41.1

Beneteau Gran Turismo 46

Beneteau Gran Turismo 40

Beneteau Swift Trawler 35

Beneteau Barracuda 6

Beneteau Barracuda 7

Beneteau Antares 7

Beneteau Antares 8

Beneteau Flyer 7.7

Beneteau Flyer 8.8

#TradeNews - Offshore yachting great Alex Thomson was on hand to unveil Beneteau’s new Oceanis 51.1 at the Southampton Boat Show this morning (Friday 15 September).

The most eagerly awaited Oceanis launch in a decade, the 51.1 sets up a very exciting winter for Irish broker BJ Marine – which has representatives on the floor to help secure your build slot as orders are already filling up fast.

Launched earlier this week at the Cannes Yachting Festival, which continues this weekend, the Oceanis 51.1 is being positioned at the first of a new generation for Beneteau’s Oceanis cruising yacht line.

Features including a new stepped hull, stylish deck plan and high-end performance options come with what Beneteau promises is a “cleverly designed, fast, spacious yacht that is exciting to sail yet easy to handle.”

The Oceanis 51.1’s stylish interior only adds to its high-performance design

And no one knows excitement quite like Alex Thomson, the Vendée Globe veteran who’s led the way in performance sailing aboard HUGO BOSS since 2003, and whose pushing of boundaries and record-breaking results make him the perfect partner for Beneteau to present the Oceanis 51.1 to the market at Southampton.

Next year's production of the Oceanis 51.1 is already selling incredibly quickly, and BJ Marine has teams in Southampton and in Cannes for the duration of both shows, to help owners get in on the action in time to hit the water next season whether at home or abroad.

The Beneteau Oceanis 51.1 has the option of having the boat rigged as a performance cruiser with carbon rig and deep keel

“The launch of the Oceanis 51.1 this week has meant a lot of travel for the BJ Marine team with clients travelling to both Cannes and Southampton to view her,” says James Kirwan, BJ Marine group sales manager.

“The hull design is stunning and the increase of interior volume has to be seen to be believed. This, combined with the option of having the boat rigged as a performance cruiser with carbon rig and deep keel, means that this model can be whatever our clients wants it to be. There are 700 possible configurations.

“It truly is a landmark launch for Beneteau and after 30 years representing the brand, it is as exciting a launch as we can recall.”

Find the BJ Marine team at the Beneteau stand throughout the 10 days of the Southampton Boat Show till 24 September. Other product launches like the world premiere of the New Swift Trawler 35 and a huge Beneteau outboard line-up make it well worth the trip for Irish customers.

Call James Kirwan for Beneteau Sail on 087 771 2223, David Hoctor for Beneteau Power on 085 887 3445 and Alan Corr for Monte Carlo on 087 253 3431.

Irish marine firm BJ Marine are recruiting a senior yacht broker to sell new and used boats at their well known and successful boat sales and service operation situated at Bangor Marina in Northern Ireland. BJ Marine represent market leading brands and our office network covers UK, Ireland and the Mediterranean.

BJ Marine Sales director James Kirwan says the successful applicant will be an 'energetic and motivated candidate' with a proven record in sales and a strong interest in boats. Computer skills are essential. 

Brief Description of Requirements:

· Answering sales enquiries for new and used boats.
· Managing leads and prospects and to seek out new leads.
· Seek out and secure new brokerage listings.
· Participation in National and International Sales events.
· Communicate with fellow employees to generate sales all markets
· Report to management on activity progress.
· Work with existing boatyard staff to continue the success of the reputable yard

Location: Bangor, Northern Ireland

Salary/Rate: £TBD & Commission

To apply, please send a CV to [email protected]

The boat show model of the Beneteau 41.1 sailing cruiser has been sold off the Beneteau stand at the Dusseldorf Boat Show today by Irish broker BJ Marine. The brand new design is priced at €215k VAT paid.

The Oceanis 41.1 was launched in Paris only a month ago and has already sold in excess of 50 boats. 'She has a superb sailing performance, complimenting a massive cockpit and really spacious interior for a 41ft' says BJ Marine Sales Director James Kirwan.

BJ Marine opened its fifth office, in Cardiff, prior to the German show and the County Wicklow headquartered firm has had a busy week as agents for Beneteau in all of Ireland, Wales and the Med.