There are many sides to the story of this Beneteau Idylle 13.5 writes W M Nixon. Some are happy, some are less so, but all are interesting. She’s a 45-footer which dates from a magic era in the 1980s when the classic yacht design skills of German Frers were combined with the technical expertise of Beneteau to produce the Idylle range, three fine performance cruiser – 10.5, 13.5 and 15.5 – which were built with trouble-free and comfortable yet fast cruising in mind. In an era when weird high volume craft with vast retroussé sterns were beginning to dominate the market, they continued to look like proper yachts, and they still do.

This Galway-based example of an Idylle 13.5 has a proven cruising record, but a recent illness – from which he has happily recovered – has meant that the owner has been unable to commission the boat in recent years. Now that he is contemplating getting afloat again, he’ll be starting in a smaller scale, and is prepared to take a 7.5 to 8.5 metre RIB in part exchange against the asking price of €55,000.

Though built in 1985, the boat wasn’t launched new until 1987, and has remained in the original ownership ever since, an example of loyalty which is rare these days. However, one item of equipment which hasn’t been included in the overall theme of loyalty is the original engine, as it has been replaced with new 60hp Perkins 4108 Lowline with new transmission, which will be a huge plus for any prospective purchaser.

The onset of illness led to the cancellation of cruising plans which had seen an investment in sails which are still virtually new, so clearly there are great opportunities here for someone looking for a cruiser with sound basic equipment and large enough for long liveboard periods, for she doesn’t stint on spacious comfort below. As for her hull profile – with the prop shaft emerging from a skeg rather than relying on an often troublesome P-bracket – here again we find suggestions of a genuine intention for serious cruising. Definitely worth a look. See the full advert on Afloat Boats for Sale here

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