Beneteau

The BENETEAU adventure began more than a century ago on the quays of Croix-de-Vie in Vendée.

For 120 years, the core of the Boatyard's profession has been innovation and a passion for yachting. From the first sardine boat to the latest Monte Carlo, from the shipbuilding tradition to more advanced technologies, our expertise has grown. However, it is still the pioneering spirit of Benjamin Bénéteau that is the driving force behind our 2,500 co-workers.

Today, more than 36 000 BENETEAU power boats have sailed the seas of the globe. Steering them, their keen and demanding owners, with whom we share the same values of performance, modernity, safety and respect.

1 /1884
Benjamin Bénéteau, qualified naval architect and founder of the company, launched his first sailing trawler.

2/ 1912
Forerunner of his time, Benjamin Bénéteau, launched the first tuna fishing boat to combine sail and engine.

3/ 1964
André Bénéteau and his sister Annette with the help of her husband, Louis Claude Roux, decided that the traditional boatyard should move into yachting, and late 1964, Bénéteau diversified its business, turning to yachting and introduced polyester in the building of boats. The 'fishing/excursion motorboat' concept was launched.

4/ 1977
André Bénéteau created the Antarès range, fishing motorboats for cruising, already widely recognized for the seafaring qualities.

5/ 1981
Launch of the 'BENETEAU PECHE' at the International Fishing Boat Show in Nantes

6/ 1984
Centenary year and introduction of BENETEAU securities unlisted securities market of the Paris Bourse.

7/ 1986
BENETEAU inaugurated the Marion factory in South Carolina.

8/ 1987
BENETEAU extended its motorboat range, and developed French-style powerboating with the introduction of the Flyer range. The Flyers took part in the Diagonale des Fous, first long-distance water-skiing race

9/ 1990
BENETEAU presented Flyer F1, a model co-signed by the legendary designer, Pininfarina.

10/ 1992
The Flyer 5.60 Open was voted “Boat of the Year”. That same year, BENETEAU took over a boatyard for the professional fishing industry, in Noirmoutier (Vendée).

11/ 1994
At the American Atlantic City boat show, BENETEAU received the “Innovation Award”, awarded by the Cruising World magazine. This prize rewards Bénéteau for its creativity, both in the design of its models and in the quality of its construction methods.

12/ 1994
Already a world leader in the construction of yachts (since 1982), BENETEAU became the European leader in the yachting market, in all categories (sailboats, motorboats, etc.). BENETEAU also became the first builder of professional fishing boats in France.

13/ BENETEAU launched Antarès 13.80, its flagship. The motorboat ranges reached greater perfection with its Antarès XX and Flyer XXX.

14/ Presentation of the new SWIFT TRAWLER 42. BENETEAU's genius and intuition was acclaimed by yachters the world over. A new range was launched with a traditional trawler concept completely re-examined by the boat yard.

15/ 2006
The powerboating segment progressed at a great pace at BENETEAU with the launch of the MONTECARLO range, an Open and Hard Top motorboat range.
The European press discovered the boat during the Paris Boat show and then during a test session at Valencia in Spain. The MONTECARLO immediately made the “front pages” of magazines and was a tremendous success with professionals, in design, in its sailing performance and its easy handling.

16/ 2007
BENETEAU was awarded the highly envied title of “Yard of the Year” at the Düsseldorf boat show, rewarding BENETEAU for its creativity in its capacity to innovate, both in the design of its models and in the quality of its construction methods.