Beneteau unveils four new boats with outboard engines

French shipyard Beneteau has updated its Antares and Barracuda ranges with four new models: Antares 6 and 9 and Barracuda 6 and 9.

The Antares 6 is the smallest member of the family of boats with a closed wheelhouse and outboard engine.

The Antares 6 has a fully removable rear bench, enabling the outboard to provide power up to 115hp.

The saloon layout and layout of the staterooms below deck give a feeling of extra space in this slim 5.7-metre vessel.

Antares 9, Antares' big brother, utilizes Airstep friction-reducing technology to reduce friction in the water with a hull featuring a system of battens which pump air under the sea floor. The Antares 9 can be fitted with two 200hp motors each.

For those wishing to upscale the boat's fuel capacity, a larger water tank and a fuel tank with increased capacity are also available as options: 600 and 160 liters, respectively.

Moreover, Antares 9 is fully equipped for small family cruises with two separate cabins, a galley and a sanitary facility generously-sized for a 9-meter boat.

The 5.52-metre Barracuda 6 premiered at the Southampton Boat Show from September 15-24. This fast, richly appointed and well planned boat has already caught the attention of visitors. There is a fully enclosed pantry underneath the Barracuda 6 control station which can be converted into a temporary berth if required.

You can even install a lavatory, an unprecedented option on a small boat with an outboard motor.

Three engine options are available - 90, 115 and 140 hp.

Following the launch of the Barracuda 6, Beneteau has announced its big brother, the Barracuda 9, in early 2018.

The boat features a comfortable control station with a large dashboard that can accommodate a pair of 12-inch screens.

There is an extra door on the right side of the wheelhouse for easy movement around the boat and more comfortable boarding. The large glass doors in the aft wheelhouse allow for good ventilation and plenty of light. The galley is as functional as possible and is equipped with a large refrigerator. Below deck there is a large stateroom with lavatory and shower and a smaller cabin at midships which can be used as storage or to accommodate additional sleeping space. The boat is equipped with two engines with up to 500hp and two fuel tanks of 400 or 600 liters. The Barracuda 9 can put to sea with up to 10 passengers on board.