I went out with Patty and Jeff today on Pirate Girl (beneteau 323). I really like how she handles.. you can set the sails and she will steer herself forever in flat seas. So far every Beneteau I have been on sails well. I’m sure there are some that are not a good as others and I will readily admit to only having sailed on 5 or so, but all those have been a pleasure to sail. She also has a nice size cocpit and if you sitting leaning back against the cabin sides facing aft the angle on the cabinsides makes for a very comfortable rest. I like the cabin also just for the headroom.. most of it is 6ft.. I don’t have to do the duck thing in the main cabin.
Now for some downsides on Pirate Girl… the seat behind the wheel is not very comfortable at all to sit on and steer. It is too low and flat, so that when heeled it is a tilted surface you can’t sit on. One other thing that bothers me is that I feel more exposed on her when going forward. I think I have figured out why. The hand rails on the sides of the cabin roof only extend a few feet. They are about the same length as the ones on my Beneteau F235 if not shorter while the cabin top on the Beneteau 323 is twice as long. So there is an extended part of the trip up the side decks where there is nothing to hold onto such as the handrail at the back of the cabin-top.
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