BoatsBeneteau California 4.70

Beneteau California 4.70

Fractional Sloop · Keel/centreboard · 1983–1986

A high-performance fractional sloop with a 22.48 SA/displacement ratio, built for speed in a compact 4.7-meter hull

Designed by Andre Beneteau.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Hull type
Keel/Cbrd.

Is it for you?

Character

Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.

TrailerableBeam 2.12 m — inside the 2.55 m no-permit tow width across most of Europe, and the 2.59 m US and Canadian limit. About 400 kg of hull, so roughly 1,000 kg on a trailer: check that against your own towing rating.Ramp-launchableAbout 400 kg of hull, with a keel that raises or a draught shallow enough to float off a trailer — she can go back on the trailer at the ramp, not only into the water.Shoal draughtDraws 0.45 m, board up where she has one — creeks, sandbars and thin anchorages most keels have to stay out of.
LivelySea-kindly

Her moderate displacement on a beamy beam gives 8 — a quick, lively motion that feels every wave.

Comfort ratio 8
CoastalBluewater

At 2.91 she sits above the 2.0 line — beamy for her weight, and happiest coastal.

Capsize screening 2.91
LightHeavy

194 — moderately heavy for her waterline, a balanced cruising weight.

Displacement / length 194
EasygoingPowered-up

22.5 — a lot of sail for her weight; powered-up and eager, a real performer.

Sail area / displacement 22.5

Powered-up and quick to accelerate — this one likes to sail.

  • Draws more than ~91% of boats her size on file

Compared with 179 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

The record

Full specifications

The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.

Dimensions
Weights
Rig & sail area
Rig
Fractional Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
22.5
Displacement / length
194.1
Comfort ratio
7.6
Capsize screening
2.91
Hull speed
4.8 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
315
Hull
Hull type
Keel/Cbrd.
Construction
Fiberglass
Production
Years built
1983–1986
Units built
150
Designer
Andre Beneteau
Builder
Beneteau

Boats like this, on the water

Nobody has filmed this one — but these are close.

Comparable boats the fleet has on camera: same type, within a quarter of her length. Open the boat, or watch the video — a timestamp means she only appears in passing.

RS Quest4.29 mSame hull family0.4 m shorterA 140kg fractional sloop with a centerboard trunk designed for stable, versatile training and family sailing
Sea Cadet National Sailing and Windsurfing Regatta 20250:48from City Sailing
Marshall Marine Corporation Sanderling5.54 mSame hull family0.8 m longerA gaff-rigged catboat based on a 1941 design, featuring a shallow-draft keel-centerboard hull for versatile day sailing
The History of Beneteau Boats11:37from Practical Sailor
Microtonner 195.50 mSame hull family0.8 m longerA high-performance fractional sloop designed by Nestor Volker to the International Micro Class rule for competitive racing
I Met the Man Who Puts Sailboats Inside the São Francisco River | #SAL #4256:23from Hashtag Sal
Drascombe Dabber4.72 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA John Watkinson-designed sprit-rigged daysailer with a centreboard, built since 1970 for shallow-water versatility
Getting Underway - Portland to Boston23:16from The Mariner

Keep looking

Nothing filmed of this one yet

Two ways to keep looking — both search what the fleet has actually recorded.

Search the fleet for boats like thisAsk the fleet about the Beneteau California 4.70

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