Extremely fast and easy to sail, this 2006 Beneteau 523 comes from famous French designs and is equipt with a multitude of new upgrades and new features. The more you look, the more you find that every piece is in place to make this 523 appeal to a wide spectrum of sailors.
Exterior
The large cockpit has new cushions and has plenty of room but still set up for efficient sailing. All sail controls are lead aft with three electric winches of the four. The dual helms are located well aft, each with a rounded molded seat with bulkhead style wheels. Engine and thruster controls are to starboard helm. Each helm has full instrumentation including, a compass, B&G wind, speed and depth. To centerline there is a a full-sized B&G chart plotter, which is connected to the large drop-leaf cockpit table that has stainless steel handrails. The new bimini, dodger and connecting piece are recent upgrades that are in excellent condition.
Further aft is the swim platform that includes a boarding ladder with teak treads and a hot-and-cold shower. There are two large aft lockers and waterproof speakers.
Forward on the deck is a 10ft Apex Dinghy with a 9.8hp Tohatsu outboard. The dinghy also has a new cover. On the bow the electric windlass has a delta anchor and 250ft of chain. Aft of the large chain locker is the sail locker that is an amazing amount of room.
The owner's forward cabin
The huge owner's stateroom features a double island berth with bench seats to either side. There are two large drawers under the berth and full-length shelves along the hull. There are hanging lockers to port and starboard and a vanity/desk to port. Halogen lighting is used overhead and this cabin alone has five opening hatches for superb ventilation. The en suite has a fresh water head with plenty of elbow room and a separate stall shower.
Two Aft Cabins
The two aft cabins each have enclosed heads with showers. The berths are legitimate doubles, and there is also room to maneuver so you can stand up. a small hanging locker, storage under the berth and shelves along the hull. Lighting and ventilation are excellent, with opening port lights and hatches, features that turn these aft cabins into pleasant living areas. The optional crew cabin contains a double berth forward and a head. Access is through a large Lewmar deck hatch.
The Salon
The table and settee to port with the galley opposite in the salon. The U-shaped salon is deceptively large with a versatile, modular table and a bench seat that also serves as a well-placed support when working your way from the companionway forward in a seaway. The feeling of spaciousness comes from pushing the interior components out to the extremes of the hull. Accompanied by plenty of storage with lockers and shelves. Panoramic panels overhead flood the interior with light but when it's too bright, sleek shades can be deployed to diffuse the light and keep the cabin cooler.
Vacuum
TV
The Galley
The starboard galley features a three-burner gas stove top with oven below. Just above and forward is a Tappan Microwave accompanied by a large forward facing Double Stainless steel sink. Below to aft are two side by side front opening 12-volt refrigerators. And above you will find a vast amount of counter top space and cabinets (both above and in the island inboard) which make the galley feel much larger.
Nav Station
Just aft of the galley is the forward facing Nav station with built in seat which includes storage below. Nav station includes, Raymarine C80 Plotter in chart table, Xantrex inverter, B&G Raymarine ST 60 wind speed and depth, Matrix AIS/GPS, Raymarine 255E VHS, Pioneer CD player, Fold up chart table, and electric panel.
The cabin includes Cruisair air-conditioning as well as 110-volt outlets and well paced 12-volt sockets throughout. Four 140-amp batteries and Single 140-amp battery is isolated for engine starting.