GOING LONG

THE BENETEAU GRAND TRAWLER 62 HAS 1,000-PLUS-MILE RANGE AND 20-KNOT SPEED

- CHRIS CASWELL

BENETEAU'S GRAND TRAWLER 62 HAS ADMIRABLE fuel consumption and long range, but the most important number you need to know is 24. That's how many wine bottles fit in this yacht's chiller, and it might govern the range of your adventures more than something like mere diesel fuel. The Beneteau Grand Trawler 62 itself is kind of like a fine French wine: robust and full of fun, but with hidden notes that become apparent upon closer examination. Take the cockpit, for example. Instead of the usual forward-facing settee, the 62 has an L-shaped settee with a folding table tucked into the forward port corner.

Thus, the view is not of the salon, but aft through clear Lucite panels in the railing-a much more pleasant panorama. And set up against the house and protected by teak-slat "fashion plates," the settee is out of the wind and sun. For boarding, easy steps lead from the hydraulic transom platform, which has a ladder that unfolds automatically when the platform is lowered. Thoughtful details extend beyond creature comforts. In the cockpit, there are husky mooring bitts on each corner with warping winches and roller chocks. There's also a tidy opening to stash stray lines so no one trips. Another welcome design element is the two separate stairways to the bridge, both gentle with good rails. One leads from the cockpit, while the other is just abaft the lower helm so the skipper can easily scamper to and from the bridge. The Alpi-veneer, gloss oak salon is light and bright, with a U-shaped sofa aft facing a popup TV. The galley is amidships for minimal motion, which should delight chefs balancing full pots.