1997 Beneteau Oceanis 461

The Beneteau Oceanis 461 is a classic aft-cockpit cruiser designed by Bruce Farr and built by Beneteau in France from 1996 to 2000. As a successor to the Oceanis 45, it emphasizes spacious accommodations and family cruising with a wide beam, bulb keel for stability, and a masthead sloop rig for easy handling. The 461’s roomy interior, balanced performance, solid construction and offshore capabilities make it a reliable choice for coastal passages and Caribbean hopping. 

Overview

Awarded the prestigious "Boat of the Year" in the full-size cruiser category by Cruising World upon its debut, the Beneteau Oceanis 461 (OZARKANA) is a classic aft-cockpit cruiser designed by Bruce Farr and built in France. Known for its wide beam, bulb keel stability, and masthead sloop rig, this model delivers reliable offshore capabilities, balanced performance, and comfortable family cruising—making it an exceptional choice for coastal passages or Caribbean hopping.

This spacious vessel was purchased by the current owners approximately 1.5 years ago. They really enjoyed sailing the boat regularly around Galveston Bay, but their family needs have changed. As experienced boat owners, they appreciate OZARKANA’S solid hull, reliable engine, good rigging and sails and overall fast, fun and comfortable performance. As a 1997 model, she does have minor cosmetic or deferred-maintenance items normal for her age (which are reflected in the competitive list price), but she stands out as one of the most comfortable and well-maintained yachts in her class on the market today.

Layout & Interior Comfort

Designed for effortless liveaboard cruising or extended travel, OZARKANA features a rare and spacious 3-cabin, 2-head layout complete with a separate laundry area.

• Custom Galley: Re-designed to maximize usable space. Fiddle rails were removed and the old fridge doors were replaced with a deep Isotherm fridge/freezer drawers. Features a large quartz countertop, sensor-touch faucet, double sink, and extra room for a microwave, air fryer, or additional shelving.
• Warm Ambiance: Illuminated by a gorgeous high-gloss teak and holly sole, complemented by an overhead skylight featuring remote-controlled 4-zone LED night-time accent lighting across the upper deck, salon, and galley. Bluetooth capable Fusion Stereo System with both interior and exterior cockpit speakers add more ambiance to your sailing adventures.
• Separate Laundry Area: Equipped with a sink, storage, and a Splendide combo washer/dryer (note: washer/dryer has not been tested by the current owner).
• Heads & Showers: Two Raritan freshwater toilets. The second freshwater head, wash station, and shower is conveniently located aft near both guest cabins and the companionway steps. The master ensuite head features a 12V electric full-size Elegance model.
• Climate Control: Powerful dual-zone AC and heating system capable of handling extreme seasonal shifts, from freezing northern winters to sweltering Texas summers.

Recent Upgrades & Investments

• Over $17,000 Invested (2026): Brand-new lines and most of the standing/running rigging replaced, and some upgraded navigation electronics.
• Electronics & Navigation: Garmin 18-inch HD3 Radar Dome and Garmin GNX Wired Sail Pack (wind, depth, speed, and transducer).
• Cockpit Comfort: New 2025 extended and raised cockpit bimini providing full walk-around headroom (over 6 feet).
• Systems: Recently updated Isotherm deep-drawers fridge/freezer and Isotherm water heater (water heater has not been tested by owner).
• Tankage: Massive 225-gallon freshwater capacity housed across three hull-integrated tanks for improved stability underway or at anchor, complete with a convenient dockside water hookup.

Deck, Rigging & Performance

• Sails & Rigging: Almost every line, block, and the majority of the rigging was replaced within the past year. The sails were removed, cleaned, and reinstalled—they are in nice shape. The headsail features roller furling. The mainsail does not; however, the non-furling main offers more sail area for faster sailing.
• Under Sail: This is a remarkably fast and fun boat that easily cruises at 6–7 knots under sail in a good breeze.
• Deck Layout: Efficient, uncluttered side decks, an electric windlass, a large forward sunbathing area, and a spacious cockpit featuring a steering wheel console, deep lockers, an easy-entry transom door, and a large cockpit table with hinged flaps and built-in cooler.
• Ports: All port light lenses were replaced by previous owner; however, some interior cosmetic work around the ports still needs to be done as well as light carpentry work where there was prior port light leakage.

CONSTRUCTION

HULL: Laminated G.R.P. hull with internal fiberglass grid hull liner, reinforced with

unidirectional rovings.

DECK: Balsa sandwich for stiffness and thermal and acoustic insulation. Vinyl

headliner with accent strips in salon & cabins. Structural bulkheads bonded 360° to

hull and deck for structural strength.

RUNNING RIGGING

• Genoa halyard
• Mainsail halyard
• Boom topping lift led back to cockpit
• Roller furling mainsail inhaul & outhaul lines
• Genoa roller furling line
• Genoa sheets
• Mainsheet
• Solid boom vang led to cockpit
• (2) Main traveller control lines

STANDING RIGGING

• Discontinuous S/S 1X19 rigging: forestay, babystay, twin backstays, upper and lower capshrouds, intermediates and aft lower shrouds
• Shroud rollers on babystay and upper shrouds

SPARS

• Keel stepped, anodized mast
• Double aft-swept spreaders
• Anodized aluminum boom
• Deck collar with pivoting blocks on port and starboard, 4 aft blocks have universal swivel

DECK GEAR

• S/S pulpit with bi-color navigation light
• S/S sternrail with life ring holder and flag staff holder
• S/S stanchions
• Double lifelines
• Lifeline gates
• (2) Teak handrails on coachroof
• (2) Dorade vents (ventilation for salon and aft head)
• (2) Dorade vent guards
• (1) Mast pulpit
• Teak toe rail cap
• Liferaft fixing points on coachroof
• (2) Genoa tracks (2m) with adjustable cars and plunger stops
• (2) Genoa foot blocks with jammers
• (2) 54 CSTO Lewmar primary genoa sheet winches, mounted on cockpit coaming near helm. Roller furling genoa system, with drum installed above deck. Mainsheet track on coachroof with ball bearing traveller (controls led back to cockpit)
• (2) 44 CSTO Lewmarwinches for mainsheet and halyards mounted on coachroof.
• All halyards and reefing lines led back to cockpit - genoa and main halyards may be jammed off and stowed at the mast
• (6) Spinlock clutch stoppers on coachroof
• (4) Folding pad eyes - 2 for foreguy, 2 for genneker sheets
• Winch handles

MOORING & ANCHORING

• Self-bailing chain locker with ring bolt
• S/S stemhead with 2 rollers - extended on starboard side for the primary anchor
• (6) anodized aluminum mooring cleats
• Electric windlass (Optional)

EXTERIOR EQUIPMENT HULL & DECK

• (1) Locker in transom swim platform
• (2) Side lockers to port and starboard
• (1) Locker for 2 gas bottles beneath helmsman's seat to port
• (1) Locker beneath helmsman's seat to starboard
• Teak slatted cockpit sole aft of steering pedestal
• Transom with teak inlays on swim platform and locker lid
• Teak inlaid cockpit seats
• Cockpit console with wheel and compass, space for installation of electronics, table with fold down leaves, drained storage compartment, drink holders and a cockpit light.
• (1) Winch handle pocket
• Cockpit shower (Optional)
• Hinged transom door
• S/S swim ladder
• (5) Halyard neatening hooks on cabin bulkhead

STEERING SYSTEM

• Spade rudder with composite rudder shaft
• S/S leather wrapped steering wheel (42") (Folding Optional)
• Emergency tiller

BALLAST

• Cast iron bulb keel

INTERIOR ACCOMMODATIONS

(2 and 3 cabin layouts)

INTERIOR WOOD:

• Cherry-stained interior finish.
• Wooden floorboards with black striping
• Mattresses & cushions - high density foam with removable covers
• Wooden cabinet doors with ventilation louvers.

FORWARD CABIN (Both versions):

• Double berth (6'7" x 4'7")
• Storage beneath berth
• Hanging locker
• Bench seat
• Shelving on hull

FORWARD & AFT HEAD (Both Versions):

• 1 piece molded fiberglass liner for water tightness and easy cleaning
• Marine toilet & 15 gal holding tank
• Fiberglass wash hand basin, vanity cabinet, mirrors, S/S handrail, and toilet accessories

SALON

• Table with removable center leaf
• Storage cabinets on hull
• Hull sides lined with wood
• Wooden laminated companionway steps with non-skid stripping. Hinged with pneumatic lifting arms for access to engine room
• Maximum headroom 6'5"

NAV STATION

• Chart table with stowage
• Bookshelf
• Mounting panel for navigation instruments

GALLEY

• Storage cabinets along hull sides
• Double S/S sink
• Mixing tap for hot/cold pressurized fresh water
• S/S 3 burner Force 10 stove with protective S/S bar
• Trash can under counter

3 CABIN VERSION

• (2) symmetrical cabins with double berths (6' 7" x 4' 9" / 3' 7")
• • Shelves alongside hull
• • Storage beneath berth
• • Hanging locker

PLUMBING

• Self-bailing cockpit
• Manual bilge pump
• Electric bilge pump with automatic switch
• Ice box drained by pump
• Fresh water cockpit shower
• 218 gal freshwater capacity in 5 rigid fiberglass water tanks integrated into hull liner (This boat has 225 gallons)
• Anodized aluminum water filler cap
• Hot/cold pressurized fresh water with accumulator tank
• Heads feature fiberglass wash hand basin with combination faucet and hand shower with shower hose and support
• One piece shower stall with drain and electric shower drain pump 2 x 15 gal holding tanks

ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT

• Grounded rig
• Conduit for options - transom to chart table, mast to chart table, forward cabin to chart table, forward cabin to transom
• 12 volt control panel - 24 functions
• 12 volt socket at the chart table
• 110 volt control panel under chart table
• 110 volt outlets - (1) in each cabin, head, galley, salon and at chart table
• 110 volt shore power socket on transom
• Halogen overhead lighting in cabins, salon, galley
• Fluorescent tube lighting in galley
• Reading lights in each cabin
• Nav station light
• Independent switches for lights
• Cockpit light on cockpit table
• Courtesy light in companionway
• Bi-color nav light
• Stern light
• Combination deck and steaming light
• Anchor light

MECHANICAL

• Fuel capacity 53 gal aluminum tank
• 12 volt 70 amp alternator
• 40 amp battery charger
• 1 x 100 amp 12 volt - Engine battery
• 2 x 200 amp 12 volt - House battery
• Air Conditioning (Optional)

ENGINE EQUIPMENT

• 63 hp engine
• Engine mounts integrated into hull liner
• Engine control panel integrated in port cockpit coaming
• Single lever engine control integrated into cockpit table
• 3 bladed fixed prop
• Engine compartment soundproofed with foam
• S/S prop shaft with composite epoxy/glass stern tube

Engine and generator hours are as of the date of the original listing and are a representation of what the listing broker is told by the owner and/or actual reading of the engine hour meters. The broker cannot guarantee the true hours. It is the responsibility of the purchaser and/or his agent to verify engine hours, warranties implied or otherwise and major overhauls as well as all other representations noted on the listing brochure.

Listing MLS by Yachtr.com