Beneteau Flyer 10 on test: the day cruiser goes “extra large”

It’s the flagship of the French open outboard range. Beneteau Flyer 10 is more than a day cruiser, it’s a versatile boat made also for longer navigation.

The boat is moored on one side, and the first thing I notice of this Beneteau Flyer 10 is pretty smart: the access is granted on both sides, but from the swim platform to starboard, and to the side deck on the port side.

First, test!

We go straight out to sea for the test: we are in Port Ginesta (Barcelona), on a warm day at the end of October, and out Flyer is powered by two last-gen Suzuki DF350A outboards. It’s three of us on board, the fuel is 50% and there’s no water in the tank.

As soon as we exit the harbor, the sea is chopped with short waves, and gusts of wind hit us on the side. I immediately get onto plane, at 3500 rpm and 19.5 knots. The fuel consumption is 73.7 liters per hour.

The engines are unexpectedly noisier than Suzuki has accustomed us to. Not a big issue though, as we can easily have a conversation on board. My main concern is the inclined and low windscreen: standing at the helm, I am hit full face by the wind.

Slightly acting on the throttle I reach 4000 rpm, which is a good cruising speed for Beneteau Flyer 10: 25.8 knots and  92 liters per hour burnt (3.5 liters / mile).

The hull behaves very well, still it raises a lot of water on the sides: but the important fact is that we are not reached by any spray in the cockpit.

Our Beneteau Flyer 10 boasts Zipwake interceptors, so I take the opportunity to test the seaworthiness of the hull and the agility in turns, both with these automatic trim correctors engaged and turned off. I must say that in both cases I barely noticed any differrence, except for high-speed turns where the work of the Zipwakes provides more stability by reducing the inclination of the boat.

At cruising pace the speed / consumption ratio is not the best for a 10-meter boat equipped with engines that sport the Lean Burn system (a Suzuki technology that modifies the air and fuel ratio at constant speed, reducing consumption without losing performance). But let’s not forget that we have no less than 700 hp on the transom.

In the cockpit, Beneteau Flyer 10 features an L-shaped sofa to port and a table in the center that is adjustable in height but not removable. So you can choose whether to have a living area for seven people, or a single sunbathing area to relax while also taking advantage of the folding backrests for more space.

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I would have preferred a removable table, since with this set-up the space to move around the deck is somewhat limited, and in order to sit in the corner of the couch you have to actually slide over the other seats.

Anyway, before the dinette there’s a shelf with plexiglass cover that hides a hob and a sink, and below a cabinet for the refrigerator and storage space.

The center passage leads to the companionway, but first we encounter the helm station with two single settees and a small couch on the opposite side. Talking of the dashboard, the arrangement is ergonomic enough to have everything under control without creating confusion.

In order to reach the foredeck there’s an opening section in the windscreen. The bow area is large and comfortable for three people, with a sort of triple chaise-longue completed by armrests and headrests.

The Beneteau Flyer 10 is perfect for 4-people cruises and day trips for six, to the point that it can also be attractive for charter professionals

The raised flooring reduces the protection provided by the bulwark, but a tall rail comes into play and offers maximum safety when moving around the area. The anchor winch is inside a compartment but the bow roller is visible, so as to make it possible to know where the anchor is even when at the helm.

From the companionway, two steps down lead to the dinette, which of course can convert into a double berth. The heads is on the starboard side and features a separate shower. To port, the guest cabin sports a double bed that extends under the deck. Overall, the use of the available space is very good for a model that should belong to the day-cruiser range.

In conclusion, the Beneteau Flyer 10 is perfect for 4-people cruises and day trips for six, to the point that it can also be attractive for charter professionals, since the arrangement of the cushions on the deck can please six guests at once without disturbing the work of the skipper, who can move easily using the center passage.

For larger groups, livability on board can become a bit more chaotic, because the impossibility of removing the table in the cockpit limits the freedom of movement.  For the same reason, this boat is definitely not recommended for fishing.

(test by Carlo Luongo)

The numbers of Beneteau Flyer 10

  • Length overall …………… 9.98 m
  • Length LH …………… 9.63 m
  • Beam …………… 3.35 m
  • Draft (min/max) …………… 0.80 – 1.30 m
  • Dry displacement, with engines …………… 5 688 kg
  • Fuel reserve …………… 2×400 l
  • Fresh water reserve …………… 160 l
  • Max output …………… 700 hp
  • CE design category …………… B – 8 / C – 11

Performance

  • rpm            knots            mph            lph            nm/l            range (20% reserve)
  • 650            2.5            2.9            4.3            0.58            372
  • 1000            4.5            5.2            10            0.45            288
  • 1500            6.3            7.3            16            0.39            252
  • 2000            7.9            9.1            26            0.30            194
  • 2500            8.8            10.1            41            0.21            137
  • 3000            10.6            12.2            62            0.17            109
  • 3500            19.5            22.4            73.7            0.26            169
  • 4000            25.8            29.7            92            0.28            179
  • 4500            29.6            34.1            113            0.26            168
  • 5000            34.3            39.5            138            0.25            159
  • 5500            38.5            44.3            180            0.21            137
  • 5900            40.4            46.5            217            0.19            119
  • 6200            42.2            48.6            223            0.19            121
  • Into planing at …………… 3500 rpm – 19.5 kn
  • Acceleration 0 to planing …………… 7.64 seconds
  • Acceleration 0 to 30 knots …………… 13,8 seconds

Test conditions

Calm sea – side wind – clean hull – 3 passengers – fuel 400 l – no fresh water

Indicative price (VAT not included)

Boat, no engines …………… € 95.120

Test boat, with 2x Suzuki DF350A Black and options ……………€ 170.014

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