Six berths, a 32-inch television on a motorised lift, and a service hatch that puts the galley within arm's reach of the cockpit. Imperia, a 2012 Beneteau Sense 55, has just gone up for sale in New Zealand at US$399,000.
She's fresh off a 2024 refit that touched almost everything that matters on a long-range cruiser: new standing rigging, 12mm teak decking, upgraded electronics, a new autopilot, new running rigging, a full repaint, new bimini and fresh copper coat. An annual haul out has just added a new sail drive unit and fresh antifoul, so the mechanical side is as current as the cosmetic one.
The Sense 55 sits at the point where Beneteau's one-level living concept comes together most fully, day and night spaces kept properly separate rather than layered on top of each other, which is unusual thinking for a monohull cruiser of this size. Nauta Design handled the interior, Berret Racoupeau the exterior lines.
Inside, the main salon runs central seating alongside space for two at the chart table, with that retractable TV tucked away when it's not in use. The owner's suite carries a private shower, an office nook and real storage, while the two guest cabins amidships get sliding doors rather than curtains, small detail, real difference when you've got guests aboard for a fortnight. At 16.76 metres LOA on a 4.97 metre beam with a 2.4 metre draft, she's built for minimal-heel, balanced handling.
She's represented in New Zealand and Australia through McD Boutique Yacht Brokerage, contact Paul MacDonald.
A boat like this makes an interesting case for buying into a design idea a decade after it launched. The one-level living concept Beneteau built the Sense range around wasn't universal thinking in 2012, plenty of builders were still stacking accommodation the traditional way. A well-refitted example gets you that layout logic at a fraction of what a comparable new build would cost, without gambling on unproven design.
To find out more about Imperia contact McD Yachts.
