Pulled down a bit of headliner today to run a cable and stumbled on something I’ve never seen documented: embedded aluminum backing plates with pre-tapped holes hiding all over the boat where “factory options” would mount. On mine I’ve found them under the foredeck (looks like a gennaker/code 0 padeye location), inside the coachroof near the companionway (likely for extra rope clutches/organizers), under the cockpit coamings (winches), and even on the arch/targa sides (speakers/solar/radar?). The plates are bonded under the inner skin and I can see M6/M8 threads in a few locations. None of this shows up in my owner’s docs or the exploded parts drawings.
This feels like a goldmine for clean installs without massive backing plates and headliner surgery. But I’ve got questions before I trust any of it:
- Does Beneteau publish a “hard points” map with locations, thread sizes, and safe working loads?
- Are these plates tied into core-reinforced zones or just bonded to the liner? Any isolation from the balsa/foam to prevent moisture wicking?
- Are the threads intended for temporary tooling/production or for end-user hardware? Through-bolts still better?
- Are locations consistent across Oceanis 35.1/38.1/41.1 and similar vintages, or totally model/year specific? What about First/Sense/Swift Trawler lines?
- Anyone successfully used the forward plate for a code zero tack point or a soft padeye? What loads did you design for?
If folks are up for it, I’d love to crowdsource a “Beneteau hard-points map” by model/year with:
- Photo of the area with headliner/liner removed
- Plate dimensions, thickness, thread size/pitch, and exact offsets from fixed references (hatch corners, stanchion bases, companionway edges)
- Notes on core type and any local solid laminate
Happy to share my measurements and make simple drill templates once we have a few data points. Could save a ton of guesswork for adding gear without compromising structure or aesthetics. Anyone else found these hidden reinforcements?