Beneteau Grand Trawler 63 Review (2025 Edition) by Aquaholic

On Deck

This is Beneteau’s Grand Trawler 63, a new model but very much an evolution of the Grand Trawler 62. There are enough changes and upgrades to justify the new badge, and you can see some of them straight away. The cabin sides have more presence and the hardtop now comes finished in gloss black rather than white GRP. That one change alone lifts the look of the boat. It feels more finished, a little more sophisticated, and less basic than before.

Aft, the bathing platform is a lift platform with integrated tender chocks. As it lowers, the moulded steps hinge down into the water, so access for swimming is easy and controlled. There is also a small built-in seat at the transom, which works well at anchor. This whole area feels properly thought through rather than just functional.

From the platform you have access to the crew cabin, laundry area and engine room. There is also direct engine room access via a ladder from the cockpit sole, which means you do not have to go via the bathing platform if you are offshore.

The cockpit layout has changed from earlier boats. Instead of fixed L-shaped seating or an open deck, this boat uses loose Italian deck furniture. It sounds simple, but it gives the space a more relaxed, luxury feel and allows owners to arrange it as they wish. Overhead, the soffit now has a soft-touch black finish rather than plain white GRP. Inset LED lighting and black speaker grilles add to the effect. It is one of those upgrades that quietly raises the whole boat.

Side decks are wide and secure. The galley side door opens directly onto the deck, which improves airflow and makes moving fore and aft easy when handling lines. There is a midships docking station using the Zenta control system, giving control of engines, thrusters, steering, passerelle and bathing platform.

Forward, the trawler-style bow overhang remains a defining feature. Anchor handling gear is set up properly and access around the foredeck feels safe and purposeful. This is not a styling exercise. It is a working deck layout for owners who cruise.

The flybridge remains a major living space. The gloss black hardtop continues up here and includes an opening section. Forward is a sunbathing area, with the helm to starboard. Controls are fully duplicated, including joystick, bow and stern thrusters and multifunction displays. A large Kenyon grill is now fitted, carried over from the smaller Grand Trawler models, along with fridge, sink, bins and storage. A dinette with a folding table sits aft. The open deck behind can be left loose. This boat uses club chairs, but sunbeds, paddleboards or general deck gear would work just as well.

Inside, there is a new illuminated feature panel in the saloon. The sideboard fronts now have finished doors rather than open faces, which makes the space feel more complete. This boat has the optional seating opposite the main sideboard, and a wine cooler sits neatly within the furniture.

Despite the upgrades, it remains very much a trawler yacht. Grab rails are still exactly where you want them for low-speed running in a seaway. Practicality has not been sacrificed for looks.

The galley can be enclosed with a sliding serving hatch, as shown here. As standard it is open plan with a stainless pillar. Equipment remains sensible and unchanged: Miele dishwasher, sink, bin, hob, fridge, freezer and good storage throughout. The galley side door is one of the strongest features of the layout. It improves flow, ventilation and makes the boat feel easy to live with underway or at anchor.

Forward of the galley is the dinette, with storage beneath the seating. It feels usable and well proportioned rather than decorative.

At the lower helm, the updates are more obvious. Freestanding multifunction displays sit ahead of the helm and can be configured with radar, charting, fishfinding and instrumentation as required. Autopilot, bow and stern thrusters sit close to hand. Large access panels around the helm open to reveal wiring and systems, which is very Beneteau trawler in approach. If you want to add equipment or troubleshoot, it is all there and accessible.

Stabilisation has changed from a gyro to Sleipner fin stabilisers. They work instantly when switched on. Underway they behave as you would expect, but at anchor they do something clever. When the engines stop, the fins rotate through 180 degrees and paddle the boat backwards against the anchor chain. This reduces the fore-and-aft motion that older systems can induce. It works very well.

Steering and manoeuvring now use the Zenta system. The rudders are independently driven by electric motors, which allows the inside rudder to turn harder than the outside one in a corner. Steering feels more precise. The joystick links engines, rudders and thrusters, giving full control when manoeuvring in tight spaces.

Owner's Cabin

The owner’s cabin sits aft and the layout is unchanged from the Grand Trawler 62. What has changed is the finish and detailing. Everything feels lifted, but it is still a practical trawler cabin, but now with more polish.

There are proper hanging lockers, a dressing table and good space around the berth. TV installation is dealer fit depending on destination, but the provision is there.

The ensuite is the largest on board. It includes a generous shower and the moulded seating that often prompts questions. The reason for the seat is simple. The hull shape rises steeply here, and this solution allows full use of the space without fighting the structure. It is a smart piece of design rather than an afterthought.

The stabiliser fins are positioned aft of the owner’s cabin bulkhead rather than outboard of the cabin. That keeps night-time noise to a minimum, which matters on a long-range cruiser.

Guest Accommodation

Forward is the VIP cabin, which is a proper space rather than a token bow berth. It has its own ensuite with a separate shower. Finish upgrades that were once optional are now standard, including leather door panels and louvred locker fronts.

All lockers throughout the accommodation now use positive catches. They physically cannot open unless released. This change came directly from owners who run these boats in heavy weather. It is a small detail with real-world value.

The third cabin sits midships and shares the day head. That head also serves as the ensuite for this cabin and includes a separate shower. The cabin itself has good storage, a hanging locker and a large window with an opening section. Wood detailing through the companionway ties the lower deck together nicely.

Crew Accommodation

The crew cabin is accessed from the bathing platform. It is twin-bunked and a decent size for a boat measuring 19.2m (63ft). There is a wardrobe and good storage. It works well as occasional crew space or overflow accommodation.

There is a separate shower and a separate toilet, which also double as beach club facilities. If people are swimming at anchor, they can rinse off and use the loo without going through the interior.

The engine room is accessed either from the bathing platform or directly from the cockpit sole via a ladder. Headroom is close to standing, which is impressive on a boat of this size.

Power comes from twin MAN i6 730hp engines driving a full displacement hull. This is not semi-displacement and it is not planing. Top speed is around 20 knots, but that is not the point of this boat. Normal cruising sits comfortably at 8 to 10 knots. 

At around 9 knots, fuel burn is roughly 30 litres per hour combined. That delivers a range of about 1,000 miles with reserve, which is exactly what the Grand Trawler concept is about. That puts the Beneteau Grand Trawler 63 running costs well below similarly sized planing yachts.

The generator, fuel tanks and filters are neatly arranged. Ventilation is good and access around the machinery is sensible. The Sleipner fin motors are electric rather than hydraulic, which reduces complexity and noise. Stern gear and batteries sit aft, tucked away but reachable.

The headline Beneteau Grand Trawler 63 price sits at around €1.9 million excluding VAT for a base factory build. Once you add navigation electronics, stabilisation, flybridge options, interior upgrades and commissioning, most boats land closer to the mid-€2 million range on the water.

If you are searching for a Beneteau Grand Trawler 63 for sale, availability remains limited. Pre-owned examples are rare, which is typical for a model still early in its lifecycle and generally points to strong owner retention. Most buyers are entering via new builds rather than brokerage stock, which also supports residual values.

For Beneteau Grand Trawler 63 vs its competitors, key alternatives in this segment include:

• Grand Banks 60 Skylounge: heavier, more traditional long-range cruiser with similar cruising intent but typically a higher purchase price and more conservative interior styling.
• Nordhavn 60: true expedition trawler with exceptional range, but significantly heavier, slower and more expensive both to buy and to maintain.
• Riviera 6000 Sport Yacht: more performance-oriented with higher top speed, but far higher fuel burn and shorter range.

The Grand Trawler 63 is not a reinvention of the 62. It is a careful, measured upgrade. The gloss black hardtop, refined finishes and updated systems lift the boat without changing its character.

It remains a proper trawler yacht with long range, low fuel burn and sensible systems. What has changed is the sense of quality. The stabilisation works better. The helm technology feels current. The whole boat feels calmer and more resolved.