Let’s start with the most enticing part
of this new entry-level Barracuda
model and that’s the price. We talk
about entry-level boats a lot in these
pages but the Barracuda 6 is a true
starter boat, designed to get families
out on the water on a brand new craft
for as little cash as possible. How little
cash exactly? Our test boat came in at
€33,740 including VAT. That, at the
time of writing, is a smidgen under
£30,000 for a boat with a 115hp
4-stroke outboard and all the basic
amenities you need for a day out on
the water.
You can’t expect to pay that little
for a boat and find it drowning in
creature comforts and there’s no
doubt that the Barracuda 6, in the
spec we tested it in, looked and felt
pretty sparse. It had no doors on the
wheelhouse, just some canvases that
rolled up when not in use, no cockpit
seating and a couple of thinly padded
perches inside the wheelhouse for
two people to lean against.
The cuddy has space to shelter,
a smattering of storage voids
beneath thin PVC mattresses,
a porthole (optional, €190), a marine
toilet and that’s it. It’s not exactly
luxurious but just look at the price!
There are options to make life on
board more comfortable, like a pair of
proper pilot seats for the wheelhouse,
folding bench seats in the cockpit
and a slot-in cockpit table for picnics.
A 49-litre fridge in the wheelhouse
offers some chilled space for the day’s
supplies and though the cuddy isn’t
a place to sleep, it does mean you can
sling all of your kit into a spacious, dry
storage void.
The test boat was specified with
fishing in mind so it had rod holders
atop the wheelhouse and in the
bulwarks, plus a bait prep board
over the transom – the wipe-cleannature of the boat does lend itself
to being used as a fishing platform.
Most would spec the flip-down
seating though, to create a sociable
seating area in the cockpit for those
on board to enjoy the sun.
The wheelhouse has an open back
and side access with no doors as
standard but you can either spec thecanvas doors that this boat had
or proper doors if you want more
protection. Unless you plan on
heading out regularly in winter,
the canvas doors seem a good
compromise that offer reasonable
protection but ensure the wheelhouse
still feels very open.
The wheelhouse itself is set to port
with asymmetric decks, allowing for
a generous walkway to starboard but
no way of getting down the port side
of the boat. The starboard deck leads
to a stubby bow, broad enough to
make handling lines or the anchor
as easy as possible. There is a small
forward-facing bench too, which
allows a couple to enjoy the view
on anchor or at displacement speeds.
What the upright dash lacks in
finesse and glare-reducing materials
it makes up for in functionality, and
the view from the helm is excellent.
The open wheelhouse and slenderBÉNÉTEAU
BARRACUDA 6
This spartan workhorse lacks refi nement but
it’s still a cracking-value entry-level boat
Words Jack Haines18QUICK SPINTHE DATA
LENGTH 21ft 4in (6.5m)
BEAM 7ft 10in (2.4m)
RCD CATEGORY C (for 6 people)
ENGINE Single Suzuki
115hp outboard
TOP SPEED 27 knots
FUEL CAPACITY 22 imp gals
(100 litres)
PRICE FROM €20,916 inc 20%
VAT (no engine)
PRICE AS TESTED
€33,740 inc 20% VAT