Beneteau First 18?

[GTom]

I came across an interesting local ad, a ~30 years old First 18, cheap (even comes with a trailer), seems well kept.

Does anyone have experience with this boat? I would use it on the lakes nearby, but maybe even put it on the sea before buying a bigger boat.

http://sailboatdata.com/viewrecord.asp?class_id=5082

How difficult is to self-launch a "giant dinghy" like this? Or shouldn't risk it and use a crane?

 

[H35]

I've seen this in my former sailing club. If it's with a swing keel you kan certainly launch it yourself, provided you have a good and fairly steep ramp.
-It needs good sails that can be flattened. Otherwhise it will drift and certainly heel over a lot in gusts.

 

[GTom]

Thanks for the feedback! Yes, it's a swing keel. This would give a great flexibility, because I intend to do some "lake hopping", and on some lakes berths are rear and very expensive commodity.

I also see these boats come with a tiller and outboard that reduces maintenance quite a bit.

I just wonder if the structure could cope with a bit more challenging conditions, such as a Gibraltar-Canaries passage, in case I'd like to show it some salt water...

 

[H35]

I also see these boats come with a tiller and outboard that reduces maintenance quite a bit.

Umm..... What else would it come with??

I just wonder if the structure could cope with a bit more challenging conditions, such as a Gibraltar-Canaries passage, in case I'd like to show it some salt water...

No, no... No, no, no, no, no.....

 

[GTom]

, thanks! It will stay on the lakes then with the occasional visit to Croatia

 

[GTom]

Actually it can make it to the Canaries without any problems: in its trailer on the Huelva-Las Palmas Ferry