Beneteau first 26 vs etap 26

[Kraftykid]

Looking at buying a new boat and am torn between the first 26 and etap 26 , both of these are the older version of a similar age , what I'm looking for is something comfy for me and a friend to spend a week on , gives us a good cruising range , is safe but also offers good club racing and good speed , I've heard that the etap can have issues with its deck and keels and that the keel is a pain to get up I've also heard that it wouldn't take to mud ? But that's all I know and I don't know anything about the first 26 so if you guys could let me know everything you know about both boats that'd be amazing

Cheers KK

 

[doug748]

You seem to have been left alone so here we go.

Although I must admit I have little direct experience with the First, looking at your requirements I think it would be one to go for. They do have a sporty reputation

A friend of mine had an Etap 26 from new. As you say, they do not dry out level and were often supplied with legs. I always thought the keel case dictated the accommodation even more than usual on this type of boat but the interior was very well finished. It was a very comfy cruising boat but would not be my preferred vehicle for club racing. His boat had a keel difficulty but I guess these things will have been sorted long ago.

 

[shan]

We have a Beneteau First 26. It's a speedy little boat and quite comfortable for the size. Surprisingly stable too. We have modified ours to include a handshower, hot pressurised water, eberspacher heating, electric windlass, refrigerated ice box, increased water capacity, smart charger and best of all: an electric fresh water flushing loo. Don't believe the rubbish about blockages from people who have never had one. We have no smells and no blockages!!

 

[Seajet]

The funny thing about the Etap 26 is that the keel doesn't fully retract, it still has a fair bit beneath around - 1' + ballast bulb ? - when fully raised.

So the lift keel is for draught reduction getting over sills, that sort of thing; not drying out, where even if I could tolerate her laying on her ear I'd be worried about side loads on the keel case.

There was one at my club ages ago; the mud is very soft - dangerous to try walking on, and my boat with retracting keel but 9" deep ballast bulb settles upright.

The Etap 26 rested on her ear even there and was only around for a few weeks before her owner gave up and took her elsewhere.

As long as you don't plan on a drying mooring I thought the design has a lot going for it; whether it can compare to a re-engined Centaur - or for a lot more dosh an Anderson 26 - is another matter though.

 

[Twister_Ken]

The Benny Spirit 260 doesn't dry flat either. Not without legs or very soft mud, anyway.

 

[Kraftykid]

It's going to be on a soft mud mooring , the first 260 is the newer one o think I'm right in saying ? I'm looking at an older first 26

 

[shan]

The first 26 is the older Beneteau. It also needs legs for drying out on the mud.

 

[mrming]

If the older First 26 is anything like the older First 25 which we race against you will not be disappointed with it's club racing performance.

We have the smaller First 235 and the number one comment from local sailors is "damn that thing is quick".

 

[shan]

Apparently one of the previous owners of our boat, won quite a few pots. So yes, a surprisingly quick boat.

 

[Seajet]

The first 26 is the older Beneteau. It also needs legs for drying out on the mud.

I can't see legs working on soft mud; sooner or later one foot will dig into a softer patch and she will lean on it - the potential for hull damage is too horrible to think about !

As I say the mud at my moorings is so soft it's dangerous to walk on, but I'm afraid the Etap 26 didn't work drying out even there - I don't know the Benetau underwater shape.

 

[shan]

I have not tried it but there are enough people on the internet who successfully manage it.... personally, the thought of being dried out on mud has no appeal for me, although the OH, seems interested in giving it a go.... *sigh*

 

[Sans Bateau]

Looking at buying a new boat and am torn between the first 26 and etap 26 , both of these are the older version of a similar age , what I'm looking for is something comfy for me and a friend to spend a week on , gives us a good cruising range , is safe but also offers good club racing and good speed , I've heard that the etap can have issues with its deck and keels and that the keel is a pain to get up I've also heard that it wouldn't take to mud ? But that's all I know and I don't know anything about the first 26 so if you guys could let me know everything you know about both boats that'd be amazing

Cheers KK

I dont know what rumours you may have heard about the Etap 26 deck, there have never been any widespread issues if any at all, none that I have ever heard of. I've been around Etaps for 20 years having owned 3. There is a heavy bulb at the bottom of the keel of the 26, but that is what it gives its stiff characteristics. If you are concerned about a Etap 26 not being able to take mud, then your concerns should be far greater with the First fin keel. If you want a moderately stiff cruiser then the Etap would be best, if you want a racer, then go for the First, if you want a boat which you can dry out, then I have heard that the Anderson is quite good, although I know nothing of them myself, maybe someone on the forum can help. ;-)

 

[Kraftykid]

Hello everyone , just thought I'd update all you kind enough to reply to my initial question , last week I purchased my new yacht and it was a (drum roll please)......... Jeanneau Fantasia 27 , hadn't even really realised they existed till a couple of months ago but they seemed to provide better value for money than the Beneteau , that being said they probably don't hold their value quite as well.
the accommodation is very similar but i think the fantasia just about wins that category due to clever little things like the removable backrest on the V-berth and the large locker at the stern of the boat that can accommodate a deflated dinghy (hey its one step closer to the super yachts tender 'garage').

the next major win for the fantasia is more of my personal feelings about lifting keels , I've always thought it abit odd that on boats like the Beneteau all the weight and stability of the boat is being held on one pin , the fantasia's lifting keel looks like a long fin that has then been cut a couple of feet down and that part holds the weight and allows the keel to be retracted without being invasive in the cabin area, the lifting part is just there to help with leeway and extra resistance to capsizing (sure theres a technical term for that) whilst sailing but if the lifting part is lost the vessel is still safe and stable.
supposedly the fantasia is a slower yacht and looking at the hull profiles of the two I could believe this but i think alot comes down to how you sail the yachts and in what conditions.

in the end the two boats where so close together on everything that it came down to which came up first at a good price and the fantasia did.

you've probably noticed a lack of reference so far in tis post to the Etap 26 , after doing research and seeing a couple i thought their accommodation was very bad for a boat of that size especially compared to the other two yachts mentioned above , there was also doubt on their ability to dry out and wether the rudder was strong enough to support the yacht in mud.
I also heard that they have abit of an issue with the cabin tops collapsing and bending so the Etap was really wasn't in the same league as the other two (in my opinion - for what I wanted them for)