Beneteau First

[Emmark]

I’m looking for my first sailing boat with a budget of probably 30k, could go higher but probably won’t.
I’m looking for something around 30/32 foot.

I quite like the Beneteau First range from the mid to late 80’s, there are quite a few variants, does anyone have experience of these or know the good or bad about them?

Thanks.

 

[CPD]

I have owned a First 345 for 12 years now. Great boat, built like the proverbial. Have been out in very bouncy stuff and has never let me down. Anything apecific you need, jut shout . I came to it from a 26ft Westerly Centaur which I would suggest would be a better "first boat" and found the change much greater and more difficult than anticipated - I most;y single han however .......
.

 

[wully1]

I owned a First 375 (’86]then a First 38 (’84)
Both were good, solid, well built,reliable boats.
I kept the 38 for 15 years and would feel confident and safe in any sea and wind state , often wish I’d never sold her.. But she was too big a boat for two in all reality.
My current and hopefully forever boat is a 1989 Westerly Storm 33 which has an even more solid feel, is much better built and sails extremely well. She is roomy for two and very similar in motion in a seaway to the 38. I haven’t sailed her enough to really compare and really can’t since she’s 7 ft shorter..
I did look at 345‘s but most were very tired and tatty but a good one would have been tempting.

 

[Emmark]

Thanks for replying both, I’m ideally thinking whatever boat I get i would like to keep for a long time.
I don’t want to be buying a boat and then changing it 2/3 years down the line.
I’ve always liked the shape of the First, which is why I am keen to get one.

 

[Tranona]

Buying a boat of that age and type is as much about condition as the actual model. However buying a forever boat first time out is really difficult because you have nothing to judge it against except your expectations. Expectations are often at odds with reality and it is perhaps best to buy a popular boat in tip top condition in case you find a year down the line it was not your dream boat. Some people are lucky - my second boat did me over 30 years but that is not typical.

 

[KompetentKrew]

It might be worth you stating your experience and what kind of sailing you intend. Racing or casual cruising? Weekend cross-channels, or do you have more time? Less?

 

[Emmark]

I can sail, not a total beginner but far from an expert. I’ve no interest in racing more days out cruising, long weekends away etc.
My wife would always be with me she can’t sail herself but she knows the basics and would be a helpful crew.
Fairly fit, no health issues, 42 years old.

Does anyone have any other suggestions for good first yachts in the 30k range?


A Sun Odyssey 292 did catch my eye the other day, I’m not sure how 28 foot will compare though but it looked good in the pictures and video.

Thanks to everyone whos posted here so far all your answers have been really helpful and given me something to think about.

 

[Obi]

I always thought that Beneteau's "First" range of yachts was geared towards the racer-cruiser market.

Whenever I looked at yachts to buy early in my sailing career, things like X-yachts, Swans were a little intimidating due to their race oriented DNA and I was not sure how well I would handle them. Being a solo sailor had an impact on the kind of yacht that was right for me. I opted for a 39ft ketch, an Oyster and found it excellent as a solo sailor and amazing on accommodation and comfort no matter how far off the scale the windex went.

£30k Range. Something that almost always gets overlooked, and do not dismiss until you have looked, Bavaria Lagoon 390. It has the same Lloyds register certificate that Westerlys come with. The interior of the yacht is a superb layout, the quality of fitment is "Bavaria" but the rest of the boat seems to be up to a good standard. I looked at one at Berthon Lymington, I had been going to look at a 44 Hylas but a tax bill I forgot about had other ideas. Alex at Berthon pointed me in the direction of the Lagoon and said "Dont judge till you have seen it, they are not like other Bavaria yachts". I was surprised. Did some research and was willing to pay a deposit. I lost out, and then travelled to Germany and Holland looking at others. The exterior certainly wears well, deck, gelcoat, fittings all looked much younger than the age of the yacht and fittings were large and well made for the size.

Ultimately I was glad I bought Oyster.

There are some wonderful 1980s Jeannaus that should come into your price bracket.

Osmosis/rigging/engine condition are all going to be concerns at age and all come with large costs. Osmosis on my Oyster cost £30,000 nearly 20 years ago. At a similar time, the engine/gearbox rebuild was over £10,000 and the rigging was similar IIRC. There were plenty of other things to spend money on as well.

 

[biscuit]

I had a First 32 for some years. All probably need re-engine now.
+ Sails well, nice layout, chart table , heads etc.
- Masthead rig meant a lot of Genoa to contend with.
-Foamed backed headlining and sidelining is a pain to repair/ replace.

 

[Tranona]

I can sail, not a total beginner but far from an expert. I’ve no interest in racing more days out cruising, long weekends away etc.
My wife would always be with me she can’t sail herself but she knows the basics and would be a helpful crew.
Fairly fit, no health issues, 42 years old.

Does anyone have any other suggestions for good first yachts in the 30k range?


A Sun Odyssey 292 did catch my eye the other day, I’m not sure how 28 foot will compare though but it looked good in the pictures and video.

Thanks to everyone whos posted here so far all your answers have been really helpful and given me something to think about.

£30k gets you a good late 80s/early 90s British style boat - Sadler 34, Fulmar, Storm, Moody 31, Hunter Channel and 32 etc with headroom for updates. These types are good first boats, predictable, well supported for spares and support and easy to sell on. You can also get a whole range of French and German boats from the 90s that in the new boat market replaced the British boats. Many were sporty like the Firsts and Dehlers and others were seemingly lighter and more modern layout.

As a first time buyer with limited experience think I would go for one of the first group and look for the best one in terms of condition and gear so that you can go sailing quickly so you can find out what it is like for you. Almost certainly you will want to change in a few years and if you look after your boat it will sell quickly for good money simply because that sort of boat is a safe bet. I remember a broker friend telling me that the Moody 27/28/31 range was the easiest boat to sell because they are generally bought by people who care and tick all the boxes for boats of that type. That applies to many others in that first group.

You don't say where you are located but this can have an impact on the choice available to you. good boats for sale are in short supply and there is no substitute for looking at as many as you can for real so you can get a feel for what you like and don't like as well as the sort of condition you can expect for your money.

Good luck it can be an enjoyable if frustrating experiencs.

 

[Obi]

^^ great response. +1 for Moodys. I looked at a lot, had surveys on two. Very nice boats, possibly a little more expensive than Beneteau "like for like" if that is possible

Also I completely agree with the idea of getting out sailing. I bought something in need of work and it was nearly 12 months before I did my first sea trials. That was a long 12 months.

 

[KompetentKrew]

My ideal boat in the 30' range is a Westerly like the Fulmar. A friend of mine had a Barbican which I thought was very nice.

I like the look of newer sporty boats, like the Sun Fast 3200, but I like the price less and I'm not sure that such a boat would suit my sailing style.

The First series are designed for racing and I think they'd reward someone who likes tweaking the sails and trying to get the most out of the boat's performance, which is not the way I sail. I put the autopilot on, and then the kettle, pretty much immediately after raising the main. I just like being out on the water and going somewhere,

 

[billskip]

Westerly fulmar bilge keel would be my choice.

 

[V1701]

Best not to get hung up on makes/models, just look at what's available & make a decision based on condition - whether reengined or on original engine, age/condition of sails, standing rigging, upholstery, electronics all of which are expensive if needing replacement. Apolloduck has private and brokerage sales, ebay and facebook market place if you do facebook are also worth keeping an eye on. Look at boats up to £40k if budget is £30k and go and see as many as you can to get a feel. Personally I am not a fan of brokers but there are some good ones. Make sure you've got somewhere to keep it lined up before you buy and good luck...

 

[Emmark]

Best not to get hung up on makes/models, just look at what's available & make a decision based on condition - whether reengined or on original engine, age/condition of sails, standing rigging, upholstery, electronics all of which are expensive if needing replacement. Apolloduck has private and brokerage sales, ebay and facebook market place if you do facebook are also worth keeping an eye on. Look at boats up to £40k if budget is £30k and go and see as many as you can to get a feel. Personally I am not a fan of brokers but there are some good ones. Make sure you've got somewhere to keep it lined up before you buy and good luck...

I do have a berth available to me but its not my chosen location but will be fine until something better comes along.

Are asking priced generally close to selling price or is there usually room for negotiation?

My thoughts at the moment are upto 30k original spend with 5k put aside for repairs, I would top up the repairs money on a monthly basis then to save the pain when something goes wrong.

 

[biscuit]

P.S: "cream" colured gelcoat takes some matching!

 

[Tranona]

I do have a berth available to me but its not my chosen location but will be fine until something better comes along.

Are asking priced generally close to selling price or is there usually room for negotiation?

My thoughts at the moment are upto 30k original spend with 5k put aside for repairs, I would top up the repairs money on a monthly basis then to save the pain when something goes wrong.

The market at the moment is such that boats sell close to asking price. Of course there are always owners who have an inflated idea of the value of their boat but most with brokers will not be overpriced. You will find at this level popular boats have asking prices in a narrow range +/- 10 or 15% but that range often covers a wide variation in condition and real value. The cost of big items like sails, rigging, upholstery, engines, electronics are out of proportion to buying price/value at this level. Engine £8-10k, sails £4k, rigging £2.5k upholstery £2k+ full electronics £8k and so on. Asking price for boats needing this type of stuff rarely reflects the cost of upgrades.
Of course you wont get a perfect boat 30 or 40 years old for what is effectively 25% of replacement cost if such a boat were built today. However if you can find one that has been regularly maintained and upgraded with everything working don't quibble about the odd couple of £k. Think of the buying price as an entry fee. The costs of running the boat - berthing, maintenance upgrading will dwarf the difference in purchase price between a top notch boat and a cheaper iffy one.

 

[Dellquay13]

When I bought my first yacht, I was a bit seduced by the more racy boats instead of a steady cruiser, under the misguided idea that it would be easier for a relative beginner to get a reasonable turn of speed from a fast boat than something more steady. I ended up with something that is twitchy, tender and a bit unforgiving.
In car terms I bought a rear wheel drive MX5 when I should have been looking at a ford focus

 

[Lollypop]

For me, having the mainsheet readily adjustable in the cockpit is mandatory if you actually enjoy the process of sailing. The Beneteau Firsts from the 80s are well designed in and out , enjoyable to sail, reasonably nippy and solidly built by modern standards with attractive real teak veneer down below. The simple masthead rigs are not really 'racy'. I have traded down from a much larger boat to a commonplace First 29 @ well under 20k and have been impressed. It lacks the headroom of a modern Oceanis but would sail rings round it. I miss the hot water though and the vinyl headling lining has the dreaded 'Westerly Droop' . However if you like a permanent table in the cockpit with the mainsheet well out of the way look elsewhere. For heavy British build the Westerly Fulmar is a good value sailing boat if you can live with ye olde interior.