Beneteau First 27 vs 1990 Westerly Oceanquest — Comparison

Beneteau First 27
VS
1990 Westerly Oceanquest

Specifications Side by Side

SpecificationBeneteau First 271990 Westerly Oceanquest
General
ManufacturerBeneteauWesterly
Year1990–19941990–1996
TypeSloopSloop
CountryFranceUK
DesignerJean BerretEd Dubois
Dimensions
LOA8.19 m (26.9 ft)10.67 m (35.0 ft)
LWL7.21 m (23.7 ft)8.84 m (29.0 ft)
Beam2.79 m (9.2 ft)3.40 m (11.2 ft)
Draft1.55 m (5.1 ft)1.07 m (3.5 ft)
Weight
Displacement2,400 kg (5,291 lbs)5,897 kg (13,001 lbs)
Ballast850 kg (1,874 lbs)2,268 kg (5,000 lbs)
Sailing
Sail Area35.0 m² (377 ft²)46.0 m² (495 ft²)
Hull MaterialFiberglassFiberglass
Keel TypeFinBilge
Engine & Tanks
Engine9 HP23 HP
Fuel Capacity40 L (10.6 gal)100 L (26.4 gal)
Water Capacity70 L (18.5 gal)200 L (52.8 gal)
Accommodation
Berths57
Cabins12

Performance Comparison

SA/D Ratio (Higher = more sail power per displacement)
Beneteau First 27
19.84
1990 Westerly Oceanquest
14.32
Ballast Ratio (Higher = more stability)
Beneteau First 27
35.42
1990 Westerly Oceanquest
38.46
Capsize Ratio (Lower = safer offshore)
Beneteau First 27
0.83
1990 Westerly Oceanquest
0.75
Comfort Ratio (Higher = gentler motion)
Beneteau First 27
16.70
1990 Westerly Oceanquest
20.14

Detailed Comparison

The Beneteau First 27 and 1990 Westerly Oceanquest represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Beneteau First 27 is a 1990s design by Beneteau from France, while the 1990 Westerly Oceanquest is a 1990s offering from Westerly from UK. The Beneteau First 27 was penned by Jean Berret. The 1990 Westerly Oceanquest was designed by Ed Dubois.

In terms of size, the Beneteau First 27 measures 8.19m (26.9ft) overall with a beam of 2.79m, compared to the 1990 Westerly Oceanquest at 10.67m (35.0ft) with a 3.40m beam. The 1990 Westerly Oceanquest is 2.48m longer than the Beneteau First 27. The 1990 Westerly Oceanquest displaces approximately 146% more than its counterpart, which significantly affects how each boat handles in different sea states.

Looking at performance, the Beneteau First 27 has good sail power for versatile performance with an SA/D ratio of 19.84 and 35.0 m² of sail area. The 1990 Westerly Oceanquest, with an SA/D of 14.32 and 46.0 m² of canvas, offers modest sail power for its displacement. The Beneteau First 27 has the edge in terms of raw sailing performance.

For comfort and safety, the Beneteau First 27 offers a firm, racing-oriented motion (comfort ratio: 16.7) and excellent capsize resistance suitable for offshore voyaging (capsize ratio: 0.83). The 1990 Westerly Oceanquest has a comfort ratio of 20.1 and a capsize screening value of 0.75. The ballast ratios are 35.4% for the Beneteau First 27 and 38.5% for the 1990 Westerly Oceanquest, reflecting their respective approaches to stability.

Below deck, the Beneteau First 27 provides 5 berths in 1 cabin with 70L of water capacity and 40L of fuel. The 1990 Westerly Oceanquest offers 7 berths in 2 cabins with 200L water and 100L fuel capacity.

Verdict

For cruising: The 1990 Westerly Oceanquest is the better choice for comfortable cruising thanks to its higher comfort ratio, offering a gentler motion at sea that crews will appreciate on longer passages.

For racing: The Beneteau First 27 has the performance advantage with its superior SA/D ratio, meaning more sail power relative to its displacement for competitive sailing.

For liveaboard: The 1990 Westerly Oceanquest offers more sleeping accommodation, making it better suited for extended living aboard. Consider water and fuel capacity for extended stays away from marinas.

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