Beneteau First 27 vs Hunter 185 — Comparison
Beneteau First 27
Hunter 185
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | Beneteau First 27 | Hunter 185 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Beneteau | Hunter |
| Year | 1990–1994 | 2000–2007 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | France | USA |
| Designer | Jean Berret | Hunter Design Team |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 8.19 m (26.9 ft) | 5.54 m (18.2 ft) |
| LWL | 7.21 m (23.7 ft) | 4.95 m (16.2 ft) |
| Beam | 2.79 m (9.2 ft) | 2.13 m (7.0 ft) |
| Draft | 1.55 m (5.1 ft) | 0.91 m (3.0 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 2,400 kg (5,291 lbs) | 408 kg (899 lbs) |
| Ballast | 850 kg (1,874 lbs) | 82 kg (181 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 35.0 m² (377 ft²) | 13.0 m² (140 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Centerboard |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 9 HP | — |
| Fuel Capacity | 40 L (10.6 gal) | — |
| Water Capacity | 70 L (18.5 gal) | — |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 5 | 2 |
| Cabins | 1 | — |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The Beneteau First 27 and Hunter 185 represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Beneteau First 27 is a 1990s design by Beneteau from France, while the Hunter 185 is a 2000s offering from Hunter from USA. The Beneteau First 27 was penned by Jean Berret. The Hunter 185 was designed by Hunter Design Team.
In terms of size, the Beneteau First 27 measures 8.19m (26.9ft) overall with a beam of 2.79m, compared to the Hunter 185 at 5.54m (18.2ft) with a 2.13m beam. The Beneteau First 27 is 2.65m longer than the Hunter 185. The Beneteau First 27 displaces approximately 488% 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 Hunter 185, with an SA/D of 24.03 and 13.0 m² of canvas, offers generous sail power for spirited sailing. The Hunter 185 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 Hunter 185 has a comfort ratio of 8.7 and a capsize screening value of 1.15. The ballast ratios are 35.4% for the Beneteau First 27 and 20.1% for the Hunter 185, 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 Hunter 185 offers 2 berths with unspecified water tankage and unspecified fuel.
Verdict
For cruising: The Beneteau First 27 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 Hunter 185 has the performance advantage with its superior SA/D ratio, meaning more sail power relative to its displacement for competitive sailing.
For liveaboard: The Beneteau First 27 offers more sleeping accommodation, making it better suited for extended living aboard. Consider water and fuel capacity for extended stays away from marinas.