Beneteau First 27 vs Hunter 356 — Comparison
Hunter 356
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | Beneteau First 27 | Hunter 356 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Beneteau | Hunter |
| Year | 1990–1994 | 2000–2005 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | France | USA |
| Designer | Jean Berret | Glenn Henderson |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 8.19 m (26.9 ft) | 10.82 m (35.5 ft) |
| LWL | 7.21 m (23.7 ft) | 9.30 m (30.5 ft) |
| Beam | 2.79 m (9.2 ft) | 3.53 m (11.6 ft) |
| Draft | 1.55 m (5.1 ft) | 1.80 m (5.9 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 2,400 kg (5,291 lbs) | 5,443 kg (12,000 lbs) |
| Ballast | 850 kg (1,874 lbs) | 2,177 kg (4,799 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 35.0 m² (377 ft²) | 53.0 m² (571 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 9 HP | 21 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 40 L (10.6 gal) | 76 L (20.1 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 70 L (18.5 gal) | 151 L (39.9 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 5 | 6 |
| Cabins | 1 | 2 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The Beneteau First 27 and Hunter 356 represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Beneteau First 27 is a 1990s design by Beneteau from France, while the Hunter 356 is a 2000s offering from Hunter from USA. The Beneteau First 27 was penned by Jean Berret. The Hunter 356 was designed by Glenn Henderson.
In terms of size, the Beneteau First 27 measures 8.19m (26.9ft) overall with a beam of 2.79m, compared to the Hunter 356 at 10.82m (35.5ft) with a 3.53m beam. The Hunter 356 is 2.63m longer than the Beneteau First 27. The Hunter 356 displaces approximately 127% 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 356, with an SA/D of 17.40 and 53.0 m² of canvas, offers good sail power for versatile performance. 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 Hunter 356 has a comfort ratio of 16.4 and a capsize screening value of 0.80. The ballast ratios are 35.4% for the Beneteau First 27 and 40.0% for the Hunter 356, 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 356 offers 6 berths in 2 cabins with 151L water and 76L fuel capacity.
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 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 Hunter 356 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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Or view individual specs: Beneteau First 27 · Hunter 356