Beneteau First 29 vs Catalina 250 — Comparison
Catalina 250
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | Beneteau First 29 | Catalina 250 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Beneteau | Catalina |
| Year | 1995–2000 | 1994–2004 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | France | USA |
| Designer | Bruce Farr | Gerry Douglas |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 8.90 m (29.2 ft) | 7.62 m (25.0 ft) |
| LWL | 7.95 m (26.1 ft) | 6.78 m (22.2 ft) |
| Beam | 2.95 m (9.7 ft) | 2.59 m (8.5 ft) |
| Draft | 1.65 m (5.4 ft) | 1.37 m (4.5 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 3,100 kg (6,834 lbs) | 1,588 kg (3,501 lbs) |
| Ballast | 1,080 kg (2,381 lbs) | 612 kg (1,349 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 39.5 m² (425 ft²) | 24.5 m² (264 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 15 HP | 10 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 50 L (13.2 gal) | 30 L (7.9 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 80 L (21.1 gal) | 42 L (11.1 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 5 | 4 |
| Cabins | 1 | 1 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The Beneteau First 29 and Catalina 250 represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Beneteau First 29 is a 1990s design by Beneteau from France, while the Catalina 250 is a 1990s offering from Catalina from USA. The Beneteau First 29 was penned by Bruce Farr. The Catalina 250 was designed by Gerry Douglas.
In terms of size, the Beneteau First 29 measures 8.90m (29.2ft) overall with a beam of 2.95m, compared to the Catalina 250 at 7.62m (25.0ft) with a 2.59m beam. The Beneteau First 29 is 1.28m longer than the Catalina 250. The Beneteau First 29 displaces approximately 95% more than its counterpart, which significantly affects how each boat handles in different sea states.
Looking at performance, the Beneteau First 29 has good sail power for versatile performance with an SA/D ratio of 18.88 and 39.5 m² of sail area. The Catalina 250, with an SA/D of 18.30 and 24.5 m² of canvas, offers good sail power for versatile performance. The Beneteau First 29 has the edge in terms of raw sailing performance.
For comfort and safety, the Beneteau First 29 offers a firm, racing-oriented motion (comfort ratio: 16.6) and excellent capsize resistance suitable for offshore voyaging (capsize ratio: 0.81). The Catalina 250 has a comfort ratio of 13.9 and a capsize screening value of 0.89. The ballast ratios are 34.8% for the Beneteau First 29 and 38.5% for the Catalina 250, reflecting their respective approaches to stability.
Below deck, the Beneteau First 29 provides 5 berths in 1 cabin with 80L of water capacity and 50L of fuel. The Catalina 250 offers 4 berths in 1 cabin with 42L water and 30L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The Beneteau First 29 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 29 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 29 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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