Beneteau First 29 vs 1999 Lagoon 380 — Comparison
Beneteau First 29
1999 Lagoon 380
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | Beneteau First 29 | 1999 Lagoon 380 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Beneteau | Lagoon |
| Year | 1995–2000 | 1999–2016 |
| Type | Sloop | Catamaran |
| Country | France | France |
| Designer | Bruce Farr | Marc Van Peteghem / Vincent Lauriot-Prévost |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 8.90 m (29.2 ft) | 11.55 m (37.9 ft) |
| LWL | 7.95 m (26.1 ft) | 10.88 m (35.7 ft) |
| Beam | 2.95 m (9.7 ft) | 6.53 m (21.4 ft) |
| Draft | 1.65 m (5.4 ft) | 1.15 m (3.8 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 3,100 kg (6,834 lbs) | 8,200 kg (18,078 lbs) |
| Ballast | 1,080 kg (2,381 lbs) | — |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 39.5 m² (425 ft²) | 69.0 m² (743 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Mini Keel |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 15 HP | 2 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 50 L (13.2 gal) | 360 L (95.1 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 80 L (21.1 gal) | 600 L (158.5 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 5 | 8 |
| Cabins | 1 | 4 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The Beneteau First 29 and 1999 Lagoon 380 represent different approaches to sailboat design. The Beneteau First 29 is a 1990s design by Beneteau from France, while the 1999 Lagoon 380 is a 1990s offering from Lagoon from France. The Beneteau First 29 was penned by Bruce Farr. The 1999 Lagoon 380 was designed by Marc Van Peteghem / Vincent Lauriot-Prévost.
In terms of size, the Beneteau First 29 measures 8.90m (29.2ft) overall with a beam of 2.95m, compared to the 1999 Lagoon 380 at 11.55m (37.9ft) with a 6.53m beam. The 1999 Lagoon 380 is 2.65m longer than the Beneteau First 29. The 1999 Lagoon 380 displaces approximately 165% 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 1999 Lagoon 380, with an SA/D of 17.24 and 69.0 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 1999 Lagoon 380 has a comfort ratio of 8.4 and a capsize screening value of 1.30. The ballast ratios are 34.8% for the Beneteau First 29 and 0.0% for the 1999 Lagoon 380, 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 1999 Lagoon 380 offers 8 berths in 4 cabins with 600L water and 360L 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 1999 Lagoon 380 offers more sleeping accommodation, making it better suited for extended living aboard. Consider water and fuel capacity for extended stays away from marinas.