Beneteau First 29 vs Beneteau First 36.7 — Comparison
Beneteau First 29
Beneteau First 36.7
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | Beneteau First 29 | Beneteau First 36.7 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Beneteau | Beneteau |
| Year | 1995–2000 | 2002–2008 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | France | France |
| Designer | Bruce Farr | Farr Yacht Design |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 8.90 m (29.2 ft) | 11.25 m (36.9 ft) |
| LWL | 7.95 m (26.1 ft) | 9.65 m (31.7 ft) |
| Beam | 2.95 m (9.7 ft) | 3.58 m (11.7 ft) |
| Draft | 1.65 m (5.4 ft) | 1.98 m (6.5 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 3,100 kg (6,834 lbs) | 5,800 kg (12,787 lbs) |
| Ballast | 1,080 kg (2,381 lbs) | 2,100 kg (4,630 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 39.5 m² (425 ft²) | 65.0 m² (700 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 15 HP | 29 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 50 L (13.2 gal) | 120 L (31.7 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 80 L (21.1 gal) | 200 L (52.8 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 5 | 7 |
| Cabins | 1 | 2 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The Beneteau First 29 and Beneteau First 36.7 represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Beneteau First 29 is a 1990s design by Beneteau from France, while the Beneteau First 36.7 is a 2000s offering from Beneteau from France. The Beneteau First 29 was penned by Bruce Farr. The Beneteau First 36.7 was designed by Farr Yacht Design.
In terms of size, the Beneteau First 29 measures 8.90m (29.2ft) overall with a beam of 2.95m, compared to the Beneteau First 36.7 at 11.25m (36.9ft) with a 3.58m beam. The Beneteau First 36.7 is 2.35m longer than the Beneteau First 29. The Beneteau First 36.7 displaces approximately 87% 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 Beneteau First 36.7, with an SA/D of 20.46 and 65.0 m² of canvas, offers generous sail power for spirited sailing. The Beneteau First 36.7 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 Beneteau First 36.7 has a comfort ratio of 15.9 and a capsize screening value of 0.80. The ballast ratios are 34.8% for the Beneteau First 29 and 36.2% for the Beneteau First 36.7, 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 Beneteau First 36.7 offers 7 berths in 2 cabins with 200L water and 120L 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 36.7 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 36.7 offers more sleeping accommodation, making it better suited for extended living aboard. Consider water and fuel capacity for extended stays away from marinas.