Beneteau First 29 vs 2013 Elan 350 — Comparison
Beneteau First 29
2013 Elan 350
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | Beneteau First 29 | 2013 Elan 350 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Beneteau | Elan |
| Year | 1995–2000 | 2013–2018 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | France | Slovenia |
| Designer | Bruce Farr | Rob Humphreys |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 8.90 m (29.2 ft) | 10.67 m (35.0 ft) |
| LWL | 7.95 m (26.1 ft) | 9.30 m (30.5 ft) |
| Beam | 2.95 m (9.7 ft) | 3.46 m (11.4 ft) |
| Draft | 1.65 m (5.4 ft) | 2.00 m (6.6 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 3,100 kg (6,834 lbs) | 6,100 kg (13,448 lbs) |
| Ballast | 1,080 kg (2,381 lbs) | 1,850 kg (4,079 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 39.5 m² (425 ft²) | 58.0 m² (624 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 15 HP | 21 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 50 L (13.2 gal) | 80 L (21.1 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 80 L (21.1 gal) | 170 L (44.9 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 5 | 6 |
| Cabins | 1 | 2 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The Beneteau First 29 and 2013 Elan 350 represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Beneteau First 29 is a 1990s design by Beneteau from France, while the 2013 Elan 350 is a modern offering from Elan from Slovenia. The Beneteau First 29 was penned by Bruce Farr. The 2013 Elan 350 was designed by Rob Humphreys.
In terms of size, the Beneteau First 29 measures 8.90m (29.2ft) overall with a beam of 2.95m, compared to the 2013 Elan 350 at 10.67m (35.0ft) with a 3.46m beam. The 2013 Elan 350 is 1.77m longer than the Beneteau First 29. The 2013 Elan 350 displaces approximately 97% 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 2013 Elan 350, with an SA/D of 17.65 and 58.0 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 2013 Elan 350 has a comfort ratio of 19.0 and a capsize screening value of 0.76. The ballast ratios are 34.8% for the Beneteau First 29 and 30.3% for the 2013 Elan 350, 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 2013 Elan 350 offers 6 berths in 2 cabins with 170L water and 80L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The 2013 Elan 350 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 2013 Elan 350 offers more sleeping accommodation, making it better suited for extended living aboard. Consider water and fuel capacity for extended stays away from marinas.