Beneteau First 44.7 vs Hunter 450 — Comparison
Beneteau First 44.7
Hunter 450
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | Beneteau First 44.7 | Hunter 450 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Beneteau | Hunter |
| Year | 1999–2004 | 2001–2006 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | France | USA |
| Designer | Farr Yacht Design | Glenn Henderson |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 13.48 m (44.2 ft) | 13.72 m (45.0 ft) |
| LWL | 11.60 m (38.1 ft) | 11.89 m (39.0 ft) |
| Beam | 4.12 m (13.5 ft) | 4.27 m (14.0 ft) |
| Draft | 2.30 m (7.5 ft) | 2.06 m (6.8 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 9,200 kg (20,283 lbs) | 10,886 kg (23,999 lbs) |
| Ballast | 3,300 kg (7,275 lbs) | 4,082 kg (8,999 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 90.0 m² (969 ft²) | 86.0 m² (926 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 55 HP | 75 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 200 L (52.8 gal) | 189 L (49.9 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 350 L (92.5 gal) | 341 L (90.1 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 8 | 8 |
| Cabins | 3 | 3 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The Beneteau First 44.7 and Hunter 450 represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Beneteau First 44.7 is a 1990s design by Beneteau from France, while the Hunter 450 is a 2000s offering from Hunter from USA. The Beneteau First 44.7 was penned by Farr Yacht Design. The Hunter 450 was designed by Glenn Henderson.
In terms of size, the Beneteau First 44.7 measures 13.48m (44.2ft) overall with a beam of 4.12m, compared to the Hunter 450 at 13.72m (45.0ft) with a 4.27m beam. The Hunter 450 is 0.24m longer than the Beneteau First 44.7. The Hunter 450 displaces approximately 18% more than its counterpart, which significantly affects how each boat handles in different sea states.
Looking at performance, the Beneteau First 44.7 has generous sail power for spirited sailing with an SA/D ratio of 20.82 and 90.0 m² of sail area. The Hunter 450, with an SA/D of 17.79 and 86.0 m² of canvas, offers good sail power for versatile performance. The Beneteau First 44.7 has the edge in terms of raw sailing performance.
For comfort and safety, the Beneteau First 44.7 offers a firm, racing-oriented motion (comfort ratio: 14.5) and excellent capsize resistance suitable for offshore voyaging (capsize ratio: 0.79). The Hunter 450 has a comfort ratio of 15.6 and a capsize screening value of 0.77. The ballast ratios are 35.9% for the Beneteau First 44.7 and 37.5% for the Hunter 450, reflecting their respective approaches to stability.
Below deck, the Beneteau First 44.7 provides 8 berths in 3 cabins with 350L of water capacity and 200L of fuel. The Hunter 450 offers 8 berths in 3 cabins with 341L water and 189L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The Hunter 450 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 44.7 has the performance advantage with its superior SA/D ratio, meaning more sail power relative to its displacement for competitive sailing.
For liveaboard: Both boats provide similar accommodation, making either a viable choice for living aboard. Consider water and fuel capacity for extended stays away from marinas.