Beneteau First 33.7 vs Hunter 240 — Comparison
Hunter 240
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | Beneteau First 33.7 | Hunter 240 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Beneteau | Hunter |
| Year | 2001–2006 | 1999–2004 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | France | USA |
| Designer | Jean Berret | Glenn Henderson |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 10.04 m (32.9 ft) | 7.32 m (24.0 ft) |
| LWL | 8.89 m (29.2 ft) | 6.17 m (20.2 ft) |
| Beam | 3.32 m (10.9 ft) | 2.44 m (8.0 ft) |
| Draft | 1.85 m (6.1 ft) | 1.22 m (4.0 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 4,700 kg (10,362 lbs) | 1,361 kg (3,000 lbs) |
| Ballast | 1,650 kg (3,638 lbs) | 476 kg (1,049 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 55.0 m² (592 ft²) | 22.5 m² (242 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 18 HP | 8 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 80 L (21.1 gal) | 19 L (5.0 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 150 L (39.6 gal) | 30 L (7.9 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 6 | 4 |
| Cabins | 2 | 1 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The Beneteau First 33.7 and Hunter 240 represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Beneteau First 33.7 is a 2000s design by Beneteau from France, while the Hunter 240 is a 1990s offering from Hunter from USA. The Beneteau First 33.7 was penned by Jean Berret. The Hunter 240 was designed by Glenn Henderson.
In terms of size, the Beneteau First 33.7 measures 10.04m (32.9ft) overall with a beam of 3.32m, compared to the Hunter 240 at 7.32m (24.0ft) with a 2.44m beam. The Beneteau First 33.7 is 2.72m longer than the Hunter 240. The Beneteau First 33.7 displaces approximately 245% more than its counterpart, which significantly affects how each boat handles in different sea states.
Looking at performance, the Beneteau First 33.7 has good sail power for versatile performance with an SA/D ratio of 19.92 and 55.0 m² of sail area. The Hunter 240, with an SA/D of 18.62 and 22.5 m² of canvas, offers good sail power for versatile performance. The Beneteau First 33.7 has the edge in terms of raw sailing performance.
For comfort and safety, the Beneteau First 33.7 offers a firm, racing-oriented motion (comfort ratio: 17.1) and excellent capsize resistance suitable for offshore voyaging (capsize ratio: 0.79). The Hunter 240 has a comfort ratio of 15.0 and a capsize screening value of 0.88. The ballast ratios are 35.1% for the Beneteau First 33.7 and 35.0% for the Hunter 240, reflecting their respective approaches to stability.
Below deck, the Beneteau First 33.7 provides 6 berths in 2 cabins with 150L of water capacity and 80L of fuel. The Hunter 240 offers 4 berths in 1 cabin with 30L water and 19L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The Beneteau First 33.7 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 33.7 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 33.7 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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Or view individual specs: Beneteau First 33.7 · Hunter 240