Beneteau First 36.7 vs Hunter 280 — Comparison
Beneteau First 36.7
Hunter 280
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | Beneteau First 36.7 | Hunter 280 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Beneteau | Hunter |
| Year | 2002–2008 | 1998–2003 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | France | USA |
| Designer | Farr Yacht Design | Glenn Henderson |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 11.25 m (36.9 ft) | 8.53 m (28.0 ft) |
| LWL | 9.65 m (31.7 ft) | 7.47 m (24.5 ft) |
| Beam | 3.58 m (11.7 ft) | 2.82 m (9.3 ft) |
| Draft | 1.98 m (6.5 ft) | 1.52 m (5.0 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 5,800 kg (12,787 lbs) | 2,585 kg (5,699 lbs) |
| Ballast | 2,100 kg (4,630 lbs) | 998 kg (2,200 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 65.0 m² (700 ft²) | 34.0 m² (366 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 29 HP | 15 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 120 L (31.7 gal) | 45 L (11.9 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 200 L (52.8 gal) | 76 L (20.1 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 7 | 5 |
| Cabins | 2 | 1 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The Beneteau First 36.7 and Hunter 280 represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Beneteau First 36.7 is a 2000s design by Beneteau from France, while the Hunter 280 is a 1990s offering from Hunter from USA. The Beneteau First 36.7 was penned by Farr Yacht Design. The Hunter 280 was designed by Glenn Henderson.
In terms of size, the Beneteau First 36.7 measures 11.25m (36.9ft) overall with a beam of 3.58m, compared to the Hunter 280 at 8.53m (28.0ft) with a 2.82m beam. The Beneteau First 36.7 is 2.72m longer than the Hunter 280. The Beneteau First 36.7 displaces approximately 124% more than its counterpart, which significantly affects how each boat handles in different sea states.
Looking at performance, the Beneteau First 36.7 has generous sail power for spirited sailing with an SA/D ratio of 20.46 and 65.0 m² of sail area. The Hunter 280, with an SA/D of 18.35 and 34.0 m² of canvas, offers good sail power for versatile performance. The Beneteau First 36.7 has the edge in terms of raw sailing performance.
For comfort and safety, the Beneteau First 36.7 offers a firm, racing-oriented motion (comfort ratio: 15.9) and excellent capsize resistance suitable for offshore voyaging (capsize ratio: 0.80). The Hunter 280 has a comfort ratio of 16.5 and a capsize screening value of 0.82. The ballast ratios are 36.2% for the Beneteau First 36.7 and 38.6% for the Hunter 280, reflecting their respective approaches to stability.
Below deck, the Beneteau First 36.7 provides 7 berths in 2 cabins with 200L of water capacity and 120L of fuel. The Hunter 280 offers 5 berths in 1 cabin with 76L water and 45L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The Hunter 280 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.
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Or view individual specs: Beneteau First 36.7 · Hunter 280