Beneteau First 47.7 vs 2015 Elan 450 — Comparison
Beneteau First 47.7
2015 Elan 450
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | Beneteau First 47.7 | 2015 Elan 450 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Beneteau | Elan |
| Year | 2003–2008 | 2015–2019 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | France | Slovenia |
| Designer | Farr Yacht Design | Rob Humphreys |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 14.69 m (48.2 ft) | 13.85 m (45.4 ft) |
| LWL | 12.90 m (42.3 ft) | 12.20 m (40.0 ft) |
| Beam | 4.30 m (14.1 ft) | 4.28 m (14.0 ft) |
| Draft | 2.50 m (8.2 ft) | 2.20 m (7.2 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 11,500 kg (25,353 lbs) | 10,800 kg (23,810 lbs) |
| Ballast | 4,200 kg (9,259 lbs) | 3,500 kg (7,716 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 105.0 m² (1,130 ft²) | 95.0 m² (1,023 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 75 HP | 40 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 250 L (66.0 gal) | 160 L (42.3 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 450 L (118.9 gal) | 350 L (92.5 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 10 | 8 |
| Cabins | 3 | 3 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The Beneteau First 47.7 and 2015 Elan 450 represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Beneteau First 47.7 is a 2000s design by Beneteau from France, while the 2015 Elan 450 is a modern offering from Elan from Slovenia. The Beneteau First 47.7 was penned by Farr Yacht Design. The 2015 Elan 450 was designed by Rob Humphreys.
In terms of size, the Beneteau First 47.7 measures 14.69m (48.2ft) overall with a beam of 4.30m, compared to the 2015 Elan 450 at 13.85m (45.4ft) with a 4.28m beam. The Beneteau First 47.7 is 0.84m longer than the 2015 Elan 450. The Beneteau First 47.7 displaces approximately 6% more than its counterpart, which significantly affects how each boat handles in different sea states.
Looking at performance, the Beneteau First 47.7 has generous sail power for spirited sailing with an SA/D ratio of 20.93 and 105.0 m² of sail area. The 2015 Elan 450, with an SA/D of 19.75 and 95.0 m² of canvas, offers good sail power for versatile performance. The Beneteau First 47.7 has the edge in terms of raw sailing performance.
For comfort and safety, the Beneteau First 47.7 offers a firm, racing-oriented motion (comfort ratio: 14.0) and excellent capsize resistance suitable for offshore voyaging (capsize ratio: 0.76). The 2015 Elan 450 has a comfort ratio of 14.8 and a capsize screening value of 0.78. The ballast ratios are 36.5% for the Beneteau First 47.7 and 32.4% for the 2015 Elan 450, reflecting their respective approaches to stability.
Below deck, the Beneteau First 47.7 provides 10 berths in 3 cabins with 450L of water capacity and 250L of fuel. The 2015 Elan 450 offers 8 berths in 3 cabins with 350L water and 160L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The 2015 Elan 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 47.7 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 47.7 offers more sleeping accommodation, making it better suited for extended living aboard. Consider water and fuel capacity for extended stays away from marinas.