Beneteau First 35 vs Hunter 260 — Comparison
Beneteau First 35
Hunter 260
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | Beneteau First 35 | Hunter 260 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Beneteau | Hunter |
| Year | 2004–2009 | 1998–2004 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | France | USA |
| Designer | Farr Yacht Design | Glenn Henderson |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 10.68 m (35.0 ft) | 7.85 m (25.8 ft) |
| LWL | 9.45 m (31.0 ft) | 6.86 m (22.5 ft) |
| Beam | 3.45 m (11.3 ft) | 2.74 m (9.0 ft) |
| Draft | 2.00 m (6.6 ft) | 1.37 m (4.5 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 5,500 kg (12,125 lbs) | 2,041 kg (4,500 lbs) |
| Ballast | 1,900 kg (4,189 lbs) | 771 kg (1,700 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 61.0 m² (657 ft²) | 27.5 m² (296 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 21 HP | 10 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 100 L (26.4 gal) | 38 L (10.0 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 180 L (47.6 gal) | 57 L (15.1 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 6 | 5 |
| Cabins | 2 | 1 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The Beneteau First 35 and Hunter 260 represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Beneteau First 35 is a 2000s design by Beneteau from France, while the Hunter 260 is a 1990s offering from Hunter from USA. The Beneteau First 35 was penned by Farr Yacht Design. The Hunter 260 was designed by Glenn Henderson.
In terms of size, the Beneteau First 35 measures 10.68m (35.0ft) overall with a beam of 3.45m, compared to the Hunter 260 at 7.85m (25.8ft) with a 2.74m beam. The Beneteau First 35 is 2.83m longer than the Hunter 260. The Beneteau First 35 displaces approximately 169% more than its counterpart, which significantly affects how each boat handles in different sea states.
Looking at performance, the Beneteau First 35 has good sail power for versatile performance with an SA/D ratio of 19.89 and 61.0 m² of sail area. The Hunter 260, with an SA/D of 17.37 and 27.5 m² of canvas, offers good sail power for versatile performance. The Beneteau First 35 has the edge in terms of raw sailing performance.
For comfort and safety, the Beneteau First 35 offers a firm, racing-oriented motion (comfort ratio: 16.8) and excellent capsize resistance suitable for offshore voyaging (capsize ratio: 0.78). The Hunter 260 has a comfort ratio of 16.0 and a capsize screening value of 0.87. The ballast ratios are 34.6% for the Beneteau First 35 and 37.8% for the Hunter 260, reflecting their respective approaches to stability.
Below deck, the Beneteau First 35 provides 6 berths in 2 cabins with 180L of water capacity and 100L of fuel. The Hunter 260 offers 5 berths in 1 cabin with 57L water and 38L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The Beneteau First 35 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 35 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 35 offers more sleeping accommodation, making it better suited for extended living aboard. Consider water and fuel capacity for extended stays away from marinas.