Beneteau First 40 vs 1988 Wauquiez Gladiateur — Comparison
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | Beneteau First 40 | 1988 Wauquiez Gladiateur |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Beneteau | Wauquiez |
| Year | 2006–2012 | 1988–1998 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | France | France |
| Designer | Farr Yacht Design | Jean-Marie Finot |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 12.16 m (39.9 ft) | 10.21 m (33.5 ft) |
| LWL | 10.58 m (34.7 ft) | 8.38 m (27.5 ft) |
| Beam | 3.80 m (12.5 ft) | 3.28 m (10.8 ft) |
| Draft | 2.15 m (7.1 ft) | 1.70 m (5.6 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 7,000 kg (15,432 lbs) | 5,443 kg (12,000 lbs) |
| Ballast | 2,500 kg (5,512 lbs) | 2,268 kg (5,000 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 74.0 m² (797 ft²) | 47.0 m² (506 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 40 HP | 22 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 150 L (39.6 gal) | 90 L (23.8 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 280 L (74.0 gal) | 170 L (44.9 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 8 | 6 |
| Cabins | 3 | 2 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The Beneteau First 40 and 1988 Wauquiez Gladiateur represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Beneteau First 40 is a 2000s design by Beneteau from France, while the 1988 Wauquiez Gladiateur is a 1980s offering from Wauquiez from France. The Beneteau First 40 was penned by Farr Yacht Design. The 1988 Wauquiez Gladiateur was designed by Jean-Marie Finot.
In terms of size, the Beneteau First 40 measures 12.16m (39.9ft) overall with a beam of 3.80m, compared to the 1988 Wauquiez Gladiateur at 10.21m (33.5ft) with a 3.28m beam. The Beneteau First 40 is 1.95m longer than the 1988 Wauquiez Gladiateur. The Beneteau First 40 displaces approximately 29% more than its counterpart, which significantly affects how each boat handles in different sea states.
Looking at performance, the Beneteau First 40 has generous sail power for spirited sailing with an SA/D ratio of 20.55 and 74.0 m² of sail area. The 1988 Wauquiez Gladiateur, with an SA/D of 15.43 and 47.0 m² of canvas, offers moderate sail power suitable for relaxed cruising. The Beneteau First 40 has the edge in terms of raw sailing performance.
For comfort and safety, the Beneteau First 40 offers a firm, racing-oriented motion (comfort ratio: 14.9) and excellent capsize resistance suitable for offshore voyaging (capsize ratio: 0.80). The 1988 Wauquiez Gladiateur has a comfort ratio of 21.6 and a capsize screening value of 0.75. The ballast ratios are 35.7% for the Beneteau First 40 and 41.7% for the 1988 Wauquiez Gladiateur, reflecting their respective approaches to stability.
Below deck, the Beneteau First 40 provides 8 berths in 3 cabins with 280L of water capacity and 150L of fuel. The 1988 Wauquiez Gladiateur offers 6 berths in 2 cabins with 170L water and 90L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The 1988 Wauquiez Gladiateur 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 40 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 40 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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