Beneteau First 40 vs Jeanneau Sun Loft 47 — Comparison
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | Beneteau First 40 | Jeanneau Sun Loft 47 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Beneteau | Jeanneau |
| Year | 2006–2012 | 2019 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | France | France |
| Designer | Farr Yacht Design | Philippe Briand |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 12.16 m (39.9 ft) | 14.20 m (46.6 ft) |
| LWL | 10.58 m (34.7 ft) | 13.00 m (42.7 ft) |
| Beam | 3.80 m (12.5 ft) | 4.49 m (14.7 ft) |
| Draft | 2.15 m (7.1 ft) | 2.20 m (7.2 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 7,000 kg (15,432 lbs) | 11,500 kg (25,353 lbs) |
| Ballast | 2,500 kg (5,512 lbs) | 3,200 kg (7,055 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 74.0 m² (797 ft²) | 88.0 m² (947 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 40 HP | 57 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 150 L (39.6 gal) | 200 L (52.8 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 280 L (74.0 gal) | 400 L (105.7 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 8 | 12 |
| Cabins | 3 | 4 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The Beneteau First 40 and Jeanneau Sun Loft 47 represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Beneteau First 40 is a 2000s design by Beneteau from France, while the Jeanneau Sun Loft 47 is a modern offering from Jeanneau from France. The Beneteau First 40 was penned by Farr Yacht Design. The Jeanneau Sun Loft 47 was designed by Philippe Briand.
In terms of size, the Beneteau First 40 measures 12.16m (39.9ft) overall with a beam of 3.80m, compared to the Jeanneau Sun Loft 47 at 14.20m (46.6ft) with a 4.49m beam. The Jeanneau Sun Loft 47 is 2.04m longer than the Beneteau First 40. The Jeanneau Sun Loft 47 displaces approximately 64% 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 Jeanneau Sun Loft 47, with an SA/D of 17.55 and 88.0 m² of canvas, offers good sail power for versatile performance. 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 Jeanneau Sun Loft 47 has a comfort ratio of 13.4 and a capsize screening value of 0.80. The ballast ratios are 35.7% for the Beneteau First 40 and 27.8% for the Jeanneau Sun Loft 47, 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 Jeanneau Sun Loft 47 offers 12 berths in 4 cabins with 400L water and 200L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The Beneteau First 40 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 Jeanneau Sun Loft 47 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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