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First 235 Beneteau
Designer: Group Finot  ·  Builder: Beneteau  ·  First built: 1986
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About the First 235 Beneteau

Designed as an accessible entry point into performance sailing, this compact Beneteau represents the builder's commitment to bringing racing-inspired design to a broader audience. The First 235 embodies the characteristics that made the First series popular among sailors seeking spirited performance without the complexity of pure racing machines. Built with Beneteau's signature attention to construction quality, this boat features a hull design that balances stability with responsiveness. The cockpit layout prioritizes ease of handling, making it well-suited for both novice sailors learning the ropes and experienced sailors wanting a manageable boat for weekend adventures. The First 235 excels in coastal and protected water sailing, where its size becomes an advantage rather than a limitation. Its moderate displacement and sail plan deliver satisfying performance in light to moderate winds, while remaining forgiving in challenging conditions. The boat's design philosophy emphasizes fun factor over ultimate speed, making it an excellent choice for club racing, sailing instruction, or casual day sailing. This model demonstrates Beneteau's ability to distill larger boat performance characteristics into a more compact, affordable package that doesn't compromise on sailing enjoyment or build quality.

Market Price Estimate Beta
Small sample size. This estimate is based on fewer than 5 listings and may not be representative of the true market. Use with caution.
$7,950 – $12,500
typical asking price
Median $10,000  ·  3 listings used
All listings
$7,950 – $12,500 3
Rate a listing price
$
About this estimate
  • Prices are based on recent asking prices from public listings — not actual sale prices, which are typically lower.
  • Condition is not factored in. A well-maintained boat with new sails and engine can be worth significantly more than a project boat of the same model.
  • Location affects price. Boats in landlocked states or areas with fewer buyers often sell for less than those on the coast.
  • Year of manufacture is not filtered. Older examples of this model will generally be priced lower than newer ones.
  • Included equipment varies widely. A boat with a full suite of electronics, dodger, and new standing rigging may command a large premium.
  • Outliers are automatically excluded using statistical filtering to improve accuracy, but some bad data may remain.
Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 23.33 ft / 7.11 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 20.25 ft / 6.17 m
Beam 8.17 ft / 2.49 m
Max Draft 3.80 ft / 1.16 m
Displacement 2,826.00 lb / 1,282 kg
Ballast 825.00 lb / 374 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 248.00 ft² / 23.04 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/transom hung rudder
Rigging Type Fractional Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Group Finot
Builder Beneteau
First Built 1986
Last Built 1991
Owner Reviews

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Performance Ratios
SA/Displacement Sail Area to Displacement ratio measures how much sail power a boat has relative to its weight. Higher values mean more performance and speed.
Under 14 — Heavy cruiser, slow14–18 — Cruising sailboat18–22 — Cruiser/racerOver 22 — Performance racer
19.9
Comfort Ratio Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio predicts how comfortable a boat will feel in offshore conditions. Higher values mean a steadier, more comfortable motion in a seaway.
Under 20 — Uncomfortably rough20–30 — Acceptable coastal30–40 — Good offshore comfortOver 40 — Very comfortable offshore
12.57
Capsize Screening Formula The USHS Capsize Screening Formula estimates offshore capsize risk. Lower is safer — values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing.
Under 2.0 — Safe for offshore2.0–2.2 — Borderline offshoreOver 2.2 — Coastal use recommended
2.31
Hull Speed Hull Speed is the theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull, calculated from waterline length. Most cruising sailboats reach this speed in moderate conditions. 6.03
S# (Speed Number) The Speed Number (S#) is a quick performance index. Higher values indicate a faster, more powerful design relative to its size.
Under 3.0 — Slow cruiser3.0–5.0 — Average cruiser5.0–7.0 — Performance cruiserOver 7.0 — Racer
3.75
Pounds/Inch Immersion Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline. 591.14
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 28.61
J (Foretriangle Base) 7.87
P (Mainsail Luff) 26.41
E (Mainsail Foot) 10.3
SA Fore 112.58
SA Main 136.01
How It Compares

vs. Precision 23, Santana 2023C, Tonic 23 Jeanneau

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
First 235 Beneteau ★
23.3 ft
Precision 23
23.4 ft
Santana 2023C
23.3 ft
Tonic 23 Jeanneau
23.3 ft
LWL
First 235 Beneteau ★
20.3 ft
Precision 23
20.0 ft
Santana 2023C
20.6 ft
Tonic 23 Jeanneau
20.3 ft
Beam
First 235 Beneteau ★
8.2 ft
Precision 23
8.5 ft
Santana 2023C
8.5 ft
Tonic 23 Jeanneau
8.9 ft
Displacement
First 235 Beneteau ★
2 lbs
Precision 23
2 lbs
Santana 2023C
2 lbs
Tonic 23 Jeanneau
3 lbs
Ballast
First 235 Beneteau ★
825 lbs
Precision 23
850 lbs
Santana 2023C
1 lbs
Tonic 23 Jeanneau
1 lbs
Sail Area
First 235 Beneteau ★
248 sq ft
Precision 23
248 sq ft
Santana 2023C
222 sq ft
Tonic 23 Jeanneau
248 sq ft
Performance
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
First 235 Beneteau ★
19.9
Precision 23
21.9
Santana 2023C
17.6
Tonic 23 Jeanneau
16.4
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
First 235 Beneteau ★
Precision 23
Santana 2023C
45.1 %
Tonic 23 Jeanneau
35.3 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
First 235 Beneteau ★
12.6
Precision 23
10.4
Santana 2023C
12.0
Tonic 23 Jeanneau
14.8
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
First 235 Beneteau ★
2.31
Precision 23
2.53
Santana 2023C
2.39
Tonic 23 Jeanneau
2.28
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
First 235 Beneteau ★
Precision 23
Santana 2023C
146
Tonic 23 Jeanneau
198
Hull Speed
First 235 Beneteau ★
6.0 kts
Precision 23
6.0 kts
Santana 2023C
6.1 kts
Tonic 23 Jeanneau
6.0 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
First 235 Beneteau ★
3.8
Precision 23
4.3
Santana 2023C
3.5
Tonic 23 Jeanneau
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