BoatsBeneteau First 22

Beneteau First 22

Fractional Sloop · Keel/centreboard · 1978–1983

A lightweight 6.95-metre fractional sloop with a keel-centerboard configuration, built for versatile coastal sailing

Designed by Jean-Marie Finot & Jean Marie Finot (Groupe Finot).

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Keel/Cbrd.

Is it for you?

Character

Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.

TrailerableBeam 2.49 m — inside the 2.55 m no-permit tow width across most of Europe, and the 2.59 m US and Canadian limit. About 1,100 kg of hull, so roughly 1,700 kg on a trailer: check that against your own towing rating.Ramp-launchableAbout 1,100 kg of hull, with a keel that raises or a draft shallow enough to float off a trailer — she can go back on the trailer at the ramp, not only into the water.Shoal draftDraws 0.65 m, board up where she has one — creeks, sandbars and thin anchorages most keels have to stay out of.
LivelySea-kindly

Her moderate displacement on a beamy beam gives 12 — a quick, lively motion that feels every wave.

Comfort ratio 12
CoastalBluewater

At 2.44 she sits above the 2.0 line — beamy for her weight, and happiest coastal.

Capsize screening 2.44
LightHeavy

184 — moderately heavy for her waterline, a balanced cruising weight.

Displacement / length 184
EasygoingPowered-up

17.1 — moderate power for her weight; steady, all-round performance.

Sail area / displacement 17.1
TenderStiff

38% of her weight is ballast — moderately stiff, a middle-of-the-road stability.

Ballast 38%

Light and lively — happiest day-sailing and coastal-hopping in settled weather.

  • Draws more than ~83% of boats her size on file

Compared with 608 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

The record

Full specifications

The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
38.2%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Fractional Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
17.1
Displacement / length
184.4
Comfort ratio
11.7
Capsize screening
2.44
Hull speed
5.7 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
527
Hull
Hull type
Keel/Cbrd.
Construction
Fiberglass
Production
Years built
1978–1983
Units built
763
Designer
Jean-Marie Finot, Jean Marie Finot (Groupe Finot)
Builder
Beneteau

Boats like this, on the water

Nobody has filmed this one — but these are close.

Comparable boats the fleet has on camera: same type, within a quarter of her length. Open the boat, or watch the video — a timestamp means she only appears in passing.

Marshall Marine Corporation Sanderling5.54 mSame hull family1.4 m shorterA gaff-rigged catboat based on a 1941 design, featuring a shallow-draft keel-centerboard hull for versatile day sailing
The History of Beneteau Boats11:37from Practical Sailor
Seascape 277.99 mSame hull family1.0 m longerA Sam Manuard-designed performance fractional sloop with a high SA/D ratio and swing keel, now part of the Beneteau First range
Boat for both cruising and racing22:55from SEILmagasinet
Chrysler Marine 226.71 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterA 6.7-metre masthead sloop produced as the C-22 and T-22 Sandpiper, featuring a swing keel for shallow-water access
Why Most People Quit Living on a Sailboatfrom Lady K Sailing
O'day 23-1 (Lift Top)7.01 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA popular C. Raymond Hunt-designed masthead sloop featuring a unique lift-top coach roof for added cabin headroom
Living on a Sailboat Doesn’t Have to Mean the End of Your Professional Life | #SAL #3583:10from Hashtag Sal
Cal Boats 247.43 mSame hull family0.5 m longerThe inaugural Jensen Marine Cal model, this fractional keel-centerboard sloop was built for shoal-water versatility
Aladino Sails The Pacific Alone.2:08from Sailing Magic Carpet
Catalina Yachts 227.26 mSame hull family0.3 m longerA swing-keel masthead sloop with 15,000 units sold, offering a highly versatile and trailerable coastal cruiser
The ZERO KEEL and ALPHA RUDDER - Are Kraken Yachts Really THAT GOOD?9:27from Practical Sailor

The family

Related models

The designs closest to hers — usually the rest of the builder's range, sometimes the same hull sold under another name.

Beneteau First 24A 7.5-metre fractional sloop with a swing keel, built between 1982 and 1985 for performance in shoal waterBeneteau First 18A Jean-Marie Finot-designed fractional sloop built to the Micro Class rule for competitive, trailerable racingBeneteau First 28A Jean-Marie Finot-designed masthead sloop built for performance with a stiff 37% ballast ratioBeneteau First 235A Groupe Finot-designed fractional sloop built for performance, featuring a light displacement and high sail area ratioBeneteau First Class 8A high-performance fractional sloop with a swing keel, designed for competitive one-design racing and trailerability

Keep looking

Nothing filmed of this one yet

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Search the fleet for boats like thisAsk the fleet about the Beneteau First 22

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