BoatsBeneteau First 405

Beneteau First 405

Masthead Sloop · Fin keel, spade rudder · First built 1986

A 12.4-metre masthead sloop featuring a deep 2.19-metre fin keel and a balanced displacement for offshore performance

Designed by Jean Berret & Berret-Racoupeau.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Fin w/spade Rudder

See her sail

The Beneteau First 405, on the water

The fleet's own footage — the truest look at how she really moves.

Footage from The Sailing Doodles Podcast

Is it for you?

Character

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

LivelySea-kindly

Her moderate displacement on a moderate beam gives 26 — a moderate, middle-of-the-road motion.

Comfort ratio 26
CoastalBluewater

1.93 — just under the 2.0 offshore line; her beam is modest for her weight.

Capsize screening 1.93
LightHeavy

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

Displacement / length 185
EasygoingPowered-up

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

Sail area / displacement 15.6
TenderStiff

42% of her weight is ballast — moderately stiff, a middle-of-the-road stability.

Ballast 42%

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

  • Draws more than ~85% of boats her size on file

Compared with 2746 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

The living fleet

Sailed by the fleet

Where the fleet has filmed this boat.

Seen once across one channel of the fleet.

Basemap © Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

What they go for

Market signal

Where the fleet has seen this model for sale, and the asking prices that came with it.

1channel looked into buying
$66,000Median asking
  • A 1992 Beneteau 405 Moorings charter boat is discussed as a potential starter boat for $66,000, but the price is considered a bit high for its age compared to newer models

    from The Sailing Doodles Podcastseen October 202527:28

From the fleet's own footage — our observed signal, not broker listings.

The record

Full specifications

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

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
41.6%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
15.6
Displacement / length
184.6
Comfort ratio
26.0
Capsize screening
1.93
Hull speed
8.0 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
1617
Hull
Hull type
Fin w/spade rudder
Construction
Fiberglass
Production
Years built
First built 1986
Designer
Jean Berret, Berret-Racoupeau
Builder
Beneteau

Boats like this, on the water

More boats like her, on the water

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.

Centurion 40S12.35 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA performance-oriented fractional sloop by Berret-Racoupeau, featuring a deep fin keel and a balanced, modern hull form
Scanmar 4012.24 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterA masthead sloop with a 46% ballast ratio, engineered for stiff, high-performance offshore passage making
Dufour Yachts 4012.32 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 12.32-metre fractional sloop featuring a 1.65-metre draft and a balanced 36% ballast ratio for coastal cruising
Elan Marine 41012.27 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 12.27-meter performance cruiser with a 2.2-meter draft and a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 20.52
Bavaria Yachts 40 (J&J)12.47 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA popular charter-trade cruiser from 2000, offering a balanced 18.88 SA/D ratio and a 1.95-metre bulb keel
Solaris 4212.36 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 12.36-metre fractional sloop with a 2.5-metre draft and a 19.88 sail-area-to-displacement ratio for balanced performance

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.

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The fleet has more to say

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