BoatsBeneteau First 42

Beneteau First 42

Masthead Sloop · Fin keel, spade rudder · 1981–1985

A German Frers-designed masthead sloop built for performance, featuring a stiff fin keel and a versatile, long-legged hull

Designed by German Frers.

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

Is it for you?

Character

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

LivelySea-kindly

Her light displacement on a moderate beam gives 25 — a moderate, middle-of-the-road motion.

Comfort ratio 25
CoastalBluewater

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

Capsize screening 1.97
LightHeavy

179 — light for her waterline, so she is easily driven and quick to accelerate.

Displacement / length 179
EasygoingPowered-up

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

Sail area / displacement 17.8
TenderStiff

47% of her weight is ballast — stiff, standing up well to her sails.

Ballast 47%

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

  • Draws more than ~84% of boats her size on file

Compared with 2585 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
47.1%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
17.8
Displacement / length
179.3
Comfort ratio
24.8
Capsize screening
1.97
Hull speed
8.0 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
1683
Hull
Hull type
Fin w/spade rudder
Construction
FG/ balsa sand. deck
Ballast type
Iron
Production
Years built
1981–1985
Designer
German Frers
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.

Dufour Yachts 425 Grand Large12.90 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterA 12.9-meter fractional sloop with a 2.1-meter bulb keel, optimized for a stable 8.13-knot hull speed
Beneteau Oceanis 43012.96 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Philippe Briand-designed cruiser with a high comfort ratio, also produced as the Moorings 432 charter variant
Beneteau 42 CC13.23 mSame hull family0.2 m longerA cutter-rigged cruiser produced from 2003 to 2007, widely utilized in the charter trade for its accessible layout
Grand Soleil 40 (Polli)12.90 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterA Matteo Polli-designed fractional sloop optimized for ORC competition with a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio
X Yachts X-4312.93 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterA Niels Jeppesen-designed fractional sloop balancing performance-oriented sail area with a stiff, bulb-keel hull
Ct-44 (Pilot House)13.16 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Tanton-designed pilot house cutter featuring a fin keel and skeg-mounted rudder for offshore stability

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.

Keep looking

Nothing filmed of this one yet

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