BoatsBeneteau First 51

Beneteau First 51

Masthead Sloop · Fin keel, spade rudder · First built 1987

A German Frers-designed masthead sloop with a high ballast ratio and performance-oriented sail area for fast cruising

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 narrow beam gives 27 — a moderate, middle-of-the-road motion.

Comfort ratio 27
CoastalBluewater

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

Capsize screening 1.95
LightHeavy

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

Displacement / length 159
EasygoingPowered-up

21.4 — plenty of sail for her weight; lively and quick to respond.

Sail area / displacement 21.4
TenderStiff

50% of her weight is ballast — stiff, standing up well to her sails.

Ballast 50%

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

  • Draws more than ~96% of boats her size on file
  • Beamier than ~82% of boats her size on file

Compared with 1559 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
49.6%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
21.4
Displacement / length
159.4
Comfort ratio
26.6
Capsize screening
1.95
Hull speed
8.8 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
2300
Hull
Hull type
Fin w/spade rudder
Construction
Fiberglass
Production
Years built
First built 1987
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.

Saga Marine 4815.94 mSame hull family0.3 m longerA Robert Perry-designed masthead sloop built for performance cruising with a stiff 33% ballast ratio
Bavaria Yachts 50 Vision15.70 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 15.7-metre cruiser with a high 24.85 sail-area-to-displacement ratio, designed for powerful, efficient passage-making
X Yachts X-5015.24 mSame hull family0.4 m shorterA 15.24-meter performance cruiser with a 3-meter draft and a 40% ballast ratio for balanced, high-speed handling
Beneteau Oceanis 50015.32 mSame hull family0.3 m shorterA Philippe Briand-designed masthead sloop with a wing keel, widely produced as the Moorings 500 and Prestige 500
Beneteau Oceanis 51015.29 mSame hull family0.3 m shorterA Philippe Briand-designed masthead sloop also marketed as the Moorings 510 and Stardust 515
Beneteau First 53f515.90 mSame hull family0.3 m longerA Bruce Farr performance cruiser styled by Pininfarina, featuring multiple cabin layouts and an optional shoal wing keel

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

Two ways to keep looking — both search what the fleet has actually recorded.

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