Beneteau -Berret First 30 E Buyer's Guide
Shopping the brokerage market for a Beneteau First 30 E means looking at a 1981–1984 Jean Berret design built in 443 examples, a masthead-sloop cruiser-racer with solid-fiberglass hull and deck and iron ballast. The boat's IOR-derived lines and moderate 7,055-pound displacement make it a lively dual-purpose 30-footer, but the used examples carry the wear patterns of forty-year-old production fiberglass and a few owner-reported weak spots worth checking before you commit.
Layouts on the Used Market
Owner three-cabin layouts are the more common on the used market, but both are available; ex-charter examples are common. The three-cabin arrangement trades some salon openness for private sleeping spaces, while the alternative layout favors a more open central living area. Either way, the IOR hull keeps interior volume modest, so judge the berth sizes and sole walkway against your own height rather than the listing photo.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Spinnakers, autopilots, and chartplotters are commonly fitted to these boats, meaning most listings will already carry the core racing-and-navigation kit a club sailor wants. Solar panels, asymmetric spinnakers, dodgers, and AIS are often seen as well, so expect a sensible cruising layer on top of the race gear. For a buyer, the consequence is practical: a commonly fitted chartplotter and autopilot reduce your commissioning cost, while an often-seen asymmetric spinnaker and dodger signal a boat used for both reaching legs and sheltered cockpits.
What to Inspect
Some owners report that the interior feels cramped and storage is limited, so open every locker and sit in the saloon to confirm the space works for your plans rather than trusting the dimension sheet. At a viewing, reach behind the companionway to confirm whether the engine compartment is tightly buried and the cabin trim is loosely fastened, since owner accounts flag restricted mechanical access and inconsistent fitting finish as the recurring faults anchor. Run a finger along cabinet edges and locker faces for loose trim or cracked veneer, which tells you which fittings have aged poorly.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These boats turn up regularly in Italy, Belgium, and the United Kingdom. Before you sign, walk the boat with this short list:
- Confirm the layout matches your cruising or racing plan.
- Verify the chartplotter, autopilot, and spinnaker are present and serviced.
- Test engine access and note any joinery cuts needed.
- Inspect interior fittings for loose or cracked trim.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Beneteau -Berret First 30 E. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 2 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 26 | 1 | $26,644 | — |
| Jun 26 | 2 | $15,937 | -40.2% |
Where they're listed
Beneteau -Berret First 30 E listings appear across 3 countries. Belgium has the most listings with 1 (33.3%), followed by United Kingdom and Italy.
Country view
3 listings · 3 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belgium | $15,639 | 1 | 1 | 33.3% |
| United Kingdom | $16,235 | 1 | 1 | 33.3% |
| Italy | $26,644 | 1 | 0 | 33.3% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
5 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beneteau First 30 (Mauric) | 29.36' | $ 79,546 | 44 | 12 |
| Judel/Vrolijk J/30 | 29.83' | $ 14,500 | 26 | 8 |
| Pearson 30 | 29.79' | $ 7,000 | 20 | 8 |
| Elan Boats 31 | 30.84' | $ 48,658 | 15 | 4 |
| Beneteau First 30 E (Berret)You are here | — | $ 16,235 | 3 | 2 |