Design and Construction
Beneteau launched the First 25.7 in 2004 as a new model in the First range, and the boat does not disguise its lineage within that performance family anchor. The hull is solid fiberglass with a solid fiberglass deck, and the keel is a centerboard-style trailer-sailer lifting keel that draws 6.07 feet down and 2.79 feet up anchor. Ballast is 1,433 pounds of iron, contributing to a displacement of 4,740 pounds and a ballast-displacement ratio of 30.23. The beam is 9.06 feet and waterline length is 24.11 feet, yielding a displacement-length ratio near 151. A light grey gel coat, new hull portholes, and a teak strake mark the exterior, while the builder described the model as carrying cutting-edge technology.
Rig and Handling
The First 25.7 is a fractional sloop carrying 400 square feet of sail area, giving a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 22.68 that supports lively performance. The builder offered "new generation" sails with a lazy bag and listed an optional asymmetric spinnaker anchor. Period reporting records a top speed of 10 knots and notes that five sailors have had great fun racing the boat around the Solent, speaking to her responsiveness under crew anchor. Practical accommodations for racing and day sailing are clear, but the keel's lifting capability keeps her manageable ashore.
Accommodations
Below, the First 25.7 provides a forward double vee berth, berths for four or five people, a heads compartment, and a galley with a sink and tiny stove anchor. The interior woodwork is light-coloured in a pear tone with new upholstery, giving the small cabin a bright, contemporary feel. Aluminium winches are fitted at the deck, consistent with a simple, low-overhead rig for short-handed or family sailing.
Ownership and Trailering
Writing in Yachting World, an owner describes the boat spending winter parked on a driveway thanks to the trailer-sailer lifting keel, illustrating the ashore storage option for owners without a year-round berth anchor. The 14-horsepower Nanni diesel with direct drive and 8 gallons of fuel, plus 10 gallons of water, frame the boat as a minimalist cruiser rather than a long-range liveaboard.
The Verdict
The First 25.7 is a compact Finot-designed expression of the Beneteau First ethos: a lifting-keel pocket racer with genuine cabin accommodations and a modern, light interior. She is quick for her size and easy to store ashore, but her scale limits cruising capacity.
Pros
- Lifting centerboard keel enables trailering and driveway winter storage
- Bright pear-toned interior with practical berths for four or five
- Spirited performance with 10-knot top speed and fun club racing record
Cons
- Tiny galley and limited tankage suit only minimal cruising
- Sub-26-foot length restricts accommodations and offshore ambition
