Beneteau First 25 S Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

At 25 feet 11 inches overall with a 9-foot beam and a displacement of 4,739 pounds, the First 25 S is a compact monohull that still feels substantial. The deep V of the hull forward minimizes pounding on waves when going to weather, while flatter hull sections aft keep the boat upright when sailing and lessen the rolling motion at anchor. A beamier transom than the predecessor prompted twin rudders to keep the boat tracking, and the same broad stern afforded a new transom-mounted traveler that keeps the mainsheet clear of the cockpit. The lifting-keel variant draws 6 feet 1 inch when down and tucks up into the centerboard trunk for shoal draft, while the fixed keel draws 4 feet 9 inches; the 1.85 m lifting keel improves close-hauled performance and opens any sort of anchorage to the crew anchor.

Rig and Handling

The rig is unconventional and freeing: an unstayed, 9/10th aluminum deck-stepped mast rises 41 feet above the waterline with a single set of aft-swept spreaders and no backstay. That absence of stays makes the bow easy to reach and permits a large flat-top mainsail that provides plenty of power, while a slightly overlapping furling genoa means setting sail never requires going forward to haul out a jib. Cabin-top winches manage both halyards and genoa sheets, keeping the layout clean, and the boat is a tiller steered craft rather than a wheel-equipped one. Under sail she stands out for a slender profile, and her stability and easy maneuvering make her a reassuring cruiser even at a fast pace, a quality boats.com noted as she sails better than the original First 25 anchor.

Accommodations

Below, the builder created generous saloon space by building the mast prop into the forward bulkhead, with light-colored teak woodwork throughout. The V-berth forward serves as a master stateroom reached through a pass-through with a sink on one side and a marine head on the other, made private by a space-saving sliding door; the forward stateroom itself is snug at 5 feet 1 inch of vertical space, while headroom at the companionway works for anyone under 5 feet 10 inches. The saloon has twin settees around a drop-leaf table, with the starboard side converting to a double berth so four can sleep aboard. A complete galley to port includes a sink with manual water pump, a polyester top-loading ice box, and an optional gimbaled one-burner stove, while a dedicated aft-facing nav station and plentiful cubbyholes and bench stowage round out a layout that allows real cruising.

Equipment and Power

Auxiliary power is a 14 HP Yanmar diesel on a straight shaft with underwater exhaust, fed by an eight-gallon fuel tank and backed by an 11-gallon roto-molded water tank. Standard Raymarine instruments mount on the cabin bulkhead, with a multifunction display offered as an option and a Tacktick/Raymarine electronics pack available; a code zero joined the inventory in 2016 alongside the square-top main, furling genoa, and optional asymmetric spinnaker. The boat is trailerable, letting an owner launch and sail a lake, bay, or ocean with friends or singlehanded.

The Verdict

The First 25 S succeeds as a rare blend: a sharp little racer with the habitability to cruise. The unstayed rig and clean deck layout lower the effort of sailing short-handed, the lifting keel variant turns shoal creeks into home waters, and the cabin is genuinely livable for its size. The trade-offs are those of any 25-footer—snug forward headroom and modest tankage—but the design’s lightness and tracking inspire confidence.

Pros