Beneteau First 265 Buyer's Guide
The Beneteau First 265 is a 26-foot Group Finot design built by Beneteau from 1990 to 1997, with 520 produced. On the used market she presents as a light, quick performance cruiser with a surprisingly complete interior for her size, but the details that matter to a buyer are in the deck hardware, the engine bay, and a few small-ship ergonomics that wear differently across individual hulls.
Layouts on the Used Market
Every example shares the same core plan: a large aft double berth where you lie parallel to the keel, a forward V-berth that converts from the drop-leaf table, a head opposite the galley, and three hanging lockers including one open-air in the head. The cabin is trimmed in varnished cherry with a full teak sole and dark green velvet cushions. Beneteau offered an outboard version when the boat launched in the 1990s, so some used boats will have that configuration rather than the inboard Volvo—worth confirming before you assume diesel access and shaft-log condition.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
A chartplotter is an often-seen fitting on these boats, usually added by later owners rather than original. Original equipment centers on a standard tiller, Lewmar single-speed #16 self-tailing winches, a gimbaled two-burner non-pressure alcohol stove, and screens for the eight opening ports. The rig itself is a fractional sloop with a mast-hinge lowering arrangement and an adjustable split backstay; any buyer should note whether side-sway preventers travel with the boat, since the builder advised against lowering the spar without them.
What to Inspect
The transom ladder is formed by flattening stainless tubing into three 8-1/2-inch-wide steps with treads only 1-1/4 inches across, so check each tread for cracking or thin spots where the metal was worked. Lifelines are single and low—at tripping height—and the transom is secured by a length of lifeline and a pelican hook; inspect the pelican hook latch and the stanchion bases for flex or corrosion. The engine in the inboard version is a 9-horsepower raw-water-cooled Volvo in a plywood box lined with soft foam; verify the foam is not saturated and that the shaft log shows no weep, though access to both was very good in the test record. Confirm the mast hinge hardware and any side-sway preventers are present if you intend to lower the spar.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These boats turn up in the United States, Belgium, Germany, Spain, and Switzerland. Before you commit:
- Confirm inboard Volvo or outboard configuration and check shaft log.
- Test the pelican hook and inspect low lifeline terminals.
- Look for cracks in the flattened transom-ladder treads.
- Verify mast hinge and side-sway preventers are aboard.
- Check port screens and the eight opening ports for seal condition.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Beneteau First 265. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 6 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 25 | 1 | $16,500 | — |
| Dec 25 | 1 | $25,055 | +51.8% |
| Apr 26 | 4 | $25,059 | +0.0% |
| May 26 | 2 | $24,474 | -2.3% |
| Jun 26 | 1 | $29,133 | +19.0% |
| Aug 26 | 3 | $18,500 | -36.5% |
Where they're listed
Beneteau First 265 listings appear across 6 countries. United States has the most listings with 6 (54.5%), followed by Belgium and Switzerland.
Country view
11 listings · 6 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $25,059 | 6 | 2 | 54.5% |
| Belgium | $25,055 | 1 | 0 | 9.1% |
| Switzerland | $21,107 | 1 | 0 | 9.1% |
| Germany | $29,133 | 1 | 1 | 9.1% |
| Spain | $23,889 | 1 | 0 | 9.1% |
| Ireland | $27,962 | 1 | 1 | 9.1% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
11 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franchi First 31.7 | 31.53' | $ 52,800 | 67 | 18 |
| Beneteau First 25.7 | 24.57' | $ 39,363 | 39 | 7 |
| Beneteau First 27 | 26.24' | $ 108,853 | 38 | 9 |
| BENETEAU First 29 | 29.67' | $ 21,997 | 34 | 4 |
| Beneteau First 24 | 24.61' | $ 20,975 | 27 | 6 |
| Beneteau First 325 | 32.48' | $ 27,697 | 23 | 6 |
| Beneteau First 305 | 30.5' | $ 23,190 | 21 | 6 |
| Ranger Ranger 265 | 25' | $ 20,395 | 13 | 4 |
| Beneteau First 25 S | 24.58' | $ 46,000 | 13 | 3 |
| Beneteau First 265You are here | — | $ 25,059 | 11 | 4 |
| Beneteau First 25 | 24.61' | $ 8,915 | 10 | 2 |