Beneteau First 27-2 Buyer's Guide
The Beneteau First 27-2 on the used market is the 2021-onward production cruiser derived from the Seascape 27, built by Beneteau with naval architecture by Samuel Manuard. It is a 26-foot fixed-keel performance cruiser with a real inboard diesel, enclosed head conversion, and berths for four—a pocket boat that appeals to sailors wanting racer responsiveness with weekend cabin comfort.
Layouts on the Used Market
Used examples follow the standard interior: a double berth in the bow and two settee or quarter berths in the saloon, with a small galley to port and a toilet to starboard closed off except when in use. The midpoint uses foldable magnetic doors to become a proper marine toilet with black water tank or a front-cabin extension, and the central folding table doubles in the cockpit. There is no standing headroom, but the cabin is brighter and more open than the lifting-keel SE thanks to the absent keel box. Cockpit benches forward add accessible on-deck stowage alongside the lazarette, and a stern swim ladder with shower is standard.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Most boats carry the builder's core kit: a 15 hp Yanmar inboard diesel with shaft drive and foldable propeller, a removable indoor/outdoor table, fridge, and a gas-burner galley sink with fresh water. Key buyer-consequence items to look for are the inboard diesel and shaft drive, which the builder selected as the smallest engine meeting U.S. EPA emissions rules, and the twin-rudder balanced steering with double winches for simplified deck control. Navigation and sail-handling upgrades beyond the standard furling gennaker are owner-fit.
What to Inspect
The principal documented watch item is the deck safety geometry: testers noted the stanchions and pushpits are relatively short and a full-height rail would improve security, though they meet size-class rules. Otherwise, confirm the crash-box integrity forward, the foldable magnetic door tracks at the midpoint, and that the 15 hp diesel starts clean and the foldable prop spins freely, since these are load-bearing to the boat's stated safety and motoring profile.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
Shoppers should treat the First 27-2 as a used Beneteau First 27-2 with limited but growing brokerage presence.
- Verify the fixed fin keel with torpedo bulb and 5 ft 7 in draft versus SE lifting variants
- Check twin-rudder balance and short-stanchion rail comfort for your crew
- Confirm inboard 15 hp Yanmar shaft drive and foldable prop function
- Inspect magnetic door conversion for head and forecabin extension wear
- Expect no standing headroom; assess berth livability in person
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
8 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beneteau First 25.7 | 24.57' | $ 39,184 | 39 | 7 |
| Beneteau First 27 | 26.24' | $ 108,606 | 38 | 9 |
| Beneteau First 21.7 | 21' | $ 22,712 | 31 | 10 |
| Beneteau First 24 | 24.61' | $ 17,374 | 28 | 7 |
| Beneteau First 27 SE | 26.21' | $ 114,382 | 16 | 5 |
| Beneteau First 25 S | 24.58' | $ 46,000 | 13 | 0 |
| Saffier SE 27 | 29.69' | $ 208,494 | 12 | 5 |
| Seascape 27 | 26.21' | $ 115,830 | 11 | 4 |