Beneteau First 28 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the used Beneteau First 28 means targeting a coastal-minded 28' sloop built from 1980 to 1982 in Beneteau’s first-generation First range, with 600 examples produced. These are boats conceived for light-displacement fun and weekend cruising rather than offshore work, so the buyer’s lens should stay on condition, rig integrity, and honest appraisal of the shallow-draft or swing-keel variants if present.
Layouts on the Used Market
The standard interior sleeps up to six across a forepeak double, a saloon with two settee singles, and an aft cabin double, with a galley (sink, stove, icebox), a chart table with seat, and a head with marine toilet and washbasin. Headroom is about 1.8 m. Two alternative hull configurations appear: a shallow-draft version drawing only 1.3 m and a swing-keel version, both derived from the same Eglantine-based platform. Buyers should note the shallow keel was documented to potentially compromise performance and stability but this may compromise the performance and stability of the boat. compared with the 1.7 m standard fin.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
On the used market, spinnakers, autopilots, and chartplotters are commonly fitted to First 28s, supporting their downwind speed potential and short-handed ease. A bimini or teak decks are less common, typically appearing as owner upgrades rather than factory standard. The base engine was 10 hp with an 18 hp optional upgrade, 30 L fuel, 100 L water, and 40 L holding tank — modest capacities consistent with coastal use rather than liveaboard cruising.
What to Inspect
The First 28 is a light-displacement hull (displacement/length ratio 186) and period analysis warns that loading with too much heavy cruising gear will degrade performance dramatically, so verify any added ballast-like gear or structural modifications. Upwind behavior was documented as tender with a slamming motion, and the boat requires early reefing in stronger winds to avoid excessive heeling and weather helm — inspect rigging, mast step, and keel-bolt integrity accordingly. The Capsize Screening Formula of 2.2 and Comfort Ratio near 17.2 a low comfort ratio of 17.1 and a high capsize screening formula of 2.2 confirm a coastal profile; do not expect offshore structural provisions. The shallow-draft version’s possible stability compromise should prompt careful keel and centerboard trunk examination on those examples.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
First 28s typically appear in Ireland, France, Germany, and the United States. For a buyer, the checklist is brief: confirm keel type and inspect shallow/swing variants closely; verify rigging for early-reefing tender behavior; keep an eye out for common electronics (spinnaker, autopilot, chartplotter) and treat bimini or teak as owner additions; and accept the boat for what it is — a fast, fun coastal cruiser unsuited to offshore work.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Beneteau First 28. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 7 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 25 | 1 | $ 28,547 | — |
| Sep 25 | 2 | $ 37,287 | +30.6% |
| Oct 25 | 1 | $ 11,407 | -69.4% |
| Dec 25 | 2 | $ 22,872 | +100.5% |
| Mar 26 | 1 | $ 22,815 | -0.2% |
| Apr 26 | 3 | $ 11,407 | -50.0% |
| May 26 | 1 | $ 11,407 | 0.0% |
Where they're listed
Beneteau First 28 listings appear across 4 countries. France has the most listings with 3 (33.3%), followed by Ireland and Germany.
Country view
9 listings · 4 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| France | $ 34,394 | 3 | 0 | 33.3% |
| Ireland | $ 11,407 | 3 | 0 | 33.3% |
| Germany | $ 45,744 | 2 | 0 | 22.2% |
| United States | $ 5,900 | 1 | 0 | 11.1% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
4 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beneteau First 29 | 29.67' | $ 21,500 | 34 | 6 |
| Thames Marine 28 | 27.5' | $ 11,430 | 19 | 5 |
| Saffier 28 | 28.18' | $ 40,126 | 15 | 2 |
| Jeanneau First 28You are here | — | $ 11,407 | 10 | 1 |