Design and Naval Architecture
The First 29 is the work of Groupe Finot, a studio whose fingerprints appear across several generations of the First line. The design brief, as Beneteau framed it, was a boat that could appeal to sailors who love fast cruises while still satisfying the keener regatta racer. The result is a hull that prioritizes waterline length — at 8.0 m LWL against an 8.7 m LOA — meaning the overhang is modest and the boat is nearly always in its fastest mode. Beam of 3.20 m gives reasonable initial stability without the wide, flat sections that kill performance in a chop.
Draught options ran from a shoal 1.05 m to a deep-fin 1.8 m, with a mid-option at 1.68 m, giving buyers genuine flexibility depending on their home waters. The fin keel and separate spade rudder configuration was a generation earlier than the later First 285, a design note that matters: the 285 eventually surpassed the 29 in outright speed, but the 29's keel and rudder arrangement remains straightforward to survey and maintain.
On the Water
Groupe Finot designed the First 29 around a fast hull, and the lines bear that out. With displacement of 3,000 kg and a reasonable sail plan, the boat accelerates readily in moderate breeze and tracks well on passage. The design sits in the tradition of the First series, which Beneteau describes as the gold standard of performance cruising — a marketing claim that nonetheless reflects real design intent. Racers in club circuits found the First 29 competitive without requiring specialized hardware, and the boat's seakindliness made it a logical step up for sailors moving from smaller daysailers into coastal overnighters.
Accommodations and Layout
Below decks, the First 29 was more comprehensively fitted out than its contemporary, the First 285 — a distinction Yachting Monthly drew directly in their 1984 test report. The cabin features a forward-facing chart table and more shelving, small details that accumulate into a noticeably more livable space on a passage. Layout similarities with the 285 exist, but the 29 was the more serious attempt at dual-purpose capability: fast enough to race, comfortable enough to cruise.
Known Limitations
Measured against later First-line models, the First 29's keel and rudder design shows its era. Yachting Monthly noted explicitly that the keel and rudder design was a generation earlier than the 285, which was the quicker boat. Buyers comparing the two should understand that the 285's more evolved underbody translates to measurable boat speed, particularly upwind. The First 29 compensates with a longer waterline and a more complete interior, but pure performance shoppers should weigh that trade-off carefully.
Refit Considerations
With a production run ending in 1989, First 29s on the market are mature boats that reward careful inspection. The Volvo Penta 18 hp auxiliary is period-correct and well-understood by marine mechanics, but cooling systems, impellers, and heat exchangers on any engine of this vintage warrant systematic replacement rather than condition-based servicing. The forward-facing chart table, while a thoughtful ergonomic touch, was designed for paper charts; owners who want current electronics integration will need to think through mounting solutions that don't compromise the original nav station geometry. Standing rigging on any boat this age should be treated as end-of-life unless documented replacement history exists.
The Verdict
The Beneteau First 29 is a well-resolved coastal cruiser from one of France's most prolific production yards, shaped by Groupe Finot with a clear brief: build a boat that races with intent and cruises in comfort. It fulfills that promise better in the accommodation department than in outright speed, where the First 285 ultimately surpassed it, but for the sailor who wants a proper interior and a lively hull without the complexity of a bigger boat, the First 29 remains a coherent and satisfying choice.
Pros
- Fast Finot hull with a long waterline for its size
- More complete interior than the First 285, including a forward-facing chart table and additional shelving
- 520 hulls built across a six-year run, ensuring a community of parts knowledge
- Straightforward fin-keel / spade-rudder underbody, easy to survey and maintain
- Volvo Penta auxiliary is well-documented and widely serviced
Cons
- Keel and rudder design is a generation behind the later First 285, which is the faster boat
- Boats of this vintage require systematic rigging and engine renewal regardless of apparent condition
- Chart table designed for paper charts; electronics integration requires owner ingenuity
- Shoal-draught option (1.05 m) may compromise upwind performance in open water
