Beneteau First 32 S5 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the brokerage market for a Beneteau First 32 S5 means chasing a limited-production late-1980s cruiser-racer that paired Jean Berret's hull with Philippe Starck's interior. Produced around the 1989–1993 period in limited numbers, the boat turns up both as ex-charter and privately owned, and the three-cabin owner layout is the more common version afloat though two-cabin boats exist. She is a 32-foot fiberglass sloop with a fin or wing keel, a spade rudder, and a fractional rig — a modern-styled weekender rather than a stripped racer.
Layouts on the Used Market
Most used First 32 S5s show the owner three-cabin arrangement, with a forward V-berth, saloon settees, and a quarter-berth or small aft cabin aft; ex-charter examples are a common sight and usually reflect heavier-use cycles. Starck's influence reads in cleaner interior lines and dark mahogany against white upholstery, with headroom and tankage suited to short coastal cruises. The hull tapers aft, so the cockpit is narrower than on modern boats — secure when heeled, but not a lounging platform.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
A chartplotter is commonly fitted on these boats, and many carry a furling main, autopilot, spinnaker, teak decks, and a cockpit shower as often-seen equipment. Less common but seen as owner upgrades are solar, heating, a bimini, and a swim platform. For a buyer, the furling main and autopilot reduce short handed workload, while teak decks and a cockpit shower speak to cruising comfort; a spinnaker broadens light-air range but adds storage and rigging needs.
What to Inspect
Recurring concerns on First-era Beneteaus include the interior's vinyl backing and foam cushions degrading in warm, humid conditions, so check interior soft goods for breakdown. Owners and surveyors commonly call out core and deck-interface wear — soft spots or leaking stanchions and deck hardware — and gelcoat crazing or osmosis on older fiberglass. A few owners report keel-to-hull deformations near the grounding or support points from hard groundings, and any used purchase should budget for new standing rigging if its age is unknown plus targeted core repairs where water ingress shows.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
The First 32 S5 typically appears on the used market in the United States, Ireland, United Kingdom, France, Australia, and Netherlands. For a shopper, the short list is: confirm keel type and draft for your waters, survey deck core and keel-hull joint closely, budget reupholstery in warm climates, and verify rigging age before closing.
- Choose fin or wing keel to match draft needs
- Survey for deck soft spots and keel-hull compression
- Expect interior foam wear in humid regions
- Plan rigging replacement if history is unclear
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Beneteau First 32 S5. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 12 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 25 | 1 | $24,900 | — |
| Jun 25 | 2 | $35,000 | +40.6% |
| Sep 25 | 1 | $44,000 | +25.7% |
| Oct 25 | 1 | $33,853 | -23.1% |
| Nov 25 | 1 | $30,145 | -11.0% |
| Jan 26 | 4 | $37,930 | +25.8% |
| Feb 26 | 1 | $33,786 | -10.9% |
| Mar 26 | 2 | $15,712 | -53.5% |
| Apr 26 | 7 | $30,319 | +93.0% |
| Jun 26 | 3 | $30,000 | -1.1% |
| Jul 26 | 1 | $34,725 | +15.8% |
| Aug 26 | 2 | $35,885 | +3.3% |
Where they're listed
Beneteau First 32 S5 listings appear across 8 countries. France has the most listings with 4 (18.2%), followed by United Kingdom and United States.
Country view
22 listings · 8 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| France | $34,783 | 4 | 0 | 18.2% |
| United Kingdom | $34,869 | 4 | 2 | 18.2% |
| United States | $21,495 | 4 | 0 | 18.2% |
| Australia | $41,078 | 3 | 0 | 13.6% |
| Ireland | $22,609 | 3 | 0 | 13.6% |
| Netherlands | $39,681 | 2 | 1 | 9.1% |
| Canada | $44,000 | 1 | 0 | 4.5% |
| Denmark | $30,319 | 1 | 0 | 4.5% |
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 35 | 35.17' | $ 68,358 | 52 | 13 |
| Beneteau First 35 S5 | 35.42' | $ 37,681 | 31 | 5 |
| Beneteau First 38 S5 | 38.25' | $ 49,500 | 29 | 7 |
| J-Boats J/32 | 32.6' | $ 65,000 | 27 | 12 |
| Jeanneau Sun Fast 32 | 31.17' | $ 49,179 | 24 | 7 |
| Beneteau First 32 S5You are here | — | $ 33,786 | 23 | 4 |
| Beneteau First 325 | 32.48' | $ 27,692 | 23 | 6 |
| Dufour 32 | 33.83' | $ 172,754 | 15 | 6 |
| Beneteau First 32 | 32.5' | $ 20,870 | 15 | 2 |
| Beneteau First 35.7 | 34.58' | $ 58,297 | 11 | 3 |