Design and Construction
Berret's hull shows a fine, flat entry leading to a long 29-foot 2-inch waterline, with maximum beam just shy of 11 feet 5 inches carried well aft. The hand-laid solid-fiberglass hull is laid up in alternating layers of chopped strand, omnidirectional mat, and woven roving saturated with polyester resin, while the deck is balsa-cored. Some owners report plywood in high-stress zones such as under winches. The hull-to-deck joint is an inward-facing flange bonded with 3M 5200 and mechanically fastened with rivets through an aluminum toerail running the full hull length and slotted for snatch blocks. With firm bilges and a flat bottom, the 345 carries an iron external keel in standard 6-foot 2-inch draft or 5-foot 2-inch shoal draft, and a spade rudder with stainless steel stock. Displacement is listed at 12,125 pounds with 4,409 pounds of iron ballast, yielding a ballast ratio near 36 percent and a comfort ratio of 23.23.
Rig and Handling
The Isomat mast is keel-stepped with double spreaders, configured as a masthead sloop supporting a 431-square-foot genoa and 258-square-foot mainsail, with running backstays supplementing the permanent backstay. The relatively short boom keeps the aft cockpit clear. Beneteau offered two configurations: the racing package with tiller, taller rig, and bridge-deck traveler, and the cruising package with wheel steering and cabintop mainsheet. On the water the 345 earned a PHRF of 120 across major fleets, beating the Tartan and Pearson 34 by 20 seconds per mile and outpacing the Cal 34 and Catalina 34, with a hull speed of 7.24 knots and capsize screening of 2.00.
Accommodations
The interior came in two layouts: one with a pair of quarter cabins aft and a walk-through head, the other a private aft stateroom paired with a roomier forward owner's berth. Practical Sailor describes the Euro-style plan with aft cabin, dual saloon settees, and double V-berth forward, plus a second layout with two tiny quarter cabins and head forward of main cabin. The L-shaped galley sits forward of the head with a three-burner propane Electrolux stove and icebox refrigeration. Headroom exceeds six feet, and the wet head shower drains to a sump expelling gray water overboard. A double overhead sliding hatch doubles as spinnaker launch.
Known Issues
The balsa-cored decks demand a surveyor's check for soft spots and delamination. On virtually all First 345s the adhesive behind the vinyl headliner fails and the liner drops. The iron keel needs ongoing maintenance, and like many mid-1980s production boats, hull blistering affects Beneteau examples of this era.
The Verdict
The First 345 is a thoughtfully executed dual-purpose design that races credibly yet cruises with a roomy, functional interior. Her solid hull and certified offshore rating suit serious use, though the iron keel and balsa deck require buyer diligence.
Pros
- Keel-stepped masthead rig with racing and cruising packages
- Certified for offshore work by Bureau Veritas
- Competitive PHRF performance against comparable 34-foot cruisers
Cons
- Iron keel needs persistent maintenance
- Balsa-cored decks prone to delamination
- Headliner adhesive failure on virtually all boats
