Beneteau First 405 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the used market for a Beneteau First 405 means choosing between owner three-cabin layouts and the less common alternative, with ex-charter examples a familiar sight among brokers. The 405 is a Jean Berret design built as a performance cruiser-racer from 1986 to 1988, and the boats that survive tend to show the same central ideas: a solid-glass hull, iron fin ballast, and a teak-trimmed interior built around a centerline galley island that opens up a large aft cabin.
Layouts on the Used Market
Owner three-cabin arrangements are the more common on the brokerage market, though both layouts appear. The centerline island for the galley sinks and engine box defines the plan; it is what makes the big aft cabin possible, while a quarter cabin carries a 6-foot-10-inch berth set 33 inches aft of the door. Ex-charter boats are common and worth a closer look for wear, but the fundamental layout does not change between private and fleet histories.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Most boats on the market carry the systems a buyer expects to rely on: autopilot, solar, chartplotter, and inverter are commonly fitted. Often-seen additions include life raft, heating, lithium batteries, and AIS. Beyond those, a spinnaker or a watermaker shows up as a less frequent owner upgrade. For a buyer, the lithium and solar cluster matters most for anchoring independence, while AIS and life raft speak to offshore intent — a used 405 with those fitted has likely been kept by a serious cruising owner.
What to Inspect
Documented known issues for the 405 are thin, but two construction details deserve a look. The ramp-style cockpit coamings are very comfortable when seated to weather heeled over, yet not very comfortable any other time. The companionway is notched into the cabintrunk aft to bring the ladder forward of the aft cabin; check the caulking and hardware around that notch for leaks. Otherwise, confirm the Burmese teak partitions, doors, and floors for tone and integrity, as these define the interior's presentation.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
Typical markets for the First 405 include Greece, Martinique, the United States, the Netherlands, Saint Lucia, and the United Kingdom. For a buyer, the short checklist is: confirm the layout is the common owner three-cabin version if that suits you, verify the commonly fitted electronics are present and working, and inspect the companionway notch and teak for moisture or wear before committing.
- Prefer owner three-cabin layouts unless the alternative fits your plans
- Check companionway notch and deck caulking for leaks
- Confirm solar, autopilot, chartplotter, inverter are operational
- Inspect Burmese teak interior for tone and structural soundness
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Beneteau First 405. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 13 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 25 | 2 | $66,687 | — |
| Jul 25 | 1 | $46,565 | -30.2% |
| Oct 25 | 1 | $66,191 | +42.1% |
| Nov 25 | 3 | $32,595 | -50.8% |
| Dec 25 | 2 | $68,734 | +110.9% |
| Jan 26 | 2 | $61,362 | -10.7% |
| Feb 26 | 3 | $61,101 | -0.4% |
| Mar 26 | 3 | $34,995 | -42.7% |
| Apr 26 | 9 | $58,297 | +66.6% |
| May 26 | 3 | $46,565 | -20.1% |
| Jun 26 | 5 | $80,907 | +73.8% |
| Jul 26 | 4 | $37,760 | -53.3% |
| Aug 26 | 4 | $54,714 | +44.9% |
Where they're listed
Beneteau First 405 listings appear across 13 countries. Greece has the most listings with 10 (27.0%), followed by Netherlands and Martinique.
Country view
37 listings · 13 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greece | $54,714 | 10 | 2 | 27.0% |
| Netherlands | $80,907 | 5 | 4 | 13.5% |
| Martinique | $79,102 | 4 | 0 | 10.8% |
| United States | $43,000 | 4 | 1 | 10.8% |
| United Kingdom | $33,945 | 3 | 0 | 8.1% |
| Saint Lucia | $34,995 | 3 | 0 | 8.1% |
| Denmark | $68,527 | 2 | 1 | 5.4% |
| Australia | $61,085 | 1 | 1 | 2.7% |
| Canada | $29,900 | 1 | 1 | 2.7% |
| Spain | $63,723 | 1 | 0 | 2.7% |
| France | $58,090 | 1 | 1 | 2.7% |
| Italy | $32,595 | 1 | 0 | 2.7% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Performance Sun Odyssey 45 | 45.01' | $ 168,798 | 104 | 26 |
| Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 40.3 | 40.03' | $ 99,000 | 54 | 13 |
| Dufour 405 Grand Large | 39.93' | $ 147,844 | 45 | 6 |
| Beneteau First 405You are here | — | $ 56,000 | 39 | 13 |
| Beneteau First 375 | 37.08' | $ 43,524 | 24 | 7 |
| J/BOATS J/40 | 40' | $ 69,000 | 13 | 8 |
| Tartan 40 | 40.25' | $ 89,900 | 13 | 3 |
| Dufour Classic 45 | 45.92' | $ 107,887 | 10 | 1 |
| Beneteau First 435 | 43.5' | $ 62,000 | 9 | 5 |
| WindBoats Marine 406 | 40.49' | $ 101,835 | 7 | 1 |
| Frers 45 | 45' | $ 58,504 | 4 | 1 |