Beneteau First 44.7 Sailboats for Sale

Layouts on the Used Market

The standard three-cabin, two-head arrangement is by far the more prevalent configuration you will encounter. Under the cockpit sit twin aft staterooms — one to port, one to starboard — each with a dedicated berth and reasonable stowage. The port head sits between the aft cabin and the L-shaped galley amidships. Forward of the galley is the dedicated nav station, positioned at the boat's center on the port side and oriented forward, an arrangement well-suited to offshore use. The main saloon is generous, lit by fixed and opening hull ports as well as deck hatches, and the light-colored Beachwood joinery gives the space an airy quality that reads larger than the footprint suggests. A forward V-berth cabin occupies the bow. Less commonly, some hulls were fitted with a stripped forepeak in place of the forward cabin — an option that reduces bow weight and adds dedicated sail stowage, sensible for owners who prioritize race use. Both cabin counts do appear on the used market, though the three-cabin version is substantially more common.

Equipment and Common Upgrades

Most used 44.7s come equipped with a chartplotter at the helm and an autopilot, reflecting how early owners or subsequent buyers quickly fitted the boat for short-handed sailing. A spinnaker — often both an asymmetric and a conventional symmetric chute — is commonly fitted, which makes sense given the boat's racing heritage and its willingness to run downwind. Autopilots are commonly found among brokerage examples.

Heating systems, radar, and AIS appear with regularity on boats that have seen European or high-latitude use, and dodgers and biminis are widely fitted by owners who wanted to make the open cockpit more livable in varied conditions. Electric winches and code zeros are a frequent owner upgrade on boats that have transitioned toward long-distance cruising from their original race-oriented specification. Life rafts are often included.

Solar panels, a cockpit shower, an inverter, and teak deck overlays appear occasionally, typically as mid-ownership upgrades rather than original equipment. Teak, in particular, should be inspected carefully on any boat where it has been added — improperly bedded teak is a known vector for deck moisture problems.

What to Inspect

The most important structural consideration on any 44.7 is the deck. The deck is fiberglass sandwich with a balsa core, and balsa core that has been allowed to absorb moisture over a decade or more of service will have lost its structural contribution, creating soft spots that are expensive to remedy. Tap the entire deck methodically, paying particular attention to areas around fittings, deck hardware, stanchion bases, and any hatches or portlights. Anywhere hardware has been added, rebedded improperly, or allowed to weep will be a candidate for delamination.

Keelbolts are the next priority. The majority of the keelbolts and the lowest part of the bilge are directly underneath a settee bench, and Beneteau's lever-action seat design makes access genuinely straightforward — lift the seat and move it to port. Inspect the visible bolt heads for corrosion, check the bilge sump beneath for any persistent water or rust staining, and commission a survey that addresses keel-to-hull junction integrity. The bulb keel itself carries meaningful ballast, and any evidence of movement or cracking at the join warrants careful attention.

The standing rigging specification varies significantly by rig configuration. Three versions of the First 44.7 were available: Standard, with a two-spreader aluminum rig and wire rigging; Race 1, a tapered rig with three spreaders and Dyform rigging; and Race 2, a three-spreader carbon rig with rod rigging. Carbon spars and rod rigging are expensive to replace and require specialists to inspect; if you are buying a Race 2-configured boat, budget accordingly and verify rigging age and condition with documentation. All configurations benefit from close inspection of chainplates, spreader roots, and the mast step.

The saildrive unit fitted to many hulls — particularly those with the standard engine package — should be inspected for bellows condition. Saildrive bellows are a consumable item and a failed bellows is a sinking hazard; confirmation of recent replacement or current sound condition is non-negotiable. Engine access is notably good, making this inspection easier than on many comparable boats.

Finally, check all through-hulls and seacocks for ease of operation, inspect the forestay and backstay adjuster for wear, and confirm that any added electronics, solar, or electrical upgrades have been properly integrated into the DC system without overloading the original wiring.

Availability and Buyer's Takeaway

The First 44.7 enjoys a genuinely international used-market presence. Inventory circulates regularly across the United States — particularly on the East Coast — and throughout the Mediterranean, with Spain, Greece, and France all offering consistent brokerage representation. Australian and Dutch markets also carry examples with some regularity, making this a boat that can be sourced across multiple sailing regions without unusual difficulty.

For buyers who want a boat that will race respectably under IRC or PHRF handicap while also cruising comfortably with a small crew, the 44.7 remains one of the more convincing arguments in its size class. The Farr pedigree is genuine, the Beneteau build quality is above average for production boats of this era, and the interior is livable enough that the boat does not feel like a compromise.

Pre-purchase checklist:

• Tap the entire balsa-cored deck for soft spots, especially around fittings and stanchion bases
• Inspect keelbolts and the bilge for corrosion or staining with the lever-action settee seat lifted
• Identify which rig configuration is fitted (Standard / Race 1 / Race 2) and assess rigging age and condition accordingly
• Confirm saildrive bellows condition or recent replacement date
• Verify chainplates, spreader roots, and mast step for corrosion or cracking
• Check all through-hulls and seacocks for free operation
• Assess any aftermarket electrical additions for correct integration
• Confirm life raft certification status if included in sale
• Review sail inventory condition, especially asymmetric or symmetric spinnakers and any code zero