Beneteau First 44 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the brokerage market for a Beneteau First 44 means choosing among a modern performance-cruiser generation launched in 2022, built around a Biscontini/Argento hull with two deck plans and a consistent three-cabin, two-head interior. Ex-charter examples are common, and the boat's split between cruising and performance trim means a used buyer should look closely at which winch layout and keel a given hull carries before negotiating.
Layouts on the Used Market
Owner three-cabin layouts are the more common on the used market, but both are available. The cruising deck is set up for shorthanded sailing with two pairs of winches either side and a comfortable cockpit where wide side-decks meet a folding table, while the performance version adds two pit winches, cross-winching clutches and a longer carbon sprit for crewed racing. Below, the saloon seats six opposite the settee and nav station, and the forward cabin's peninsula double is notable for lacking stowage — a point worth checking on any viewing. The deep 2.6m keel with iron fin and lead bulb appears on performance and some test boats, against the 7ft 1in standard draught.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
On the used market, bow thrusters, electric winches, chartplotter and autopilot are commonly fitted, which matter for short-handed docking and sail handling. Often-seen comforts include air conditioning, inverter, teak decks, bimini, hot water and cockpit shower, speaking to the boat's cruising intent. Less common but worth noting as owner upgrades are heating, swim platform, solar, liferaft and AIS. The standard 57hp Yanmar with saildrive and the optional Seanapps system round out the core equipment a buyer will usually inherit.
What to Inspect
The forward cabin's lack of stowage is a design trait rather than a defect, but buyers should confirm the water ballast tanks operate from the helm and cycle in the stated three to four minutes, since the electrically pumped 80-gallon system is central to the boat's shorthanded righting-moment claim. Check the deeper keel's iron fin and lead torpedo bulb for coating and corrosion if the hull carries the 2.6m draught, and verify which rig is fitted — the optional carbon mast adds height and upwind area that changes handling and bridge clearance.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These yachts typically appear in the United States, Croatia, Spain, Australia, Greece and the United Kingdom. For a used-boat check, prioritize: confirm deck layout (cruising vs performance winch count), verify water-ballast pump operation and cycle time, inspect deep-keel bulb and fin, note forward-cabin stowage limits, and confirm core electronics (chartplotter, autopilot, electric winches) are present and functional.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Beneteau First 44. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 11 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 25 | 1 | $849,000 | — |
| Sep 25 | 3 | $593,185 | -30.1% |
| Nov 25 | 3 | $522,072 | -12.0% |
| Dec 25 | 2 | $396,215 | -24.1% |
| Jan 26 | 3 | $608,976 | +53.7% |
| Feb 26 | 4 | $511,678 | -16.0% |
| Mar 26 | 3 | $418,356 | -18.2% |
| Apr 26 | 8 | $473,367 | +13.1% |
| May 26 | 6 | $600,000 | +26.8% |
| Jun 26 | 1 | $531,948 | -11.3% |
| Aug 26 | 2 | $540,842 | +1.7% |
Where they're listed
Beneteau First 44 listings appear across 9 countries. Spain has the most listings with 9 (25.7%), followed by Croatia and United States.
Country view
35 listings · 9 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | $593,185 | 9 | 2 | 25.7% |
| Croatia | $418,356 | 8 | 0 | 22.9% |
| United States | $600,000 | 7 | 0 | 20.0% |
| Australia | $676,519 | 4 | 0 | 11.4% |
| Greece | $522,072 | 3 | 0 | 8.6% |
| Germany | $500,340 | 1 | 0 | 2.9% |
| United Kingdom | $454,482 | 1 | 0 | 2.9% |
| Italy | $512,749 | 1 | 0 | 2.9% |
| New Zealand | $531,948 | 1 | 1 | 2.9% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
9 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Performance 44 Performance | 44.85' | $ 219,054 | 54 | 7 |
| Beneteau First 44.7 | 44.83' | $ 139,999 | 46 | 6 |
| Beneteau First 44You are here | — | $ 522,072 | 35 | 3 |
| Hallberg-Rassy 44 | 47.41' | $ 988,973 | 21 | 3 |
| X-Yachts Xp XP 44 | 45.54' | $ 564,270 | 19 | 7 |
| Solaris 44 | 44.62' | $ 558,000 | 15 | 1 |
| Grand Soleil 44 | 47.08' | $ 512,749 | 10 | 1 |
| C&C 44 | 44.17' | $ 61,900 | 9 | 1 |
| Beneteau First 44 Performance | 48.06' | $ 581,271 | 1 | 0 |